Joshua 19 30

Joshua 19:30 kjv

Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.

Joshua 19:30 nkjv

Also Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob were included: twenty-two cities with their villages.

Joshua 19:30 niv

Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.

Joshua 19:30 esv

Ummah, Aphek and Rehob ? twenty-two cities with their villages.

Joshua 19:30 nlt

Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob ? twenty-two towns with their surrounding villages.

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 30 Meaning

Joshua 19:30 details three cities—Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob—as part of the twenty-two cities allotted to the tribe of Asher, along with their surrounding villages, completing the description of Asher’s inheritance in the Promised Land. This verse serves as a specific catalog entry within the comprehensive record of God's faithful distribution of territory to the tribes of Israel, signifying the tangible fulfillment of divine promises concerning the land.

Joshua 19 30 Context

Joshua 19:30 is part of the extensive and meticulous land allocation recorded in Joshua chapters 13-19. Specifically, it falls within the description of the inheritance given to the tribe of Asher, listed from verses 24 to 31. After the primary tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh received their portions, the remaining seven tribes cast lots at Shiloh to determine their boundaries. The Asherites, descended from Asher, one of Jacob's sons, received a territory that primarily bordered the Mediterranean Sea in the north, extending inland. The careful listing of cities and their surrounding villages reflects the detailed administrative and divine intention behind the distribution. Historically, this division fulfills God’s ancient promises to Abraham (Gen 12, 15) and later reiterated through Moses (Num 34), establishing Israel as a settled nation in their divinely appointed land. The emphasis on specific cities and precise numbers underlines the historical veracity and divine ordering, serving as a testament against any perception that the land acquisition was random or merely by human conquest; instead, it was a precise act of divine provision and covenant fulfillment.

Joshua 19 30 Word analysis

• and Ummah (וְעֻמָּה - vĕ'umah): "Ummah" means "association" or "community." This city is part of Asher's northern allotment. Its precise modern identification remains uncertain for scholars, yet its inclusion here, along with specific other named towns, attests to the geographical particularity and tangibility of Asher’s inheritance. The detailing of such locations verifies the historical grounding of the narrative.

• and Aphek (וַאֲפֵק - va'apheq): "Aphek" generally translates to "fortress" or "enclosed place," often suggesting a strategically important fortified city. There are multiple places named Aphek in the biblical narrative, requiring contextual identification. This Aphek, specifically listed within Asher's territory, differentiates it from others such as those associated with the Philistines or Arameans. Its inclusion underlines the type of strongholds and settled areas that became part of Asher’s inheritance.

• and Rehob (וּרְחֹב - u'reẖov): "Rehob" means "broad place" or "street." Like Aphek, there are several locations bearing this name in the Bible. This particular Rehob is significant because, despite being part of Asher’s inheritance, Judges 1:31 indicates that Asher "did not drive out the inhabitants of Rehob," along with other cities. This post-conquest observation contrasts with the divinely granted ideal and foreshadows the incomplete obedience of the tribes.

• twenty and two cities (עֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁתַּיִם עָרִים - 'esrim u'shtayim 'arim): This specific numerical count provides administrative detail and precision. The numbering demonstrates a systematic process of allocation rather than a vague territorial claim. It signifies God’s meticulous fulfillment of His promises, providing a clear and defined inheritance. The number twenty-two, though precise, can sometimes slightly differ in ancient manuscripts across various tribal lists, often due to how adjacent villages might be counted or if primary vs. dependent towns are enumerated differently, yet the principle of an exact, accountable allocation remains.

• with their villages (וְחַצְרֵיהֶן - vĕḥaṣreihen): "Villages" (Hebrew: חצר - ḥaṣer) refers to surrounding unfortified settlements, hamlets, or even pasture lands connected to and administratively dependent on the main city. This phrase clarifies that the inheritance was not limited to major fortified centers but included the entire network of habitation and agricultural areas surrounding them, providing comprehensive land for livelihood and expansion.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Ummah, and Aphek, and Rehob": The listing of these individual city names highlights the concreteness and geographical precision of the divine allocation. These were not arbitrary lines on a map, but identifiable inhabited places, signifying that God’s promises were being fulfilled in a very real, tangible, and specific way on the ground.
  • "twenty and two cities with their villages": This phrase emphasizes the completeness and sufficiency of the inheritance. It was a well-defined territory, including both fortified urban centers and their extensive dependent agricultural and residential zones. The numerical detail underscores divine order, accountability, and the comprehensive provision given to Asher for their settlement and flourishing.

Joshua 19 30 Bonus section

The act of detailing cities and boundaries in the book of Joshua holds significant theological weight beyond mere cartography. It reinforces the covenant relationship between God and Israel, where land was a physical manifestation of divine blessing and a setting for obedient living under the Mosaic Law. These geographical lists also served as a legal and administrative document for the tribes, establishing clear ownership and preventing inter-tribal disputes. Furthermore, the detailed fulfillment of the land promise in Joshua foreshadows the greater, spiritual inheritance promised in the New Testament to believers in Christ (Eph 1:11, Col 1:12), highlighting God's faithfulness across redemptive history in providing an ultimate "rest" (Heb 4:1-11). The naming of specific, at times lesser-known, cities reinforces the grounded reality of these ancient events and distinguishes biblical history from mere myth.

Joshua 19 30 Commentary

Joshua 19:30, in its meticulous listing of specific cities like Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob for Asher, is more than just an ancient geographic record. It fundamentally undergirds the biblical narrative of God’s faithfulness in keeping His covenant promises. This precise demarcation of twenty-two cities with their associated villages underscores a divinely ordered distribution of the Promised Land, not by human might or random chance, but by divine decree and detailed providence. The verse confirms the tangible realization of what was sworn to the patriarchs, serving as a testament to Yahweh's integrity and ability to perform His word. Although later accounts like Judges 1:31 reveal Asher's failure to fully dispossess some of these very cities, this initial comprehensive allotment remains a powerful symbol of God’s perfect provision and the vast potential for blessing that was laid out for the tribes of Israel. It reminds us that God's promises are specific and fully provided, and any lack of fulfillment often points to human failure in obedience.