Lexical Summary Nibshan: Nibshan Original Word: נִבְשָׁן Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Nibshan Of uncertain derivation; Nibshan, a place in Palestine -- Nibshan. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as Bashan Definition a place in S. Judah NASB Translation Nibshan (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs נִבְשָׁן proper name, of a location in southern Judah ׳הַנּ Joshua 15:62. בָּשְׁנָה see below בושׁ. Topical Lexicon Geographic Setting Nibshan is listed among the “cities in the wilderness” apportioned to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:61-62). These settlements stretched along the western shores of the Dead Sea, south of En Gedi, amid arid cliffs and wadis that drain the eastern slopes of the Judean hill country. The broader region—often called the Jeshimon (“desert” or “waste”)—is characterized by precipitous canyons, sparse vegetation, and extreme heat, yet it served as a strategic buffer between the heartland of Judah and the lowlands adjoining the Salt Sea. Biblical Occurrence Joshua 15:62: “Nibshan, the City of Salt, and En Gedi—six cities with their villages.” Nibshan appears only here, grouped with Ir-hamelah (“City of Salt”) and En Gedi in a catalog of six desert towns. Though the text gives no additional narrative about Nibshan, its inclusion confirms Judah’s possession not only of fertile hill country but of barren wilderness as well, fulfilling God’s promise of a wide-ranging inheritance (Joshua 15:1). Historical Background 1. Post-conquest allocation: The listing reflects the administrative work of Joshua and Eleazar in divvying up Canaan following the conquest (Joshua 14:1). Possession of remote desert strongholds safeguarded Judah’s southeastern flank and controlled routes toward Edom. Archaeological and Geographical Notes Scholars have proposed several tells and ruin sites—often near the modern “Berekhat Mishmar” area or south of Ein Gedi—for Nibshan, yet no consensus exists. Pottery scatters and fortification remnants from the Iron Age attest to small fortified hamlets, perfectly matching the six “cities with their villages” terminology. The toponym itself may recall a feature of the landscape, possibly linked to “baking” or “scorched” ground, signaling either volcanic rock or intense sun-bleached soil common along the Dead Sea ridge. Theological Themes 1. God’s comprehensive inheritance: By allotting even inhospitable desert towns, the Lord demonstrated that no portion of the promised land was outside His covenant care (Deuteronomy 11:24). Practical and Ministry Applications • Faithfulness in the hidden places: Many believers labor in “desert” contexts—small churches, remote mission fields, or unnoticed service. Nibshan reminds the church that God records and values such ministries (Hebrews 6:10). Related Biblical Motifs • Lists of uncelebrated towns (Nehemiah 11:25-36) Although Nibshan’s precise location and later history remain uncertain, its lone biblical appearance testifies to God’s meticulous faithfulness, recording even the smallest portions of His people’s inheritance and weaving them into the tapestry of redemption. Forms and Transliterations וְהַנִּבְשָׁ֥ן והנבשן vehannivShan wə·han·niḇ·šān wəhanniḇšānLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:62 HEB: וְהַנִּבְשָׁ֥ן וְעִיר־ הַמֶּ֖לַח NAS: and Nibshan and the City of Salt KJV: And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, INT: and Nibshan and the City and Engedi 1 Occurrence |
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