Joshua 15:19-36

Jos 15:19

Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

 

She had asked him for a blessing which would have been the blessing of an inheritance for their posterity.  He already gave them a land south in the hill country of Judah but the land was very dry and it would have been hard to grow anything or to live there without water.  She requested that her father also give her the upper and nether springs.  So he gave her the springs of water which were on the higher and lower grounds.  No specific names are given of the springs mentioned.

 

Jos 15:20

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

 

Now the detailed inheritance for the tribe of Judah is given in the following verses.

 

Jos 15:21

And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,

 

The uttermost cities were the outward part of the tribe and toward the southern part of Judah.  The coast of Edom was the Dead Sea which bordered Idumea and proceeded westward toward Gaza.  Kabzeel was located about 28 miles (45 KM) southwest of Hebron.  Jagur is about 22 miles (34 KM) southwest of Hebron.  The location of Eder is unknown.

 

Jos 15:22

And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,

 

Kinah and Adadah have unknown locations.  Dimonah is thought to be Dibon although its specific location is also unknown.  And for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah dwelt at Kirjath-arba, and in the villages thereof, and at Dibon, and in the villages thereof, and at Jekabzeel, and in the villages thereof, (Nehemiah 11:25)

 

Jos 15:23

And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

 

Kedesh was up north about 8 miles (13 KM) north of Hazor.  Hazor was about 90 miles (145 KM) north of Jerusalem.  The location of Ithnan is unknown.

 

Jos 15:24

Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,

 

Ziph is located on the Negev about 40 miles (64 KM) south of Hebron.  Telem is supposed to be the city of Telaim.  And Saul gathered the people together, and numbered them in Telaim, two hundred thousand footmen, and ten thousand men of Judah. (1 Samuel 15:4)  Its location is also unknown.  Bealoth’s location is unknown.

 

Jos 15:25

And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,

 

There were three Hazors within the tribe of Judah.  The names are Hazorhadattah and Keritothhezron.  Hazorithnan may be the third one.  Keriothhezron was located 13 miles (21 KM) south of Hebron.  Hazorhadattah was located in the Negev but its specific location is unknown but may have been close to the border of Ashkelon.  Hazorithnan’s location is unknown.

 

Jos 15:26

Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,

 

The location of Amam is unknown.  Shema was located 40 miles (64 KM) southwest of Hebron.  Moladah was 23 miles (37 KM) east of Shema. 

 

Jos 15:27

And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet,

 

All three of these have unknown locations although they were all believed to be located somewhere in the Negev in the south.  It is believed that Hazar-gaddah was located somewhere near to the Dead Sea.

 

Jos 15:28

And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah,

 

Beer-sheba was located about 27 miles (43 KM) southwest of Hebron and Hazar-shual was located right next door to Beer-sheba.  The location of Bizjothjah is unknown.

 

Jos 15:29

Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,

 

Baalah was located about 5 miles (8 KM) southeast of Beersheba.  Azem was given to the tribe of Simeon.  And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem, (Joshua 19:3)  The location of lim and Azem are unknown.

 

Jos 15:30

And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,

 

Hormah was located 7 miles (11 KM) east of Beersheba.  And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, (Joshua 19:4)  These three cities were given to Simeon.  Bethul may be another name for Chesil.

 

Jos 15:31

And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,

 

Ziklag was located about 30 miles (48 KM) southeast of Hebron.  Madmannah was located about 17 miles (27 KM) southeast of Hebron.  Sansannah was 2 miles (3 KM) east of Madmannah.


Jos 15:32

And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:

 

Rimmon called Eremmon was located 35 miles (57 KM) southwest of Jerusalem.  En-rimmon which is Ain was located about 20 miles (32 KM) southwest of Hebron.  The location of Shilhim is unknown.  The total was 29 cities along with their surrounding villages is why many of the locations are unknown because they could have gone out of existence very quickly but were very much a place when they were doled out to the tribes.  Lebaoth may be Beth-lebaoth but it is not certain.  And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages: (Joshua 19:6) 

 

Jos 15:33

And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

 

The valley was considered to be the fertile part of Judah which extended as far as Carmel.  It was famous because of the beautiful flowers which grew there.  Carmel is 8 miles (13 KM) south of Hebron.  Eshtaol was about 18 miles (29 KM) northwest of Hebron.  Ashnah was about 20 miles (32 KM) northwest of Hebron.  Zorah was about 18 miles (29 KM) northwest of Hebron.

 

Jos 15:34

And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,

 

Zanoah was 15 miles (24 KM) northwest of Hebron.  Enam was 2 miles (3 KM) south of Zanoah.  En-gannim is refers to a fountain of gardens and is located 48 miles (77 KM) north of Jerusalem.  Tappuah was in the hill country of Ephraim and was about 23 miles (37 KM) north of Jerusalem.

 

Jos 15:35

Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,

 

Jarmuth was 17 miles (27 KM) southwest of Jerusalem.  Azekah was about 20 miles (32 KM) southwest of Jerusalem.  Socoh was about 19 miles (31 KM) southwest of Jerusalem. Azekah was about 2 miles (3 KM) northwest of Socoh.  Adullam was located 17 miles (27 KM) southwest of Jerusalem.

 

Jos 15:36

And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:

 

Adithaim was 15 miles (24 KM) northwest of Jerusalem.  Gederah was about 18 miles (29 KM) northwest of Jerusalem.  The location of Gederothaim is unknown.  Sharaim may be the city of Shaaraim.  And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron. (1 Samuel 17:52)

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