Joshua 15 32

Joshua 15:32 kjv

And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:

Joshua 15:32 nkjv

Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty-nine, with their villages.

Joshua 15:32 niv

Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon?a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages.

Joshua 15:32 esv

Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages.

Joshua 15:32 nlt

Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon ? twenty-nine towns with their surrounding villages.

Joshua 15 verses

Joshua 15 32 Meaning

Joshua 15:32 is part of a detailed catalogue of cities assigned to the tribal inheritance of Judah. Specifically, it lists "Lachish, and Eglon, and Cabbon," three cities located in the Shephelah, the lowlands between the coastal plain and the Judean mountains. This verse signifies the tangible fulfillment of God's ancient promises to Abraham concerning the land, illustrating His meticulous faithfulness in providing for His people their covenanted inheritance in Canaan.

Joshua 15 32 Context

Joshua chapter 15 meticulously details the vast and significant territorial inheritance allocated to the tribe of Judah, consistent with Jacob's blessing in Genesis 49:8-12 and Moses' command. This chapter begins by describing the precise boundaries of Judah's territory, moving then to an extensive list of its cities. The entire list (verses 21-62) is categorized by geographical regions within Judah, ensuring every allocated city is clearly accounted for. Verse 32 is part of a specific sub-list of cities located in the Shephelah, the strategically vital lowlands, highlighting the practical reality of land ownership after the initial conquest. Historically, this allocation marked a pivotal moment in Israel's nation-building, transforming them from nomadic people to an established nation rooted in the land God had promised and given.

Joshua 15 32 Word analysis

• Lachish (לָכִישׁ, Lakish):

  • Meaning: Possibly derived from a root meaning "to capture" or "impregnable." This would be ironic given its eventual capture.
  • Significance: A major fortified city in the Shephelah, well-documented archaeologically and textually outside of Joshua. It served as a strategic point controlling trade routes and access to the hill country. Its mention signifies the importance and strategic value of the lands being allotted to Judah. The fall of Lachish to Joshua is described in Joshua 10, highlighting God's power in giving this "impregnable" city to His people. Later, it becomes a crucial fortress during the monarchy and faces significant sieges by the Assyrians (Sennacherib, 2 Ki 18:13-17) and Babylonians (Jer 34:7), further cementing its historical prominence.

• Eglon (עֶגְלֹון, Eg̱lôn):

  • Meaning: Possibly "calf-like" or "place of calves," hinting at a pastoral association or the shape of the terrain.
  • Significance: Another prominent city in the Shephelah, whose king was one of the five Amorite kings that confederated against Gibeon and were defeated by Joshua (Josh 10:3, 5). Its inclusion underscores the thoroughness of Judah's inheritance and the specific fulfillment of divine judgment against the inhabitants of Canaan.

• Cabbon (כַבּוֹן, Kabbôn):

  • Meaning: From a root meaning "to bind" or "to entwine," possibly implying a strong or secure place, a stronghold.
  • Significance: This city is less known than Lachish or Eglon and is not mentioned elsewhere in the Old Testament as a significant location. Its inclusion here, however, underscores the completeness and meticulousness of the land distribution, affirming that every parcel and city, great or small, was designated according to God's will for Judah's inheritance. It ensures that the record is full and accounts for all areas given.

• Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "Lachish, and Eglon, and Cabbon;": This short phrase is one small segment within a much larger list of 62 cities (Joshua 15:21-62). The extensive nature of this catalogue is crucial. It serves as:
    • Legal Documentation: A precise, divine legal document for Judah's claim to the land, ensuring there was no ambiguity regarding the boundaries and towns included in their inheritance. This served to prevent future disputes over land among the tribes and with external entities.
    • Divine Faithfulness: A powerful testimony to God's unfailing faithfulness in fulfilling His ancient promises to Abraham (Gen 12:7; 15:18-21), Isaac, and Jacob. Every city mentioned, whether well-known or obscure, represented a direct manifestation of God's covenant-keeping nature.
    • Completeness of Conquest: Even if not every city was fully possessed immediately by the Israelites (Judges 1:19), the land was given by God, indicating its legal and spiritual reality. This comprehensive list speaks to the thoroughness of God's provision and command.
    • Regional Grouping: These three cities, like others in the surrounding verses (Josh 15:33-44), are part of a grouping representing the "lowland" or Shephelah. This geographical structuring within the list reflects a sensible administrative division and emphasizes the varied terrain that constituted Judah's territory.

Joshua 15 32 Bonus section

The highly detailed list of cities in Joshua 15:21-62 is unique in its biblical context and underscores several important points. Firstly, this level of precision for Judah's inheritance sets it apart, possibly foreshadowing Judah's future role as the royal tribe from which the Messiah would descend (Gen 49:10). Secondly, it suggests a pre-conquest survey or at least an authoritative map by which the land was allocated, affirming the organized and deliberate nature of the land division under Joshua's leadership, guided by divine wisdom. Finally, the act of cataloging every city was an expression of worship and obedience, a profound acknowledgment that the land was not merely seized by force but graciously given by the Lord as a direct inheritance.

Joshua 15 32 Commentary

Joshua 15:32, though a concise listing of three cities—Lachish, Eglon, and Cabbon—holds profound theological and practical significance. It is a precise testament to the meticulous fulfillment of God's promises. After centuries of divine pledges to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would inherit the land of Canaan, this verse, embedded within a larger chapter, provides irrefutable evidence of God’s perfect fidelity. Each named city represents a tangible piece of a much larger, divinely allocated territory for the tribe of Judah, signifying not only geographical possession but also a deep covenantal reality. The prominent inclusion of strategically vital cities like Lachish alongside less-known ones like Cabbon illustrates the comprehensive nature of God's provision. It teaches that God's plans are exhaustive, accounting for every detail, ensuring the total and unwavering fulfillment of His word. Just as He delivered this specific, physical inheritance to Judah, believers are assured of their spiritual inheritance in Christ, which is equally real, complete, and guaranteed by divine faithfulness.