Lexical Summary Yithlah: Yithlah Original Word: יִתְלָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Jethlah Probably from talah; it will hang, i.e. Be high; Jithlah, a place in Palestine -- Jethlah. see HEBREW talah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom talah Definition "it will hang," a place in Dan NASB Translation Ithlah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs יִתְלָה proper name, of a location in (Southern) Dan Joshua 19:42; Σιλαθα, ᵐ5L Ιθλα. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Yithlah is named a single time in Scripture, in the catalog of towns allotted to the tribe of Dan: “Aijalon, Ithlah, Elon, Timnah, Ekron” (Joshua 19:42). Though the reference is brief, it anchors the town within the inspired record of Israel’s settlement of the land promised to Abraham (Genesis 12:7). Geographical and Historical Context The list in Joshua 19 situates Yithlah between Aijalon and Elon, near Timnah and Ekron. These neighboring sites lie on the western foothills that descend from the central highlands toward the Shephelah and the coastal plain. Modern scholarship tentatively links Yithlah with Khirbet Yitla (Tel Yitla), an elevated ruin approximately 20 km east-southeast of present-day Tel Aviv. The ridge commands the Aijalon Valley—an important corridor controlling access between the coast and the interior. In the period of the Judges and early monarchy, this zone marked the frontier between Israelite Danites and Philistine strongholds such as Ekron (1 Samuel 5:10; 1 Samuel 17:52). Role in the Tribal Inheritance of Dan Dan’s allotted territory proved difficult to hold (Judges 1:34). The mention of Yithlah in Joshua underscores the original divine intention that Dan occupy these lowland passes and act as a buffer for the central tribes. Although Dan later migrated northward (Judges 18), the inclusion of Yithlah in the allotment affirms the sufficiency of God’s provision had the tribe walked in full obedience and faith. Archaeological Insights Surface surveys at Tel Yitla have revealed Iron Age II pottery, fortification lines, and possible olive-press installations—signs of an agrarian community with defensive concerns. The strategic vantage and agricultural terraces correspond well with the biblical portrait of towns defending fertile valleys coveted by Israel’s enemies. Spiritual and Ministry Implications 1. Trusting God’s Boundaries: Yithlah testifies that every boundary marker drawn by God is purposeful (Proverbs 16:9; Acts 17:26). When Dan relinquished portions of its God-assigned territory, the tribe forfeited blessing and influence. Christological and Redemptive Echoes The Danite frontier foreshadows the tension between the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness. Yithlah, perched on a ridge overlooking a strategic valley, anticipates the ultimate Victor who “disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them” (Colossians 2:15). As Dan was called to secure Israel’s borders, so the Son of David secures His people’s inheritance forever (Hebrews 7:25). Lessons for Modern Believers • Receive and steward the specific sphere God grants. In sum, the brief notice of Yithlah in Joshua beckons readers to consider the faithfulness of God who apportions land, records names, and calls His people to courageous obedience in every generation. Forms and Transliterations וְיִתְלָֽה׃ ויתלה׃ veyitLah wə·yiṯ·lāh wəyiṯlāhLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:42 HEB: וְשַֽׁעֲלַבִּ֥ין וְאַיָּל֖וֹן וְיִתְלָֽה׃ NAS: and Shaalabbin and Aijalon and Ithlah, KJV: and Ajalon, and Jethlah, INT: and Shaalabbin and Aijalon and Ithlah 1 Occurrence |
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