The farthest cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
Parallel Translations
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The farthest cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
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And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
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And the cities at the uttermost part of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur;
Cross-references (2)
Passages linked to Joshua 15:21 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, ordered by reader-vote popularity; verse text shown in World English Bible.
- Genesis 35:21 Israel traveled, and spread his tent beyond the tower of Eder.
- Nehemiah 11:25 As for the villages, with their fields, some of the children of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba and its towns, in Dibon and its towns, in Jekabzeel and its villages,
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
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Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain The uttermost cities; those which were on the borders…
The uttermost cities; those which were on the borders of the land, not the midland cities. It is apparent that all the cities belonging to this tribe are not mentioned in this catalogue.
Kabzeel, called Jekabzeel, Neh 11:25.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain And Kinah,.... Of this city we read of nowhere…
And Kinah,.... Of this city we read of nowhere else:
and Dimonah; the second city is thought to be the same with Dibon, Neh 11:25; and Jerom (b) observes, that a place elsewhere was indifferently called in his time Dibon and Dimon;
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and Adadah; the last of these cities is nowhere met with.
(b) Comment. in Esaiam, c. 15. 9.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain List of the towns of the tribe of Judah.…
List of the towns of the tribe of Judah. These are arranged in four divisions, according to the natural features of the district; namely,, those of the Negeb or south country Jos 15:21-32; of “the valley,” or “the plain” (“Shephelah”, Jos 15:33-47); of “the mountains” Jos 15:48-60; and of “the wilderness” Jos 15:61-62. Many of the identifications are still conjectural only.
Jos 15:21-32. The Negeb was for the most part rocky and arid, and cannot have been at any time very thickly populated.
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Jos 15:21
Kabzeel was the native place of Benaiah 2Sa 23:20, who was famous as a slayer of lions. The Negeb was a principal haunt of these beasts.
Jos 15:24
Telem may be the Telaim of 1Sa 15:4, where Saul mustered his army for the expedition against the Amalekites. It is possibly to be looked for at “El-Kuseir”, a spot where the various routes toward different parts of the Negeb converge, and which is occupied by the Arab tribe the “Dhullam”, a word identical with Telem in its consonants. Bealoth is probably the “Baalath-beer - Ramath of the south” Jos 19:8, and was one of the towns afterward assigned to the Simeonites. It is identified with the modern Kurnub.
Jos 15:25
And Hezron which is Hazor - In this verse are the names of two towns only, not of four. Two places bearing the common topographical appellation, Hazor (“enclosure”) are here mentioned and distinguished as “Hazor Hadattah” and “Kerioth-Hezron,” otherwise termed Hazor, simply: the former has been identified by some with “El-Hudhera”; the latter is probably the modern “El-Kuryetein”. Kerioth, prefixed to a name, bespeaks military occupation, as Hazor points to pastoral pursuits. The place would therefore seem to be an ancient pastoral settlement which had been fortified by the Anakims, and called accordingly Kerioth; to which name the men of Judah, after they had captured it, added that of Hezron, in honor of one of their leading ancestors (compare Gen 46:12; Rth 4:18). Kerioth was the home of Judas the traitor, if the ordinary derivation of Iscariot (= קריות אישׁ 'ı̂ysh qerı̂yôth), i. e. man of Kerioth) be accepted: Mat 10:4.
Jos 15:26
Moladah is probably the modern “El-Milh”, and like Hazar-shual (“Berrishail” near Gaza) ( “enclosure of foxes”) occurs Jos 19:2-3; 1Ch 4:28, as a town belonging to Simeon, and Neh 11:26-27 as a place occupied by Jews after the captivity.
Jos 15:29-32
Baalah Jos 19:3 is found in the modern “Deir-el-Belah”, near Gaza. Iim, i. e. “ruinous heaps” or “conical hills” (Num 21:11 note) is by some connected with Azem; and the compound name, “Ije Azem”, is traced in El-Aujeh, in the country of the Azazimeh Arabs, in whose name the ancient Azem may perhaps be traced. Eltolad is connected with “Wady-el-Thoula”, in the extreme south of the Negeb. Chesil appears to be the town called Bethul Jos 19:4, and probably the Bethel 1Sa 30:27 situated not far from Ziklag. The name Chesil ( “fool”) was most likely bestowed by way of opprobrium (compare the change of Bethel, house of God, into Bethaven, house of vanity, Hos 4:15). As Chesil signifies the group of stars known as Orion (compare Job 38:31; Amo 5:8), probably it was the worship of the heavenly bodies in particular that was carried on here. Bethel may have been the ancient name, and the spot was perhaps the very one near Beer-sheba where Abraham planted a tamarisk tree Gen 21:33.
The place is probably “El Khulasah”, the Elusa of ecclesiastical writers, situated some fifteen miles southwest of Beer-sheba. Jerome testifies to the fact, that the worship of Venus as the morning star was practiced there, and Sozomen appears to be speaking of this place, when he mentions a Bethel Βηθελια Bēthelia in the territory of Gaza, populous and famous for an ancient and splendid temple. The site of Ziklag is uncertain. Madmannah and Sansannah correspond to Beth-marcaboth ( “house of chariots”) and Hazar-susah (“horse enclosure”) in Jos 19:5 1Ch 4:31. The latter names point to two stations of passage on or near the high road between Egypt and Palestine, and are represented by the modern “Minyay” and “Wady-es-Suny”, on the caravan route south of Gaza. Shilhim or Sharuhen, Jos 19:6, and Shaaraim 1Ch 4:31 is traced in “Khirbet-es-Seram”, near El Aujeh. Ain and Rimmon were possibly originally two towns, but in process of time became so connected as to be treated as one name Neh 11:29. The place is probably the present “Um-er-Rummamim,” i. e. “mother of pomegranates,” a place about ten miles north of Beer-sheba.
Jos 15:32
Twenty and nine - The King James Version gives 34 names. The difference is due either to the confusion by an early copyist of letters similar in form which were used as numerals; or to the separation in the King James Version of names which in the original were one (e. g. Jos 15:25).
Jos 15:33-47
“The valley” or the Shephelah, is bounded on the south by the Negeb, on the west by the Mediterranean, on the north by the plain of Sharon, on the east by “the mountains” Jos 15:48. It is a well-defined district, of an undulating surface and highly fertile character, thickly dotted, even at the present time, with villages, which are for the most part situated on the different hills. The towns in this district, like those in the Negeb, are classed in four groups.
Jos 15:33-36
First group of fourteen towns: these belong to the northeastern portion of the Shephelah. Eshtaol and Zoreah were afterward assigned to the tribe of Dan, and inhabited by Danites Jdg 13:25; Jdg 18:2, Jdg 18:8,Jdg 18:11. The latter place was the home of Samson Jdg 13:2. It was one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam 2Ch 11:10, and was re-occupied by the Jews after the captivity Neh 11:29. It is probably the modern Surah. (Eshtaol has been identified with Eshua (Conder)). Both places were in later times partly populated by Judahites from Kirjath-jearim; perhaps after the departure of the colony of Danites for Dan-Laish. Zanoah is the present “Zanna”, not far from Surah. Socoh is the modern “Shuweikah”. Sharaim is perhaps to be sought in the modern “Zakariya”. Gederah (“wall” or “fortress”) was a name borne with various terminations by several places.
Jos 15:37-41
Second group of towns, containing those in the middle portion of the Shephelah, and of which some only Jos 10:3, Jos 10:10 can be identified.
Jos 15:42-44
Third group; towns in the south of the Shephelah. For Libnah see Jos 10:29. Mareshah is believed to be near Beit-jibrin, the ancient “Eleutheropolis.”
Jos 15:45-47
Fourth group: the towns of the Philistine seacoast: see Jos 13:3.
Jos 15:48-60
This highland district extends from the Negeb on the south to Jerusalem, and is bounded by the Shephelah on the west, and the “wilderness” Jos 15:61-62 on the east. The mountains, which are of limestone, rise to a height of near 3,000 feet. At present, the highlands of Judah present a somewhat dreary and monotonous aspect. The peaks are for the most part barren, though crowned almost everywhere with the ruins of ancient towns, and bearing on their sides marks of former cultivation. Many of the valleys, especially toward the south, are, however, still very productive. The towns here enumerated are given in six groups.
Jos 15:48-51
First group: towns on the southwest. Dannah (is identified with “Idnah” (Conder)). Jattir (“Attir”), and Eshtemoh (“Semua”) were priestly cities Jos 21:14; 1Ch 6:57, and the place to which David, after routing the Amalekites, sent presents 1Sa 30:27-28. Socoh is “Suweikeh.”
Jos 15:52-54
Second group of nine towns, situated somewhat to the north of the last mentioned. Of these Dumah is perhaps the ruined village “Ed Daumeh,” in the neighborhood of Hebron; and Beth-tappuah, i. e. “house of apples,” “Teffuh,” a place which has still a good number of inhabitants, is conspicuous for its olive groves and vineyards, and bears on every side the traces of industry and thrift.
Jos 15:55-57
Third group; lying eastward of the towns named in the last two, and next to “the wilderness.”
Jos 15:55
The four towns retain their ancient names with but little change. Maon 1Sa 23:24; 1Sa 25:2, the home of Nabal, is to be looked for in the conical hill, “Main,” the top of which is covered with ruins. It lies eight or nine miles southeast of Hebron Carmel 1Sa 25:2, the modern “Kurmul,” is a little to the north of “Main.” The name belongs to more than one place Jos 12:22. Ziph gave its name to “the wilderness” into which David fled from Saul 1Sa 23:14.
Jos 15:58, Jos 15:59
Fourth group. Towns north of the last mentioned, of which Beth-zur and Gedor are represented by “Beit-sur” and “Jedur.”
After Jos 15:59 follows in the Greek version a fifth group of eleven towns, which appears to have dropped in very ancient times out of the Hebrew text, probably because some transcriber passed unawares from the word “villages” at the end of Jos 15:59, to the same word at the end of the missing passage. The omitted group contains the towns of an important, well-known, and populous district lying immediately south of Jerusalem, and containing such towns as Tekoah 2Sa 14:2; Neh 3:5, Neh 3:27; Amo 1:1; Bethlehem, the native town of David and of Christ Gen 35:19; and Aetan, a Grecised form of Etam 2Ch 11:6.
Jos 15:61, Jos 15:62
This district, including the towns in “the wilderness,” the scene of David’s wanderings (1Sa 23:24; Psa 63:1-11 title), and of the preaching of the Baptist Mat 3:1, and perhaps of our Lord’s temptation Matt. 4, extended from the northern limit of Judah along the Dead Sea to the Negeb; it was bounded on the west by that part of “the mountains” or highlands of Judah, which adjoined Bethlehem and Maon. It abounds in limestone rocks, perforated by numerous caverns, and often of fantastic shapes. It is badly supplied with water, and hence, is for the most part barren, though affording in many parts, now quite desolate, clear tokens of former cultivation. It contained only a thin population in the days of Joshua.
Jos 15:62
“The city of Salt” is not mentioned elsewhere, but was no doubt connected with “the valley of salt” 2Sa 8:13. The name itself, and the mention of En-gedi (Gen 14:7 note) suggest that its site must be looked for near the Dead Sea.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain CITIES OF JUDAH. (Jos. 15:21-63)
CITIES OF JUDAH. (Jos. 15:21-63)
the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah--There is given a list of cities within the tribal territory of Judah, arranged in four divisions, corresponding to the districts of which it consisted--the cities in the southern part (Jos 15:21-32), those in the lowlands (Jos 15:33-47), those in the highlands (Jos 15:48-60), and those in the desert (Jos 15:61-62). One gets the best idea of the relative situation of these cities by looking at the map.
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Next: Joshua Chapter 16
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain 21. And the uttermost cities] The writer commences with…
21. And the uttermost cities] The writer commences with the cities at the extremity of the territory of Judah, the S.E. point of the Dead Sea, on the Edomite frontier.
toward the coast of Edom southward] For “coast,” see above, ch. Jos_13:16. (a) First we have a group of nine cities within the Negeb at the south-east:—
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(1) Kabzeel = “which God gathers,” the birth-place of Benaiah, one of David’s heroes (2Sa_23:20); (2) Eder and (3) Jagur are altogether unknown; (4) Kinah, possibly the territory of the Kenites who settled at Arad; (5) Dimonah = Dibon (Neh_11:25); (6) Adadah, identified by Robinson with Sudeid; (7) Kedesh, (8) Hazor, and (9) Ithnan are unknown.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain (21) And the uttermost cities.—The cities of the tribe…
(21) And the uttermost cities.—The cities of the tribe of Judah are given under four heads: (a) towards Edom; (b) in the Shephêlah, or plain of the coast (Jos_15:33, &c.); (c) in the mountains (Jos_15:48); (d) in the wilderness (Jos_15:61).
Of those in Jos_15:21-32, the first twenty-nine, Conder identifies only four—viz., Adadah, Jos_15:22 (Ad’adah); Kerioth Hezron (some see a trace of Kerioth in the sobriquet of Judas Is-cariot, the man of Kerioth), Jos_15:25 (Hudîreh); Beer-sheba, Jos_15:28 (Bîr es-seb’a); and Ain Rimmon, Jos_15:32 ( Umm er-Rumânûn). It is not easy to say precisely how the twenty-nine are to be obtained from the thirty-three, but evidently some of the Hazors are villages attached to the cities.
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(31) Ziklag.—It is noticeable that Ziklag became the property of the kings of Judah by the gift of Achish, who bestowed it on David (1Sa_27:6). not by the gift of Joshua to Judah. The partial character of the conquest and the division of unconquered territory to the tribes is thus illustrated.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain Coast. Rather, border (see note ver. 4). Southward. The…
Coast. Rather, border (see note ver. 4). Southward. The term here used (see above, ver. 19) for "south" is the one which has the signification of dryness. It is, however, occasionally used in a less strict sense, as in Jos_19:24. Though the south country was in the main an arid region, yet its intersection by numerous wadys, with their attendant streams, provided fertile spots at intervals, where the traveller might rest, cattle might be watered, and corn and other produce raised. The only places of any importance in Scripture history mentioned here are Beersheba, (cf. Gen_21:31) and Hormah. (see Num_14:45 Num_21:3; and Jos_12:14 Jos_19:4; and Jud_1:17) This last passage explains why the city is mentioned among the cities of Simeon as well as Judah, and is another instance of the remarkable accuracy of our author. Ziklag is famous as the residence of David. (1Sa_27:6) It is noteworthy that t was given to him by Achish, king of Gath, in whose possession it therefore was at that time. It was burnt by the roving hands of Amalekites. (see 1Sa_30:1)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain Catalog of the Cities of Judah.
Catalog of the Cities of Judah.
v. 21. And the uttermost of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
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v. 22. and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
v. 23. and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
v. 24. Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
v. 25. and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, or Kerioth-hezron, which is Hazor,
v. 26. Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
v. 27. and Hazargaddah, and Hesh-mon, and Beth-palet,
v. 28. and Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah,
v. 29. Baalah, and lina, and Azem,
v. 30. and Eitolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
v. 31. and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
v. 32. and Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Bimmon. All the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages, in addition to which seven cities are named which were afterwards occupied by the tribe of Simeon, Jos 19:1. These were cities of the south country, in the extreme southern part.
v. 33. And in the valley, in the lowland and foothills, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
v. 34. and Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
v. 35. Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
v. 36. and Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteen cities with their villages, for the last two are probably the same city, and the names should be connected with "or. "
v. 37. Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,
v. 38. and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
v. 39. Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
v. 40. and Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
v. 41. and Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Waamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages.
v. 42. Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
v. 43. and Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
v. 44. and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages;
v. 45. Ekron, with her towns and her villages;
v. 46. from Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
v. 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.
v. 48. And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
v. 49. and Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir,
v. 50. and Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
v. 51. and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages;
v. 52. Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
v. 53. and Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,
v. 54. and Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior: nine cities with their villages;
v. 55. Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
v. 56. and Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
v. 57. Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages;
v. 58. Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,
v. 59. and Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eitekon; six cities with their villages;
v. 60. Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Babbah: two cities with their villages.
v. 61. In the wilderness, near the Dead Sea, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,
v. 62. and Nibshan, and the City of Salt, and Engedi: six cities with their villages. Some of these cities, as those in the Philistine country, were not occupied by the tribe of Judah, and others were in the hands of the children of Israel for only a short time. The site of a large number of these cities has been fixed with a fair degree of certainty, while others are mentioned in the various narratives and will be located as the history calls for a more exact geographical description.
v. 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. It was not till the time of David that this city was finally taken by the army of the Lord’s people, 2Sa 5:5-9. It is a dangerous thing for the soldiers of the Lord to grow weary in battle, for then their enemies are likely to gain strength beyond their ability to overcome them.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
The writer lists the southern cities of which Judah took possession. The list continues through Joshua 15:32. (See: How to Translate Names)
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translationWords
Edom
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 15:21 in the extreme south: Or in the Negev…
15:21 in the extreme south: Or in the Negev (see study note on 1:4). The Hebrew word negeb can refer either to the general direction (“south”) or the desert region named “Negev.” • The location of Eder is otherwise unknown. Some propose translating this word as “Arad” because Arad should be about here in the list and was too important to have been left out. This translation would simply reverse two Hebrew letters that are very similar in shape.
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