Lexical Summary Chethlon: Chethlon Original Word: חָתְלֹן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Hethlon From chathal; enswathed; Chethlon, a place in Palestine -- Hethlon. see HEBREW chathal NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chathal Definition a place in N. Pal. NASB Translation Hethlon (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs חֶתְלֹן proper name, of a location, on the extreme northern boundary of Israel territory (in Ezekiel's conception), only ׳דֶּרֶךְ(ֿ)ח Ezekiel 47:15; Ezekiel 48:1; modern „eitela nearly two hours from sea-coast, according to FurrerZPV viii, 27. Topical Lexicon Geographical Location Hethlon is named as a northern landmark of the Promised Land in Ezekiel’s closing vision. The prophet locates it on the “way” leading from the Mediterranean (the Great Sea) toward the entrance of Hamath (Ezekiel 47:15; 48:1). Taken in conjunction with adjoining sites—Zedad, Hamath, Hazar Enan, and Damascus—the name points to a border region where the Lebanon range merges into upper Syria. Although the exact tell or ruin remains unidentified, the literary context suggests a frontier settlement or pass controlling movement between the Phoenician coast and inland Syria. Biblical References and Context 1. Ezekiel 47:15 sets Hethlon as the first marker on the northern boundary of the restored land: “This shall be the border of the land: On the north side, from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon, to the entrance of Zedad”. In both texts Hethlon functions as a fixed point anchoring a precise territorial outline—part of a carefully ordered restoration vision stretching from chapter 40 through 48. Historical Background Ezekiel prophesied during the Babylonian exile (sixth century B.C.). Judah’s land had been emptied, the temple razed, and borders erased. By naming peripheral sites such as Hethlon, the prophet reminds the exiles of Israel’s full covenant territory, not merely the shrunken province around Jerusalem known to the post-exilic community. The northern frontier carries special memory of Davidic expansion (2 Samuel 8:5–6) and Solomon’s commercial reach (1 Kings 9:11–14). In Ezekiel’s day, those heights were under foreign dominance, yet the oracle promises their restoration to God’s people. Theological and Eschatological Significance 1. Covenant Faithfulness: Mentioning a remote border town underscores Yahweh’s meticulous commitment; every corner of the inheritance will be honored. The detail anticipates the fulfillment of Genesis 15:18 and Numbers 34:7–9. Ministry Applications and Lessons • Precision in God’s Promises: The God who names Hethlon is the same who numbers the hairs on a believer’s head (Matthew 10:30). No promise will fail. Archaeological Considerations Scholars have proposed several sites—Khiyam el-Khatlu, modern Heitela near Tripoli, or a defile north of Arqa—yet none commands consensus. The absence of ruins does not diminish confidence in Scripture; many ancient towns await discovery, and changing place-names often veil biblical locales. Excavations along the Akkar Plain and the Orontes corridor may yet bring new data. Conclusion Though only twice mentioned, Hethlon serves as a northern sentinel of promise. It anchors Ezekiel’s grand vision of a renewed land, foreshadows the comprehensive reign of God, and offers believers enduring lessons on the exactness and expansiveness of divine grace. Forms and Transliterations חֶתְלֹ֖ן חֶתְלֹ֣ן ׀ חתלן chetLon ḥeṯ·lōn ḥeṯlōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 47:15 HEB: הַגָּד֛וֹל הַדֶּ֥רֶךְ חֶתְלֹ֖ן לְב֥וֹא צְדָֽדָה׃ NAS: [by] the way of Hethlon, to the entrance KJV: the way of Hethlon, as men go INT: the Great the way of Hethlon to the entrance of Zedad Ezekiel 48:1 2 Occurrences |
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