Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, Hazar-shualThe name "Hazar-shual" translates to "village of the fox" or "enclosure of the fox" in Hebrew. This name suggests a place that might have been known for its wildlife, particularly foxes, which are often mentioned in the Bible as cunning creatures ( Song of Solomon 2:15). The location of Hazar-shual is in the southern part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Simeon, within the larger inheritance of Judah. This reflects the interconnectedness of the tribes and the shared heritage of the Promised Land. Historically, this area was part of the Negev, a semi-arid region that required resilience and adaptability, much like the foxes that might have inhabited it. The mention of Hazar-shual reminds us of God's provision and the importance of community and shared resources among the tribes of Israel. Balah
"Balah" is another town within the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon. The name itself is less clear in meaning, but it is sometimes associated with "swallowing" or "destruction," possibly indicating a place that had seen conflict or was strategically significant. Balah's inclusion in the list of cities emphasizes the completeness of God's promise to give the Israelites a land of their own. It also highlights the diversity of the land, with each town having its unique characteristics and history. Theologically, Balah can remind us of the transient nature of earthly possessions and the importance of relying on God's eternal promises. Ezem
"Ezem" is a town whose name means "bone" or "strength" in Hebrew. This could imply a place of fortitude or a stronghold, which would be significant for the tribe of Simeon as they settled in their allotted territory. The name "Ezem" might also suggest a place of refuge or a strategic location for defense. In the broader biblical narrative, the mention of Ezem serves as a reminder of the strength and protection that God provides to His people. It underscores the idea that while the Israelites were given physical land, their true strength and security came from their relationship with God. This encourages believers to seek spiritual strength and refuge in God, who is our ultimate stronghold. Persons / Places / Events 1. Hazar-shualThis is a town located in the southern part of the territory allotted to the tribe of Simeon. The name "Hazar-shual" means "village of the fox" or "enclosure of the fox," indicating a place that might have been known for its wildlife or a specific geographical feature. 2. BalahAnother town within the territory of Simeon. The name "Balah" is thought to mean "mistress" or "lady," which might reflect the town's significance or a notable feature of its history or culture. 3. EzemA town also within the Simeonite territory. The name "Ezem" means "bone" or "strength," possibly indicating a place of fortitude or resilience. Teaching Points Understanding God's Sovereignty in AllotmentThe distribution of land to the tribes, including Simeon, reflects God's sovereign plan and purpose for each tribe. Believers can trust that God has a specific place and purpose for them within His kingdom. Significance of Names and PlacesThe names of these towns carry meanings that can reflect spiritual truths or historical significance. Studying these can deepen our understanding of biblical accounts and God's work in history. Interconnectedness of God's PeopleThe overlap of territories between Judah and Simeon illustrates the interconnectedness of God's people. In the body of Christ, we are called to live in unity and support one another, recognizing our shared inheritance in Christ. Faithfulness in Small ThingsThese towns, though not as prominent as others, were part of God's promise to Israel. Believers are encouraged to be faithful in the roles and places God has assigned to them, no matter how small they may seem. Bible Study Questions 1. What does the allocation of land to Simeon within Judah's territory teach us about God's provision and the fulfillment of His promises? 2. How can the meanings of the names "Hazar-shual," "Balah," and "Ezem" inspire us to seek deeper spiritual insights in our own lives? 3. In what ways does the interconnectedness of the tribes of Israel reflect the unity we are called to have as members of the body of Christ? 4. How can we apply the principle of faithfulness in small things, as seen in the significance of these lesser-known towns, to our daily walk with God? 5. How does the prophecy over Simeon in Genesis 49 relate to the tribe's inheritance and what lessons can we draw from this about God's discipline and grace? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 15:21-32This passage lists the towns in the southern part of Judah, which includes some of the same towns later given to Simeon. This connection highlights the shared heritage and geographical overlap between the tribes of Judah and Simeon. 1 Chronicles 4:28-33Chronicles provides a genealogical and geographical account of the tribe of Simeon, listing these towns again, which underscores their continued importance and presence in Israel's history. Genesis 49:5-7Jacob's prophecy over Simeon and Levi speaks of their dispersion in Israel, which is reflected in the scattered nature of Simeon's inheritance. 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, ZidonPlaces 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, ZorahTopics Azem, Balah, Ezem, Hazar, Hazarshual, Hazar-shual, Hazar-shu'al, ShualDictionary 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 HebraicaChammath. 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 Links Joshua 19:3 NIVJoshua 19:3 NLTJoshua 19:3 ESVJoshua 19:3 NASBJoshua 19:3 KJV
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