Ain
Ain, meaning "spring" or "fountain," suggests a location with a water source, which would have been crucial for sustaining life in ancient times. This village is also listed among the cities of the tribe of Simeon in Joshua 19:7. The presence of a spring would have made Ain a valuable settlement for agriculture and livestock.

Rimmon
Rimmon, meaning "pomegranate," is another village associated with the tribe of Simeon. The pomegranate is a symbol of fertility and abundance in the Bible, often used in the decoration of the temple (1 Kings 7:18). This village's name may reflect the agricultural richness of the area or the presence of pomegranate trees.

Tochen
Tochen is a lesser-known village, with limited references in the Bible. Its inclusion in this list highlights the comprehensive nature of the genealogical records in Chronicles, emphasizing the importance of each settlement in the tribal inheritance. The name Tochen may mean "measured" or "balanced," possibly indicating a well-planned or strategically located village.

and Ashan
Ashan, meaning "smoke" or "cloud," is another village of the Simeonites. It is mentioned in Joshua 15:42 and 19:7, indicating its role in the tribal allotments. The name could suggest a location known for its high elevation or a place where sacrifices were made, producing smoke.

five towns—
The mention of five towns underscores the completeness and sufficiency of the Simeonite settlements within Judah's territory. The number five can symbolize grace or God's provision in biblical numerology. This enumeration reflects the fulfillment of God's promise to provide land for His people, as seen in the broader narrative of the conquest and settlement of Canaan.

• The phrase roots us in the genealogy of the tribe of Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:24–31). God is charting real families in real places, showing where Simeon’s descendants settled within Judah’s territory (cf. Joshua 19:1-9; 1 Chronicles 4:28, 31).

• “Villages” points to satellite communities around larger towns. Scripture repeatedly notes such clusters—e.g., “Achzib with its villages” (Joshua 15:44)—to underline how the Lord provided both city centers and rural support for His people.

• By recording them, the Spirit emphasizes covenant faithfulness: every settlement, however small, matters to God (cf. Luke 12:6-7).

• Etam lay roughly 10 miles southwest of Bethlehem. Samson once “dwelt in the cleft of the rock of Etam” (Judges 15:8), and King Rehoboam later fortified it (2 Chronicles 11:6).

• The inclusion here reminds us that Simeonites lived among Judahites yet kept tribal identity—fulfilling Jacob’s prophecy that Simeon would be “scattered in Israel” (Genesis 49:7).

• Etam’s spring fed the region, picturing the Lord’s sustaining grace (Psalm 87:7).

• Listed with Simeonite towns in Joshua 19:7 and 1 Chronicles 4:31, Ain (“spring”) marked a desert oasis in the Negev.

• God planted His people even in arid zones, echoing Isaiah 41:18: “I will make the wilderness a pool of water.”

• The recurring notice of water sources shows the Lord meeting physical needs so His people could thrive spiritually.

• Also paired with Simeon in Joshua 19:7. Zechariah 14:10 mentions “Rimmon in the Negev of Judah,” confirming location in the southlands.

• The name recalls “pomegranate,” a fruit adorning the high-priestly robe (Exodus 28:33-34); every mention subtly ties daily life to worship.

• After Israel’s exile, Nehemiah 11:29 records settlers returning to Rimmon, proving God’s long-term preservation.

• Tochen appears only here, yet its single mention is enough to certify its historicity.

• Obscure places and forgotten families still sit under heaven’s spotlight (cf. 2 Timothy 2:19).

• The silence elsewhere about Tochen invites reflection: God notices what the world overlooks.

• Ashan (“smoke”) is noted in Judah’s allotment (Joshua 15:42) but later assigned to Simeon (Joshua 19:7). This duality illustrates tribal cooperation under one covenant God.

• Priests received Ashan as a Levitical city (1 Chronicles 6:59), so worship and daily commerce intertwined.

• “Five towns” closes the list, mirroring earlier Simeonite groups of “thirteen towns” (1 Chronicles 4:28-31). The number five often signals completeness in smaller units (e.g., Exodus 22:1, Leviticus 26:8), hinting that this sub-cluster rounded out Simeon’s settlements.

1 Chronicles 4:32 grounds lofty promises in down-to-earth geography. By cataloging Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, Scripture confirms God’s faithfulness to every clan, reminds believers that no place is too remote for His care, and showcases how covenant life—worship, work, water, and walls—flourished under His watchful eye.

Etam, and Ain, Rimmon . . .--Why are these five cities separated from the former thirteen? The old Jewish expositors Rashi and Kimchi assert, that whereas the thirteen were lost to the Simeonites from the time of David, these five remained in their possession. The separation is made in Joshua 19 as well as here. (Many MSS. read "and Rimmon.")

Five cities.--Joshua 19:7 : "Ain, Rimmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages." Etam may be a mistake for Ether. But there were two Etams, one in the hills of Judah, south of Bethlehem (see 1Chronicles 4:3, Note; 2Chronicles 11:6), and one in the south of Judah (Judges 15:8)--perhaps the place intended here. Ether occurs in Joshua 15:42 along with Ashan. Both were in the lowlands of Judah. Ain and Rimmon are spoken of as one place (Nehemiah 11:29): they must have been close to each other (comp. Buda-Pesth). Tochen only here. . . .

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