What is the meaning of Joshua 15:6?

Went up to Beth-hoglah

• The phrase marks the eastern border of Judah as it rises from the Dead Sea toward the small settlement of Beth-hoglah. Scripture treats this as a real location, later shared with Benjamin (Joshua 18:19).

• The upward movement signals elevation change from the Dead Sea basin to the Judean hill country, showing how God physically carved out Judah’s inheritance (Numbers 34:3–5).

• By naming the village, the text underlines God’s care for details; every family could know precisely where their territory began, echoing the promise in Deuteronomy 34:4.

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Proceeded north of Beth-arabah

• After reaching Beth-hoglah, the border swings north of Beth-arabah, another desert town near the Jordan (Joshua 18:18).

• “North of” tells us the line skirts the edge rather than running through the center, protecting community identity while joining Judah with its neighbors.

• This desert stretch reminds readers that even arid ground is part of the covenant gift (Joshua 15:61). The land is valuable not because of fertility alone but because the Lord assigns it (Psalm 24:1).

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Went up to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben

• The boundary climbs again to a landmark rock named for Bohan, a descendant of Reuben. This stationary feature acted like a survey marker long before modern tools (Joshua 18:17).

• Calling it “the Stone of Bohan” personalizes the map. Israel could point to a tangible object tied to tribal memory, guarding against future disputes—just as Deuteronomy 19:14 warns against moving a neighbor’s boundary stone.

• The mention of a Reubenite in Judah’s border shows unity within diversity: each tribe keeps its lot yet all stand under one covenant (Joshua 22:3–4).

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summary

Joshua 15:6 records three successive waypoints—Beth-hoglah, the route north of Beth-arabah, and the Stone of Bohan—to trace Judah’s eastern edge with precision. These names anchor God’s promise in verifiable geography, affirming that the Lord’s gifts are concrete, carefully measured, and meant to be honored for generations.