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Commentary on Joshua 15 verses 20–63
20 ¶ This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
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,
22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,
26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
27 And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,
28 And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
34 And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
35 Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:
37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,
38 And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
41 And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:
42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
44 And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages:
46 From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
47 Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:
48 And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
49 And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,
50 And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
51 And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:
52 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
53 And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,
54 And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:
55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
58 Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,
59 And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:
60 Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:
61 In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,
62 And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.
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.
We have here a list of the several cities that fell within the lot of the tribe of Judah, which are mentioned by name, that they might know their own, and both keep it and keep to it, and might neither through cowardice nor sloth lose the possession of what was their own.
I. The cities are here named, and numbered in several classes, which they then could account for the reason of better than we can now. Here are, 1. Some that are said to be the uttermost cities towards the coast of Edom, Jos 15:21-32. Here are thirty-eight named, and yet said to be twenty-nine (Jos 15:32), because nine of these were afterwards transferred to the lot of Simeon, and are reckoned as belonging to that, as appears by comparing Jos 19:2, etc.; therefore those only are counted (though the rest are named) which remained to Judah. 2. Others that are said to be in the valley (Jos 15:33) are counted to be fourteen, yet fifteen are named; but it is probable that Gederah and Gederathaim were either two names or two parts of one and the same city. 3. Then sixteen are named without any head of distinction, Jos 15:37-41, and nine more, Jos 15:42-44. 4. Then the three Philistine-cities, Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza, Jos 15:45-47. 5. Cities in the mountains, eleven in all (Jos 15:48-51), nine more (Jos 15:52-54), ten more (Jos 15:55-57), six more (Jos 15:58, Jos 15:59), then two (Jos 15:60), and six in the wilderness, a part of the country not so thick of inhabitants as some others were.
II. Now here, 1. We do not find Bethlehem, which was afterwards the city of David, and was ennobled by the birth of our Lord Jesus in it. But that city, which at the best was but little among the thousands of Judah (Mic 5:2), except that it was thus dignified, was now so little as not to be accounted one of the cities, but perhaps was one of the villages not named. Christ came to give honour to the places he was related to, not to receive honour from them. 2. Jerusalem is said to continue in the hands of the Jebusites (Jos 15:63), for the children of Judah could not drive them out, through their sluggishness, stupidity, and unbelief. Had they attempted it with vigour and resolution, we have reason to think God would not have been wanting to them to give them success; but they could not do it, because they would not. Jerusalem was afterwards to be the holy city, the royal city, the city of the great King, the brightest ornament of all the land of Israel. God has designed it should be so. It may therefore be justly looked upon as a punishment of their neglect to conquer other cities which God had given them that they were so long kept out of this. 3. Among the cities of Judah (in all 114) we meet with Libnah, which in Joram's days revolted, and probably set up for a free independent state (Kg2 8:22), and Lachish, where king Amaziah was slain (Kg1 14:19); it led the dance in idolatry (Mic 1:13); it was the beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion. Giloh, Ahithophel's town, is here mentioned, and Tekoa, of which the prophet Amos was, and near which Jehoshaphat obtained that glorious victory, Ch2 20:20, etc., and Maresha, where Asa was a conqueror. Many of the cities of this tribe occur in the history of David's troubles. Adullam, Ziph, Keilah, Maon, Engedi, Ziklag, here reckoned in this tribe, were places near which David had most of his haunts; for, though sometimes Saul drove him out from the inheritance of the Lord, yet he kept as close to it as he could. The wilderness of Judah he frequented much, and in it John Baptist preached, and there the kingdom of heaven commenced, Mat 3:1. The riches of this country no doubt answered Jacob's blessing of this tribe, that he should wash his garments in wine, Gen 49:11. And, in general, Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise, not envy.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 20–63. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
Joshua 15:23 presents a concise yet profoundly significant enumeration of Kedesh, Hazor, and Ithnan, three towns meticulously included within the extensive territorial inheritance allotted to the tribe of Judah. This specific listing is far more than a mere geographical detail; it stands as a tangible and irrefutable testament to God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises to Abraham, thereby providing His chosen people with a precise, divinely ordained, and utterly secure portion of the Promised Land.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Joshua 15:23, much like the broader chapter it belongs to, primarily employs Catalog or Listing as its dominant literary device. This technique is characterized by the systematic enumeration of items—in this case, specific geographical locations. This extensive listing, which spans numerous verses within the chapter, serves to provide a comprehensive, legally binding, and divinely sanctioned record of Judah's inheritance. The repetitive use of the conjunction "and" (a stylistic choice known as Polysyndeton) before each town name (e.g., "And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan") is not merely stylistic; it emphasizes the exhaustive nature of the record, creating a profound sense of thoroughness, completeness, and undeniable truth. While seemingly dry to a modern reader, this Repetition underscores the divine precision and the tangible reality of God's fulfilled promises. The overall effect of this meticulous Geographical Detail is to firmly root the profound theological truth of God's unwavering faithfulness in the concrete, physical reality of the land itself, transforming an abstract divine promise into a physical, undeniable possession for His people.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 15:23, though a concise 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 or abstract but precise, utterly reliable, and fully realized in concrete terms. 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 intricate details of His divine plan, ensuring that every aspect of His covenant with Israel is brought to pass with perfect accuracy and timing.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly mundane list of towns in Joshua 15:23 invites us to reflect deeply on the profound faithfulness of God, not merely in grand, sweeping acts, but in the intricate and often overlooked details of His sovereign plan. Just as God meticulously ensured every city and boundary was accounted for in Israel's physical inheritance, so too does He attend with divine precision to the specifics of our lives and the certain fulfillment of His promises to us. This verse reminds us that our God is a God of absolute precision and thoroughness, who leaves no stone unturned in bringing His purposes to fruition. It encourages us to cultivate a profound trust in His comprehensive care, knowing with certainty that He is faithful to complete what He has started, both in our individual lives and in the corporate body of believers. Our spiritual inheritance in Christ, though unseen by the physical eye, is just as real, just as meticulously secured, and just as eternally guaranteed by God as Judah's tangible land possession.
Questions for Reflection
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 profound reasons. First, they served as crucial legal and historical documentation, formally recording the undeniable fulfillment of God's ancient promise to give the land of Canaan to Abraham's descendants (Genesis 15:18). In ancient Near Eastern cultures, such meticulous records were absolutely essential for establishing legitimate land ownership and preventing future disputes among tribes and families. Second, they powerfully demonstrate God's divine order and absolute precision in His dealings with Israel; every single tribe received a specific, divinely appointed portion, underscoring His sovereignty, meticulous care, and providential guidance. Finally, these lists affirm the tangible and undeniable reality of Israel's inheritance, marking their transition from a nomadic people to a settled nation with a defined and secure homeland, which was central to their identity as God's chosen 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 specifically in Joshua 15:23 are distinct from other, more famous cities bearing the same names elsewhere in the biblical narrative. There were multiple places named Kedesh in ancient Israel, often signifying a "holy place" or "sanctuary." The most prominent Kedesh was in Naphtali, which was designated as one of the cities of refuge (Joshua 20:7). 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 and stronghold that was famously conquered and burned by Joshua as vividly described in Joshua 11:10-11). The repetition of names for different geographical locations was a common occurrence in ancient geography, and the specific context of the tribal allotments helps to clearly distinguish them.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The physical inheritance of land by the tribe of Judah, meticulously detailed in Joshua 15:23, serves as a profound type and shadow pointing to the infinitely greater and eternal spiritual inheritance secured for all believers in Jesus Christ. Just as God faithfully and precisely fulfilled His promise of a physical land to ancient Israel, so too has He, with even greater precision, certainty, and eternal scope, fulfilled His promise of eternal life and every spiritual blessing through His beloved Son. Christ Himself is the ultimate "Promised Land" into whom we are brought, the true and lasting inheritance that transcends all earthly possessions. Through His perfect life, atoning death on the cross, and glorious resurrection, He has purchased for us an "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). The meticulous division of land in Joshua, down to every town and boundary, foreshadows the divine order and sovereign grace by which God, in Christ, has already granted us "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3). Our possession in Christ is not a geographical territory but a glorious spiritual reality—adoption into God's family, complete reconciliation, imputed righteousness, and the unfailing promise of eternal communion with God, all of which are guaranteed by the "Spirit as a down payment of our inheritance" (Ephesians 1:14). Thus, the seemingly dry list of towns in Joshua 15:23 ultimately magnifies the comprehensive, certain, and eternally glorious fulfillment of God's promises in the person and redemptive work of Jesus, our ultimate and eternal inheritance.