What is the meaning of Joshua 15:56? Jezreel “Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah” (Joshua 15:56). • Joshua is recording actual towns allotted to the tribe of Judah, demonstrating God’s precise fulfillment of His covenant promise (Genesis 15:18; Joshua 21:43–45). • This Jezreel is in Judah’s hill country, distinct from the better-known northern Jezreel Valley. Its location suggests a fertile pocket of land—another evidence that the Lord provided every resource His people needed (Deuteronomy 8:7–10). • Centuries later David married Ahinoam “of Jezreel” (1 Samuel 25:43; 2 Samuel 2:2). The same geographical name links Joshua’s era with David’s, underlining the continuity of God’s plan across generations. Jokdeam • The town appears only here, yet its inclusion shows that no corner of Judah’s inheritance was overlooked. “Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17); God’s gifts include places that never become famous. • By naming Jokdeam, the Spirit reminds believers that obscurity does not equal insignificance. “Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God” (Luke 12:6). • The verse’s brevity does not diminish its literal accuracy. Each syllable testifies that God keeps meticulous records—and calls His people to trust His detail-oriented care. Zanoah • Another Zanoah lay in Judah’s lowlands (Joshua 15:34); this verse lists a second, in the hill country. God’s allotment provided diverse terrain, enabling Judah to farm valleys and graze highlands (Joshua 15:20, 48). • Generations later the men of Zanoah helped rebuild Jerusalem’s wall (Nehemiah 3:13), proving that even small towns can play large roles in God’s redemptive story. • The repeated appearance of Zanoah—from conquest to restoration—highlights God’s faithfulness: He plants His people, preserves them through exile, and brings them back to serve Him again (Jeremiah 29:10-14). summary Joshua 15:56 may read like a simple list, yet every name underscores God’s unwavering commitment to give Judah exactly what He promised. Jezreel speaks of fruitfulness, Jokdeam of remembered obscurity, and Zanoah of endurance across centuries. These three towns, literally marked on Judah’s map, invite believers today to rest in the same faithful Lord who measures out blessings, watches over the unnoticed, and weaves every locale—and every life—into His enduring plan. |
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