Lexical Summary Etsem: Bone, essence, substance Original Word: עֶצֶם Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Azem, Ezem The same as etsem; bone; Etsem, a place in Palestine -- Azem, Ezem. see HEBREW etsem NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom atsom Definition "bone," a place in the Negev of Judah NASB Translation Ezem (3). Brown-Driver-Briggs II. עֶ֫צֶם proper name, of a location Ασομ, etc., in Negeb of Judah, עָ֑צֶם Joshua 15:29, Simeon Joshua 19:3; 1 Chronicles 4:29 (עָצֶם). Topical Lexicon Name and Meaning עֶצֶם (Ezem, also rendered Azem) is a town whose name springs from the root idea of strength or firmness, evoking “bone” as the supporting structure of the body. The term therefore suggests solidity, endurance, and permanence—qualities fitting for a southern frontier settlement that marked Israel’s territorial reach. Biblical Occurrences 1. Joshua 15:29 lists the town among the southern towns of Judah’s inheritance: “Baalah, Iim, Ezem, Tolad”. The three texts knit together a narrative of divine faithfulness: what was secured in conquest (Joshua 15) remained available to the tribe whose boundaries were later adjusted for equitable distribution (Joshua 19; 1 Chronicles 4). Geographical Setting Ezem lay in the Negev, the arid southland between Beersheba and the Wadi el-Arish, close to the ancestral route toward Egypt. While the exact tell is uncertain, scholars often pair Ezem with sites such as Tel el-Mashash or regionally adjacent mounds west-southwest of Beersheba. Its frontier position placed it near trade routes, caravan lines, and the line of defense against desert incursions. Historical Context • Conquest and Settlement: Ezem appears during Joshua’s listing of towns after Israel’s decisive entry into Canaan, illustrating the occupation of marginal zones as part of God’s promise (Genesis 15:18-21). Theological and Ministry Insights 1. Promised Land Fulfilled: Ezem testifies that no corner of the promise was overlooked. Even remote villages matter in the divine ledger, reinforcing confidence that God’s provision extends to seemingly insignificant people and places (cf. Hebrews 6:10). Lessons for Today • Church planting and frontier missions echo Ezem’s role: establishing a “strong bone” of witness in spiritually arid regions. Archaeological and Scholarly Notes Although a definitive identification awaits, pottery scatters and Iron Age fortifications at several Negev mounds correspond to settlements active in both the Conquest and Monarchy periods. Such finds corroborate the biblical picture of fortified way-stations that protected water sources and trade. Future excavation may turn conjecture into confirmation, adding material weight to Scripture’s terse but trustworthy witness to Ezem. Summary Ezem stands as a modest but meaningful marker of Israel’s southern border—evidence that God’s promises were not abstract but mapped onto real soil. Its history of conquest, redistribution, and endurance illustrates divine care for every tribe and teaches the contemporary church about strength, generosity, and steadfastness on the margins. Forms and Transliterations וָעָֽצֶם׃ וּבְעֶ֖צֶם ובעצם ועצם׃ ū·ḇə·‘e·ṣem ūḇə‘eṣem uveEtzem vaAtzem wā‘āṣem wā·‘ā·ṣemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 15:29 HEB: בַּעֲלָ֥ה וְעִיִּ֖ים וָעָֽצֶם׃ NAS: Baalah and Iim and Ezem, KJV: Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, INT: Baalah and Iim and Ezem Joshua 19:3 1 Chronicles 4:29 3 Occurrences |
    |