What is the meaning of Joshua 15:47? Ashdod, with its towns and villages “Ashdod, with its towns and villages” marks one of the key Philistine strongholds included in Judah’s western allotment (Joshua 15:46–47). • The list underscores God’s promise to provide ample territory (Genesis 15:18). • Although physically handed to Judah, Ashdod later remained in Philistine hands because Israel did not fully drive them out (Judges 3:1–3; 1 Samuel 6:17). • Centuries later, kings such as Uzziah briefly subdued Ashdod (2 Chronicles 26:6), demonstrating what obedient leadership could accomplish. • Prophets foretold Ashdod’s eventual judgment (Zechariah 9:6), confirming God’s authority over every city named. Takeaway: The verse reminds believers that divine inheritance can be left unexplored if obedience is partial. Gaza, with its towns and villages “Gaza, with its towns and villages” highlights another border city. • Gaza had been noted as far back as Genesis 10:19, showing the long history of the territory God now assigns to Judah. • Joshua’s earlier sweep “from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza” (Joshua 10:41) proved God’s power to conquer even formidable cities. • Later, Hezekiah “defeated the Philistines as far as Gaza” (2 Kings 18:8), illustrating that faith-filled leaders could reclaim what God originally granted. • Philip’s New-Testament meeting with the Ethiopian official “on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza” (Acts 8:26) reveals how God keeps using the same geography to advance His purposes. Takeaway: God’s gifts are meant to be stewarded through every generation, from conquest to gospel mission. As far as the Brook of Egypt The phrase sets Judah’s southwestern limit: “as far as the Brook of Egypt”. • This seasonal watercourse—often identified with Wadi el-Arish—matches the boundary God declared earlier (Numbers 34:5). • Solomon later celebrated national worship extending “from Lebo-hamath to the Brook of Egypt” (1 Kings 8:65), showing the boundary’s enduring relevance. • Isaiah foresaw the day when the Lord would “gather you one by one, O children of Israel… from the River Euphrates to the Brook of Egypt” (Isaiah 27:12), reaffirming the literal borders still in His plan. Takeaway: God marks borders with precision; every promise line on the map will be honored. The coastline of the Great Sea Judah’s inheritance stretched to “the coastline of the Great Sea”, the Mediterranean. • Numbers 34:6–7 had already defined this sea as Israel’s western wall. • Joshua 13:6 reminded the nation that the coastal lands were theirs even before they subdued every inhabitant. • Psalm 72:8 envisions Messiah’s reign “from sea to sea,” beginning with these very borders and expanding globally. Takeaway: What starts as a national shoreline becomes a preview of Christ’s universal dominion, proving the coastal boundary’s prophetic weight. summary Joshua 15:47 spells out Judah’s western border, naming Ashdod and Gaza, the Brook of Egypt, and the Mediterranean coast. Each point affirms God’s literal, detailed promises: territories truly given, boundaries precisely drawn, and future victories foreshadowed. The verse challenges believers to trust every word of Scripture, fully possess God’s gifts, and anticipate the day when Christ claims every promised inch for His glory. |
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