TRV
Translation
See on the biblical-era map
In the KJVVerse 6,245 of 31,102
Study This Verse
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.
Copy as
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.
Copy as
Continue studying Joshua 15:42 across the web’s major study libraries — every link below opens this exact verse, chapter, or book on the destination site.
Read & Compare
BibleGatewayThis verse in more than 200 translations and 70 languages.
Bible.comThe YouVersion reader — hundreds of translations, reading plans, and highlights.
ESV.orgCrossway's official English Standard Version reader.
NET BibleThe NET translation with 60,000+ translators' notes on every rendering decision.
STEP BibleTyndale House's free study tool — original text, vocabulary, and scholarly resources.
BibliaLogos Bible Software's free web reader.
USCCBThe New American Bible (Revised Edition) with the U.S. bishops' study notes.
Commentaries
BibleHub CommentariesDozens of classic commentaries on this verse, gathered on one page.
StudyLightMore than 100 commentary sets — the largest collection on the web.
BibleRefPlain-English commentary on what this verse means, verse by verse.
Enduring WordDavid Guzik's free commentary on this chapter, widely used by Bible teachers.
Bible Study ToolsVerse commentary alongside Greek and Hebrew study aids.
Original Language & Research
- BibleHub InterlinearThe verse word by word — original language, transliteration, and English.
- BibleHub LexiconEvery word's original-language definition and Strong's entry.
Blue Letter BibleDeep-study tools — Strong's numbers, concordance, and word studies.
SefariaThe Hebrew text with Rashi and centuries of Jewish commentary.
Sermons, Hymns & Audio
TrulyRandomVerse is not affiliated with these sites and doesn’t control their content. They’re linked because they’re genuinely useful.
SUMMARY
Joshua 15:42 presents a concise yet profoundly significant enumeration of three cities—Libnah, Ether, and Ashan—within the meticulously detailed catalog of the tribal inheritance allotted to Judah. This specific listing serves as tangible evidence of God's unwavering faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises to Abraham and Israel regarding the possession of the Promised Land. The precise cataloging underscores the divine order and meticulousness with which God administers His blessings, ensuring that every detail of His redemptive plan is brought to pass, establishing the physical boundaries and possessions that would define the tribe of Judah for generations.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Joshua 15:42, and indeed throughout Joshua 15, is Cataloging or Listing. This meticulous enumeration of cities serves not merely as a dry geographical record but as a powerful theological statement. It functions as a Legal Document, providing irrefutable evidence of the fulfillment of God's covenant promises and the rightful inheritance of the land by the tribe of Judah. The sheer volume and precision of the names emphasize the Divine Order and meticulousness of God's plan, leaving no ambiguity about the extent of the promised blessing. Furthermore, the repetition inherent in such lists creates a sense of Verisimilitude, lending historical credibility and demonstrating the thoroughness of ancient record-keeping. While not explicitly developed in this verse, the very names of the cities themselves can carry subtle Symbolism (e.g., Libnah meaning "whiteness" or Ashan meaning "smoke"), hinting at the characteristics or future significance of these locations within the larger narrative, even if not directly expounded upon in the text.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 15:42, though a simple list of names, profoundly speaks to the character of God and the nature of His promises. It is a testament to God's meticulous faithfulness, demonstrating that He fulfills His word not just broadly, but in intricate detail. The precise allocation of land, down to individual cities, reveals a God who is attentive to every aspect of His covenant, leaving no promise unfulfilled. This precision instills confidence in the reliability of God's word, assuring believers that if He was so careful with the physical inheritance of ancient Israel, He is certainly trustworthy with the spiritual and eternal promises He has made to His people today. It underscores that God's plan is comprehensive, orderly, and ultimately brings about His intended purposes, providing a secure foundation for His people.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The seemingly mundane list of cities in Joshua 15:42 offers profound encouragement for contemporary believers. It reminds us that God is a God of meticulous detail and unwavering faithfulness. Just as He precisely allotted every parcel of land to His people, He is intimately involved in the specific details of our lives. This passage invites us to trust in God's comprehensive plan, even when we cannot see the full picture, knowing that His promises are sure and His purposes are meticulously worked out. It challenges us to look for God's faithfulness not just in grand, miraculous events, but also in the seemingly "small" or ordinary aspects of our daily existence, recognizing His hand at work in every circumstance. We are called to live with the confidence that the God who fulfilled ancient land promises will also fulfill His promises concerning our salvation, sanctification, and eternal inheritance, providing peace and security in His divine providence.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Why is such a detailed list of cities, like those in Joshua 15:42, included in the Bible?
Answer: The inclusion of such detailed lists serves multiple crucial purposes. Primarily, it acts as a legal and historical record, documenting the precise fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Israel regarding the land inheritance (as seen in Genesis 12:7). It provided clear boundaries and ownership for each tribe, preventing disputes and establishing their identity within the Promised Land. Furthermore, these lists underscore God's meticulousness, order, and faithfulness in administering His blessings. They demonstrate that God's word is reliable and that He fulfills every detail of His plan, reinforcing the theological truth that "not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass" (Joshua 21:45). For ancient Israel, it was tangible proof of their divine inheritance; for us, it is a testament to God's unchanging character and the trustworthiness of His Word.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While Joshua 15:42 details a physical land inheritance, its deeper theological resonance points towards the ultimate spiritual inheritance found in Christ. The meticulous division of the Promised Land foreshadows the precise and comprehensive nature of God's redemptive plan, culminating in Jesus Christ. Just as the land was a tangible fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Christ is the ultimate fulfillment of all God's promises, embodying the true "inheritance" for believers. Through Him, we receive not merely a plot of land, but "every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 1:3) and an "inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). The meticulousness seen in the allocation of cities like Libnah, Ether, and Ashan reflects God's perfect design for salvation, meticulously planned before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). Christ is our true "Promised Land," the one in whom all the covenant blessings are secured, and through whom we gain access to the heavenly city, "whose designer and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10). The physical inheritance in Joshua thus serves as a shadow of the glorious spiritual reality and eternal rest found in Jesus, the true inheritor of all things (Hebrews 1:2), who shares His inheritance with all who believe.