Joshua 18 22

Joshua 18:22 kjv

And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,

Joshua 18:22 nkjv

Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,

Joshua 18:22 niv

Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,

Joshua 18:22 esv

Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,

Joshua 18:22 nlt

Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,

Joshua 18 verses

Joshua 18 22 Meaning

Joshua 18:22 names three towns, Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel, which were included in the territorial allotment designated for the tribe of Benjamin. This verse is part of a detailed list enumerating the cities that fell within the boundaries of Benjamin's inheritance as assigned through the casting of lots at Shiloh, signifying the precise and divinely ordered fulfillment of God's promise of land to Israel.

Joshua 18 22 Context

Joshua chapter 18 details the long-awaited division of the land of Canaan among the remaining seven Israelite tribes. Prior to this, Judah, Ephraim, and half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received their portions. A period of apparent stagnation occurred as these remaining tribes were slow to occupy and claim their promised inheritance, leading Joshua to challenge them to action. He dispatched a survey team to meticulously map the land and its cities into seven portions. Once the survey was complete, Joshua, acting under divine instruction, cast lots before the LORD at the tabernacle in Shiloh, distributing the land fairly. Joshua 18:21-28 specifically delineates the border and city list for the tribe of Benjamin, which was positioned between the powerful tribes of Judah to the south and Ephraim to the north. Verse 22 lists three specific towns within this Benjaminite inheritance. The meticulous recording of these names and boundaries underscores the sacred, permanent, and divinely sanctioned nature of the land allocation, a direct fulfillment of God's covenant promises stretching back to Abraham.

Joshua 18 22 Word analysis

• Beth-arabah (בֵּית הָעֲרָבָה, Bêṯ hāʿĂrāḇāh):

  • Word: Beth means "house" or "place of". Arabah refers to the rift valley, specifically the Jordan Valley and the region south of the Dead Sea.
  • Significance: "House of the Arabah" signifies a settlement situated within or very near the 'Arabah' plain, a distinct topographical region. This suggests a location in a somewhat arid, desolate area close to the Jordan River and Dead Sea. Its inclusion on both Judah's and Benjamin's border descriptions (Josh 15:6, 61 and here) suggests it was a boundary marker, highlighting the precise and sometimes overlapping nature of ancient tribal borders, ensuring all territory was accounted for.

• Zemaraim (צְמָרַיִם, Ṣmārāyim):

  • Word: The exact meaning is uncertain, possibly related to "two wools" or "pointed summits" from the Hebrew root ṣmr (to be pointed/pruned).
  • Significance: This town is less prominent in biblical narratives than Bethel. It serves primarily as a geographical marker within Benjamin's allocated territory. Its presence here attests to the exhaustive nature of the survey and land division process. A mountain named Zemaraim (2 Chr 13:4) is mentioned in the context of a battle between Judah and Israel, suggesting this area had strategic importance.

• Bethel (בֵּית־אֵל, Bêṯ-ʾĒl):

  • Word: Bethel directly translates to "House of God."
  • Significance: This is the most biblically significant name in the verse. Its original name was Luz, but Jacob renamed it Bethel after his pivotal dream encounter with God (Gen 28:19). It was a site where God reaffirmed His covenant promises to Jacob (Gen 35:9-15), making it a foundational holy site for Israel. Its allocation to Benjamin means that a site of profound spiritual importance, associated with divine encounters and covenant, became part of this specific tribe's inheritance. This designation ironically contrasts with Bethel's later notorious role as a center for idolatry under Jeroboam I (1 Ki 12:28-33) and subsequent prophetic condemnation (Amos 7:10-13, Hos 4:15; 10:15). Its inclusion here highlights God's faithfulness in providing a land, even one where human rebellion would later unfold.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, and Bethel": This triad of names, presented without conjunctions between the first two but with "and" before the last, is characteristic of ancient Semitic enumeration. It serves as a concise list, part of a larger catalog of cities. The listing style emphasizes the concrete and factual delivery of the details of Benjamin's inheritance. The progression from a desert-border town to a less known one, then to a nationally significant religious center, illustrates the variety of places—from strategic border points to centers of religious and historical importance—that composed a tribe's lot.

Joshua 18 22 Bonus section

• The detail in land descriptions throughout Joshua chapters 13-19 indicates an ancient, highly organized system for land survey and demarcation. This level of detail validates the historicity of the tribal allotments and God's hand in ordering His people's lives.
• The fact that places like Bethel, a highly significant site, were not reserved for a centralized "sacred" territory but integrated into a tribal inheritance (Benjamin's) suggests the decentralization of early Israelite worship and highlights the local presence of historical, sacred spaces throughout the promised land, pre-dating the eventual establishment of the central sanctuary in Jerusalem.
• The geographical listing implicitly acknowledges the diversity of terrain within each tribal lot, ranging from the wilderness adjacent to Beth-arabah to the more fertile central highlands near Bethel, providing a range of agricultural and strategic assets to the Benjaminites.

Joshua 18 22 Commentary

Joshua 18:22, a seemingly simple enumeration of three towns, serves as a profound statement of God's faithfulness and Israel's transition into their promised land. It represents a precise and tangible fulfillment of centuries-old divine pledges to Abraham and his descendants. The mention of Beth-arabah and Zemaraim grounds the promise in specific geographical reality, underscoring the thoroughness of the land division process mandated by God. The inclusion of Bethel, however, injects a deeper layer of meaning. Originally named by Jacob after his encounter with the "House of God," its assignment to Benjamin’s territory imbues this otherwise logistical detail with spiritual weight. It highlights that the divine plan encompasses not only barren frontiers and lesser-known places but also locations of profound sacred history, establishing the land's deep connection to God's presence and promises. This methodical division ensures order among the tribes, prevents immediate conflict over territory, and signifies God’s meticulous care in settling His people.