Lexical Summary Kesil: Fool, Foolish Original Word: כִּסיל Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Kesil, a place in Palestine The same as kciyl; Kesil, a place in Palestine: see HEBREW kciyl NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kasal Definition a place in S. Judah NASB Translation Chesil (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs III. כְּסִיל proper name, of a location in south of tribe of Judah Joshua 15:30, probably corrupt for בְּתוּל Joshua 19:4; see בְּתוּאֵל. Topical Lexicon Biblical Reference Chesil appears once in the Old Testament, in the southern-Judah town list (Joshua 15:30). Geographical Location Set in the arid Negev south of Hebron, Chesil lay between Eltolad and Hormah, probably on a wadi that feeds the Brook of Egypt. Suggested sites include Khirbet el-Qom, Tell el-Khuleifeh, and Khirbet el-Masarif, though no excavated inscription has confirmed the identification. Its position in a frontier belt explains why later tribal boundaries were fluid. Historical Context Joshua 15 catalogs fortified towns needed to secure Judah after the conquest. In the parallel Simeonite list (Joshua 19:4) the place name is Bethul, and 1 Chronicles 4:30 repeats Bethuel. The dual naming indicates either a later rename or simultaneous use in different tribal records. The shift from Judah to Simeon shows how south-border towns could change oversight while remaining within Israel’s collective inheritance. Strategic Function Grouped with Hormah and Ziklag, Chesil formed part of a defense line controlling caravan routes from Egypt and guarding against Amalekite raids. Its walls, cisterns, and grazing lands offered security for shepherds, traders, and travelers moving between the hill country and the coastal plain. Even without specific narrative events, Chesil’s inclusion in the list signals its importance to regional stability—stability that later allowed figures such as David to operate safely in the Negev (compare 1 Samuel 27:6). Archaeological Clues Negev surveys have found Iron Age pottery, fortification traces, and rock-cut water systems in likely zones. The modest scale fits a fortified border village rather than a royal city, matching the biblical placement among other small towns. Pending inscriptional discovery, the exact mound remains uncertain, but the material culture confirms the era and type of settlement Scripture portrays. Theological and Ministry Implications 1. Faithfulness in Small Things Though never spotlighted by miracles, Chesil is recorded by name in God’s book, assuring believers that no act of service or place of ministry is overlooked by the Lord (Matthew 10:29-31). 2. Shared Stewardship Judah and Simeon’s joint use of the town models cooperative resource management within God’s people—an Old Testament precursor to New Testament partnership in the gospel (Philippians 1:5). 3. Guarding the Boundary Chesil stood on the edge of covenant territory, reminding the church to protect doctrinal and moral borders while remaining hospitable to outsiders who seek refuge (2 Timothy 1:14; 1 Peter 4:9). Christological Connection The fortified southern corridor that included Chesil later formed part of the route Joseph and Mary took when they carried the infant Jesus to Egypt and back (Matthew 2:13-21). Thus a town listed in Joshua’s conquest indirectly served God’s preservation of His Son, illustrating how seemingly minor details fit into the larger redemptive tapestry. Legacy Chesil’s single mention teaches that every line of Scripture matters (Matthew 5:18) and that each obscure place contributes to God’s unfolding purposes. Its history encourages believers to embrace their assigned roles—visible or hidden—in advancing the kingdom of Christ. Forms and Transliterations וּכְסִ֖יל וכסיל ucheSilLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:30 HEB: וְאֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד וּכְסִ֖יל וְחָרְמָֽה׃ NAS: and Eltolad and Chesil and Hormah, KJV: And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, INT: and Eltolad and Chesil and Hormah 1 Occurrence |
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