Lexical Summary Tsiddim: Siddim Original Word: צִדִּים Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Ziddim Plural of tsad; sides; Tsiddim (with the article), a place in Palestine -- Ziddim. see HEBREW tsad NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as tsad Definition a place in Naphtali NASB Translation Ziddim (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs צִדִּים proper name, of a location in Naphtali, ׳הַצּ Joshua 19:35 (ᵐ5 τῶν Τυρίων). Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting Strong’s Hebrew 6661, Tsiddim, appears once in Scripture: “The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth” (Joshua 19:35). The verse enumerates strongholds granted to the tribe of Naphtali when Joshua apportioned Canaan. Tsiddim is thus identified as one of several strategic towns bordering the Sea of Galilee that protected Israel’s northern frontier. Historical and Geographical Context Naphtali’s allotment stretched from the heights of upper Galilee down to the fertile basin surrounding the Sea of Galilee. Tsiddim likely lay on the western slopes that overlook the lake. Though its exact tell remains debated, many scholars situate it near present-day Hittin, only a few kilometers west of the lake’s shoreline. The cluster of names in Joshua 19:35 follows a rough south-to-north march around the lake’s western arc, supporting this placement. As a “fortified city,” Tsiddim would have featured defensive walls and perhaps a citadel guarding approaches from the northwest into the heart of Naphtali. Such strongholds formed a first line of defense against Aramean and later Assyrian incursions (see 1 Kings 15:20; 2 Kings 15:29). Strategic Role within Israel The text groups Tsiddim with other fortified sites, underscoring Israel’s mandate to secure the land entrusted by God. These cities protected trade routes traversing Galilee, especially the Via Maris that linked Egypt and Mesopotamia. Control of Tsiddim bolstered Israel’s economic life and safeguarded pilgrims journeying toward the temple in Jerusalem along Galilean roads (compare Psalm 84:5–7). Connection to Later Biblical History Centuries after Joshua, Galilee became the scene of much of Jesus Christ’s earthly ministry. Matthew records that Jesus “withdrew to Galilee… in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali… so that what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled” (Matthew 4:12–16). While the Gospels do not mention Tsiddim by name, towns within Naphtali—including Capernaum and Magdala—stood only a short distance from the earlier fortress. Tsiddim therefore symbolizes the same territory that witnessed the dawning of Messiah’s light, bridging Joshua’s conquest to Christ’s proclamation of the kingdom. Theological Themes 1. Covenant Faithfulness: Joshua’s record of fortified towns affirms that God kept His promise to give Israel secure dwelling (Deuteronomy 6:10–11). Tsiddim is one brick in that larger testimony. Archaeological Insights Excavations around Hittin and nearby tells have produced Late Bronze and Early Iron Age pottery, suggesting continuous occupation during Joshua’s era. While direct inscriptional evidence naming Tsiddim has not surfaced, ramparts and gate complexes typical of fortified sites have been unearthed. These findings corroborate the biblical picture of strongholds positioned to guard valleys and passes. Lessons for Contemporary Ministry • Strategic Placement: Just as Tsiddim anchored Israel’s border, local churches today are called to be “a city on a hill” (Matthew 5:14), strategically proclaiming truth where God has placed them. Summary Tsiddim, though mentioned only once, embodies themes of divine promise, protection, and future hope. As a fortification in Naphtali, it secured the inheritance of God’s people; as part of Galilee, its environs later heard the voice of the Savior. Thus, Tsiddim stands as a reminder that every corner of Scripture, however briefly referenced, contributes to the unfolding redemption narrative culminating in Jesus Christ. Forms and Transliterations הַצִּדִּ֣ים הצדים haṣ·ṣid·dîm haṣṣiddîm hatztzidDimLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Joshua 19:35 HEB: וְעָרֵ֖י מִבְצָ֑ר הַצִּדִּ֣ים צֵ֔ר וְחַמַּ֖ת NAS: cities [were] Ziddim, Zer KJV: cities [are] Ziddim, Zer, INT: cities the fortified Ziddim Zer and Hammath 1 Occurrence |
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