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Joshua 15

Joshua 15:35

The Cities of Judah · Joshua 15:20–63
Read Joshua 15

Translations

Modern
Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
Traditional
Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
Literal
Jarmuth, and Adullam, Sochoh, and Azekah,
Latin
…et Jerimoth et Adullam, Socho et Azeca,

Original

Hebrew
English
Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

Notes

Joshua 15:20–63

We cannot identify all of these locations with certainty. Many are unknown except for their mention in this and other lists. Some are briefly mentioned in other texts.

Joshua 15:1–63

The description of Judah's allotment of tribes is more detailed than that of the other tribes. The failures of Judah's older brothers positioned him to lead (Genesis 34:25–31; 35:22). As a result, the tribe of Judah received a central location among the tribes, guaranteeing its leadership in the nation (Genesis 49:8–12; Deuteronomy 33:7).

Joshua 14:1–19:51

  • The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.

  • The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

Joshua 13:1–21:45

  • As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

  • The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

  • In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Inheriting the Land

Places

Adullam: A Canaanite city, later fortified by Judah Azekah: Judean town, site of battles and sieges Jarmuth: A Canaanite city, later allotted to Judah Socoh: Town in Judah; site of David's battle with Goliath

Glossary

Adullam, Adullamite Allotment of the Land Ashnah Beth-Arabah Brook of Egypt Ekron, Ekronites Ezem Gederothaim Gilgal Jarmuth Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judah, Tribe of Judges, Book of Meunim, Meunites Shocho, Shochoh, Shoco Soco (Place), Socoh Tekoa, Tekoites Tribe of Dan Wadi

Topics

Adullam: An Ancient City of Canaan Azekah: A Town of Judah Jarmuth: A City in the Territory of the Tribe of Judah Socoh: Also Called Shocho, Shochoh, Shoco, Sochoh: A City of the Tribe of Judah