Joshua 18:21

Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Beniamin according to their families, were Iericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, Joshua 18:21 (KJV)

The border of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, included Jericho, Beth‑hoglah, and the valley of Keziz. The Book of Joshua records the Israelites’ conquest and division of the Promised Land after Moses’ death, allocating the land among the twelve tribes. This verse specifically lists the cities allotted to the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes descending from Jacob’s youngest son and situated in the central part of the land between Judah and Ephraim.

Jericho was a significant city in the region, situated about six miles west of the Jordan River and roughly two miles north of the Dead Sea (some accounts note five miles west of the Jordan and seven miles north of the Dead Sea). It is famously known for the miraculous collapse of its walls during the Israelite conquest (Joshua 6) and held strategic importance as the gateway to Canaan from the east.

Beth‑hoglah, also called Beth‑Hogla or Beit Hajla, lay within Benjamin’s territory. Its exact location is uncertain, but it was likely near the Jordan River close to Jericho. The city may have functioned as a border city between the tribes, and while some passages associate it with the inheritance of Judah, its appearance in other tribal lists is not consistent.

The valley of Keziz is mentioned only in this verse; its precise location remains unknown, and the Bible provides no further information about it.

The allocation of these cities demonstrates the fulfillment of God’s promise to give the land to Israel. Each tribe received its portion, and the careful distribution ensured that the people could settle and inhabit the land. The inclusion of Jericho among Benjamin’s cities serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness and His miraculous intervention in its conquest. The brief references to Beth‑hoglah and the valley of Keziz highlight the meticulous record‑keeping involved in the division of the inheritance, underscoring the precision with which God’s promises were carried out among the Israelites.