JOSHUA LESSON 16
We will begin this lesson in Joshua 15:1 "[This] then was the lot
of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; [even] to the
border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward [was] the uttermost
part of the south coast." Joshua 15:2 "And their south border was from
the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:"
Joshua 15:3 "And it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and
passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh-
barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a
compass to Karkaa:"
This is an account of the borders of the family of Judah. The
wilderness of Zin was bordering on Edom. The shore of the Salt Sea
indicates the furthest most coast of the sea. The literal meaning of
"Maaleh-acrabbim" is Scorpion Rise. Miriam died at Kadesh, and was
buried near there. Kadesh-barnea was the place where the spies brought
their report to Moses. "Fetched a compass" means they were deflected
to another direction. In this case, to Karkaa.
Joshua 15:4 "[From thence] it passed toward Azmon, and went out
unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the
sea: this shall be your south coast." Joshua 15:5 "And the east
border [was] the salt sea, [even] unto the end of Jordan. And [their]
border in the north quarter [was] from the bay of the sea at the
uttermost part of Jordan:" Joshua 15:6 "And the border went up to
Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the
border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:" Joshua 15:7
"And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so
northward, looking toward Gilgal, that [is] before the going up to
Adummim, which [is] on the south side of the river: and the border
passed toward the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof
were at En-rogel:" Joshua 15:8 "And the border went up by the valley
of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same
[is] Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that
[lieth] before the valley of Hinnom westward, which [is] at the end of
the valley of the giants northward:"
Since this Bible study is not of the geography of the Bible or an
historical study, we will not dwell on these divisions of the land.
There are some spiritual things we must see in this, we will touch on
them. The "Sea of Egypt" means westward as far as Egypt. The boundary
land of Judah ran even to the sea. The land of Judah and Benjamin will
be later separted out from the other ten tribes of Israel, so it is
important to realize where they are. The northern border began where
the Jordan River entered the Dead Sea. Jerusalem was to be in the land
of Judah.
Joshua 15:9 "And the border was drawn from the top of the hill
unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities
of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which [is]
Kirjath-jearim:" Joshua 15:10 "And the border compassed from Baalah
westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount
Jearim, which [is] Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Beth-
shemesh, and passed on to Timnah:" Joshua 15:11 "And the border went
out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to
Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel;
and the goings out of the border were at the sea." Joshua 15:12 "And
the west border [was] to the great sea, and the coast [thereof]. This
[is] the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their
families."
It appears, from this, that the boundary from the mountain top
was speaking of an aqueduct that brought water to Jerusalem. The word
"compassed" means deflected. It is a change of direction. The "great
sea" is speaking of the Mediterranean Sea. A very easy way to speak of
Judah's land, would be to say it surrounded Jerusalem.
Joshua 15:13 "And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part
among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD
to Joshua, [even] the city of Arba the father of Anak, which [city is]
Hebron."
We saw in a previous lesson, where Caleb had requested Hebron as
his inheritance. This explains further, that it was given to him ,
even though it was in the land of Judah. We see that Arba and Hebron
are the same city.
Joshua 15:14 "And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak,
Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak."
These three were, probably, chiefs of the Anakims. Children, in
this sense, means descendents.
Joshua 15:15 "And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir:
and the name of Debir before [was] Kirjath-sepher." Joshua 15:16 "And
Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will
I give Achsah my daughter to wife."
We see, from this, that Kirjath-sepher was a strong enemy. This
is the first mention of Caleb's daughter. The father chose the husband
for his daughter, at the time this was written.
Joshua 15:17 "And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb,
took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife."
Caleb had been a brave man, so it is likely his brother would be,
as well. This Othniel could have been Caleb's brother's son. This is
the most likely. Othniel won the battle, and Caleb kept his word and
gave his daughter, Achsah, to him to wife.
Joshua 15:18 "And it came to pass, as she came [unto him], that
she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off [her]
ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?"
It seems from this, that Othniel got a smart wife. She asks her
father for a certain field for herself and her husband. Caleb listens
to her request.
Joshua 15:19 "Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast
given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her
the upper springs, and the nether springs."
South, in this verse, is Negeb, which is speaking of a dry land.
The land with the springs would bring water to their land. Water on
this dry land would cause it to flourish. We see that Caleb granted
his daughter's request.
Joshua 15:20 "This [is] the inheritance of the tribe of the
children of Judah according to their families."
We see four divisions of the land of Judah. The south, the
valley, the mountains, and the wilderness are the divisions.
"According to their families" means large families got more, and small
families got less.
Joshua 15:21 "And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the
children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and
Eder, and Jagur," Joshua 15:22 "And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,"
Joshua 15:23 "And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan," Joshua 15:24 "Ziph,
and Telem, and Bealoth," Joshua 15:25 "And Hazor, Hadattah, and
Kerioth, [and] Hezron, which [is] Hazor," Joshua 15:26 "Amam, and
Shema, and Moladah," Joshua 15:27 "And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and
Beth-palet," Joshua 15:28 "And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and
Bizjothjah," Joshua 15:29 "Baalah, and Iim, and Azem," Joshua 15:30
"And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah," Joshua 15:31 "And Ziklag, and
Madmannah, and Sansannah," Joshua 15:32 "And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and
Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities [are] twenty and nine, with their
villages:"
Now, we see the magnitude of the job of routing these people out.
Just the 29 cities would be a large number of people to defeat. Most
of these cities are not mentioned again. Ziglag is famous, because it
was the residence of King David. These cities were all located in the
southern area.
Joshua 15:33 "[And] in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and
Ashnah," Joshua 15:34 "And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,"
Joshua 15:35 "Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah," Joshua 15:36
"And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen
cities with their villages:"
The above is a list of all the cities of their inheritance from
the area of the valley. There are fourteen cities here.
Joshua 15:37 "Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad," Joshua 15:38
"And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel," Joshua 15:39 "Lachish, and
Bozkath, and Eglon," Joshua 15:40 "And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and
Kithlish," Joshua 15:41 "And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and
Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:"
These sixteen cities were part of the division of the cities of
the Judah.
Joshua 15:42 "Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan," Joshua 15:43 "And
Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib," Joshua 15:44 "And Keilah, and
Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:" Joshua 15:45
"Ekron, with her towns and her villages:" Joshua 15:46 "From Ekron
even unto the sea, all that [lay] near Ashdod, with their villages:"
Joshua 15:47 "Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her
towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea,
and the border [thereof]:"
Mareshah was one of Rehoboam's fortified cities mentioned in 2
Chronicles chapter 14 verse 9. Ekron, with her towns and her villages,
meant the daughter cities of Ekron.
The following seem to begin a list of the mountain cities. This
is, also, known as the hill country of Judaea.
Joshua 15:48 "And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and
Socoh," Joshua 15:49 "And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which [is]
Debir," Joshua 15:50 "And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim," Joshua 15:51
"And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:"
The total of these cities was 11.
Joshua 15:52 "Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean," Joshua 15:53 "And
Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah," Joshua 15:54 "And Humtah, and
Kirjath-arba, which [is] Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their
villages:" Joshua 15:55 "Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,"
These 3 hill country cities of Maon, Carmel, and Ziph kept their
names. All of these cities are mentioned several times in the life of
David.
Joshua 15:56 "And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah," Joshua
15:57 "Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:"
These ten cities were all part of the range of hills of Judaea.
Joshua 15:58 "Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor," Joshua 15:59 "And
Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:"
These six cities are in the near area of the eleven previously
mentioned. They are to be counted separately.
Joshua 15:60 "Kirjath-baal, which [is] Kirjath-jearim, and
Rabbah; two cities with their villages:"
Bethlehem should be included in the list of the cities above.
Joshua 15:61 "In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and
Secacah,"
This was a wilderness, but not a desert. Some vegetation had been
found there.
Joshua 15:62 "And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six
cities with their villages."
This city of salt had to be located near the Salt Sea, or the
Dead Sea. En-gedi would later be a safe place for David to hide from
Saul. We see the total of these to be six.
Joshua 15:63 "As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem,
the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites
dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day."
The Israelites {specifically the tribe of Judah} did not manage
to run out the Jebusites. They lived together in Jerusalem. The
Jebusites seemed to eventually just mingle in with the children of
Judah. There are some Bible teachers who compare these Jebusites to
the nominal Christians in the church. They are there, but never
totally committed. They attend church, but do not work to further the
kingdom.
Joshua 16 Questions
1. This chapter is describing the inheritance by the tribe of
_______.
2. The literal meaning of "Maaleh-acrabbim" is what?
3. Where did Miriam die?
4. What does "fetched a compass" mean?
5. Why does the author choose not to go into detail about the
boundaries of each tribe's land?
6. What does the "Sea of Egypt" mean?
7. Jerusalem was in the land of __________.
8. What was speaking of an aqueduct to Jerusalem?
9. What does "compassed" mean?
10. Who had asked specifically for Hebron?
11. ______ and Hebron are the same city.
12. Children, in verse 14, means what?
13. What was Caleb's daughter's name?
14. Who did Caleb promise to give her to in marriage?
15. Who won her hand?
16. What did she ask her father, Caleb, for?
17. Why did she need the springs?
18. South, in verse 19, is _________.
19. Why is the city of Ziglag famous?
20. What is different about Maon, Carmel, and Ziph?
21. What city was overlooked, that should have been listed?
22. Where was the city of salt located?
23. What happened to the Jebusites?
24. What do some Bible teachers compare the Jebusites to?
Home