### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **mâlôwn**, represented by `{{H4411}}`, refers to a temporary stop for travelers, such as a **lodgment, caravanserai or encampment**. Derived from the root word `{{H3885}}` which means to lodge or stay overnight, it appears **8 times** across **8 unique verses** in the Bible. It describes a place of rest on a journey, ranging from a simple encampment to a more structured inn.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In biblical usage, `{{H4411}}` serves as a crucial setting for pivotal events. For Joseph's brothers, the **inn** is where they repeatedly discover their money returned to their sacks, creating a sense of crisis and mystery on their journey ([[Genesis 42:27]], [[Genesis 43:21]]). In a more dramatic encounter, it is at "the **inn**" where the LORD met Moses and sought to kill him, highlighting it as a place of divine confrontation [[Exodus 4:24]]. The term also marks a significant transitional moment for the nation of Israel, denoting their first **lodging place** after crossing the Jordan river, where they set up memorial stones ([[Joshua 4:3]], [[Joshua 4:8]]).
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words help clarify the context of a lodging place and the journey it implies:
* `{{H3885}}` **lûwn** (to lodge): The root of **mâlôwn**, it means to stop, usually overnight. This action is directly associated with the lodging place, as seen when the Israelites are commanded to take stones to the place where they will **lodge** for the night [[Joshua 4:3]].
* `{{H732}}` **ʼârach** (to travel): This word describes the travelers themselves, identified as **wayfaring men**. Jeremiah expresses a desire to be in a **lodging place** `{{H4411}}` specifically for these travelers to escape his people [[Jeremiah 9:2]].
* `{{H3212}}` **yâlak** (to walk, go): This common verb for travel provides the motion that necessitates a **lodging place**. In [[Jeremiah 9:2]], the prophet's wish for a lodging place is tied to his desire to **go** from his people.
* `{{H5674}}` **ʻâbar** (to cross over): This term signifies transition and movement. It is used to describe the Israelites carrying the stones **over** the Jordan to their lodging place, marking a physical and spiritual passage [[Joshua 4:8]].
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H4411}}` is found in its function as a setting for divine action and human transition.
* **Site of Divine Confrontation:** The **inn** is not merely a neutral space but can be a location for a critical, life-altering encounter with God. In Exodus, a temporary stop becomes the stage for a severe test of Moses' obedience right before his great mission [[Exodus 4:24]].
* **Marker of Covenantal Journey:** For Israel, the **lodging place** immediately after crossing the Jordan symbolizes the fulfillment of a promise. It is the first foothold in the new land, ending the long journey through the wilderness and beginning their life as a nation in the land given to them [[Joshua 4:8]].
* **A Place of Revelation:** The experiences of Joseph's brothers at the **inn** show how a place of transit can be used to reveal a hidden truth and orchestrate a larger plan of reconciliation and redemption. The discovery of the money at the lodging place is a key turning point in their story [[Genesis 43:21]].
### Summary
In summary, `{{H4411}}` is far more than a simple resting spot. While it literally means a lodging place, it functions in Scripture as a pivotal backdrop for significant events. Whether as a site of a startling divine encounter, a place of fearful discovery, or the first encampment of a nation entering its inheritance, the **mâlôwn** illustrates that even the temporary, in-between spaces of life's journey are settings for God's profound and transformative work.
TRV