### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Hebrew word **Qiṭrôwn**, represented by `{{H7003}}`, is the name of **Kitron, a place in Palestine**. According to its usage statistics, it appears only **1 time** in **1 unique verse** in the entire Bible. The name's base definition is "fumigative; Kitron," identifying it as a specific geographical location within the narrative of the Israelite settlement.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The single biblical reference to `{{H7003}}` is found in [[Judges 1:30]]. The verse describes the failure of the tribe of Zebulun to fully conquer their allotted territory. The text states that Zebulun did not **drive out** `{{H3423}}` the inhabitants of **Kitron**, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol. As a consequence of this incomplete obedience, the Canaanites were permitted to **dwell** `{{H3427}}` **among** `{{H7130}}` the Israelites in that region, though they were subjected to forced labor and became **tributaries** `{{H4522}}`.
### Related Words & Concepts
The context of **Qiṭrôwn** is clarified by several key Hebrew words that appear alongside it in [[Judges 1:30]]:
* `{{H2074}}` **Zᵉbûwlûwn** (Zebulun): This refers to **Zebulun, a son of Jacob; also his territory and tribe**. This tribe was tasked with possessing the land that included Kitron.
* `{{H3423}}` **yârash** (to occupy): This crucial verb means **to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place)**. The verse hinges on Zebulun's failure to perform this action.
* `{{H3669}}` **Kᵉnaʻanîy** (Canaanite): This identifies the people who were not driven out of Kitron as a **Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan**.
* `{{H4522}}` **maç** (tribute): This word, meaning a **tax in the form of forced labor**, describes the status imposed on the Canaanites who remained in Kitron.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{H7003}}` is found in the event it represents, serving as a specific example of Israel's partial obedience to God's commands.
* **Incomplete Possession:** The account of Kitron illustrates the theme of incomplete conquest. The command was to **drive out** `{{H3423}}` the previous inhabitants [[Joshua 3:10]], but here the tribe of Zebulun fell short of that mandate.
* **Consequences of Compromise:** Rather than expulsion, the Canaanites were made **tributaries** `{{H4522}}`. This arrangement, also seen with the Ephraimites in Gezer [[Joshua 16:10]], established a pattern of coexistence with foreign influences in the land.
* **A Geographical Witness:** Kitron, though mentioned just once, stands as a geographical marker of a moment of compromise, where a tribe settled for subjugation of the Canaanites rather than their complete removal as instructed.
### Summary
In summary, **Qiṭrôwn** `{{H7003}}` is the proper name of a Canaanite town located in the territory assigned to the tribe of Zebulun. Its sole scriptural appearance [[Judges 1:30]] is significant not for the town itself, but for its role in the narrative of Israel's settlement. It serves as a concise example of the failure of an Israelite tribe to fully **drive out** the inhabitants of the land, resulting in a compromised situation where the Canaanites remained as **tributaries**.
TRV