2701. Chatsar Susah

Lexical Summary

Chatsar Susah: Chatsar Susah

Original Word: חֲצַר סוּסָה
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Chatsar Cuwcah
Pronunciation: khä-tsär' soo-sä'
Phonetic Spelling: (khats-ar'soo-saw')
KJV: Hazar-susah
NASB: Hazar-susah
Word Origin: [from H2691 (חָצֵר - Court) and H5484 (סוּסָה - mare)]

1. village of cavalry
2. Chatsar-Susah, a place in Israel

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Hazar-susah

From chatser and cuwcah; village of cavalry; Chatsar-Susah, a place in Palestine -- Hazar-susah.

see HEBREW chatser

see HEBREW cuwcah

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from chatser and susah
Definition
"village of cavalry," a place in Simeon
NASB Translation
Hazar-susah (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

חֲצַר סוּסָה, סוּסִים ׳ח

proper name, of a location (compare Kefr Susê, 'Rossdorf,' close to Damascus on the south, Nö^{ZMG, 1875, xxix. 476}) — in Simeon סוסה ׳ח Joshua 19:5 ᵐ5 Σαρσουσειμ, ᵐ5^L Ασαρσουσιν = סוסים ׳ח 1 Chronicles 4:31, ᵐ5 Ἡμισυσεσοραμ, ᵐ5^L Ασερσουσι.

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Setting

Hazar Susah stands among the thirteen settlements assigned to the tribe of Simeon when the Promised Land was apportioned by lot: “Within their inheritance were… Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah, Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen—thirteen cities with their villages” (Joshua 19:5). The list sits inside Judah’s larger territory (Joshua 19:1,9), placing the site in the semi-arid southern reaches of Canaan, probably south-west of Beersheba in the Negev.

Geographical and Historical Context

1. Location in the Negev: The surrounding land was open, pastoral country ideal for grazing flocks—Simeon’s traditional livelihood (Genesis 34; 49:5-7).
2. Border Town: Like several Simeonite towns, Hazar Susah guarded approaches from Egypt and the Philistine plain, contributing to Judah’s defensive line.
3. Later Reference: A closely related name, “Hazar Susim,” reappears in 1 Chronicles 4:31 among settlements held “until the reign of David,” implying continuity or resettlement during the united monarchy.

Place in Redemptive History

• Fulfilment of Prophecy: Jacob foretold that Simeon and Levi would be “scattered in Israel” (Genesis 49:7). Simeon’s allotment as enclaves within Judah, including Hazar Susah, embodies that word while still demonstrating divine provision; the tribe is scattered yet not forsaken.
• Part of the Conquest: The listing in Joshua underscores that every promise to Abraham concerning the land was honored down to individual villages (Joshua 21:45). Hazar Susah therefore witnesses to God’s meticulous faithfulness.
• Davidic Era Consolidation: Chronicles hints that Simeonite towns, Hazar Susah included, remained distinct until David centralized administration, after which Simeon effectively merged with Judah. This merge echoes unity under a righteous king and anticipates the greater messianic reign.

Ministry and Theological Insights

1. God Sees the Small Places: Though mentioned only once, Hazar Susah received a specific inheritance. No believer or congregation is too obscure to feature in the divine record (Matthew 10:29-31).
2. Stewardship of Borderlands: The town’s frontier position models watchfulness. Churches situated on cultural or spiritual margins are called to guard truth and extend hospitality, as Simeon protected Judah’s flank.
3. Fulfilled yet Ongoing Promises: The town’s brief spotlight in Joshua encourages confidence that promises not yet fully seen—such as the new heavens and new earth—will likewise be realized in detail (2 Peter 3:13).

Legacy and Archaeological Note

No definite site has been identified, though proposals cluster near modern Khirbet el-Markâba and Tell el-Milh. The very elusiveness underscores the transient nature of earthly cities, contrasting with the “city whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10).

Practical Application

• Remember that obedience in overlooked places matters.
• Pray for ministries on literal or figurative borders, that they remain faithful outposts of the kingdom.
• Trust that the Lord records every act of faithfulness, even when human history soon forgets.

Forms and Transliterations

סוּסָֽה׃ סוסה׃ sū·sāh suSah sūsāh

Englishman's Concordance

Joshua 19:5
HEB: הַמַּרְכָּב֖וֹת וַחֲצַ֥ר סוּסָֽה׃
NAS: and Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah,
KJV: and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
INT: and Ziklag and Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 2701
1 Occurrence

sū·sāh — 1 Occ.