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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 15:40, by listing the towns of Cabbon, Lahmam, and Kithlish, provides a seemingly simple but profoundly significant detail within the extensive enumeration of Judah's inheritance. This verse serves as a meticulous record of God's unwavering faithfulness, demonstrating the tangible fulfillment of His ancient covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants regarding the precise boundaries and complete possession of the Promised Land, thereby establishing Israel's identity and divine order within their allotted territory.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Joshua 15:40, like the broader chapter, primarily employs Enumeration and Topography. The detailed listing of place names is a form of enumeration, providing a comprehensive inventory of the cities assigned to Judah. This meticulous cataloging serves a crucial legal and administrative function, solidifying the boundaries and possessions of the tribe. The specific naming of towns like Cabbon, Lahmam, and Kithlish contributes to the Topography of the text, grounding the narrative in real-world geography and emphasizing the tangible fulfillment of God's promises. The consistent use of the conjunction "and" before each name is a subtle form of Repetition, which reinforces the exhaustive nature of the list and the systematic process of land allocation. These devices collectively underscore the historical accuracy, legal precision, and divine faithfulness inherent in the division of the Promised Land.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Even in what appears to be a dry list of ancient place names, Joshua 15:40 speaks volumes about God's character and His relationship with His people. The meticulous detail in enumerating every town and boundary line reveals a God who is not vague or forgetful but precise, orderly, and utterly faithful to His word. This level of specificity demonstrates that God's promises are not abstract concepts but tangible realities, fulfilled down to the last detail. For the Israelites, these names represented their identity, security, and the enduring legacy of God's covenant. It teaches us that God cares about the specifics of His plans and His people's lives, ensuring that every promise is brought to fruition, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant the detail.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly mundane list of towns in Joshua 15:40 offers a profound reassurance of God's unwavering faithfulness and meticulous care. Just as God precisely fulfilled His promise to give Israel a physical inheritance, down to every town and boundary, so too does He meticulously work out His purposes in our lives. This verse reminds us that God is a God of detail, not just grand plans. He is attentive to the seemingly small, obscure parts of our journey, orchestrating them for our good and His glory. This should inspire deep trust, knowing that if God was so precise in delivering a physical land, He is infinitely more precise and faithful in securing our spiritual inheritance and guiding our steps. We are called to live with confidence in His sovereign plan, even when the path seems like a mere list of unknown places, trusting that His detailed provision extends to every aspect of our existence.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why are these lists of cities so detailed in the book of Joshua?
Answer: The detailed lists of cities in the book of Joshua, including those in Joshua 15, serve multiple crucial purposes. Firstly, they functioned as a legal and administrative record, defining the precise boundaries and possessions for each tribe, preventing disputes and ensuring an orderly society. Secondly, they provided tangible evidence of God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants to give them the land of Canaan. Thirdly, they emphasized the historical accuracy and reality of the conquest and settlement, demonstrating that these events were not mythical but grounded in specific geographical locations. Finally, these lists underscored the identity and inheritance of each tribal family within the nation of Israel, solidifying their place in God's redemptive plan and serving as a testament to God's precise fulfillment of His word.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Joshua 15:40 meticulously details a physical inheritance for the tribe of Judah, it powerfully points forward to the ultimate, spiritual inheritance secured by Jesus Christ. The divine precision with which God divided the land for Israel foreshadows the perfect and certain plan of salvation accomplished through the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Just as the Israelites received a tangible land, believers in Christ receive an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance, kept in heaven for them (1 Peter 1:3-5). Jesus is the true "Promised Land," the ultimate rest that the earthly Canaan could only partially represent (Hebrews 4:9-11). Through His atoning sacrifice, He has guaranteed our spiritual blessings and our portion in His eternal kingdom, making us co-heirs with Him (Ephesians 1:3-14; Colossians 1:12). The divine faithfulness seen in the allocation of Cabbon, Lahmam, and Kithlish finds its supreme expression in God's unwavering commitment to bring His children into their eternal inheritance through Christ, a promise infinitely more glorious and enduring than any earthly possession.