Joshua 19 43

Joshua 19:43 kjv

And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,

Joshua 19:43 nkjv

Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

Joshua 19:43 niv

Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

Joshua 19:43 esv

Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

Joshua 19:43 nlt

Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

Joshua 19 verses

Joshua 19 43 Meaning

Joshua 19:43 lists specific cities allotted to the tribe of Dan within their designated territory. The verse, "And Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron, and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath," details six more urban centers given to Dan as part of God's division of the land of Canaan. This segment contributes to the complete enumeration of Dan's inheritance, emphasizing the divine meticulousness in land apportionment according to the Abrahamic covenant. It reflects God's faithful provision, even for territories that would prove difficult for Dan to fully subdue.

Joshua 19 43 Context

Joshua chapter 19 describes the final allocations of territory to the remaining seven tribes of Israel after Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh had received theirs. Specifically, verses 40-48 detail the inheritance for the tribe of Dan. The geographical positioning of Dan's territory was complex, bordering the fertile coastal plain to the west and the challenging hill country and enemy strongholds (like those of the Philistines) to the south and west. This specific verse (19:43) is a continuation of the enumerated list of 17 towns designated as part of Dan's portion (vv. 41-46). Historically, the region encompassing cities like Ekron and Timnah was densely populated by various Canaanite groups and later became significant Philistine centers. This allotment, while a fulfillment of God's promise, set the stage for significant challenges for the tribe of Dan, as they were unable to fully dispossess the inhabitants of these lands, a situation detailed in Jdg 1:34. This subsequent struggle led to their famous migration northward, away from their initially allotted southern territory, establishing a new Dan in the far north of Israel (Jdg 18).

Joshua 19 43 Word analysis

• And Elon (וְאֵילֹון, wə’êlôn):

  • Word: "Elon" can mean "oak" or "terebinth," implying a place known for significant trees.
  • Significance: As a place name, it marks a specific, divinely allocated spot in the land, underscoring God's meticulousness in the distribution of territories. It highlights the granular detail of the inheritance.

• and Timnah (וְתִמְנָתָה, wəṯimnāṯâ):

  • Word: "Timnah" or "Timnath" means "portion" or "allotted portion." It was a strategically important city.
  • Significance: Known later for Samson's interactions (Jdg 14), Timnah was a significant Philistine border city. Its inclusion in Dan's lot emphasizes the challenge posed by Dan's proximity to the Philistines, suggesting a frontier territory requiring strong resolve to possess. Its name might also ironically reflect Dan's difficulty in truly possessing their allotted "portion."

• and Ekron (וְעֶקְרֹון, wə‘eqrôn):

  • Word: "Ekron" (Hebrew, ‘eqrôn). The etymology is debated but possibly relates to "rooting out" or "uprooting."
  • Significance: One of the five chief Philistine cities (Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron), historically associated with powerful idol worship and strong military presence (1 Sam 5). Its inclusion implies God's intention for Dan to dislodge this major stronghold of paganism. However, Dan failed to fully take Ekron (Jdg 1:34), revealing a significant early lapse in the complete obedience required for possession. This failure illustrates a broader spiritual struggle.

• and Eltekeh (וְאֶלְתְּקֵה, wə’elteqēh):

  • Word: "Eltekeh" (Hebrew, ’elteqēh), possibly meaning "God is dreaded" or "God has rejected."
  • Significance: Its precise location is debated but it was likely in the Philistine plain, marking another frontier town. Mentioned in Assyrian inscriptions, showing its geopolitical significance in later periods, even if less prominent in the biblical narrative. Its presence underlines the contested nature of Dan's inheritance.

• and Gibbethon (וְגִבְּתֹון, wəḡibbəṯôn):

  • Word: "Gibbethon" (Hebrew, ḡibbəṯôn), possibly from a root meaning "humped" or "high place."
  • Significance: Also a Philistine city. It became a site of major conflict in the Omride dynasty during the divided kingdom (1 Kgs 15:27; 1 Kgs 16:15), indicating that Dan never fully controlled it and it remained a stronghold of their enemies long after the initial conquest. This underscores the persistent challenge faced by Israel in securing their boundaries.

• and Baalath (וּבַעֲלָת, ûḇa‘ălāṯ):

  • Word: "Baalath" (Hebrew, ba‘ălāṯ), meaning "mistress" or "lady," often associated with the pagan deity Baal (from "Baal" and the feminine suffix).
  • Significance: The name itself suggests a center of Baal worship, reinforcing the pagan nature of the inhabitants to be dispossessed. Later potentially fortified by Solomon (1 Kgs 9:18; 2 Chr 8:6), which could indicate Israel gaining some control much later. Its original inclusion highlights the mandate to cleanse the land of idolatry, a task Dan struggled with.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And Elon, and Timnah, and Ekron, and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,": This entire list of cities is a precise divine allocation to the tribe of Dan. The repetitive use of "and" emphasizes each city as a distinct and intentional part of their inheritance. However, many of these cities (Timnah, Ekron, Gibbethon, Baalath with its probable association with Baal worship) were strongholds of non-Israelite peoples and pagan practices. This directly contrasts the divine command to completely dispossess and remove idolatry from the land. The failure of Dan (and other tribes) to fully conquer these specific locations set the stage for ongoing conflict, temptation to idolatry, and eventually contributed to Dan's desperate search for new territory. This failure also subtly introduces a tension between God's perfect provision and man's imperfect obedience in the promised land.

Joshua 19 43 Bonus section

The mention of Ekron, Timnah, Gibbethon, and Baalath within Dan's allotment (and some initially attributed to Judah in Jos 15) points to the complex and overlapping claims in Canaan. This overlap could stem from ideal versus actual possession, changing historical realities, or border disputes inherent in dividing land among thirteen entities. It also subtly highlights that the initial land allocations were prescriptive—what was given—rather than purely descriptive of what was immediately possessed. The resistance from powerful inhabitants, like the Philistines in cities like Ekron, ultimately prevented complete occupation for some time, making the process of "inheritance" a prolonged period of conquest and spiritual struggle for the Israelites. The presence of place names possibly tied to Baal (like Baalath) also serves as a polemic against Canaanite worship, as God intended these sites of idolatry to be claimed and cleansed by His people. The divine intent was not just land ownership, but the purification of the land from pagan influence.

Joshua 19 43 Commentary

Joshua 19:43, a simple list of cities, holds profound significance in the broader biblical narrative. It reflects God's meticulous faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham by meticulously allotting every portion of the land to the tribes of Israel. These cities, particularly Ekron and Timnah, were not mere geographic points but strategic strongholds, often Philistine territories deeply entrenched in paganism. Their inclusion in Dan's inheritance was not an oversight but a divine mandate for Israel to fully possess the land and cleanse it of idolatry, demonstrating their unwavering faith in God's power to conquer formidable adversaries.

However, the subsequent history, particularly documented in the book of Judges, reveals that Dan largely failed to conquer and hold these specific cities. This failure stemmed from a lack of complete faith and obedience, unwillingness to dispossess the inhabitants (Jdg 1:34), and later, integration or pressure from the existing powerful pagan populations. The consequences were significant: the Danites were pressed into the hill country and eventually sought an entirely new territory far to the north (Jdg 18). Thus, this seemingly mundane list in Joshua 19:43 serves as a quiet foreshadowing of the tribe's struggles, symbolizing the tension between God's perfect provision and His people's often-imperfect response, illustrating that the fulfillment of divine promises often depends on human faith and active obedience. It underscores that inheriting spiritual promises today similarly requires active faith and wrestling against spiritual forces, not mere passive waiting.