Joshua 15:52 kjv
Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
Joshua 15:52 nkjv
Arab, Dumah, Eshean,
Joshua 15:52 niv
Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
Joshua 15:52 esv
Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
Joshua 15:52 nlt
Also included were the towns of Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
Joshua 15 52 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| 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 13:15 | For all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever. | Reiterating the land promise with no limits. |
| Gen 15:18 | On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, "To your offspring I give this land..." | Covenant ratification of the land gift. |
| Num 34:1-12 | The LORD spoke to Moses: "Command the people of Israel, and say to them, When you enter the land of Canaan, this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance..." | Divine instructions for the precise land division. |
| Deut 1:8 | See, I have set the land before you. Go in and take possession of the land that the LORD swore... | Command and assurance to inherit the land. |
| Josh 14:1 | These are the inheritances that the people of Israel received in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes... apportioned. | Overview of the land apportionment process. |
| Josh 18:10 | And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD; and there Joshua apportioned the land... | Lot-casting for fair and divine-guided division. |
| Josh 19:51 | These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the people of Israel apportioned by lot... | Concluding statement on land distribution. |
| Josh 21:43-45 | Thus the LORD gave to Israel all the land that he swore to give to their fathers... Not one word of all the good promises... had failed; all came to pass. | Affirmation of God's perfect fulfillment of promises. |
| Josh 23:14 | "I am about to go the way of all the earth... not one word has failed of all the good promises..." | Joshua's testimony confirming God's faithfulness. |
| Ps 78:68 | He chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved. | Judah's preeminence among the tribes chosen by God. |
| Heb 4:8-9 | For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on. So then, there remains a Sabbath-rest for the people of God. | Earthly inheritance (land) as a type of spiritual rest. |
| Acts 7:5 | Yet he gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him... | Divine promise of land, fulfilled in stages. |
| Heb 11:8-10 | By faith Abraham obeyed... and he went out, not knowing where he was going... for he was looking forward to the city... | Abraham's faith anticipating the spiritual homeland. |
| Eph 1:11 | In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things... | New Testament concept of spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
| Col 1:12 | giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. | Believers' share in spiritual inheritance through grace. |
| Rom 4:13 | For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. | The land promise extending to a global spiritual inheritance. |
| Ps 74:17 | You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter. | God's sovereignty over all earthly divisions and seasons. |
| Prov 16:33 | The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD. | God's ultimate control over seemingly random outcomes. |
| Isa 40:8 | The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. | Reinforces the enduring truth and certainty of God's word. |
Joshua 15 verses
Joshua 15 52 Meaning
Joshua 15:52 lists three towns—Arab, Dumah, and Eshean—which were part of the tribal inheritance granted to Judah in the southern hill country of Canaan. This verse forms part of a meticulous geographical record detailing the specific cities allotted to the twelve tribes, underscoring the faithful fulfillment of God's promise to Israel regarding the land.
Joshua 15 52 Context
Joshua chapter 15 meticulously details the geographical inheritance of the tribe of Judah within the land of Canaan. After securing the land through military campaigns, God, through Joshua and Eleazar the priest, commanded the division of the territory among the twelve tribes by lot. Verses 1-12 describe Judah's extensive borders, encompassing a significant portion of the southern kingdom. Verses 13-19 mention specific territories granted to Caleb as a personal inheritance for his faithfulness. The remainder of the chapter (verses 20-63) lists the numerous cities assigned to Judah, categorizing them by regions: the Negev (south), the Shephelah (lowland), and the hill country. Joshua 15:52 specifically names three towns—Arab, Dumah, and Eshean—which are situated in the hill country (a mountainous region near Hebron), emphasizing the granular detail of God's allocation and the legal claim of Judah to these specific locations. This comprehensive record validates the fulfillment of God’s ancient covenant promises to Abraham and his descendants, demonstrating divine faithfulness in delivering the land as a perpetual possession.
Joshua 15 52 Word analysis
Arab (עָרָב 'Arāb):
- Meaning: Derived from a root meaning "to set" (as in sun setting), hence often interpreted as "desert," "plain," or "twilight." It can also carry the nuance of "ambush."
- Significance: One of the listed towns within Judah's assigned territory in the mountainous region of the hill country. Its specific inclusion demonstrates the meticulous nature of the land distribution, affirming Judah's precise and documented claim to every part of its inheritance. Identified with modern Khirbet el-Rabud.
and:
- Function: A simple conjunction used to link successive elements in a list. It ensures each name receives individual attention as a distinct part of the allocation.
Dumah (דוּמָה Dūmāh):
- Meaning: From a root meaning "to be silent" or "stillness." It can also relate to "likeness."
- Significance: Another distinct city designated for Judah in the same hill country region. While an Ishmaelite tribe bearing a similar name exists (Gen 25:14), this refers to a specific geographic locale within the land promised to Israel. Its inclusion reinforces the comprehensive nature of the land survey, solidifying the tribe's legal possession. It is often tentatively identified with Khirbet ed-Domeh.
and:
- Function: Continues the sequential listing of the towns, indicating the precise number of settlements being noted in this verse.
Eshean (אֶשְׁעָן 'Eshean):
- Meaning: Derived from a root meaning "to lean" or "to support."
- Significance: The third town in this specific triad within Judah's hill country inheritance. Less certain in its modern identification, its presence in this detailed census highlights the thoroughness of the biblical record regarding the allocated territories. It further emphasizes that every single detail of the land was carefully accounted for in the divine distribution.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,": This structured phrase lists specific town names, emphasizing their individual identity within Judah's inheritance. The repeated use of "and" (a literary device called polysyndeton) before each item in the list deliberately draws attention to each name, giving equal weight and importance to all three towns as concrete aspects of God's fulfilled promise. This meticulous cataloging serves to authenticate the land grant, transforming the divine promise into a tangible and legally defined possession for the tribe of Judah, proving God's faithfulness in delivering exact and concrete inheritances.
Joshua 15 52 Bonus section
The highly detailed lists of cities within Joshua's account, including those in Joshua 15:52, are exceptional for ancient Near Eastern administrative documents. They demonstrate a sophisticated knowledge of topography and served as a foundational legal and cadastral record for the new nation of Israel. This precision allowed for the clear establishment of tribal boundaries and ensured the legitimate ownership of specific areas. These records would have been crucial for tax assessment, military mobilization, and general governance, reinforcing the organized and divinely ordained structure of the emerging Israelite society. The exactness validates not just a historical event, but a divine plan put into meticulous action. While some specific locations remain archaeologically unconfirmed or debated today, the overall pattern and existence of many cities on the lists have been corroborated by excavations, reinforcing the historical reliability of the biblical text.
Joshua 15 52 Commentary
Joshua 15:52, though a concise geographical entry, profoundly underpins a central theme of the book of Joshua: the meticulous fulfillment of God's covenant promises. The naming of "Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean," as part of Judah's inheritance in the hill country, is not mere cartography; it functions as a legal charter and a theological affirmation. Each named city is a physical testimony to God's faithfulness to Abraham's descendants (Gen 12:7). This level of precise detail reflects the divine order and integrity, assuring Israel of their undeniable claim to the land. The comprehensive record establishes clear boundaries, prevents disputes, and grounds the nation's identity in the land granted by the Almighty. Ultimately, it exemplifies that every word of God's promise stands true and is manifested in tangible reality for His people.