And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:

JOSHUA 15:54KJV
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Joshua 15:54 (KJV)

What does Joshua 15:54 mean?

Joshua 15:54 lists three towns—Humtah, Kirjatharba (which is also called Hebron), and Zior—as part of a group of nine cities and their surrounding villages that were allotted to the tribe of Judah. This verse is part of a detailed record of the land divisions among the tribes of Israel after they entered Canaan.

In the context of the book of Joshua, these verses are spoken by the narrator, describing how the land was divided up among the Israelites. The focus here is on identifying specific places within Judah’s territory, showing the careful and organized way the land was distributed. Mentioning both the cities and their villages highlights the thoroughness of the allocation, ensuring every settlement was accounted for.

Where else these words appear

“Kirjatharba” Hebrew H7153 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 23:2 And Sarah died in Kirjatharba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan: and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.
  • Joshua 14:15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
  • Joshua 21:11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.

“nine” Hebrew H8672 · used in 57 verses

  • Genesis 5:5 And all the days that Adam lived were nine hundred and thirty years: and he died.
  • Numbers 34:13 And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This is the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:
  • 2 Kings 25:8 And in the fifth month, on the seventh day of the month, which is the nineteenth year of king Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, came Nebuzaradan, captain of the guard, a servant of the king of Babylon, unto Jerusalem:

“Hebron” Hebrew H2275 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 13:18 Then Abram removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the LORD.
  • Joshua 21:13 Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
  • 2 Samuel 5:13 And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.