### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew name **Chătsar Shûwʻâl**, represented by `{{H2705}}`, literally means **village of (the) fox**. It is identified as a place in Palestine, Hazar-shual. This place name appears **4 times** across **4 unique verses** in the Bible, consistently appearing in lists of towns and settlements.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{H2705}}` is always mentioned as a specific inhabited location. It first appears in the book of Joshua as one of the cities within a tribal territory ([[Joshua 15:28]]; [[Joshua 19:3]]). Later, it is listed as a place where people "dwelt" [[1 Chronicles 4:28]], emphasizing its role as a settled community. Its final mention in Nehemiah identifies it as a town, along with its associated villages, that was re-inhabited after the return from exile [[Nehemiah 11:27]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context of Hazar-shual's role as a settlement:
* `{{H884}}` **Bᵉʼêr Shebaʻ** (well of an oath): This prominent city is listed alongside Hazar-shual in three of its four appearances, suggesting a close geographical or administrative relationship ([[Joshua 15:28]]; [[Nehemiah 11:27]]).
* `{{H3427}}` **yâshab** (to dwell, to remain): This verb is used to state that people dwelt at Hazar-shual, directly marking it as a place of long-term habitation and community life [[1 Chronicles 4:28]].
* `{{H4137}}` **Môwlâdâh** (birth): Another town frequently listed with Hazar-shual, helping to define the specific region of settlement [[1 Chronicles 4:28]].
* `{{H1088}}` **Bâlâh** (failure): This location is named with Hazar-shual in the list of towns that comprised an inheritance, showing how these places collectively formed a defined territory [[Joshua 19:3]].
### Theological Significance
The significance of `{{H2705}}` is tied to the biblical themes of land, inheritance, and community.
* **Tangible Inheritance:** Its inclusion in the lists of towns in Joshua gives a physical and geographical reality to the promises of land and inheritance made to the people of Israel ([[Joshua 15:28]]; [[Joshua 19:3]]).
* **Place of Dwelling:** By being identified as a place where people dwelt, Hazar-shual represents the fulfillment of a settled existence, central to the covenant life which moved from wandering to inhabitation [[1 Chronicles 4:28]].
* **Continuity of the People:** The mention of Hazar-shual in Nehemiah as a place of resettlement after the exile underscores the theme of restoration and the enduring connection of the people to their ancestral land [[Nehemiah 11:27]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H2705}}` is more than just a name on an ancient map. As the "village of the fox," it functions as a consistent geographical anchor in the biblical narrative. It marks a specific piece of the promised inheritance, serves as a testament to the establishment of communities, and later acts as a symbol of the people's return and restoration to their land.
TRV