Lexical Summary Balah: To wear out, to decay, to consume Original Word: בָּלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Balah Feminine of baleh; failure; Balah, a place in Palestine -- Balah. see HEBREW baleh NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation Definition a place in Simeon NASB Translation Balah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs בָּלָה proper name, of a location in Simeon Joshua 19:3. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Balah is listed once in Scripture, appearing among the towns allotted to the tribe of Simeon when Joshua divided the land (Joshua 19:3). The allotment was nestled “within the inheritance of the children of Judah” (Joshua 19:1), demonstrating that Simeon’s territory was enclosed by Judah’s larger share in the south-central Negev. Geographical Context The precise site of Balah has not been conclusively identified, yet its grouping with Hazar Shual and Ezem places it in the semi-arid region stretching toward the wilderness of Zin. This borderland zone, touched by seasonal wadis and sparse pastureland, matched Simeon’s shepherding lifestyle (1 Chronicles 4:38-43). Archaeological surveys in the northern Negev have uncovered small Iron-Age settlements that mirror the scale and pattern of the Joshua 19 list—unfortified villages relying on cisterns and herding rather than intensive agriculture. Historical Significance 1. Fulfillment of Jacob’s Prophecy Jacob foretold that Simeon and Levi would be dispersed in Israel (Genesis 49:5-7). Simeon’s absorption into Judah’s territory—Balah included—shows that God’s words through the patriarch came to pass without negating Simeon’s covenant place. The town therefore witnesses both judgment and mercy: discipline for past violence, yet provision inside Judah’s secure borders. 2. Role in Judah’s Protective Buffer By the United Monarchy, Judah functioned as a defensive shield for central Israel against southern incursions. Simeonite towns such as Balah helped populate the frontier, providing manpower for pastoral watch and caravan routes leading to Sinai and Egypt. Their presence bolstered Judah’s southern flank, a fact underscored when Hezekiah later fortified the Negev (2 Chronicles 11:5-10; the chronicler rehearses similar towns). 3. Post-Exilic Memory After the Babylonian exile, Simeon is not listed separately in the returnees’ rosters (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7). Traditionally, Simeonite descendants merged with Judah, so Balah’s memory becomes part of Judah’s wider heritage. This absorption speaks to the covenant’s unifying power: tribal distinctions may fade, but shared identity under Yahweh remains. Theological and Ministry Insights • God’s word stands. The seeming incidental mention of Balah in Joshua underscores the precision of divine prophecy and its historical outworking. Ministries grounded in Scripture can point to such details to strengthen confidence in the integrity of the biblical record. Related Passages for Study Genesis 49:5-7 – Prophecy concerning Simeon and Levi Joshua 19:1-9 – Territorial allotment including Balah 1 Chronicles 4:24-43 – Simeonite genealogies and southern expansion Ezekiel 48:24-25 – Future tribal allocations (Simeon restored) Revelation 7:7 – Simeon among the sealed, affirming covenant continuity Practical Applications 1. Scriptural Authority: Highlight Balah as a case study when teaching on the accuracy of biblical geography and history. Summary Though mentioned only once, Balah serves as a marker of fulfilled prophecy, covenant faithfulness, and the significance of every community in God’s kingdom economy. Its single verse testifies that no detail in Scripture is superfluous and that each name contributes to the grand narrative of redemption. Forms and Transliterations וּבָלָ֖ה ובלה ū·ḇā·lāh ūḇālāh uvaLahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:3 HEB: וַחֲצַ֥ר שׁוּעָ֛ל וּבָלָ֖ה וָעָֽצֶם׃ NAS: and Hazar-shual and Balah and Ezem, KJV: And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem, INT: and Hazar-shual and Balah and Ezem 1 Occurrence |
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