Joshua 15:23

KJV

And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Kedesh {H6943}, and Hazor {H2674}, and Ithnan {H3497},

Complete Jewish Bible

Kedesh, Hatzor, Yitnan,

Berean Standard Bible

Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

American Standard Version

and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 15:23, a concise yet significant verse, meticulously lists Kedesh, Hazor, and Ithnan as towns within the vast inheritance allotted to the tribe of Judah. This specific enumeration is not merely a geographical detail but serves as a tangible testament to God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises to Abraham, providing His chosen people with a precise and divinely ordained portion of the Promised Land.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 15 is entirely dedicated to detailing the extensive territorial inheritance of the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent of the Israelite tribes. Following the successful conquest of Canaan, Joshua, under divine instruction, oversaw the distribution of the land by lot, as recorded from [Joshua 14:1](/joshua/14 "Joshua 14 - Division of the Land Begins") onwards. Verses 21-32 specifically enumerate the cities located in the "uttermost part of the south toward the coast of Edom," a region bordering the wilderness and neighboring nations. These detailed lists served as crucial legal documentation, a tangible record of the fulfillment of God's promises, and established clear, divinely sanctioned tribal boundaries and possessions for the newly settled nation of Israel.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period described in Joshua is the immediate aftermath of the Israelites' forty-year wilderness wandering and their subsequent conquest of Canaan. Land ownership was paramount in the ancient Near East, signifying identity, security, and the fulfillment of divine favor. For Israel, the possession of the land was the central promise of the Abrahamic Covenant, transforming them from nomadic wanderers into a settled nation. The meticulous listing of towns and boundaries reflects the cultural practice of formal land grants and property records, ensuring clarity and preventing future disputes. This detailed accounting underscores the divine precision in fulfilling the covenant, establishing Israel as a distinct people with a divinely appointed homeland.
* **Key Themes:** The meticulous listing in Joshua 15:23 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost is the **Fulfillment of Promise**, demonstrating God's absolute faithfulness to His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, particularly the promise of land for their descendants, as seen in [Genesis 15:18](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18 - God's Covenant with Abraham"). This verse also highlights **Divine Order and Allotment**, showcasing God's sovereign and precise orchestration of Israel's settlement, where every tribe received its designated portion, underscoring His meticulous care and providential guidance. Furthermore, it speaks to the theme of **Inheritance and Possession**, affirming that the Israelites were indeed taking tangible possession of the land, moving from a nomadic existence to a settled inheritance, a foundational aspect of their identity as God's chosen people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Kedesh (קֶדֶשׁ, _Qedesh_):** Meaning "sanctuary" or "holy place." While several towns bore this name in ancient Israel, this specific Kedesh is distinguished by its location within the southern territory of Judah, indicating its inclusion in the tribal inheritance. Its name might suggest a historical association with a sacred site, though its primary significance here is as a geographical marker.
* **Hazor (חָצוֹר, _Hatsor_):** Meaning "enclosure" or "fortified settlement." This Hazor is distinct from the more famous and powerful northern city of Hazor, a major Canaanite stronghold conquered and burned by Joshua as recorded in [Joshua 11:10-11](/joshua/11-10 "Joshua 11:10-11 - Conquest of Hazor"). The Hazor mentioned in Joshua 15:23 was likely a smaller, less strategically significant settlement in Judah's southern region, serving primarily as a boundary point.
* **Ithnan (אִתְנָן, _Ithnan_):** The precise meaning of this name is less certain in Hebrew, with some scholarly suggestions relating it to "gift" or "endurance." Like the other names in the list, its primary function within this verse is to serve as a specific geographical marker, contributing to the comprehensive delineation of Judah's inherited territory.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Kedesh,"**: This phrase introduces the first of three towns listed in this specific verse, continuing the enumeration of cities within Judah's southern allotment. The conjunction "And" links it seamlessly to the preceding verses (Joshua 15:21-22), emphasizing that this is part of a continuous, comprehensive list of towns belonging to the tribe.
* **"and Hazor,"**: This second town further expands the detailed geographical record, reinforcing the meticulous nature of the land distribution. Its inclusion, alongside Kedesh, highlights the specific points and regions that constituted Judah's inheritance, ensuring no ambiguity regarding the extent of their possession.
* **"and Ithnan,"**: The final town in this verse completes the trio, adding another specific location to the list. The cumulative effect of these names, presented without further descriptive detail, underscores their function as precise markers within the larger divinely ordained territory, confirming the tangible fulfillment of God's promise of land.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 15:23, like much of the chapter, primarily employs **Catalog** or **Listing**, a literary device characterized by the systematic enumeration of items, in this case, geographical locations. This extensive listing, spanning many verses, serves to provide a comprehensive and legally binding record of Judah's inheritance. The repetitive use of the conjunction "and" (polysyndeton) before each town name (e.g., "And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan") emphasizes the exhaustive nature of the record, creating a sense of thoroughness and completeness. While seemingly dry, this **Repetition** underscores the divine precision and the tangible reality of God's fulfilled promises. The overall effect of this **Geographical Detail** is to root the theological truth of God's faithfulness in the concrete reality of the land itself, making the abstract promise a physical possession.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 15:23, though a mere list of names, profoundly illustrates God's meticulous faithfulness and the tangible reality of His covenant promises. The detailed enumeration of towns like Kedesh, Hazor, and Ithnan within Judah's inheritance underscores that God's word is not vague but precise, reliable, and fully realized. This passage serves as a powerful reminder that God's promises are not just broad declarations but are fulfilled in specific, tangible ways, down to the very boundaries and cities of His people's inheritance. It speaks to a God who is intimately involved in the details of His plan, ensuring that every aspect of His covenant with Israel is brought to pass.

* [Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - God's Promise of Land to Abraham")
* [Psalm 105:8-11](/psalms/105-8 "Psalm 105:8-11 - God's Enduring Covenant with Israel")
* [Numbers 34:1-12](/numbers/34-1 "Numbers 34:1-12 - Boundaries of the Land of Canaan")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly mundane list of towns in Joshua 15:23 invites us to reflect on the profound faithfulness of God, not just in grand, sweeping acts, but in the intricate details of His plan. Just as God meticulously ensured every city and boundary was accounted for in Israel's inheritance, so too does He attend to the specifics of our lives and the fulfillment of His promises to us. This verse reminds us that our God is a God of precision and thoroughness, who leaves no stone unturned in bringing His purposes to fruition. It encourages us to trust in His comprehensive care, knowing that He is faithful to complete what He has started, both individually and corporately. Our spiritual inheritance in Christ, though unseen, is just as real and meticulously secured by God as Judah's physical land.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous detail of God's land distribution in Joshua challenge or affirm your understanding of His faithfulness?**
* **In what "details" of your own life or circumstances can you discern God's precise and faithful hand at work?**
* **How does understanding Israel's physical inheritance help you appreciate the depth and certainty of your spiritual inheritance in Christ?**
* **What promises of God are you currently waiting to see fulfilled, and how can this passage encourage your trust in His timing and method?**

### FAQ
**Why are these detailed lists of towns and boundaries so important in the book of Joshua?**

Answer: These detailed lists, like the one in Joshua 15:23, are critically important for several reasons. First, they served as legal and historical documentation, formally recording the fulfillment of God's promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants ([Genesis 15:18](/genesis/15-18 "Genesis 15:18 - God's Covenant with Abraham")). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such meticulous records were essential for establishing land ownership and preventing disputes. Second, they demonstrate God's divine order and precision in His dealings with Israel; every tribe received a specific, divinely appointed portion, underscoring His sovereignty and meticulous care. Finally, these lists affirm the tangible reality of Israel's inheritance, moving them from a nomadic people to a settled nation with a defined homeland, central to their identity as God's covenant people.

**Are the "Kedesh" and "Hazor" mentioned here the same as other famous cities with those names in the Bible?**

Answer: No, the Kedesh and Hazor mentioned in Joshua 15:23 are distinct from other more famous cities bearing the same names. There were multiple places named Kedesh in ancient Israel, often signifying a "holy place." The most prominent Kedesh was in Naphtali, a designated city of refuge ([Joshua 20:7](/joshua/20-7 "Joshua 20:7 - Kedesh as a City of Refuge")). Similarly, the Hazor listed here is a smaller, southern Judahite town, not to be confused with the powerful northern Canaanite city of Hazor, which was a major regional capital conquered and burned by Joshua as described in [Joshua 11:10-11](/joshua/11-10 "Joshua 11:10-11 - Conquest of Hazor")). The repetition of names for different locations was common in ancient geography, and the context of the tribal allotments helps distinguish them.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The physical inheritance of land by the tribe of Judah, meticulously detailed in Joshua 15:23, serves as a powerful type and shadow pointing to the infinitely greater spiritual inheritance secured for believers in Jesus Christ. Just as God faithfully fulfilled His promise of a physical land to Israel, so too has He, with even greater precision and certainty, fulfilled His promise of eternal life and spiritual blessing through His Son. Christ is the ultimate "Promised Land" into whom we are brought, the true and lasting inheritance. Through His atoning work on the cross, He has purchased for us an "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" ([1 Peter 1:4](/1_peter/1-4 "1 Peter 1:4 - Our Imperishable Inheritance")). The meticulous division of land in Joshua foreshadows the divine order by which God, in Christ, has granted us "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ")). Our possession in Christ is not a geographical territory but a spiritual reality—adoption into God's family, reconciliation, righteousness, and the promise of eternal communion with God, all guaranteed by the "Spirit as a down payment of our inheritance" ([Ephesians 1:14](/ephesians/1-14 "Ephesians 1:14 - The Spirit as a Down Payment")). Thus, the seemingly dry list of towns in Joshua 15:23 ultimately magnifies the comprehensive and certain fulfillment of God's promises in the person and work of Jesus, our ultimate and eternal inheritance.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 1:19

¶ And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.

Numbers 33:37

And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

Joshua 12:22

The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;