Joshua 19:5
Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,
Ziklag
This city holds significant historical and biblical importance. In Hebrew, "Ziklag" (צִקְלַג) is believed to mean "winding" or "enclosure." It was a city given to the tribe of Simeon within the territory of Judah. Ziklag is notably mentioned as the place where David sought refuge from King Saul and where he resided for a time under the protection of the Philistine king Achish (1 Samuel 27:6). Archaeological evidence suggests that Ziklag was a fortified city, which aligns with its strategic importance in biblical narratives. The city's history as a place of refuge and its association with David highlight themes of divine providence and protection, reminding believers of God's provision in times of distress.

Beth-marcaboth
The name "Beth-marcaboth" (בֵּית הַמַּרְכָּבוֹת) translates to "house of chariots" in Hebrew. This suggests that the location may have been associated with chariotry or military significance, possibly serving as a storage or assembly point for chariots. The mention of chariots evokes the image of strength and power, as chariots were a formidable military asset in ancient times. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a reminder of the might and sovereignty of God, who is often depicted as a divine warrior in the Scriptures. The presence of such a place within the inheritance of Simeon underscores the tribe's role in the broader narrative of Israel's military and spiritual journey.

Hazar-susah
The name "Hazar-susah" (חֲצַר סוּסָה) means "village of horses" in Hebrew. This indicates that the area may have been known for horse breeding or as a location where horses were kept, which would have been crucial for transportation and warfare. Horses in the Bible often symbolize strength, speed, and the ability to overcome obstacles. The inclusion of Hazar-susah in the inheritance of Simeon can be seen as a metaphor for the strength and readiness that God provides to His people. It serves as a reminder of the resources and capabilities that God equips His followers with to fulfill their divine purposes and to advance His kingdom on earth.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Ziklag
A town that was given to the tribe of Simeon as part of their inheritance. It later became significant as the place where David sought refuge from King Saul and where he was anointed king over Judah.

2. Beth-marcaboth
This name means "house of chariots" in Hebrew. It was one of the towns allotted to the tribe of Simeon, indicating a place of strategic or military importance.

3. Hazar-susah
Translating to "village of horses," this town was also part of the inheritance of Simeon. The name suggests a place associated with horse breeding or cavalry.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Inheritance
The allocation of land to the tribes of Israel, including Simeon, demonstrates God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Believers can trust in God's promises for their lives, knowing He is faithful to His word.

Significance of Place in God's Plan
Places like Ziklag hold historical and spiritual significance. Understanding the role of specific locations in biblical accounts can deepen our appreciation of God's intricate plan and His sovereignty over history.

Lessons from Simeon's Inheritance
The tribe of Simeon's inheritance within Judah's territory reflects the consequences of past actions (Genesis 49:5-7). It serves as a reminder of the importance of obedience and the long-term impact of our choices.

Strategic Importance in God's Kingdom
Towns like Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah, with their military connotations, remind us that God uses strategic locations and resources for His purposes. Believers are called to be strategic in their service and stewardship for God's kingdom.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the allocation of Ziklag to the tribe of Simeon reflect God's faithfulness to His promises?

2. In what ways can understanding the historical and geographical context of biblical places enhance our study of Scripture?

3. What lessons can we learn from the tribe of Simeon's inheritance about the consequences of past actions and God's grace?

4. How can we apply the concept of strategic importance, as seen in Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah, to our personal lives and ministries?

5. How does the account of David in Ziklag encourage us to trust in God's timing and provision during challenging seasons?
Connections to Other Scriptures
1 Samuel 27:6
This verse connects to Ziklag, where David lived among the Philistines. It highlights the town's significance in David's life and God's providence in his journey to kingship.

1 Chronicles 4:31
This passage lists the towns of the tribe of Simeon, including Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promise to the tribes of Israel.

Genesis 49:5-7
Simeon's inheritance is a result of Jacob's prophecy over his sons, where Simeon and Levi are scattered in Israel. The allocation of towns within Judah's territory reflects this scattering.
A Too Extensive Earthly PortionW. Seaton.Joshua 19:1-51
Self the Last to be ConsideredW. Seaton, M. A.Joshua 19:1-51
The Leader DisinterestedW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Joshua 19:1-51
People
Allon, Anath, Asher, Dagon, Dan, Danites, Eleazar, Elon, Heleb, Hepher, Hosah, Israelites, Issachar, Japhia, Jezreel, Joshua, Naphtali, Nun, Rehob, Serah, Shema, Shimron, Shual, Simeon, Simeonites, Timnah, Zebulun, Zidon
Places
Achshaph, Achzib, Adami-nekeb, Aijalon, Ain, Allammelech, Amad, Anaharath, Aphek, Ashan, Aznoth-tabor, Baalath, Baalath-beer, Balah, Beersheba, Bene-berak, Beten, Beth-anath, Beth-dagan, Beth-emek, Beth-lebaoth, Bethlehem, Beth-marcaboth, Beth-pazzez, Beth-shemesh, Bethul, Cabul, Carmel, Chesulloth, Chinnereth, Chisloth-tabor, Dabbesheth, Daberath, Dan, Ebez, Ebron, Edrei, Ekron, Elon, Eltekeh, Eltolad, En-gannim, En-haddah, Eshtaol, Ether, Ezem, Gath-hepher, Gath-rimmon, Gibbethon, Gibeah, Hali, Hammath, Hammon, Hannathon, Hapharaim, Hazar-shual, Hazar-susah, Hazor, Heleph, Helkath, Horem, Hormah, Hosah, Hukkok, Idalah, Ir-shemesh, Ithlah, Jabneel, Japhia, Jehud, Jezreel, Jokneam, Joppa, Jordan River, Kanah, Kattath, Kedesh, Kishion, Lakkum, Leshem, Mahalab, Me-jarkon, Migdal-el, Mishal, Moladah, Nahalal, Neah, Negeb, Neiel, Rabbith, Rakkath, Rakkon, Ramah, Rehob, Remeth, Rimmon, Sarid, Shaalabbin, Shahazumah, Sharuhen, Sheba, Shiloh, Shimron, Shion, Shunem, Sidon the Great, Tabor, Timnah, Timnath-serah, Tyre, Ummah, Valley of Iphtahel, Yiron, Zaanannim, Zer, Ziddim, Ziklag, Zorah
Topics
Beth, Bethmarcaboth, Beth-marcaboth, Beth-mar'caboth, Hazar, Hazarsusah, Hazar-susah, Ha'zar-su'sah, Marcaboth, Susah, Ziklag
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joshua 19:1-47

     7266   tribes of Israel

Joshua 19:1-48

     5235   boundary

Library
Tiberias.
All the Jews declare, almost with one consent, that this was a fortified city from ancient times, even from the days of Joshua, and was the same with Rakkath, of which mention is made, Joshua 19:35. "Rakkath is Tiberias," say the Jerusalem Gemarists. And those of Babylon say the same, and that more largely: "It is clear to us that Rakkath is Tiberias." And when, after a few lines, this of Rabbi Jochanan was objected, "When I was a boy, I said a certain thing, concerning which I asked the elders,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Chammath. Ammaus. The Warm Baths of Tiberias.
Chammath and Rakkath are joined together, Joshua 19:35. For they were very neighbouring cities; Rakkath is Tiberias,--and Chammath, the town Ammaus, in Josephus. Of their neighbourhood, the Jerusalem Talmudists write thus: "The men of a great city may walk" (on the sabbath) "through a whole small city" (which was within a sabbath-day's journey); "but the inhabitants of a small city walk not through a whole great city." And then follows, "Formerly the men of Tiberias walked through all Chammath; but
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Some Other Towns Near Tiberias. Beth-Meon. Caphar Chittaia. Paltathah.
Among the towns, neighbouring upon Tiberias, Tarichee is especially commemorated in Josephus, a city thirty furlongs distant from Tiberias: you will find in him the history and mention of it very frequent. In the Talmudists we meet with other names also. I. Beth-Meon. "The men of Tiberias, who went up to Beth-Meon to be hired for workmen, were hired according to the custom of Beth-Meon: the men of Beth-Meon, who went down to Tiberias to be hired, were hired according to the custom of Tiberias." This
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King.
(Jerusalem and Bethlehem, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 1-12. ^a 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem [It lies five miles south by west of Jerusalem, a little to the east of the road to Hebron. It occupies part of the summit and sides of a narrow limestone ridge which shoots out eastward from the central chains of the Judæan mountains, and breaks down abruptly into deep valleys on the north, south, and east. Its old name, Ephrath, meant "the fruitful." Bethlehem means "house of bread." Its modern
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Within what Tribe the Lake of Gennesaret Was.
By comparing the maps with the Talmudic writers, this question ariseth: for there is not one among them, as far as I know, which does not altogether define the sea of Gennesaret to be without the tribe of Naphthali; but the Talmudists do most plainly place it within. "The Rabbins deliver: The sea of Tiberias is in the portion of Naphtali; yea, it takes a full line for the nets on the south side of it: as it is said, 'Possess the sea and the south,' Deuteronomy 33:23." The Gloss is; "(Naphtali) had
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The First Sign --The Marriage in Cana.
"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, and His disciples, to the marriage. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine. And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews' manner of purifying, containing two
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
"From Beth-horon to Emmaus it was hilly."--It was sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem.--"To eight hundred only, dismissed the army, (Vespasian) gave a place, called Ammaus, for them to inhabit: it is sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem." I inquire, whether this word hath the same etymology with Emmaus near Tiberias, which, from the 'warm baths,' was called Chammath. The Jews certainly do write this otherwise... "The family (say they) of Beth-Pegarim, and Beth Zipperia was out of Emmaus."--The
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sennacherib (705-681 B. C. )
The struggle of Sennacherib with Judaea and Egypt--Destruction of Babylon. Sennacherib either failed to inherit his father's good fortune, or lacked his ability.* He was not deficient in military genius, nor in the energy necessary to withstand the various enemies who rose against him at widely removed points of his frontier, but he had neither the adaptability of character nor the delicate tact required to manage successfully the heterogeneous elements combined under his sway. * The two principal
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
Subdivision D. The Transfiguration. Concerning Elijah. (a Spur of Hermon, Near Cæsarea Philippi.) ^A Matt. XVII. 1-13; ^B Mark IX. 2-13; ^C Luke IX. 28-36. ^c 28 And it came to pass about eight days { ^a six days} ^c after these sayings [Mark agrees with Matthew in saying six days. Luke qualifies his estimate by saying "about." But if we regard him as including the day of the "sayings" and also the day of the transfiguration, and the other two as excluding these days, then the three statements
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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