יהושע, פרק י״ח, פסוק ט״ו

Mapping the tribal territories requires drawing precise lines to separate the different regions, establishing the exact seam between the land of Benjamin and the land of Judah. The primary approach among commentators is that this traces the southern edge of Benjamin's territory, which naturally serves as the northern edge of Judah's land. The path is drawn moving from west to east. Because of this specific direction, an interesting topographical pattern emerges when comparing it to the borders of Judah, which were calculated in the opposite direction, from east to west. Any terrain where Benjamin's border is described as going downward was recorded as going upward in the account of Judah's territory [רש״י].

The boundary begins its path from the edge of Kiriath-jearim. There are different views on the exact starting point, with some identifying it as the southern edge [מלבי״ם] and others pointing to the western edge [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. From there, the line continues toward a body of water. The exact identity of this sea remains unknown [רש״י]. However, it is clearly not the Mediterranean Sea located to the far west, but rather a specific body of water situated north of Judah. Although this sea was not mentioned when detailing the adjacent borders of Judah, this omission is not unusual. Landmarks are occasionally noted in the description of one territory while being left out of the neighboring one [מצודת דוד]. Finally, the boundary line extends and widens southward, reaching toward the spring of Nephtoah [מלבי״ם].