What does Joshua 19:21 mean?
What is the meaning of Joshua 19:21?

Remeth

“Remeth” heads the cluster of towns allotted to Issachar, anchoring the tribe’s western interior. The verse is short, yet it ties directly into the Lord’s larger covenant story.

• In Genesis 12:7 God told Abram, “I will give this land to your offspring,” and Joshua’s list shows the promise coming true in concrete geography.

Joshua 21:29 links Remeth (there called Jarmuth) to the Levites, reminding us that worship and everyday life were meant to intertwine.

Numbers 35:2 stresses that Levites needed pasturelands near their cities; Issachar’s willingness to set aside Remeth for them underscores obedience and shared blessing.

Takeaway: God keeps promises with real places and real people, weaving spiritual priorities (the Levites) into the physical inheritance of every tribe.


En-gannim

Next comes “En-gannim,” a name that immediately evokes fresh water and flourishing fields. Its placement invites reflection on the Lord as the source of life.

Joshua 21:29 again lists En-gannim as a Levitical town, pairing spiritual service with a setting that naturally pictures refreshment.

Psalm 1:3 speaks of the righteous person as “a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season.” En-gannim illustrates that image on the map.

John 4:14 reminds us that Christ offers “a spring of water welling up to eternal life,” a spiritual counterpart to the literal springs that sustained Issachar’s crops.

Takeaway: The God who hands out land rich in water also supplies living water for the soul; both are gifts to be received gratefully and shared generously.


En-haddah

“En-haddah” is otherwise unnoticed in Scripture, yet its inclusion is intentional.

Psalm 147:4 assures us that God “determines the number of the stars; He calls them each by name.” If He names distant suns, He certainly knows every hamlet of His people.

Luke 12:7 echoes the thought: “You are worth more than many sparrows.” Even the smallest village sits under God’s watchful care.

Proverbs 3:6 urges, “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight,” whether those paths lead through famed centers or quiet valleys like En-haddah.

Takeaway: No place or person is too obscure for the Lord’s notice. The simple listing of En-haddah reminds believers that significance comes from God’s choosing, not from human recognition.


Beth-pazzez

Finally we read “Beth-pazzez,” the last town in the series, rounding out Issachar’s portion.

Psalm 90:1 opens, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations,” pointing to the true “house” behind every earthly house.

John 14:2 assures us of a prepared place in the Father’s house, linking temporal dwellings like Beth-pazzez to an eternal home.

Deuteronomy 26:11 commands Israel to “rejoice in all the good things the LORD your God has given to you,” a fitting response for families settling into Beth-pazzez’s fields and courtyards.

Takeaway: Physical homes matter, yet they serve as staging grounds for eternal fellowship with God. Beth-pazzez closes the list by directing hearts toward the ultimate household of faith.


summary

Joshua 19:21 may read like a simple catalog—Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, Beth-pazzez—but each name testifies that God fulfills promises in detail, plants His people beside life-giving resources, notices the seemingly insignificant, and provides real homes that hint at the everlasting one. The verse invites believers to trust the Lord’s precision, drink deeply of His provision, rest in His mindful care, and rejoice in both present and future dwellings prepared by His hand.

What archaeological evidence supports the locations mentioned in Joshua 19:20?
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