Joshua 15:2 meaning, Cross Ref, ai commentary KJV NIV ESV NLT

Joshua 15:2 kjv

And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:

Joshua 15:2 nkjv

And their southern border began at the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.

Joshua 15:2 niv

Their southern boundary started from the bay at the southern end of the Dead Sea,

Joshua 15:2 esv

And their south boundary ran from the end of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces southward.

Joshua 15:2 nlt

The southern boundary began at the south bay of the Dead Sea,

Joshua 15 2 Cross References

Verse	Text	Reference
Gen 12:7	Then the LORD appeared to Abram and said, "To your offspring I will give this land."	God's initial promise of land to Abraham.
Gen 15:18	On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, "To your descendants I give this land..."	Covenant establishing the boundaries of the land grant.
Gen 17:8	The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside... I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants...	Promise of perpetual land possession.
Gen 49:8	"Judah, your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father's sons will bow down to you."	Prophecy of Judah's future prominence and leadership.
Num 26:55	The land shall be divided by lot...	Principle of land inheritance by lot.
Num 34:3-5	Your southern boundary will start from the Desert of Zin alongside Edom, and its border will begin... from the Salt Sea.	Specific Old Testament outline for Israel's southern border, particularly relevant to Judah.
Deut 1:8	See, I have given you this land. Go in and take possession...	God's instruction to the Israelites to inherit the promised land.
Deut 19:14	"Do not move your neighbor's boundary stone set up by your predecessors in the inheritance you receive..."	The importance of fixed and respected boundaries.
Josh 1:6	"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors..."	Joshua's commission to lead the inheritance of the land.
Josh 13:6	...I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land as an inheritance to Israel...	Divine command for land allocation before complete conquest.
Josh 14:2	Their inheritance was distributed by lot, as the LORD had commanded through Moses for the nine and a half tribes.	Confirmation that land was distributed according to God's command.
Josh 15:1	The allotment for the tribe of Judah... reached the border of Edom, by the Desert of Zin, to the south.	The broader context of Judah's extensive territory.
Josh 18:6	You are to accurately describe the land by its divisions and bring the description to me, so I can cast lots for you...	Emphasis on meticulous surveying for land distribution.
Judg 1:1-2	After the death of Joshua, the Israelites asked the LORD, "Who of us is to go up first to fight against the Canaanites?" The LORD answered, "Judah is to go; I have given the land into their hands."	Judah's leading role in subsequent conquest and occupation.
1 Chr 5:2	Judah was the most powerful of his brothers and a ruler came from him...	Reiteration of Judah's preeminence among the tribes.
Neh 11:25	As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath Arba...	Historical account of people dwelling within these allocated lands.
Ps 78:55	He drove out nations before them, allotted their inheritance by measure, and settled the tribes of Israel in their homes.	God's sovereign and precise involvement in the land distribution.
Ezek 47:19	"The south side will be from Tamar as far as the waters of Meribah Kadesh..."	Prophetic descriptions of future land divisions in Ezekiel's vision.
Zech 14:8	On that day living water will flow out from Jerusalem... half to the Dead Sea...	Prophetic transformation and renewal associated with the Dead Sea.
Matt 1:2-3	Abraham was the father of Isaac... and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah...	Jesus' direct lineage from Judah, highlighting the fulfillment of the tribal prophecy.
Heb 4:1	Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it.	Spiritual "rest" as a theological parallel to the physical land inheritance.
Heb 7:14	For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah...	Confirms Jesus' tribal identity, directly linking to the significance of Judah's inheritance.
1 Pet 1:4	...an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you...	Believers' imperishable spiritual inheritance contrasted with earthly ones.

Joshua 15 verses

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

Joshua 15 2 Meaning

Joshua 15:2 precisely defines the initial segment of the southern border for the tribal territory of Judah. It establishes the border's starting point at the extreme southeastern edge of the Dead Sea (referred to as the Salt Sea), specifically at its southernmost inlet or bay. This demarcation marked the eastern end of Judah's southern boundary line, which would then extend westward.

Joshua 15 2 Context

Joshua chapter 15 specifically delineates the inheritance assigned to the tribe of Judah. Following the successful conquest campaign against the Canaanites, the land was systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel by lot, as instructed by God through Moses (Num 26:55-56). This chapter, particularly the detailed border descriptions from verses 2-12, reflects the precision and comprehensive nature of this divine distribution. Judah, the most numerous and significant tribe, from whose line kings would emerge and ultimately the Messiah, received a very large and geographically diverse territory. This territory stretched from the Salt Sea in the east to the Mediterranean Sea in the west, encompassing southern desert regions (Negev) and central hill country. This process of assigning specific, divinely ordained boundaries emphasized God's faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants that they would inherit this land (Gen 12:7; 15:18).

Joshua 15 2 Word analysis

And their south border: (gevulam negev - גְּבוּלָם נֶגֶב). "Border" (gevul) signifies a divinely established limit, crucial for tribal identity and the prevention of disputes. "South" (negev) specifies the direction and also alludes to the distinct, often arid, region of the Negeb/Negev, which constituted a significant part of Judah's vast territory. This immediately sets the precise geographical scope.
was from the shore: (miq-tsêh - מִקְצֵה). Meaning "from the end," "from the extremity," or "from the edge." This highlights the definitive starting point of the boundary, marking the very fringe of the Salt Sea. It conveys meticulousness in God's precise allocation.
of the salt sea, (yam ham-me·lach, - יָם הַמֶּלַח). Literally "sea of salt," this is the Hebrew designation for the Dead Sea. It's a distinct, high-salinity natural landmark. Beginning the border here establishes an unambiguous eastern marker, clearly tied to an unchanging natural feature. This body of water is associated with significant historical events (like Sodom and Gomorrah) and also has prophetic significance.
from the bay: (mil-lā-šōn - מִלָּשׁוֹן). Literally "from the tongue." In geographical contexts, lashon is used to describe a "tongue" of land, a promontory, or, as here, a "tongue" of water, referring to a specific inlet, bay, or gulf. This detail points to a particular, recognizable feature at the southernmost part of the Dead Sea, enhancing the specificity of the boundary line.
that looks southward: (han-nō·gêḇ neḡ-bāh. - הַנּוֹגֵב נֶגְבָּה). Hanogeved meaning "that turns to the south" or "faces southward", and negba meaning "southward". This clarifies the orientation of the aforementioned bay, indicating that the inlet itself extended in a southerly direction. This precise geographical descriptor ensures that the exact starting corner of Judah's southern border, from its eastern extremity, is unequivocally identified.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

"And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea": This initial segment immediately establishes the easternmost and commencing point of Judah's extensive southern boundary. The specific inclusion of "salt sea" anchors the border's origin to an unmistakable and geographically, as well as historically, significant natural landmark, affirming a tangible fulfillment of God's land promises.
"from the bay that looks southward": This phrase introduces a critical layer of specificity and precision. It refines the location beyond a general "shore of the Salt Sea" to a distinct geographical feature – a "tongue" or inlet. The directional clarity "that looks southward" further pinpoints the exact starting corner of Judah's inheritance. This meticulous detail demonstrates divine care and order in the land allocation.

Joshua 15 2 Bonus section

The inclusion of such detailed geographical listings throughout the book of Joshua, as exemplified by this verse, serves profound theological and practical purposes beyond mere land descriptions:

Divine Assurance: These precise delineations verify the literal fulfillment of God's land promises, offering irrefutable proof of God's faithfulness and the reliability of His word, even to the very features of the land.
Legal Ownership: These documented boundaries functioned as the official "deed" for each tribe, establishing their divinely granted, legitimate claim to their territory and discouraging internal and external disputes or encroachments.
Generational Blueprint: They provided a permanent record and map for future generations, ensuring they understood and maintained their God-given inheritance.
Foreshadowing of Spiritual Inheritance: Beyond the physical land, these inheritances beautifully foreshadow the spiritual inheritance that believers receive in Christ (Eph 1:11; Col 1:12), an inheritance that is eternal, secure, and irrevocably fixed by God's sovereign decree. Just as Judah had clear, divinely marked borders to their land, believers have a secure and defined position within God's eternal plan and Kingdom.

Joshua 15 2 Commentary

Joshua 15:2 begins the meticulous, divinely inspired geographical description of Judah's expansive southern territorial boundary. This verse pinpoints the precise starting point for Judah's vast inheritance at the extreme southeastern extension of the Dead Sea, distinctly identified as "the Salt Sea." The phrase "from the bay that looks southward" (Hebrew: "from the tongue") further refines this location, indicating a specific inlet or arm of the sea that protruded southwards, ensuring unmistakable identification of this critical corner. This unparalleled geographical precision underscores the certainty and absolute accuracy with which God fulfilled His ancient promises of land to Abraham and his descendants (Gen 15:18). The clear and detailed boundaries provided by this verse not only established a physical inheritance for the tribe but also laid the foundation for their distinct identity, communal organization, and legal claim to the land. More profoundly, it serves as a tangible demonstration of God's unwavering faithfulness and commitment to His Word, confirming that His promises are fulfilled down to the last detail. Just as Judah's physical borders were divinely appointed and clearly defined, so too are the spiritual inheritances and boundaries God establishes for His people in Christ.