Lexical Summary Dimonah: Dimonah Original Word: דִּימוֹנָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Dimonah Feminine of Diymown; Dimonah, a place in Palestine -- Dimonah. see HEBREW Diymown NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originof uncertain derivation, see also Dibon Definition a place in Judah NASB Translation Dimonah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs דִּימוֺנָה proper name, of a location = דִּיבוֺן 2, q. v. above Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Dimonah appears once in Scripture, within the catalogue of towns allotted to the tribe of Judah in the Negev: “Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah” (Joshua 15:22). Its single mention places it among the thirty–eight southern settlements granted to Judah after the conquest of Canaan under Joshua’s leadership. Geographical Location The town is listed with other Negev sites lying south-southwest of Hebron and west of the Dead Sea. Most scholars situate Dimonah on the arid plateau east of Beer-sheba, possibly at or near modern Khirbet ed-Dimmeh or Tel Rakhma. The modern Israeli city of Dimona, though named in conscious remembrance of the biblical site, lies slightly north of the probable ancient location. The arid environment supplied ample grazing yet limited agriculture, making Dimonah part of Judah’s fringe that served as a buffer against Edom and nomadic peoples. Historical Significance 1. Strategic Frontier: By occupying Dimonah and neighboring towns, Judah controlled caravan routes linking the Arabah to the coastal plain. The town’s inclusion in the inspired land distribution underscores God’s intent that Judah possess not only fertile hill country but also desert strongholds for defense and testimony. Theological Considerations • Covenant Faithfulness: The precise listing of an otherwise obscure hamlet affirms that every promise of territory was literally kept. God’s faithfulness extends to the smallest detail, encouraging believers that “not one of the good promises which the LORD had made … failed” (Joshua 21:45). Ministry Applications 1. Value of the Overlooked: Pastors and teachers can draw comfort that ministry conducted in hidden locations is not forgotten by God. Dimonah’s record encourages faithful service whether in prominent pulpits or small gatherings. Archaeological Considerations While conclusive identification remains pending, surface pottery and fortification remnants at proposed sites align with Late Bronze and Iron Age occupation. Such findings corroborate the biblical claim of Israelite settlement in the Negev during the period of the Judges and united monarchy, providing external support for the historicity of Joshua’s account. Typological Insights Dimonah, bordering barren wilderness, typifies the believer’s life at the crossroads of promise and testing. Just as the town stood between fertile Judah and hostile deserts, Christians dwell between the assured inheritance in Christ and present trials, called to hold ground until full redemption is realized. Summary Though mentioned only once, Dimonah serves as a memorial to God’s meticulous covenant faithfulness, Judah’s vigilant stewardship of frontier lands, and the abiding worth of seemingly insignificant places and people in the unfolding redemptive narrative. Forms and Transliterations וְדִֽימוֹנָ֖ה ודימונה vedimoNah wə·ḏî·mō·w·nāh wəḏîmōwnāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:22 HEB: וְקִינָ֥ה וְדִֽימוֹנָ֖ה וְעַדְעָדָֽה׃ NAS: and Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah, KJV: And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, INT: and Kinah and Dimonah and Adadah 1 Occurrence |
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