Joshua 15:8

And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same [is] Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that [lieth] before the valley of Hinnom westward, which [is] at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

And the border {H1366} went up {H5927} by the valley {H1516} of the son {H1121} of Hinnom {H2011} unto the south {H5045} side {H3802} of the Jebusite {H2983}; the same is Jerusalem {H3389}: and the border {H1366} went up {H5927} to the top {H7218} of the mountain {H2022} that lieth before {H6440} the valley {H1516} of Hinnom {H2011} westward {H3220}, which is at the end {H7097} of the valley {H6010} of the giants {H7497} northward {H6828}:

Then the border went up the Ben-Hinnom Valley to the south side of the Y'vusi (that is, Yerushalayim), and the border continued up to the top of the hill in front of the Hinnom Valley on the west (which is also at the northernmost end of the Refa'im Valley)

From there the border went up the Valley of Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusites (that is, Jerusalem) and ascended to the top of the hill that faces the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim.

and the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the side of the Jebusite southward (the same is Jerusalem); and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the uttermost part of the vale of Rephaim northward;

Commentary

Joshua 15:8 describes a crucial section of the northern border of the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah, specifically defining its boundary as it passes by the strategically important city of Jerusalem.

Context

This verse is part of a detailed geographical description of the land inheritance for the tribe of Judah, outlined in Joshua chapter 15. Following the initial conquests led by Joshua, the land of Canaan was meticulously divided among the Israelite tribes by lot, fulfilling God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. At this point in history, Jerusalem, though assigned to Judah, was still occupied by the Jebusites, a Canaanite people, and had not yet been fully conquered by Israel. The border delineation here highlights the eventual claim Judah had on this vital city.

Key Themes and Insights

  • Divine Precision in Land Allocation: The meticulous detail with which these borders are described underscores the divine order and faithfulness in fulfilling God's promise of land to His people. Every valley and mountain served as a clear marker of their inheritance.
  • Geographical Significance: The verse pinpoints key landmarks that would become historically and prophetically significant. The mention of the "valley of the son of Hinnom" and "Jerusalem" anchors this tribal boundary to locations central to future biblical narratives.
  • Promise vs. Possession: While Jerusalem was clearly within Judah's allotted territory, the phrase "the south side of the Jebusite; the same [is] Jerusalem" subtly indicates that the city itself was not yet fully possessed. This sets the stage for future conflicts and King David's eventual conquest of the city centuries later.

Linguistic and Geographical Insights

  • Valley of the Son of Hinnom: Known in Hebrew as Ge Hinnom, this valley lay to the south and southwest of ancient Jerusalem. It later became infamous as Gehenna, associated with the pagan practice of child sacrifice (Jeremiah 7:31) and subsequently, in New Testament times, a symbol of divine judgment or hell.
  • The Jebusite / Jerusalem: This explicitly identifies the ancient city of Jerusalem with its pre-Israelite inhabitants, the Jebusites. Its strategic location on a defensible hill made it a formidable stronghold.
  • Valley of the Giants: Also known as the Valley of Rephaim (2 Samuel 5:18), this fertile valley lay to the southwest of Jerusalem and was a frequent battleground in Israel's history. The term "giants" (Rephaim) can refer to ancient, often formidable, inhabitants of the land.

Practical Application

This detailed geographical description reminds us of God's faithfulness and meticulous planning in fulfilling His promises. Just as He precisely allocated land to Judah, He works with precision in our lives, often laying claim to areas we have not yet fully possessed spiritually. It encourages us to understand that God's plans are detailed and purposeful, even when their full realization requires time and effort. The journey from promise to full possession often involves diligence and trust in God's timing, as seen in the history of Jerusalem itself.

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Cross-References

  • Joshua 18:16 (7 votes)

    And the border came down to the end of the mountain that [lieth] before the valley of the son of Hinnom, [and] which [is] in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,

  • Joshua 15:63 (5 votes)

    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.

  • Joshua 18:28 (4 votes)

    And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which [is] Jerusalem, Gibeath, [and] Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This [is] the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

  • Judges 19:10 (4 votes)

    But the man would not tarry that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus, which [is] Jerusalem; and [there were] with him two asses saddled, his concubine also [was] with him.

  • Judges 1:21 (3 votes)

    ¶ And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day.

  • 2 Kings 23:10 (3 votes)

    And he defiled Topheth, which [is] in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech.

  • Jeremiah 19:2 (2 votes)

    And go forth unto the valley of the son of Hinnom, which [is] by the entry of the east gate, and proclaim there the words that I shall tell thee,