Lexical Summary Yehud: Yehud Original Word: יְהֻד Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jehud A briefer form of one corresponding to Yhuwd; Jehud, a place in Palestine -- Jehud. see HEBREW Yhuwd NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a place in Dan NASB Translation Jehud (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יְהֻד proper name, of a location in Dan, Joshua 19:45; = modern Yehûdî yeh, 8 miles east of Joppa, and 11/2 hours [5 2-Janmiles] west of north from Lydda, Surveyii. 258 GuérinJudée i. 322; A Ιουθ, ᵐ5L [Ι]ουδ (on form of name Jastr JBL xii, 1893, 61 ff. compare Ia-u-du, Tel el-AmarnaNo. 39). Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning Jehud (Strong’s Hebrew 3055) designates a town allotted to the tribe of Dan. Although the spelling resembles later names for Judah and its post-exilic province, the context shows a distinct site located in the coastal lowlands rather than the Judean highlands. The name itself hints at praise to the LORD, reminding readers that even the smallest village can bear testimony to His renown. Biblical Context Jehud is mentioned once, in the territorial list for Dan: “Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon” (Joshua 19:45). The verse forms part of the broader record of Israel’s tribal inheritances (Joshua 13–21). These allotments fulfilled God’s promise to give Abraham’s descendants the land (Genesis 15:18-21) and displayed the covenant order set down through Moses (Numbers 26:52-56). Geographical Location Most scholars place Jehud on the southern edge of the Sharon Plain, approximately eleven miles southeast of Jaffa and three miles east of modern Lod. The modern town of Yehud-Monoson preserves the ancient name and sits on a low rise commanding views of fertile farmland that once attracted Danite settlers. The proximity to trade routes such as the Via Maris made the area strategically valuable yet vulnerable to Philistine encroachment, a tension reflected elsewhere in Dan’s history (Judges 13–16). Historical Background 1. Conquest and Settlement After the initial conquest under Joshua, Dan struggled to hold its allotted territory (Judges 1:34). Jehud therefore belonged to a borderland that demanded vigilance against stronger coastal peoples. Though Jehud receives no explicit mention in the monarchy narratives, its location suggests periodic occupation through the United Kingdom and divided kingdoms. Administrative texts from the Persian era reference a district “Yehud” in the south, but this later province is distinct from Danite Jehud. Byzantine itineraries record a Jewish community in the vicinity, and pottery surveys confirm continuous settlement into the Islamic era. Modern excavations have uncovered Iron Age walls and silos, supporting the site’s identification with Joshua’s Jehud. Archaeological Considerations Tell Yehud features a double-ring fortification and domestic installations. Sherds include collared-rim jars typical of early Israelite occupation, alongside Philistine bichrome ware, illustrating cultural intermingling predicted by the biblical narrative (Judges 13:1). A small industrial quarter with basalt grinding stones implies agricultural processing, consistent with Dan’s fertile inheritance (Deuteronomy 33:22). Theological and Typological Significance 1. Faithfulness in the Details The Spirit-inspired record of even little-known sites underlines that “not one word has failed of all the good things the LORD has promised” (Joshua 21:45). Jehud proves that divine faithfulness extends to local addresses, not merely to famous cities. Ancient boundary markers symbolized covenantal identity. By naming Jehud, Scripture roots Dan’s obligations—and privileges—in a specific geography, prefiguring the believer’s heavenly inheritance that is likewise reserved and unshakeable (1 Peter 1:4). Dan’s incomplete conquest shows the danger of partial obedience. Jehud prompts reflection on areas of the heart still contested by worldly influences, calling believers to “drive out” all rivals to Christ’s lordship (2 Corinthians 10:5). Lessons for Today • God values obscure places and people; ministry in “small” settings carries covenant weight (Colossians 4:17). Cross-References and Related Texts Joshua 13:7; Numbers 34:1-12 – the principle of defined inheritances Judges 18:1-2; 1 Samuel 5:1 – Philistine pressure on Danite territory Psalm 16:6 – “The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places” Ezekiel 48:1-2 – Dan’s restored allotment in the millennial vision Hebrews 11:32-34 – Danite Samson among those “whose weakness was turned to strength” Jehud thus stands as a modest yet meaningful witness to covenant fulfillment, geographical specificity, and the call to faithful occupation until the full redemption of the land and its people is realized in Messiah’s reign. Forms and Transliterations וִיהֻ֥ד ויהד viHud wî·huḏ wîhuḏLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:45 HEB: וִיהֻ֥ד וּבְנֵֽי־ בְרַ֖ק NAS: and Jehud and Bene-berak KJV: And Jehud, and Beneberak, INT: and Jehud and Bene-berak and Gath-rimmon |