Joshua 15 41

Joshua 15:41 kjv

And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:

Joshua 15:41 nkjv

Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages;

Joshua 15:41 niv

Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah?sixteen towns and their villages.

Joshua 15:41 esv

Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages.

Joshua 15:41 nlt

Gederoth, Beth-dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah ? sixteen towns with their surrounding villages.

Joshua 15 verses

Joshua 15 41 Meaning

Joshua 15:41 records three specific cities, Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, which were part of the allotted inheritance for the tribe of Judah within the lowlands, the Shephelah region. This verse precisely notes that these three, along with other unnamed cities in their cluster, collectively formed fourteen cities, each accompanied by its dependent villages, within this section of Judah’s territory. It is a meticulous record of God's promised land being distributed to His people.

Joshua 15 41 Context

Joshua chapter 15 details the tribal allotment of land given to Judah, fulfilling the promise God made to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan. This process begins with defining Judah's extensive southern border, then moves to specific regions within its territory. Verse 41 specifically falls within the description of cities located in the "lowlands" or Shephelah, a fertile, rolling plain between the central hill country and the Philistine coast. This section enumerates groups of cities, highlighting God's faithfulness in granting specific, tangible inheritance. The meticulous listing, including city names and their associated villages, demonstrates the detailed nature of God's provision and the organized execution of the land distribution. Historically, this phase marks the post-conquest period, transitioning from warfare to settlement, as Israel begins to inhabit the land God had given them.

Joshua 15 41 Word analysis

• Gederoth (גְדֵרוֹת, Gedêrôth): This Hebrew name means "sheepfolds" or "walled places." Its presence indicates a location that likely served as an agricultural center, perhaps known for its sheep rearing or as a fortified settlement for protection of flocks or people. The name itself reflects common ancient Israelite agricultural and pastoral practices and the need for defense in unsettled regions.
• Beth-dagon (בֵּית־דָּגוֹן, Bêth-Dāḡôn): Meaning "house of Dagon" or "temple of Dagon." This is a highly significant name as Dagon was a prominent Philistine and Canaanite deity, often depicted as a half-man, half-fish god, or an agricultural deity associated with grain. The inclusion of this city within Judah's inheritance speaks volumes. It signifies the claim of the one true God, Yahweh, over pagan strongholds and the idols worshipped by the land's previous inhabitants. It implicitly underscores the theological conflict between the worship of Yahweh and the prevalent polytheistic cults.
• Naamah (נַעֲמָה, Na‘amāh): This Hebrew name means "pleasant," "lovely," or "gracious." While less historically or theologically charged than "Beth-dagon," it denotes a characteristic quality of the location. Such descriptive names often pointed to natural beauty, fertility, or favorable conditions of the place.
• fourteen cities: The specific numerical tally highlights the precise and comprehensive nature of the land allocation. It is not a vague claim but a meticulously accounted-for inheritance. This reflects the orderliness and detailed fulfillment of God's covenant promises, ensuring each tribe received its designated share with specificity.
• with their villages: This common biblical phrase (חַצְרֵיהֶן, ḥaṣrêhen) signifies not just the central fortified city but also its surrounding dependent settlements, farms, and hamlets. It illustrates that the inheritance included the entire jurisdictional and agricultural area attached to the main urban center, allowing for sustained living and economic activity for the families inhabiting the territory. It portrays a comprehensive inheritance.

• Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah: This grouping of names points to a cluster of cities within a specific geographic subsection of Judah’s inheritance. Their enumeration is part of a detailed cadastral survey that maps out the extent and composition of the land allotted. The inclusion of "Beth-dagon" among these suggests that Judah was intended to assert divine sovereignty even over territories previously dedicated to false gods, marking a confrontation of worship systems inherent in the conquest.
• fourteen cities with their villages: This phrase serves as a summary of the count of inhabited places in this particular district. It is a formulaic expression in the book of Joshua used to quantify and validate the extent of each inheritance. The "villages" (or "daughters" literally) signify the economic hinterland and population centers reliant on the main city. This indicates a complete, self-sustaining territorial unit designed for the prosperity of the Israelite clans.

Joshua 15 41 Bonus section

The mention of "Beth-dagon" is not merely geographical but holds deep symbolic significance. While Judah was commanded to dispossess the inhabitants, the Book of Judges (1:19) reveals they did not fully succeed in driving out the Philistines from the lowlands. This implies that cities like Beth-dagon might have remained points of tension or mixed habitation for some time. Later, 1 Samuel 5 graphically depicts the ultimate humbling of Dagon before the Ark of God, proving Yahweh's supremacy even without complete physical dispossession. The land remained Yahweh's, and false gods were powerless against Him. This verse thus hints at the ongoing spiritual battle that extended beyond mere conquest, where the theological implications of possession truly resided in acknowledging God's ultimate authority over all land and every idol.

Joshua 15 41 Commentary

Joshua 15:41 provides a concise but profound detail within Judah's land inheritance. It illustrates God's faithfulness to His covenant promises by detailing the tangible distribution of the Promised Land. The enumeration of cities like Gederoth and Naamah, typical settlements, alongside Beth-dagon, a "house of Dagon," signifies God's comprehensive sovereignty. The inclusion of Beth-dagon implicitly serves as a powerful theological statement, indicating that even places dedicated to rival deities would become part of God's inheritance for His people. This underscores the triumph of Yahweh over the false gods of Canaan and highlights the imperative for Israel to fully possess and cleanse the land. The meticulous accounting ("fourteen cities with their villages") reinforces the precision and divine intentionality behind the land division, ensuring a complete and ordered inheritance for each tribe. It also shows the administrative thoroughness of the conquest and settlement, a divinely orchestrated plan for His people to thrive in His provided land.