Joshua 15:3 kjv
And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
Joshua 15:3 nkjv
Then it went out to the southern side of the Ascent of Akrabbim, passed along to Zin, ascended on the south side of Kadesh Barnea, passed along to Hezron, went up to Adar, and went around to Karkaa.
Joshua 15:3 niv
crossed south of Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin and went over to the south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it ran past Hezron up to Addar and curved around to Karka.
Joshua 15:3 esv
It goes out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, passes along to Zin, and goes up south of Kadesh-barnea, along by Hezron, up to Addar, turns about to Karka,
Joshua 15:3 nlt
ran south of Scorpion Pass into the wilderness of Zin, and then went south of Kadesh-barnea to Hezron. Then it went up to Addar, where it turned toward Karka.
Joshua 15 3 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Josh 15:1 | The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans... | Introduction to Judah's territorial inheritance |
| Josh 15:1-4 | The first detailed segment of Judah's southern border, ending at Zin. | Continuation of the precise border description |
| Num 34:3 | "Your south side shall be from the wilderness of Zin along the side of Edom..." | Southern boundary as given by God to Moses |
| Num 34:4 | "...and your border shall turn south of the Ascent of Akrabbim..." | Explicit divine decree for southern boundary |
| Num 34:5 | "then it shall pass on to Zin, and its limit shall be south of Kadesh-barnea..." | Echoes precise wording and landmarks |
| Deut 1:2 | "It is eleven days’ journey from Horeb by the way of Mount Seir to Kadesh-barnea." | Highlights Kadesh-barnea's historical significance |
| Num 13:26 | "They went and came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation... at Kadesh-barnea." | Spies' report from Kadesh-barnea |
| Num 20:1 | "And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin... and remained at Kadesh." | Location of Miriam's death and Moses' error |
| Deut 1:46 | "So you remained at Kadesh for many days, pro portionate to the time that you remained there." | Reinforces time spent at Kadesh-barnea |
| Deut 2:14 | "And the time from our leaving Kadesh-barnea until we crossed the brook Zered was thirty-eight years..." | Ties Kadesh-barnea to wilderness wandering |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates..." | Abrahamic Covenant and land promise |
| Josh 1:4 | "From the wilderness and Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates... all the land of the Hittites to the Great Sea..." | God's promise of land boundaries to Joshua |
| Neh 9:21 | "Forty years you sustained them in the wilderness, and they lacked nothing..." | God's faithfulness even during wilderness time |
| Ps 78:12 | "In the sight of their fathers he performed wonders in the land of Egypt..." | God's historical acts leading to land |
| Jer 3:19 | "I said, ‘How I would set you among my sons, and give you a pleasant land..." | Future divine inheritance/blessing |
| Isa 54:2 | "Enlarge the place of your tent... for you will spread abroad to the right and to the left..." | Prophecy of expanding territory/influence |
| Amos 9:15 | "I will plant them on their own land, and they shall no longer be plucked up out of the land that I have given them..." | Prophecy of secure possession |
| Acts 17:26 | "And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place..." | God's sovereignty over national boundaries |
| Heb 3:17-19 | "And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned... and to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest...?" | Warning from Kadesh-barnea's unbelief |
| Judg 1:9 | Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country... | Judah begins actual conquest within its borders |
Joshua 15 verses
Joshua 15 3 Meaning
Joshua 15:3 precisely describes a segment of the southern border assigned to the tribe of Judah within the Promised Land. This meticulous geographical detail charts the boundary's progression from the Ascent of Akrabbim, extending through the Wilderness of Zin, ascending past Kadesh-barnea to its south, and then continuing through Hezron, Addar, and finally turning towards Karka. This detailed outline underscores the exact fulfillment of God's covenant promises regarding the inheritance of the land for His people.
Joshua 15 3 Context
This verse is part of the extensive and highly detailed account of the division of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel, recorded in the book of Joshua, chapters 13-19. Specifically, Joshua 15 describes the allocation of territory to the tribe of Judah, the largest and most prominent tribe. After outlining the western and northern borders, verses 2-4 meticulously delineate the southern boundary. This precise geographic definition serves not only as a record of tribal land but also as a testament to the faithful fulfillment of God's centuries-old promises to Abraham (Gen 12:7; 15:18-21), Isaac, and Jacob concerning the land. The inclusion of Kadesh-barnea in this description is particularly significant, as it was the critical site of Israel's rebellion and a major turning point during the forty years of wilderness wanderings (Num 13-14), reminding the readers of divine judgment intertwined with divine faithfulness.
Joshua 15 3 Word analysis
then it went out (וְיָצָא֙ ve·ya·tsa)
- Word: יָצָא (yatsa) – to go out, to proceed.
- Significance: Implies a continuous, extending movement of the boundary line from a previously defined point, highlighting the dynamic mapping.
to the south (לְנֶ֣גֶב le·ne·gev)
- Word: נֶ֫גֶב (negev) – south, the south country.
- Significance: Defines the cardinal direction, and often refers to the specific dry, arid southern region of Judah (Negev Desert), which was challenging to inhabit but still part of the inheritance.
of the ascent of Akrabbim (מַעֲלֵ֣ה עַקְרַבִּ֗ים ma'aleh akrabim)
- Words: מַעֲלֵה (ma'aleh) – ascent, stairway; עַקְרַבִּים (akrabbim) – scorpions.
- Significance: Literally, "Ascent of Scorpions." This was a significant geographical landmark, a steep, treacherous pass often associated with the dangerous or challenging terrain common in border regions. It signifies a natural, well-known boundary marker.
continued (וְעָבַ֣ר ve·'a·var)
- Word: עָבַר ('avar) – to pass over, pass through, traverse.
- Significance: Indicates the border traversed or extended across this particular area.
to Zin (צִ֑נָה tzinah)
- Word: צִן (Tzin) – Zin (proper noun), a wilderness area.
- Significance: The Wilderness of Zin, a large and prominent desert region, crucial in Israel's wilderness wanderings (Num 20:1; 33:36). Its inclusion grounds the boundary in well-known (and historically significant) desert terrain.
and went up (וְעָלָה֙ ve·'a·lah)
- Word: עָלָה ('alah) – to go up, ascend.
- Significance: Suggests an uphill progression of the border, characteristic of the topography leading out of the Zin wilderness towards more elevated areas.
to the south of Kadesh-barnea (מִנֶּ֧גֶב קָדֵֽשׁ בַּרְנֵ֛עַ min·negev qa·desh bar·ne·a)
- Words: נֶ֫גֶב (negev) – south; קָדֵשׁ בַּרְנֵעַ (Qadesh Barnea) – Kadesh-barnea (proper noun), a pivotal encampment.
- Significance: Kadesh-barnea was a highly important location for Israel; the place from which the spies were sent (Num 13), where the people rebelled (Num 14), and where Miriam died (Num 20:1). Its mention, even simply as a geographical marker, carries deep historical and theological weight, reminding the Israelites of divine judgment for unbelief and faithfulness in leading them despite their failures. Specifying "to the south of" precisely locates the border in relation to this key site.
and continued to Hezron (וְעָבַ֥ר חֶצְרֹ֖וֹנָה ve·'a·var hetz·ronah)
- Words: עָבַר ('avar) – to pass over, pass through; חֶצְרֹון (Hetzron) – Hezron (proper noun), a place name.
- Significance: Continues the delineation, indicating another landmark along the precise path of the border.
up to Addar (וְעָלָ֥ה אַדָּ֑רָה ve·'a·lah ad·da·rah)
- Words: עָלָה ('alah) – to go up; אַדָּר (Addar) – Addar (proper noun), a place name.
- Significance: Denotes a further upward trajectory of the border to this specific point, further detailing the geographic layout.
and turned about to Karka (וְנָסַ֖ב קַרְקָֽעָה ve·na·sav qar·qa·'ah)
- Words: נָסַב (nasav) – to turn, surround, go around; קַרְקָע (Qarqa) – Karka (proper noun), a place name.
- Significance: Indicates a distinct change in the direction of the border, perhaps a sharp turn or circling movement, as it reached Karka, an identifiable point that marked this significant shift in the boundary's course.
Joshua 15 3 Bonus section
- The highly detailed land boundaries throughout Joshua demonstrate the literal, physical fulfillment of God's covenant promises, leaving no ambiguity about the extent of Israel's inheritance.
- These geographical descriptions served a practical purpose, providing legal definition for land ownership in ancient Israel, similar to property deeds. This meticulous mapping ensured clear tribal distinctions and reduced potential conflicts over territory.
- The naming conventions (e.g., "Ascent of Scorpions") reveal insights into the natural dangers or prominent features of the landscape, making the text relatable to those familiar with the terrain.
- The recurrent use of specific directional verbs like "went out," "continued," "went up," and "turned about" illustrates a systematic and progressive delineation of the border.
- From a broader theological perspective, the precision here emphasizes that God's plans are always detailed and intentional, not haphazard or imprecise, reassuring His people that every aspect of His will is carefully executed.
Joshua 15 3 Commentary
Joshua 15:3 is a testament to the divine precision and historical accuracy embedded within the biblical narrative of land distribution. It showcases the painstaking detail by which God, through Joshua, fulfilled His ancient promises to Israel concerning their inheritance. The description is not a vague approximation but a precise, almost survey-like mapping, utilizing readily identifiable geographical features like the challenging "Ascent of Akrabbim" and major wilderness areas like "Zin."
The inclusion of "Kadesh-barnea" in the border description is profoundly significant. While marking a physical location, it also evokes a critical moment in Israel's history—the place of their disbelief and rebellion that led to forty years of wilderness wandering. Yet, even that place, marked by divine judgment, now sits near a boundary of the land being divinely given, underscoring God's unwavering faithfulness even when His people had failed. The land's boundaries, meticulously drawn by divine authority, signify the fulfillment of covenant and God's sovereign control over nations and their territories. This meticulous detail demonstrates that the Promised Land was a real, tangible inheritance, specifically apportioned and possessed, providing a firm foundation for the future identity and security of the tribe of Judah within the nascent nation of Israel. The thoroughness of these boundaries was crucial for legal ownership and preventing inter-tribal disputes.