What is the meaning of Joshua 15:36? Shaaraim • Joshua 15:36 lists Shaaraim in a sweep of cities given to Judah; it sits in the Shephelah, the rolling foothills between the coastal plain and the highlands. • The same town reappears during David’s victory over Goliath’s army: “Then the men of Israel and Judah arose, shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron, and the slain fell along the road to Shaaraim…” (1 Samuel 17:52). The battle trail shows how Judah’s cities formed a protective line for God’s people. • By naming Shaaraim here, Scripture reminds us that God not only grants the land (Genesis 15:18–21) but also secures it in later generations (Psalm 44:1–3). The identical place in two different eras highlights His ongoing covenant faithfulness. • Practical takeaway: every border town matters in the Lord’s economy. Even a village that seems small in the larger narrative is woven into God’s redemptive timeline (Matthew 10:29–31). Adithaim • Apart from Joshua 15:36, Adithaim never surfaces again in the Bible. That silence is instructive. • God still records it, slotting it among better-known outposts. “The LORD knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19); He also knows the places that shelter them. • Hebrews 11:32-40 celebrates unnamed heroes of faith; Adithaim stands as a geographical counterpart—little-known, yet treasured in the inspired record. • Lesson for readers: obscurity on earth never equals insignificance in heaven (Colossians 3:23-24). Gederah (or Gederothaim) • The alternate spelling appears again in the lowland list of Joshua 15:41 and in Judah’s genealogies: “These were the potters… who lived in Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with the king for his work” (1 Chronicles 4:23). • Artisans from Gederah served royal purposes, tying a small town to the temple-centred worship of Judah’s monarchy. • The pairing of agricultural lowlands with skilled craftspeople illustrates how God equips diverse communities for the common goal of glorifying Him (Exodus 31:2-6; Romans 12:4-6). • Whether one reads the single or dual form of the name, the takeaway is clear: the Lord’s inheritance is ample enough to include every vocation and locale. Fourteen cities, along with their villages • Joshua 15:33-47 parcels out 48 towns in Judah’s lowlands; verse 36 marks the halfway point. • “Fourteen cities” underscores precision. God vowed territory to Abraham’s seed (Genesis 17:8) and later measured it tribe by tribe (Numbers 34:1-12). Each number testifies that the promise was fulfilled “not one word failed” (Joshua 21:45). • Mentioning “their villages” shows care beyond urban centers. Deuteronomy 8:7-10 pictures Israel eating from vineyards and olive groves; those rural settings now have legal standing. • Application: God attends to details—down to hamlets dotting the map—so believers can trust Him with the details of daily life (Matthew 6:31-33). summary Joshua 15:36 is more than a dusty roll call. Shaaraim recalls victories, Adithaim honors the overlooked, Gederah highlights vocation for God’s glory, and the tally of fourteen cities proves the Lord’s exact, unfailing faithfulness. Every name and number testifies that the covenant-keeping God keeps track of places and people alike, assuring us that our own times and boundaries rest securely in His hands (Acts 17:26). |
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