### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The lemma תִּמְנָה (Timnâh, `{{H8553}}`) derives from the root מָנָה (mânâh, `{{H4487}}`), which carries the core meaning of "to count," "to number," "to appoint," "to assign," or "to prepare." Consequently, the name Timnâh fundamentally signifies "a portion assigned" or "an allotted part." While primarily a proper noun referring to specific geographical locations, its etymological root imbues these places with a sense of divine or human allocation. It denotes a designated territory, often implying a boundary, an inheritance, or a place that was specifically 'counted out' or 'appointed' within a larger scheme.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Timnâh (`{{H8553}}`) appears multiple times in the Hebrew Bible, primarily referring to two distinct geographical locations, both significant in the narratives of Israel's early history and settlement:
1. **Timnah in Judah (Shephelah):** This is the more frequently mentioned Timnah, located in the Shephelah, the lowlands situated between the Judean hills and the Philistine plain.
* It is first listed as a city in the tribal allotment of Judah ([[Joshua 15:10]], [[Joshua 15:57]]). Interestingly, it is also later mentioned in the territory of Dan before Dan's migration ([[Joshua 19:43]]), highlighting its strategic, often contested, borderland position.
* Timnah serves as the setting for the account of Judah and Tamar, where Judah goes up to Timnah to shear his sheep ([[Genesis 38:12]], [[Genesis 38:13]], [[Genesis 38:14]]). This narrative underscores its agricultural significance and its accessibility to the patriarchs.
* Most famously, Timnah is intimately associated with Samson. It is the place where he encounters the Philistine woman he desires to marry ([[Judges 14:1]], [[Judges 14:2]], [[Judges 14:5]], [[Judges 14:7]]). The vineyard of Timnah is where Samson kills the young lion ([[Judges 14:5]]). These accounts highlight Timnah's Philistine connections and its role as a point of interaction, and often conflict, between Israel and the Philistines.
* During the reign of King Ahaz, Timnah is among the cities captured by the Philistines, indicating its continued strategic importance and its fluctuating control between Israel and Philistia ([[2 Chronicles 28:18]]).
2. **Timnah in the Hill Country of Ephraim:** This distinct Timnah is less frequently mentioned but holds profound significance.
* It is recorded as the burial place of Joshua, alongside the "mount of Gaash" ([[Joshua 24:30]], [[Judges 2:9]]). This specific location is also known as Timnath-serah or Timnath-heres in other passages. Its association with Joshua's burial makes it a pivotal site for the nation's foundational history, marking the resting place of the leader who completed the conquest and distributed the land.
The contexts reveal Timnah as a border town, often contested, and a place of significant events in the lives of key biblical figures (Judah, Samson, Joshua). Its repeated appearance in narratives of inheritance, conflict, and personal destiny underscores its importance as a "portion assigned" in the unfolding drama of Israel.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Root מָנָה (mânâh, `{{H4487}}`):** As the direct etymological root, מָנָה signifies "to count," "to appoint," "to number," or "to assign a portion." This foundational connection links Timnah to broader concepts of divine ordering, destiny, and the precise allocation of inheritance, whether land or fate.
* **Inheritance (נַחֲלָה - nachalah, `{{H5159}}`):** The concept of an "assigned portion" directly relates to the Israelite understanding of land as a divinely given inheritance, particularly the tribal allotments. Timnah's inclusion in the territories of Judah and Dan exemplifies this principle.
* **Boundary (גְּבוּל - gevul, `{{H1366}}`):** Given its location in the Shephelah and its frequent mention in territorial descriptions, Timnah often functions as a crucial boundary marker, highlighting the contested nature of the land and the limits of tribal or national control.
* **Philistia (פְּלֶשֶׁת - Peleshet, `{{H6430}}`):** The narratives involving Samson vividly illustrate Timnah's proximity to and interaction with the Philistines, making it a critical point of cultural, social, and military interface between Israel and its primary adversaries in the early Iron Age.
* **Strategic Location:** Timnah's position in the Shephelah made it a key strategic point for controlling access between the coastal plain and the Judean highlands, contributing to its significance in military and political history.
### Theological Significance
The very name Timnâh, meaning "a portion assigned," subtly points to the divine sovereignty and meticulous ordering of creation and history. Even geographical locations are not random but are "appointed" or "allotted" within God's larger providential plan.
In the context of tribal allotments ([[Joshua 15:57]], [[Joshua 19:43]]), Timnah represents God's faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises to Abraham regarding the land. The "assigned portion" becomes a tangible manifestation of divine provision and inheritance for His people.
The narratives associated with Timnah, particularly those involving Samson, reveal the complexities of Israel's relationship with surrounding nations and the challenges of maintaining covenant fidelity in a fallen world. Samson's choice of a Philistine wife from Timnah, though seemingly problematic, is ultimately portrayed as being "from the Lord" ([[Judges 14:4]]), illustrating God's ability to work His purposes even through human choices that appear to deviate from His law. This underscores a profound theological tension between human responsibility and divine orchestration.
The burial of Joshua in Timnath-serah/Timnah ([[Joshua 24:30]], [[Judges 2:9]]) imbues this specific location with profound significance. It marks the resting place of the leader who brought Israel into their "assigned portion" of the land, serving as a silent testament to the completion of a major phase of God's redemptive history. It signifies the fulfillment of the promise of rest in the land.
Overall, Timnah, as an "assigned portion," serves as a microcosm of God's providential care over the land and His people, highlighting enduring themes of inheritance, covenant, conflict, and the unfolding of His sovereign will through specific places and events.
### Summary
The Hebrew word תִּמְנָה (Timnâh, `{{H8553}}`), meaning "a portion assigned," is primarily a geographical proper noun referring to two significant locations in ancient Israel. Etymologically rooted in מָנָה (mânâh, `{{H4487}}`), "to count" or "to appoint," the name itself carries the theological weight of divine allocation. The Timnah in the Judean Shephelah is prominent in the narratives of Judah and Tamar ([[Genesis 38:12]]) and, more extensively, Samson, serving as a critical point of interaction and conflict with the Philistines ([[Judges 14:1]], [[2 Chronicles 28:18]]). The other Timnah, in Mount Ephraim, is notable as the burial place of Joshua ([[Joshua 24:30]]). The biblical contexts reveal Timnah as a strategic border town, often contested, and a setting for pivotal events in Israel's history. Theologically, Timnah symbolizes God's sovereign ordering and the fulfillment of His covenant promises regarding the land as an "assigned portion" for His people, even amidst human choices and inter-ethnic strife. It underscores themes of inheritance, divine providence, and the complex unfolding of God's plan through specific places and figures.
TRV