יהושע, פרק י״ח, פסוק י״ג

Tracing the exact borders of the tribal lands requires immense geographic precision, as a single shift in direction determines the tribal ownership of an entire city. The boundary line extends from its previous point, heading westward [רש״י], though an alternative perspective suggests it turned and moved southward [מלבי״ם].

As the border advances, it reaches the southern edge of the city of Luz. The primary approach among commentators is that the boundary line ran just south of the city. As a result, Luz itself was excluded from the territory of Benjamin and instead fell within the inheritance of the children of Joseph, specifically belonging to the tribe of Ephraim. Luz is historically identified as the city that Jacob originally named Bethel. However, an important geographic distinction must be made. There were actually two distinct locations called Bethel. While the city of Luz, known as Bethel, belonged to Ephraim, a second city named Bethel situated near the city of Ai was part of Benjamin's territory. Furthermore, some point out that Luz and Bethel were likely very close to one another geographically, even if they were not the exact same location [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

From there, the border descends toward Ataroth-addar and continues to the mountain located south of Lower Beth-horon. Much like the boundary line that bypassed Luz, the path along the mountain south of Lower Beth-horon indicates that the city of Beth-horon was also excluded from Benjamin's land. Consequently, this city became part of the territory given to Ephraim [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם].