• The "wilderness," the sunken district next the Dead Sea (Joshua 15:61 ), "averaging 10 miles in breadth, a wild, barren, uninhabitable region, fit only to afford scanty pasturage for sheep and goats, and a secure home for leopards, bears, wild goats, and outlaws" (1 Samuel 17:34; 22:1; Mark 1:13 ). It was divided into the "wilderness of En-gedi" (1 Samuel 24:1 ), the "wilderness of Judah" (Judges 1:16; Matthew 3:1 ), between the Hebron mountain range and the Dead Sea, the "wilderness of Maon" (1 Samuel 23:24 ). It contained only six cities.

    Nine of the cities of Judah were assigned to the priests (Joshua 21:9-19 ).

    Copyright StatementThese dictionary topics are from M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition, published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain.

    Bibliography InformationEaston, Matthew George. Entry for 'Judah, Tribe of'. Easton's Bible Dictionary. https://www.studylight.org/dictionaries/eng/ebd/j/judah-tribe-of.html. 1897.