Joshua 19:21
Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez.
Remeth
The name "Remeth" is derived from the Hebrew root "רָמָה" (ramah), which means "height" or "elevation." This suggests a place of prominence or significance, possibly a city situated on a hill. In the context of the Promised Land, such elevated locations were often strategically important for defense and visibility. Spiritually, this can symbolize the elevated status of God's people when they are faithful to His commands, reminding believers of the call to live lives that are set apart and visible as a testament to God's glory.

En-gannim
The name "En-gannim" translates to "spring of gardens" in Hebrew. This indicates a place of fertility and life, likely abundant with water and vegetation. In the arid climate of the ancient Near East, a spring would be a vital resource, symbolizing sustenance and God's provision. For Christians, this can be seen as a metaphor for the living water that Christ offers, which nourishes and sustains the soul, as referenced in John 4:14.

En-haddah
The name "En-haddah" is less clear in its etymology, but it is believed to mean "swift spring" or "fountain of joy." This suggests a place where water flows rapidly, bringing life and refreshment. Historically, such locations were crucial for settlement and agriculture. Spiritually, this can be seen as a representation of the joy and renewal that comes from a relationship with God, who is the source of all true joy and refreshment.

Beth-pazzez
The name "Beth-pazzez" can be translated as "house of dispersion" or "house of the spreading." This might indicate a place where people or resources were distributed or spread out. In a biblical context, it could symbolize the spreading of God's people throughout the land, fulfilling His promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars. For believers, it serves as a reminder of the Great Commission, to spread the Gospel to all nations, as Jesus commanded in Matthew 28:19-20.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Remeth
A town allocated to the tribe of Issachar. Its name means "height" or "elevation," indicating its possible geographical features or spiritual significance.

2. En-gannim
Meaning "fountain of gardens," this town suggests a place of fertility and life, possibly indicating a location with abundant water sources.

3. En-haddah
The name means "fountain of joy" or "fountain of sharpness," which could imply a place of refreshment or clarity.

4. Beth-pazzez
This town's name means "house of dispersion" or "house of the spreading," which might reflect its role or significance in the region.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in Fulfillment
The allocation of these towns to Issachar is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the tribes of Israel. Believers can trust in God's promises for their lives.

Significance of Names and Places
The meanings of the town names remind us that God often uses places and their characteristics to teach spiritual truths. Reflect on the "fountains" and "houses" in your life that God has provided.

Understanding Our Inheritance
Just as Issachar received a specific inheritance, Christians have a spiritual inheritance in Christ. Understanding and valuing this inheritance is crucial for living a life of purpose.

Strategic Positioning
The locations of these towns suggest strategic importance. Consider how God has strategically placed you in your community or workplace for His purposes.
Bible Study Questions
1. What does the allocation of these towns to Issachar reveal about God's character and His promises?

2. How can the meanings of the town names (e.g., "fountain of gardens") inspire us in our spiritual walk?

3. In what ways can we see the fulfillment of God's promises in our own lives, similar to the tribe of Issachar?

4. How does understanding our spiritual inheritance in Christ affect our daily living and decision-making?

5. Reflect on your current "position" in life. How might God be using your location and circumstances for His strategic purposes?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Joshua 19:17-23
This passage provides the broader context of the allotment of land to the tribe of Issachar, of which these towns are a part. It highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to the tribes of Israel.

Genesis 49:14-15
Jacob's blessing over Issachar, describing the tribe as strong and industrious, can be seen as a prophetic insight into the character and future of the tribe, including the lands they would inhabit.

1 Chronicles 12:32
The men of Issachar are described as having understanding of the times, which can be connected to the strategic and fertile locations they were given.
A Too Extensive Earthly PortionW. Seaton.Joshua 19:1-51
Self the Last to be ConsideredW. Seaton, M. A.Joshua 19:1-51
The Leader DisinterestedW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Joshua 19:1-51
People
Allon, Anath, Asher, Dagon, Dan, Danites, Eleazar, Elon, Heleb, Hepher, Hosah, Israelites, Issachar, Japhia, Jezreel, Joshua, Naphtali, Nun, Rehob, Serah, Shema, Shimron, Shual, Simeon, Simeonites, Timnah, Zebulun, Zidon
Places
Achshaph, Achzib, Adami-nekeb, Aijalon, Ain, Allammelech, Amad, Anaharath, Aphek, Ashan, Aznoth-tabor, Baalath, Baalath-beer, Balah, Beersheba, Bene-berak, Beten, Beth-anath, Beth-dagan, Beth-emek, Beth-lebaoth, Bethlehem, Beth-marcaboth, Beth-pazzez, Beth-shemesh, Bethul, Cabul, Carmel, Chesulloth, Chinnereth, Chisloth-tabor, Dabbesheth, Daberath, Dan, Ebez, Ebron, Edrei, Ekron, Elon, Eltekeh, Eltolad, En-gannim, En-haddah, Eshtaol, Ether, Ezem, Gath-hepher, Gath-rimmon, Gibbethon, Gibeah, Hali, Hammath, Hammon, Hannathon, Hapharaim, Hazar-shual, Hazar-susah, Hazor, Heleph, Helkath, Horem, Hormah, Hosah, Hukkok, Idalah, Ir-shemesh, Ithlah, Jabneel, Japhia, Jehud, Jezreel, Jokneam, Joppa, Jordan River, Kanah, Kattath, Kedesh, Kishion, Lakkum, Leshem, Mahalab, Me-jarkon, Migdal-el, Mishal, Moladah, Nahalal, Neah, Negeb, Neiel, Rabbith, Rakkath, Rakkon, Ramah, Rehob, Remeth, Rimmon, Sarid, Shaalabbin, Shahazumah, Sharuhen, Sheba, Shiloh, Shimron, Shion, Shunem, Sidon the Great, Tabor, Timnah, Timnath-serah, Tyre, Ummah, Valley of Iphtahel, Yiron, Zaanannim, Zer, Ziddim, Ziklag, Zorah
Topics
Beth, Bethpazzez, Beth-pazzez, Beth-paz'zez, En, Engannim, En-gannim, En-gan'nim, Enhaddah, En-haddah, En-had'dah, Gannim, Haddah, Pazzez, Remeth
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joshua 19:1-47

     7266   tribes of Israel

Joshua 19:1-48

     5235   boundary

Library
Tiberias.
All the Jews declare, almost with one consent, that this was a fortified city from ancient times, even from the days of Joshua, and was the same with Rakkath, of which mention is made, Joshua 19:35. "Rakkath is Tiberias," say the Jerusalem Gemarists. And those of Babylon say the same, and that more largely: "It is clear to us that Rakkath is Tiberias." And when, after a few lines, this of Rabbi Jochanan was objected, "When I was a boy, I said a certain thing, concerning which I asked the elders,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Chammath. Ammaus. The Warm Baths of Tiberias.
Chammath and Rakkath are joined together, Joshua 19:35. For they were very neighbouring cities; Rakkath is Tiberias,--and Chammath, the town Ammaus, in Josephus. Of their neighbourhood, the Jerusalem Talmudists write thus: "The men of a great city may walk" (on the sabbath) "through a whole small city" (which was within a sabbath-day's journey); "but the inhabitants of a small city walk not through a whole great city." And then follows, "Formerly the men of Tiberias walked through all Chammath; but
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Some Other Towns Near Tiberias. Beth-Meon. Caphar Chittaia. Paltathah.
Among the towns, neighbouring upon Tiberias, Tarichee is especially commemorated in Josephus, a city thirty furlongs distant from Tiberias: you will find in him the history and mention of it very frequent. In the Talmudists we meet with other names also. I. Beth-Meon. "The men of Tiberias, who went up to Beth-Meon to be hired for workmen, were hired according to the custom of Beth-Meon: the men of Beth-Meon, who went down to Tiberias to be hired, were hired according to the custom of Tiberias." This
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King.
(Jerusalem and Bethlehem, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 1-12. ^a 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem [It lies five miles south by west of Jerusalem, a little to the east of the road to Hebron. It occupies part of the summit and sides of a narrow limestone ridge which shoots out eastward from the central chains of the Judæan mountains, and breaks down abruptly into deep valleys on the north, south, and east. Its old name, Ephrath, meant "the fruitful." Bethlehem means "house of bread." Its modern
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Within what Tribe the Lake of Gennesaret Was.
By comparing the maps with the Talmudic writers, this question ariseth: for there is not one among them, as far as I know, which does not altogether define the sea of Gennesaret to be without the tribe of Naphthali; but the Talmudists do most plainly place it within. "The Rabbins deliver: The sea of Tiberias is in the portion of Naphtali; yea, it takes a full line for the nets on the south side of it: as it is said, 'Possess the sea and the south,' Deuteronomy 33:23." The Gloss is; "(Naphtali) had
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The First Sign --The Marriage in Cana.
"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, and His disciples, to the marriage. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine. And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews' manner of purifying, containing two
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
"From Beth-horon to Emmaus it was hilly."--It was sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem.--"To eight hundred only, dismissed the army, (Vespasian) gave a place, called Ammaus, for them to inhabit: it is sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem." I inquire, whether this word hath the same etymology with Emmaus near Tiberias, which, from the 'warm baths,' was called Chammath. The Jews certainly do write this otherwise... "The family (say they) of Beth-Pegarim, and Beth Zipperia was out of Emmaus."--The
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sennacherib (705-681 B. C. )
The struggle of Sennacherib with Judaea and Egypt--Destruction of Babylon. Sennacherib either failed to inherit his father's good fortune, or lacked his ability.* He was not deficient in military genius, nor in the energy necessary to withstand the various enemies who rose against him at widely removed points of his frontier, but he had neither the adaptability of character nor the delicate tact required to manage successfully the heterogeneous elements combined under his sway. * The two principal
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
Subdivision D. The Transfiguration. Concerning Elijah. (a Spur of Hermon, Near Cæsarea Philippi.) ^A Matt. XVII. 1-13; ^B Mark IX. 2-13; ^C Luke IX. 28-36. ^c 28 And it came to pass about eight days { ^a six days} ^c after these sayings [Mark agrees with Matthew in saying six days. Luke qualifies his estimate by saying "about." But if we regard him as including the day of the "sayings" and also the day of the transfiguration, and the other two as excluding these days, then the three statements
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

Links
Joshua 19:21 NIV
Joshua 19:21 NLT
Joshua 19:21 ESV
Joshua 19:21 NASB
Joshua 19:21 KJV

Joshua 19:21 Commentaries

Bible Hub
Joshua 19:20
Top of Page
Top of Page