Joshua 15:57 (KJV)

What does Joshua 15:57 mean?

Joshua 15:57 lists three towns—Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah—as part of a group of ten cities with their surrounding villages that belonged to the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. This verse is part of a larger catalog detailing the boundaries and settlements within Judah’s inheritance in the land of Canaan.

The book of Joshua records how the land of Canaan was divided among the tribes of Israel after their conquest. In this section, the writer is listing specific towns and their villages to define the area given to Judah. These names help identify the historical and geographical extent of Judah’s territory, showing the careful organization of land among the tribes.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 15:57

• קַיִן (Qayin, “Cain”): This is a place name here, not the person from Genesis. Its inclusion highlights the diversity of settlements within Judah’s portion.
• גִּבְעָה (Giv‘ah, “Gibeah”): This word means “hill” and is a common place name, pointing to the hilly terrain of Judah’s land.
• תִּמְנָה (Timnah, “Timnah”): Another town, known elsewhere in the Bible, showing how some locations had significance in multiple stories.
• עֶשֶׂר (‘eser, “ten”): The use of “ten” cities emphasizes the completeness and organization of the allotment.
• עָרִים (‘arim, “cities”): This word refers to established towns, not just small villages, suggesting a developed region.
• חֲצֵרִים (ḥatserim, “villages”): This term means outlying settlements or hamlets, showing that the territory included both major towns and their surrounding rural areas.

Why Joshua 15:57 matters

• Joshua 15:57 helps clarify that the land given to Judah was not just a vague area but included specific, named towns and their dependent villages, reflecting careful record-keeping.
• The verse shows the importance of both cities and smaller villages in the makeup of ancient Israelite society, emphasizing that the inheritance was meant for whole communities.
• By listing these places, the passage connects to the broader theme in Joshua of God’s promises being fulfilled in concrete, historical ways, as each tribe receives its portion of the land.