Joshua 15:54

Easy-to-Read Version

Humtah, Kiriath Arba (Hebron), and Zior. There were nine towns and all the fields around them.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine cities, with their settlements;

Hebrew Names Version
and Humtah, and Kiryat-Arba (the same is Hevron), and Tzi`or; nine cities with their villages.

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

Lexham English Bible
Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities and their villages.

English Standard Version
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages.

New Century Version
Humtah, Kiriath Arba (also called Hebron), and Zior. There were nine towns and their villages.

New English Translation
Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—a total of nine cities and their towns.

Amplified Bible
and Humtah and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

New American Standard Bible
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And Humtah, and Kiriath-arba, (which is Hebron) and Zior: nine cities with their villages.

Legacy Standard Bible
and Humtah and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

Complete Jewish Bible
Humtah, Kiryat-Arba (that is, Hevron) and Tzi‘or — nine cities, together with their villages.

Darby Translation
and Humtah, and Kirjath-Arba, that is, Hebron, and Zior: nine cities and their hamlets.

George Lamsa Translation
Humta, Koriath-arba, that is, Hebron, and Zebaon; nine cities with their villages;

Good News Translation
Humtah, Hebron, and Zior: nine cities, along with the towns around them.

Literal Translation
and Humtah, and the City of Arba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities and their villages,

American Standard Version
and Humtah, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

Bible in Basic English
And Humtah, and Kiriath-arba (which is Hebron), and Zior; nine towns with their unwalled places.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Humtah, & Kiriatharbe (which is Hebron) & Sior, nine cities with their villages.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
and Humtah, and Kiriath-arba--the same is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

King James Version (1611)
And Humtah, and Kiriatharba (which is Hebron) and Zior, nine cities with their villages.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
and Euma, and the city Arboc, this is Chebron, and Soraith: nine cities and their villages:

English Revised Version
and Humtah, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

Berean Standard Bible
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior-nine cities, along with their villages.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
and Bethfasua, and Afecha, Ammacha, and Cariatharbe; this is Ebron; and Sior, nyn citees, and `the townes of tho;

Young's Literal Translation
and Humtah, and Kirjath-Arba (it [is] Hebron), and Zior; nine cities and their villages.

Update Bible Version
and Humtah, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba (which [is] Hebron) and Zior; nine cities with their villages:

World English Bible
and Humtah, and Kiriath-arba (the same is Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

New King James Version
Humtah, Kirjath Arba (which is Hebron), and Zior: nine cities with their villages;

New Living Translation
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior—nine towns with their surrounding villages.

New Life Bible
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior, nine cities with the towns around them.

New Revised Standard
Humtah, Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior: nine towns with their villages.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
and Humtah, and Kiriath-arba, the same, is Hebron, and Zior, - nine cities, with their villages.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Athmatha and Cariath-Arbe, this is Hebron and Sior: nine cities and their villages.

Revised Standard Version
Humtah, Kir'iath-ar'ba (that is, Hebron), and Zi'or: nine cities with their villages.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
and Humtah and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior; nine cities with their villages.

Contextual Overview

⁵² The people of Judah were also given these towns: Arab, Dumah, Eshan, ⁵³ Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, ⁵⁴ Humtah, Kiriath Arba (Hebron), and Zior. There were nine towns and all the fields around them.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Kirjatharba: Joshua 15:13, Joshua 14:15, Genesis 23:2

Reciprocal: Joshua 10:3 - king of Jerusalem Joshua 10:36 - Hebron Joshua 21:11 - the city of Arba Joshua 21:13 - Hebron

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Humtah,.... Of Humtah we nowhere else read;

and Kirjatharba, which [is] Hebron; of Kirjatharba we read frequently;

:-;

and Zior; Jerom says o, that in his time there was a village shown by the name of Sihor, between Aelia (or Jerusalem) and Eleutheropolis, in the tribe of Judah:

nine cities with their villages; which is exactly their number, as expressed; here ends the second division, or of the cities in the hill country of Judea; a third follows.

o De loc. Heb. fol. 94. H.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

List of the towns of the tribe of Judah. These are arranged in four divisions, according to the natural features of the district; namely,, those of the Negeb or south country Joshua 15:21-32; of “the valley,” or “the plain” (“Shephelah”, Joshua 15:33-47); of “the mountains” Joshua 15:48-60; and of “the wilderness” Joshua 15:61-62. Many of the identifications are still conjectural only.

Joshua 15:21-32. The Negeb was for the most part rocky and arid, and cannot have been at any time very thickly populated.

Joshua 15:21

Kabzeel was the native place of Benaiah 2 Samuel 23:20, who was famous as a slayer of lions. The Negeb was a principal haunt of these beasts.

Joshua 15:24

Telem may be the Telaim of 1 Samuel 15:4, where Saul mustered his army for the expedition against the Amalekites. It is possibly to be looked for at “El-Kuseir”, a spot where the various routes toward different parts of the Negeb converge, and which is occupied by the Arab tribe the “Dhullam”, a word identical with Telem in its consonants. Bealoth is probably the “Baalath-beer - Ramath of the south” Joshua 19:8, and was one of the towns afterward assigned to the Simeonites. It is identified with the modern Kurnub.

Joshua 15:25

And Hezron which is Hazor - In this verse are the names of two towns only, not of four. Two places bearing the common topographical appellation, Hazor (“enclosure”) are here mentioned and distinguished as “Hazor Hadattah” and “Kerioth-Hezron,” otherwise termed Hazor, simply: the former has been identified by some with “El-Hudhera”; the latter is probably the modern “El-Kuryetein”. Kerioth, prefixed to a name, bespeaks military occupation, as Hazor points to pastoral pursuits. The place would therefore seem to be an ancient pastoral settlement which had been fortified by the Anakims, and called accordingly Kerioth; to which name the men of Judah, after they had captured it, added that of Hezron, in honor of one of their leading ancestors (compare Genesis 46:12; Ruth 4:18). Kerioth was the home of Judas the traitor, if the ordinary derivation of Iscariot (= קריות אישׁ 'ı̂ysh qerı̂yôth), i. e. man of Kerioth) be accepted: Matthew 10:4.

Joshua 15:26

Moladah is probably the modern “El-Milh”, and like Hazar-shual (“Berrishail” near Gaza) ( “enclosure of foxes”) occurs Joshua 19:2-3; 1 Chronicles 4:28, as a town belonging to Simeon, and Nehemiah 11:26-27 as a place occupied by Jews after the captivity.

Joshua 15:29-32

Baalah Joshua 19:3 is found in the modern “Deir-el-Belah”, near Gaza. Iim, i. e. “ruinous heaps” or “conical hills” (Numbers 21:11 note) is by some connected with Azem; and the compound name, “Ije Azem”, is traced in El-Aujeh, in the country of the Azazimeh Arabs, in whose name the ancient Azem may perhaps be traced. Eltolad is connected with “Wady-el-Thoula”, in the extreme south of the Negeb. Chesil appears to be the town called Bethul Joshua 19:4, and probably the Bethel 1 Samuel 30:27 situated not far from Ziklag. The name Chesil ( “fool”) was most likely bestowed by way of opprobrium (compare the change of Bethel, house of God, into Bethaven, house of vanity, Hosea 4:15). As Chesil signifies the group of stars known as Orion (compare Job 38:31; Amos 5:8), probably it was the worship of the heavenly bodies in particular that was carried on here. Bethel may have been the ancient name, and the spot was perhaps the very one near Beer-sheba where Abraham planted a tamarisk tree Genesis 21:33.

The place is probably “El Khulasah”, the Elusa of ecclesiastical writers, situated some fifteen miles southwest of Beer-sheba. Jerome testifies to the fact, that the worship of Venus as the morning star was practiced there, and Sozomen appears to be speaking of this place, when he mentions a Bethel Βηθελια Bēthelia in the territory of Gaza, populous and famous for an ancient and splendid temple. The site of Ziklag is uncertain. Madmannah and Sansannah correspond to Beth-marcaboth ( “house of chariots”) and Hazar-susah (“horse enclosure”) in Joshua 19:5 1 Chronicles 4:31. The latter names point to two stations of passage on or near the high road between Egypt and Palestine, and are represented by the modern “Minyay” and “Wady-es-Suny”, on the caravan route south of Gaza. Shilhim or Sharuhen, Joshua 19:6, and Shaaraim 1 Chronicles 4:31 is traced in “Khirbet-es-Seram”, near El Aujeh. Ain and Rimmon were possibly originally two towns, but in process of time became so connected as to be treated as one name Nehemiah 11:29. The place is probably the present “Um-er-Rummamim,” i. e. “mother of pomegranates,” a place about ten miles north of Beer-sheba.

Joshua 15:32

Twenty and nine - The King James Version gives 34 names. The difference is due either to the confusion by an early copyist of letters similar in form which were used as numerals; or to the separation in the King James Version of names which in the original were one (e. g. Joshua 15:25).

Joshua 15:33-47

“The valley” or the Shephelah, is bounded on the south by the Negeb, on the west by the Mediterranean, on the north by the plain of Sharon, on the east by “the mountains” Joshua 15:48. It is a well-defined district, of an undulating surface and highly fertile character, thickly dotted, even at the present time, with villages, which are for the most part situated on the different hills. The towns in this district, like those in the Negeb, are classed in four groups.

Joshua 15:33-36

First group of fourteen towns: these belong to the northeastern portion of the Shephelah. Eshtaol and Zoreah were afterward assigned to the tribe of Dan, and inhabited by Danites Judges 13:25; Judges 18:2, Judges 18:8,Judges 18:11. The latter place was the home of Samson Judges 13:2. It was one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 11:10, and was re-occupied by the Jews after the captivity Nehemiah 11:29. It is probably the modern Surah. (Eshtaol has been identified with Eshua (Conder)). Both places were in later times partly populated by Judahites from Kirjath-jearim; perhaps after the departure of the colony of Danites for Dan-Laish. Zanoah is the present “Zanna”, not far from Surah. Socoh is the modern “Shuweikah”. Sharaim is perhaps to be sought in the modern “Zakariya”. Gederah (“wall” or “fortress”) was a name borne with various terminations by several places.

Joshua 15:37-41

Second group of towns, containing those in the middle portion of the Shephelah, and of which some only Joshua 10:3, Joshua 10:10 can be identified.

Joshua 15:42-44

Third group; towns in the south of the Shephelah. For Libnah see Joshua 10:29. Mareshah is believed to be near Beit-jibrin, the ancient “Eleutheropolis.”

Joshua 15:45-47

Fourth group: the towns of the Philistine seacoast: see Joshua 13:3.

Joshua 15:48-60

This highland district extends from the Negeb on the south to Jerusalem, and is bounded by the Shephelah on the west, and the “wilderness” Joshua 15:61-62 on the east. The mountains, which are of limestone, rise to a height of near 3,000 feet. At present, the highlands of Judah present a somewhat dreary and monotonous aspect. The peaks are for the most part barren, though crowned almost everywhere with the ruins of ancient towns, and bearing on their sides marks of former cultivation. Many of the valleys, especially toward the south, are, however, still very productive. The towns here enumerated are given in six groups.

Joshua 15:48-51

First group: towns on the southwest. Dannah (is identified with “Idnah” (Conder)). Jattir (“Attir”), and Eshtemoh (“Semua”) were priestly cities Joshua 21:14; 1 Chronicles 6:57, and the place to which David, after routing the Amalekites, sent presents 1 Samuel 30:27-28. Socoh is “Suweikeh.”

Joshua 15:52-54

Second group of nine towns, situated somewhat to the north of the last mentioned. Of these Dumah is perhaps the ruined village “Ed Daumeh,” in the neighborhood of Hebron; and Beth-tappuah, i. e. “house of apples,” “Teffuh,” a place which has still a good number of inhabitants, is conspicuous for its olive groves and vineyards, and bears on every side the traces of industry and thrift.

Joshua 15:55-57

Third group; lying eastward of the towns named in the last two, and next to “the wilderness.”

Joshua 15:55

The four towns retain their ancient names with but little change. Maon 1 Samuel 23:24; 1 Samuel 25:2, the home of Nabal, is to be looked for in the conical hill, “Main,” the top of which is covered with ruins. It lies eight or nine miles southeast of Hebron Carmel 1 Samuel 25:2, the modern “Kurmul,” is a little to the north of “Main.” The name belongs to more than one place Joshua 12:22. Ziph gave its name to “the wilderness” into which David fled from Saul 1 Samuel 23:14.

Joshua 15:58, Joshua 15:59

Fourth group. Towns north of the last mentioned, of which Beth-zur and Gedor are represented by “Beit-sur” and “Jedur.”

After Joshua 15:59 follows in the Greek version a fifth group of eleven towns, which appears to have dropped in very ancient times out of the Hebrew text, probably because some transcriber passed unawares from the word “villages” at the end of Joshua 15:59, to the same word at the end of the missing passage. The omitted group contains the towns of an important, well-known, and populous district lying immediately south of Jerusalem, and containing such towns as Tekoah 2 Samuel 14:2; Nehemiah 3:5, Nehemiah 3:27; Amos 1:1; Bethlehem, the native town of David and of Christ Genesis 35:19; and Aetan, a Grecised form of Etam 2 Chronicles 11:6.

Joshua 15:61, Joshua 15:62

This district, including the towns in “the wilderness,” the scene of David’s wanderings (1 Samuel 23:24; Psalms 63:1-11 title), and of the preaching of the Baptist Matthew 3:1, and perhaps of our Lord’s temptation Matthew 4:0, extended from the northern limit of Judah along the Dead Sea to the Negeb; it was bounded on the west by that part of “the mountains” or highlands of Judah, which adjoined Bethlehem and Maon. It abounds in limestone rocks, perforated by numerous caverns, and often of fantastic shapes. It is badly supplied with water, and hence, is for the most part barren, though affording in many parts, now quite desolate, clear tokens of former cultivation. It contained only a thin population in the days of Joshua.

Joshua 15:62

“The city of Salt” is not mentioned elsewhere, but was no doubt connected with “the valley of salt” 2 Samuel 8:13. The name itself, and the mention of En-gedi (Genesis 14:7 note) suggest that its site must be looked for near the Dead Sea.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 54. Kirjath-arba — Joshua 14:15.