Joshua 15:51-63

Jos 15:51

And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:

 

The Goshen in view is not the land of Goshen in Egypt but a portion of the land in Canaan.  It is believed that it was initially settled by Egyptians who left Egypt.  Goshen was located about 13 miles (21 KM) southwest of Hebron.  Holon was about 10 miles (16 KM) north of Hebron.  Giloh was about 7 miles (11 KM) north of Hebron.  As with other parceled out lands, the surrounding villages also came with each of the cities.

 

Jos 15:52

Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,

 

Arab was located about 9 miles (14 KM) southwest of Hebron.  Dumah was about 12 miles (19 KM) southwest of Hebron.  Eshean was about 1 mile (1.6 KM) west of Dumah.


Jos 15:53

And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,

 

The location of Janum is unknown.  Beth-tappuah was about 4 miles (6 KM) west of Hebron. Aphekah was located about 3 miles (5 KM) southwest of Hebron.

 

Jos 15:54

And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:

 

The location of Humtah is unknown.  Zior which is also known as Zair was 5 miles (8 KM) north of Hebron and of course Hebron itself which was given to Caleb.  These nine cities also included their villages and outlying suburbs.

 

Jos 15:55

Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,

 

Maon was 9 miles south of Hebron and Carmel was next door to it.  Carmel was also home to Nabal who was the husband of Abigail.  He assailed the representatives of David.  1 Samuel 25 holds the whole story.  Ziph was about 4 miles (6 KM) southeast of Hebron.  Juttah was about 7 miles (11 KM) due south of Hebron.

 

Jos 15:56

And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,

 

Jezreel was about 7 miles (11 KM) southwest of Hebron.  Jokdeam was about 5 miles (8 KM) south of Hebron.  Zanoah was about 6 miles (10 KM) southwest of Hebron.

 

Jos 15:57

Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:

 

Cain or Kain was about 4 miles (6 KM) southeast of Hebron.  Gibeah was about 22 miles (34 KM) northeast of Hebron.   Timnah was about 20 miles (32 KM) west of Jerusalem.  Timnah was later conquered by the Philistines.  The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country, and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh, and Ajalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with the villages thereof, and Timnah with the villages thereof, Gimzo also and the villages thereof: and they dwelt there. (2 Chronicles 28:18)

 

Jos 15:58

Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,

 

Halhul was about 3 miles (5 KM) due north of Hebron.  Beth-zur was about 5 miles (8 KM) north of Hebron.  Gedor was about 8 miles (13 KM) north of Hebron.

 

Jos 15:59

And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:

 

Maarath was about 6 miles (10 KM) north of Hebron.  Beth-anoth was about 3 miles (5 KM) northeast of Hebron.  Eltekon was about 12 miles (19 KM) north of Hebron. 

 

Jos 15:60

Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:

 

Kirjath-Baal was about 9 miles (14 KM) northeast of Jerusalem.  Rabbah was about 7 miles (11 KM) west of Jerusalem.

 

Jos 15:61

In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,

 

The wilderness of Judea was not a barren place but it was filled with many cities and villages.  The location of Beth-arabah is unknown but may have been a border city between Judah and Benjamin.  Middin was about 10 miles (16 KM) east of Jerusalem close to the Dead Sea.  Secacah was about 2 miles (3 KM) south of Middin.

 

Jos 15:62

And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.

 

Nibshan was located about 2 miles (3 KM) south of Secacah.  The city of salt was about 15 miles (24 KM) east of Jerusalem and was on the northwest coast of the Dead Sea.  En-gedi was about 24 miles (39 KM) southeast of Jerusalem located on the Dead Sea which was about 18 miles (29 KM) south of Nibshan.

 

Jos 15:63

As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

 

The earlier name for Jerusalem was Jebus and was inhabited by the Jebusites.  They could not drive them out of Jerusalem so they decided to dwell with them in the same city and probably the surrounding villages.  The man who Jebus was named for was Jebus and he was of Philistine ancestry.  They did not drive them out not because they couldn’t but they remembered the oath Abraham made to Abimelech and did not want to violate that oath.  (Genesis 20-21) The men of Judah took the city after the death of Joshua but the Jebusites once again regained the city and held it unto the time of David.

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