What is the meaning of Joshua 15:49? Dannah • Joshua 15:49 places Dannah among the towns in the hill country allotted to Judah: “Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir).” Its simple mention carries weight—God keeps track of every village and boundary line He promises. • Earlier in the chapter we read, “This was the inheritance of the tribe of the descendants of Judah by their clans” (Joshua 15:20). Dannah is part of that inheritance, a tangible reminder that the LORD fulfilled His oath to Abraham (Genesis 15:18) and brought Israel into “the land He had sworn to give their fathers” (Joshua 21:43). • Each named town underscores that nothing God promises is forgotten. That truth resurfaces generations later when Solomon proclaims, “Not one word has failed of all His good promise” (1 Kings 8:56). Kiriath-sannah • The next phrase, “Kiriath-sannah,” draws attention to a fortified city in the same region. The word “Kiriath” means “city,” and its placement beside Dannah shows a mix of rural and urban centers within Judah’s portion. • Joshua 15:15 links Kiriath-sannah with another name, Kiriath-sepher, the stronghold Othniel captured: “From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir (formerly Kiriath-sepher).” That conquest, recorded again in Judges 1:11-13, demonstrated courageous faith rewarded by God—Othniel gained Achsah as wife and later became Israel’s first judge (Judges 3:9-11). • Kiriath-sannah therefore stands as a marker of victory achieved by trusting the LORD’s command, echoing the earlier pattern when Joshua defeated “Debir and its king” (Joshua 10:38-39). God’s people could occupy what He had already promised. Debir • Joshua adds the clarifying phrase “that is, Debir,” confirming that Kiriath-sannah and Debir are the same location. Debir had been a Canaanite stronghold until Israel, first under Joshua and later under Othniel, fully secured it (Joshua 10:38-39; 15:15-19). • The story that follows highlights God’s generosity: Achsah asks her father for “springs of water,” and he grants her both the upper and lower springs (Joshua 15:18-19). Debir thus becomes a place where covenant faithfulness and fatherly kindness converge—God provides land, and within that land He supplies life-sustaining water. • The capture of Debir also serves as a preview of ongoing spiritual battles. Just as Israel pressed on to possess every corner of their inheritance, believers today are urged to “take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of” them (Philippians 3:12), occupying every area of life with obedient faith. summary Joshua 15:49 may look like a simple list—“Dannah, Kiriath-sannah (that is, Debir)”—yet each name highlights God’s unwavering fidelity. Dannah reminds us that even the smallest village rests on a divine promise kept. Kiriath-sannah shows that strongholds fall when God’s people move forward in faith. Debir illustrates both victory and provision within the inheritance God grants. Together they affirm that every detail of Scripture is intentional, every boundary line is secure, and every promise of God stands fulfilled and trustworthy. |
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