from the plural of מִשְׂרָפָה and מַיִם; burnings of water; Misrephoth-Majim, a place in Palestine; Misrephoth-mayim.
Transliteration:Misrᵉphôwth mayim
Pronunciation:mis-ref-ohth' mah'-yim
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew lemma מִשְׂרְפוֹת מַיִם (Misrᵉphôwth mayim, `{{H4956}}`) is a compound noun derived from the plural form of מִשְׂרָפָה (misraphah, `{{H4954}}`), meaning "burning" or "place of burning," and מַיִם (mayim, `{{H4325}}`), meaning "water" or "waters." Literally, the phrase translates to "burnings of water" or "places of the burning of waters." While the literal meaning evokes imagery of hot springs or perhaps fires near water, the term functions primarily as a proper noun, designating a specific geographical location in ancient Palestine. This place, Misrephoth-Majim, served as a significant landmark, particularly in the northern regions.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The name Misrephoth-Majim appears exclusively in the book of Joshua, serving as a geographical marker in two distinct contexts:
1. **[[Joshua 11:8]]**: Following the decisive victory over the northern coalition of kings led by Jabin, king of Hazor, Joshua's forces are described as pursuing the routed enemy "as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-Majim." In this context, Misrephoth-Majim marks the northernmost extent of the pursuit, signifying the completeness and depth of Israel's victory under divine empowerment. It underscores the comprehensive nature of the conquest in this region.
2. **[[Joshua 13:6]]**: As God instructs Joshua concerning the land yet to be possessed, Misrephoth-Majim is again mentioned. The text states, "all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon as far as Misrephoth-Majim, all the Sidonians, them I myself will drive out before the people of Israel." Here, it defines the northern boundary of the territory still to be taken, specifically highlighting the unpossessed lands inhabited by the Sidonians. This verse contrasts the achieved victories with the remaining task of fully inheriting the promised land, emphasizing God's continued promise to dispossess the inhabitants.
In both instances, Misrephoth-Majim functions as a crucial geographical reference point, delineating the boundaries of Israel's conquest and their future inheritance in the northern reaches of Canaan.
### Related Words & Concepts
The constituent elements of Misrephoth-Majim connect it to broader biblical themes:
* מִשְׂרָפָה (misraphah, `{{H4954}}`): This root is often associated with intense heat, burning, or places of incineration, sometimes in the context of judgment or purification. While its application to a geographical feature named "burnings of water" is unique, it might subtly allude to a place where divine judgment was manifest or where the forces of the enemy were "burned up" in defeat.
* מַיִם (mayim, `{{H4325}}`): "Water" frequently symbolizes life, purification, or even judgment in the biblical narrative. The juxtaposition of "burning" and "water" in a place name is intriguing, though its specific metaphorical significance in this context is not explicitly elaborated.
* **Geographical Markers**: Misrephoth-Majim belongs to a class of place names in Joshua that delineate the boundaries and extent of the Promised Land. Other examples include Baal-gad ([[Joshua 11:17]]) or Mount Halak ([[Joshua 11:17]]). These names serve to ground the narrative of conquest and inheritance in tangible geography.
* **Conquest and Inheritance**: The primary conceptual ties are to the themes of the Israelite conquest of Canaan and the fulfillment of God's covenant promises regarding the land.
### Theological Significance
As a geographical marker, Misrephoth-Majim holds theological significance primarily in its role within the narrative of God's faithfulness to His covenant with Israel.
1. **Divine Faithfulness and Victory**: In [[Joshua 11:8]], its mention as the northern limit of Joshua's pursuit testifies to the comprehensive nature of God's deliverance and the extent of the victory He granted to Israel. It stands as a witness to the fulfillment of God's promise to give them the land and to defeat their enemies.
2. **The Unfinished Task and Future Promise**: In [[Joshua 13:6]], Misrephoth-Majim serves as a reminder that while God had given the land, the full possession required continued obedience and effort from Israel. It underscores the principle that divine promise often involves human participation in its realization. God promises to drive out the inhabitants, but Israel must act in faith to inherit.
3. **The Boundaries of God's Gift**: The precise naming of such locations emphasizes the tangible reality of the land given by God. It delineates the scope of Israel's inheritance, grounding the abstract promise in concrete geographical terms.
### Summary
Misrephoth-Majim (`{{H4956}}`), meaning "burnings of water," is a unique place name in the biblical text, appearing twice in the book of Joshua. It functions as a crucial northern geographical marker, signifying both the extent of Israel's divinely-granted victories under Joshua ([[Joshua 11:8]]) and the remaining territory yet to be fully possessed by the Israelites ([[Joshua 13:6]]). Its mention underscores the faithfulness of God in fulfilling His covenant promises regarding the land, while simultaneously highlighting the ongoing responsibility of Israel to fully inherit their divine inheritance. The name itself, while intriguing, primarily serves to ground the narrative of conquest and promise in specific, identifiable geography.
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