What is the meaning of Joshua 15:59? Maarath “Maarath” is the first name in this final trio of hill-country towns allotted to Judah (Joshua 15:48). Though Scripture gives no further stories about it, its inclusion teaches: • God noticed and recorded even the smaller places (compare Luke 12:6–7). • Every square mile of Judah’s inheritance mattered, fulfilling promises going back to Genesis 15:18–21. Cross reference: Joshua 14:13-15 shows Caleb’s faith rewarded in this same hill region, underscoring that God keeps covenant all the way down to the last boundary marker. Beth-anoth The second town, “Beth-anoth,” sits somewhere in the same uplands. A similarly named “Beth-Anath” appears in Naphtali (Joshua 19:38; Judges 1:33), reminding us that place names can recur, yet each location retains its distinct role in God’s plan. • Judah’s Beth-anoth joined a network of settlements securing the high ridge road that ran north–south (see Joshua 15:48-60). • Its mention proclaims God’s orderly distribution—no tribe overlooked, no city misplaced. Cross reference: Numbers 34:1-12 outlines how the LORD himself drew the tribal borders Joshua now confirms. Eltekon Eltekon completes the set. Although it, too, is otherwise silent in the narrative, its placement serves several purposes: • It anchors the western edge of this cluster, protecting Judah from Philistine encroachment (compare Joshua 15:11). • It shows that God’s gift blended strategic defense with agricultural provision (Psalm 16:6). Cross reference: 1 Samuel 23:14-15 describes David hiding in Judah’s strongholds, reflecting how these rugged towns later sheltered God’s anointed. Six cities The phrase “—six cities” gathers the three names in verse 58 (Halhul, Beth-zur, Gedor) with the three in verse 59. Together they form a mini-district inside Judah: • Six distinct communities, yet one inheritance—illustrating unity amid diversity (Joshua 15:20). • The precise count assures us the record is historical, not legendary. Cross reference: Joshua 21:9-16 uses a similar counted list when assigning Levitical towns, again stressing accuracy. Along with their villages “Along with their villages” widens the camera lens: • Each walled town was surrounded by farm hamlets that depended on it (2 Chronicles 11:5-12). • God’s provision embraced town and countryside alike, echoing Deuteronomy 6:10-11 where the LORD promises houses, cisterns, and vineyards Israel did not build. Cross reference: 1 Chronicles 4:32 notes “their villages” when cataloging Simeon’s towns, showing this was a standard way God tallied His people’s land. summary Joshua 15:59 is more than a footnote. By naming Maarath, Beth-anoth, and Eltekon, then adding “six cities, along with their villages,” the verse testifies that God’s promise to Judah was concrete, specific, and complete. Every town, every farmstead, every family received its share, proving that the LORD who counts stars (Psalm 147:4) likewise counts villages—and keeps every promise He has made. |
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