The tribe of Judah received its allotted portion of land, stretching from the southern desert near Edom to the western coastline of the Great Sea. Their southern boundary began at the southern end of the Salt Sea, passed through Scorpion Pass and Kadesh Barnea, and extended to the Wadi of Egypt, ending at the sea. The eastern side was bordered by the Salt Sea, and the northern boundary ran from the mouth of the Jordan through several towns until it reached the coast. Thus, the land of Judah was enclosed by clear borders on every side.
As the Lord had commanded, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a special inheritance within Judah's territory—Hebron, also called Kiriath Arba. There, Caleb drove out the descendants of Anak—Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai. From Hebron, he advanced to capture Debir, once known as Kiriath Sepher. Caleb declared, "Whoever captures Kiriath Sepher shall have my daughter Acsah as his wife." Othniel, son of Kenaz and Caleb's nephew, conquered the city and received Acsah in marriage. When she arrived, she asked her father for a field with springs of water, and Caleb granted her both the upper and lower springs.
The inheritance of Judah included a vast range of lands: the southern towns near Edom, cities in the western foothills, and those in the hill country and desert. Some of the notable towns were Beersheba, Lachish, Hebron, Debir, Ziklag, and En Gedi—each surrounded by its villages. In total, Judah possessed a rich and diverse land filled with hills, fertile valleys, and springs.
However, one challenge remained—Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. To this day, the Jebusites continued to dwell among the people of Judah in that city.