Lexical Summary Botsqath: Bozkath Original Word: בָּצְקַת Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Bozcath, Boskath From batseq; a swell of ground; Botscath, a place in Palestine -- Bozcath, Boskath. see HEBREW batseq NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as batseq Definition a city in Judah NASB Translation Bozkath (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs בָּצְקַת proper name, of a location (? compare Arabic  an elevated region covered with volcanic stones) city of Judah toward Philistines, בָּצְקַת Joshua 15:39; בָּצְקַת֑ 2 Kings 22:1 (home of Josiah's mother). Topical Lexicon Geographical Setting Bozkath lay in the Judean Shephelah—those low, rolling foothills between the central highlands and the Philistine plain. In Joshua’s territorial list it follows Lachish and precedes Eglon (Joshua 15:39), situating it south-southwest of Jerusalem on the inland route that linked the fortified ridge cities with the Mediterranean coast. The setting was agrarian, marked by fertile valleys that yielded olives, grain, and wine, and served as a natural buffer between Judah and hostile western powers. Biblical Occurrences 1. Joshua 15:39 records Bozkath among the inheritance assigned to Judah: “Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon”. Historical Background After the Conquest, the Judean Shephelah formed a first line of defense against Philistine encroachment; Bozkath’s inclusion among fortified neighbors implies strategic importance even for a seemingly modest settlement. By the late eighth and early seventh centuries B.C., Assyrian pressure reshaped Judah’s internal politics. That a provincial woman from Bozkath married into the royal house suggests Hezekiah or Manasseh looked beyond Jerusalem’s aristocracy, perhaps to strengthen regional loyalty or secure support in the buffer zone. Spiritual Themes and Ministry Applications 1. God’s Regard for the Humble – Scripture singles out Bozkath only twice, yet through it God raised a king who “did what was right in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 22:2). Remote origins never limit divine purpose. Modern ministry may draw encouragement that God often works through overlooked places and people. 2. Parental Influence in Spiritual Renewal – Josiah ascended the throne at eight; the formative influence of his mother from Bozkath cannot be discounted. Her son’s passion for covenant fidelity and Scripture (2 Kings 22:8–13) echoes Deuteronomy’s call for parents to shape future generations. Congregations today are reminded that faithful households, even in small communities, contribute decisively to national revival. 3. Covenant Inheritance and Continuing Promises – The listing of Bozkath in Joshua underlines God’s faithfulness to allot Israel’s tribal portions. Centuries later the town’s mention in Josiah’s genealogy shows that divine promises persist amid political upheaval. Believers may trust that God’s past acts anchor future hope. Archaeological and Scholarly Insights Bozkath’s precise location remains debated. Khirbet Abu-Shariya and Tell el-Beida have been proposed, both commanding routes between Lachish and Eglon. Pottery from the late Iron Age II found in surrounding sites confirms a network of fortified towns contemporaneous with Josiah. While excavation is limited, the geographic correlation with biblical data underscores Scripture’s historical reliability. Typological and Prophetic Reflections Josiah foreshadows the Messiah in his zeal to restore true worship (2 Chronicles 34). That such a reformer hailed, in part, from Bozkath anticipates the Savior’s humble Nazareth origins. The pattern is consistent: “God chose the lowly and despised things of the world… to nullify the things that are” (1 Corinthians 1:28). Lessons for Today • Geographic obscurity does not equal spiritual insignificance. Bozkath’s brief biblical footprint thus enlarges our understanding of God’s sovereign choreography, reminding every believer—wherever situated—that divine purposes often germinate in small, hidden places and bear fruit for generations. Forms and Transliterations וּבָצְקַ֖ת ובצקת מִבָּצְקַֽת׃ מבצקת׃ mib·bā·ṣə·qaṯ mibbāṣəqaṯ mibbatzeKat ū·ḇā·ṣə·qaṯ ūḇāṣəqaṯ uvatzeKatLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:39 HEB: לָכִ֥ישׁ וּבָצְקַ֖ת וְעֶגְלֽוֹן׃ NAS: Lachish and Bozkath and Eglon, KJV: Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, INT: Lachish and Bozkath and Eglon 2 Kings 22:1 2 Occurrences |
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