Joshua 15:6 kjv
And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:
Joshua 15:6 nkjv
The border went up to Beth Hoglah and passed north of Beth Arabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
Joshua 15:6 niv
went up to Beth Hoglah and continued north of Beth Arabah to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
Joshua 15:6 esv
And the boundary goes up to Beth-hoglah and passes along north of Beth-arabah. And the boundary goes up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
Joshua 15:6 nlt
went up from there to Beth-hoglah, then proceeded north of Beth-arabah to the Stone of Bohan. (Bohan was Reuben's son.)
Joshua 15 6 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 34:1-12 | "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 'Command the people of Israel and say...'" | God's command for specific land boundaries. |
| Deut 1:38 | "Joshua the son of Nun... he shall put Israel in possession of it." | Joshua's role in land inheritance. |
| Josh 13:1 | "Now Joshua was old... There remains yet very much land to possess." | Inheritance outlined despite incomplete conquest. |
| Josh 14:1-2 | "These are the inheritances... which Eleazar... and Joshua distributed." | Leaders overseeing land distribution. |
| Josh 15:1 | "The lot for the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans..." | Introduction to Judah's full inheritance. |
| Josh 18:11-19 | "The lot of the tribe of the people of Benjamin came up according to..." | Benjamin's border, directly relating to Judah's shared boundary. |
| Ezek 47:13-23 | "Thus says the Lord God: This is the boundary by which you shall divide..." | Future land distribution and detailed borders. |
| Deut 19:14 | "You shall not move your neighbor’s landmark, which the men of old have..." | Command against altering established boundaries. |
| Prov 22:28 | "Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set." | Wisdom against disturbing inherited markers. |
| Prov 23:10 | "Do not move an ancient landmark or enter the fields of the fatherless..." | Protection of ancestral boundaries and vulnerable. |
| Isa 5:8 | "Woe to those who join house to house, who add field to field..." | Condemnation of land hoarding. |
| Hos 5:10 | "The princes of Judah have become like those who move a landmark..." | Negative example of disregarding boundaries. |
| Ps 78:55 | "He drove out nations before them... allotted their inheritance." | God's active role in land distribution. |
| Acts 17:26 | "He made from one man every nation... having determined allotted periods..." | God's sovereignty over nations' territories. |
| Gen 49:3-4 | "Reuben, you are my firstborn... Unstable as water, you shall not excel..." | Jacob's prophecy concerning Reuben. |
| Num 32:1-42 | "Now the people of Reuben... saw that the land... was good for livestock." | Reuben's settlement east of Jordan, but still connected. |
| Josh 22:10 | "When they came to the regions of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan..." | Transjordan tribes building an altar as solidarity with west-bank tribes. |
| Eph 1:11 | "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined..." | Spiritual inheritance in Christ for believers. |
| Col 1:12 | "Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." | Believers' spiritual inheritance in light. |
| Heb 9:15 | "Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance." | Christ mediates for eternal inheritance. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "An inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven..." | The heavenly, eternal nature of spiritual inheritance. |
| Rev 21:7 | "The one who conquers will inherit these things, and I will be his God..." | Inheritance promised to the victorious in faith. |
| Ps 16:5-6 | "The LORD is my chosen portion... The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places..." | Joy and satisfaction in God-given portion. |
Joshua 15 verses
Joshua 15 6 Meaning
Joshua 15:6 precisely defines a significant portion of the northern boundary of the tribe of Judah. It delineates the border's path, indicating its ascent to Beth-hogla, its westward extension along the north side of Beth-arabah, and its termination at the prominent landmark known as the Stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben. This verse provides detailed geographical coordinates for Judah's land inheritance, specifically the segment shared with the tribe of Benjamin.
Joshua 15 6 Context
Joshua 15 details the tribal allotment for the descendants of Judah, who received the largest portion of the conquered land of Canaan. This allocation fulfills God's ancient promises to Abraham concerning his descendants' inheritance (Gen 12:7; 15:18). Verse 6 specifically focuses on a precise section of Judah's northern border, which was also the southern border of the tribe of Benjamin (Josh 18:11-19). This meticulous delineation reflects the crucial importance of land ownership in ancient Israelite society, serving not just as property but as a tangible sign of divine blessing and covenant fidelity. Historically, the land division occurred following the conquest, establishing a settled national identity after centuries of nomadic existence and servitude. Culturally, land was inherited, revered, and rarely alienated permanently (cf. Lev 25:23). The use of natural landmarks underscored the antiquity and shared recognition of these boundaries, vital in an era without modern maps, providing undeniable and observable markers for tribal distinctiveness and the prevention of disputes.
Joshua 15 6 Word analysis
- border: Hebrew `gevul` (גְּבוּל). This term refers to a precisely defined boundary or territory. Its establishment signifies an orderly and divinely ordained allocation of land. This precision reflects God's meticulous care in distributing the land among His people, aiming to prevent disputes and foster stability.
- went up: Hebrew `alah` (עָלָה). Literally means "to ascend" or "to go up." In geographical descriptions, it suggests an upward topographical movement or a shift from a lower plain to higher ground, accurately portraying the landscape as the border moves from the Jordan Valley.
- Beth-hogla: Hebrew `Bet-Hoglah` (בֵּית־חָגְלָה), meaning "House of a Partridge" or "House of Circling." An ancient Israelite town strategically located east of Jericho, serving as a well-known geographical marker. Its inclusion signifies the use of identifiable settlements to define precise tribal boundaries, highlighting the specific areas where Judah's inheritance bordered Benjamin's.
- passed along by the north: Hebrew `avar mittsphonah` (עָבַר מִצְּפוֹנָה). This phrase clearly defines the directional path of the border. It indicates that the border ran along the northern side of Beth-arabah, signifying that Beth-arabah itself either lay within Judah or was precisely skirted by the boundary, leaving no ambiguity regarding its placement.
- Beth-arabah: Hebrew `Bet-Ha-Arabah` (בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה), meaning "House of the Arabah." The Arabah is the well-known geological depression of the Jordan Valley. This particular place-name firmly situates the boundary in the wilderness area adjacent to the Jordan plain, providing a distinct topographical reference point also mentioned as part of Benjamin's territory (Josh 18:22).
- stone of Bohan the son of Reuben: Hebrew `Even Bohan ben Reuven` (אֶבֶן בֹּהַן בֶּן רְאוּבֵן). This highly specific landmark, a significant "stone" or "pillar," indicates a long-standing, pre-existing boundary marker associated with a descendant of Reuben. Its mention on a Judah/Benjamin border, even though Reuben’s tribe settled east of the Jordan (Num 32), suggests its extreme antiquity and common recognition as a fixed point. It may commemorate a forgotten historical event, an earlier skirmish, or a settlement connection related to Reuben's clan on the west side of the Jordan. This ancient landmark underscores the historicity of the tribal allotments and the reverence for long-established territorial claims, affirming the permanence of God's allocations.
Joshua 15 6 Bonus section
The "stone of Bohan the son of Reuben" is a point of significant archaeological and geographical interest. While its precise location remains subject to scholarly debate, it is generally believed to have been situated in or near the lower Kidron Valley, west of the Jordan Rift, marking a crucial bend in the border that effectively turned westward towards Jerusalem. This landmark's ancient status suggests its recognition predated the immediate conquest narrative, being a venerable point of reference within the region. The inclusion of a Reubenite marker in a territory far from Reuben's main landholdings across the Jordan (Num 32) hints at the extensive interactions and early widespread recognition of tribal claims or actions across the broader Canaanite landscape before the formalized distributions of Joshua's time. This deep-seated local knowledge embedded in the text authenticates the meticulousness of the land descriptions, affirming the Bible’s detailed historical and geographical awareness.
Joshua 15 6 Commentary
Joshua 15:6 illustrates the divinely ordered and remarkably detailed distribution of the Promised Land, specifically Judah's northern border. The painstaking precision in listing known topographical features—Beth-hogla, Beth-arabah, and the enigmatic Stone of Bohan—demonstrates the thoroughness with which Israel’s tribal inheritances were established. This level of detail highlights that the land was not merely claimed but meticulously surveyed and allocated, underscoring the legal and sacred nature of this inheritance as God's faithful fulfillment of His covenant promises. The presence of a "Reubenite" landmark on the Judah-Benjamin border suggests deeper historical ties or an enduring impact of inter-tribal activity or individuals even across the Jordan. This verse implicitly teaches about God's orderly character, His commitment to His promises, and the importance of respecting established boundaries as a foundation for peace and identity within the community of Israel.