Joshua 15:11

And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

And the border {H1366} went out {H3318} unto the side {H3802} of Ekron {H6138} northward {H6828}: and the border {H1366} was drawn {H8388} to Shicron {H7942}, and passed along {H5674} to mount {H2022} Baalah {H1173}, and went out {H3318} unto Jabneel {H2995}; and the goings out {H8444} of the border {H1366} were at the sea {H3220}.

Next the border went out toward the side of 'Ekron northward; and finally, the border was drawn to Shikron, passed Mount Ba'alah, and went out at Yavne'el, with the border ending at the sea.

Then it went out to the northern slope of Ekron, curved toward Shikkeron, proceeded to Mount Baalah, went on to Jabneel, and ended at the Sea.

and the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward; and the border extended to Shikkeron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

Commentary

Commentary on Joshua 15:11 (KJV)

Joshua 15:11 continues the meticulous description of the tribal allotment for Judah, specifically detailing its northern boundary. This verse, like many others in this chapter, serves as a geographical marker, outlining the precise limits of the territory assigned to the largest and most prominent of the Israelite tribes.

Context

The book of Joshua chronicles the conquest and division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel. Chapters 13-19 are dedicated to the detailed allocation of land, fulfilling God's ancient promises to Abraham. Joshua 15 focuses exclusively on the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, which received a vast and strategically important region. The detailed border descriptions, like the one found in this verse, were crucial for establishing legal and administrative boundaries, preventing future disputes, and affirming the divine faithfulness in granting the land. This division was carried out by lot, as instructed by God.

Key Themes

  • Divine Faithfulness and Fulfillment: This verse, along with the entire chapter, underscores God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. The precise demarcation of land demonstrates that God faithfully delivers on His word to give the Israelites a homeland, a promise first made to Abraham in Genesis 15:18.
  • Order and Specificity: The detailed geographical descriptions highlight the meticulous order and divine precision in the distribution of the land. Every boundary, every landmark, was carefully noted, emphasizing the importance of defined territories for tribal identity and stability.
  • Inheritance and Possession: The land was not merely conquered but was given as an inheritance, a permanent possession from God to His people. This verse describes a segment of that divinely ordained inheritance.
  • Geopolitical Significance: The mention of Ekron is particularly notable. Ekron was one of the five principal cities of the Philistines, a powerful and often hostile people. Its inclusion as a northern marker for Judah's border indicates the proximity, and future contention, with Philistine territory, foreshadowing later conflicts documented in books like Judges and Samuel. Although part of Judah's inheritance, fully dispossessing these strongholds proved challenging, as seen in Judges 1:19.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "border" is gevul (ื’ึฐึผื‘ื•ึผืœ), which consistently refers to a fixed, defined boundary or territory. The phrase "went out" (ื™ึธืฆึธื, yatza) and "goings out" (ืชึผื•ึนืฆึฐืื•ึนืช, totza'ot) denote the extension or terminus points of the border, emphasizing its reach and end at the Mediterranean Sea (referred to simply as "the sea").

Practical Application

While detailing ancient geography, Joshua 15:11 offers timeless principles:

  • God's Promises Are Reliable: Just as God meticulously fulfilled His promise of land to Israel, He is faithful to fulfill all His promises to believers today. We can trust in His word and His provision.
  • Understanding Our Inheritance: Spiritually, believers have an inheritance in Christ, which includes salvation, peace, and spiritual blessings. Just as Judah's border was defined, our spiritual inheritance is secure and defined by God's grace.
  • The Reality of Spiritual Boundaries: The proximity of Philistine cities to Judah's border reminds us that even when God grants us blessings and inheritance, we often live in a world with spiritual adversaries. Maintaining our spiritual boundaries and standing firm against opposition is an ongoing aspect of the Christian life.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 1:16

    And he said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Forasmuch as thou hast sent messengers to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron, [is it] not because [there is] no God in Israel to enquire of his word? therefore thou shalt not come down off that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

  • 1 Samuel 7:14

    And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

  • 1 Samuel 5:10

    Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

  • Joshua 15:45

    Ekron, with her towns and her villages:

  • 2 Kings 1:2

    And Ahaziah fell down through a lattice in his upper chamber that [was] in Samaria, and was sick: and he sent messengers, and said unto them, Go, enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron whether I shall recover of this disease.

  • 2 Kings 1:3

    But the angel of the LORD said to Elijah the Tishbite, Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and say unto them, [Is it] not because [there is] not a God in Israel, [that] ye go to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron?

  • Joshua 19:43

    And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
โ† Back