The Word for Today with Ray

Tuesday, June 30, 2026

Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan - Joshua 15:23

In the book of Joshua, we learned, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-three of Joshua we learn about, “Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan” where we read,

And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

The verse reads, “And Kedesh, and Hazor, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Kedesh” whose name means “holy place” and was “a city in the extreme south of Judah”, “and Hazor” whose name means “castle” and was “one of the cities of Judah in the extreme south”. Joshua or the writer shared how the southern cities of “Kedesh and Hazor” were also given to the “tribe of Judah”.

The verse continues, “… and Ithnan,” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and Ithnan” whose name means “hire” and was “one of the towns in the extreme south of Judah; site unknown”. Joshua or the writer included the southern city of “Ithnan” as one of the locations given to the “tribe of Judah”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover three more names of the places provided for the “tribe of Judah”. “Kedesh, Hazor and Ithnan” were all locations in a southern direction, and each of them became places where the people of “Judah” would raise their families and live. Jehovah God provided for them, and He will provide for us when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us live in a manner that is pleasing to Him wherever we are located within the world. (John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".

Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah - Joshua 15:22

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-two of Joshua we learn about, “Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah” where we read,

And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,

The verse reads, “And Kinah, and Dimonah, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Kinah” whose name means “lamentation” and was “a town on the extreme southern boundary of Judah next to Edom”, “and Dimonah” whose name means “river bed or silence” and was “a town in the south Judah”. Joshua or the writer included “Kinah and Dimonah” as cities that were given to the “tribe of Judah” within the promise land.

The verse goes on to say, “… and Adadah,” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and Adadah” whose name means “festival or boundary” and was “one of the towns in the extremes south of Judah”. Joshua or the writer also included “Adadah” among the dwelling places that were given to the “tribe of Judah”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn three more of the names of the “cities” that were granted to the “tribe of Judah” when they entered the promise land. “Kinah, Dimonah and Adadah” were located within the southern part of the land given to “Judah”, and they would serve as places where the families of “Judah” would live and serve Jehovah God. God loves to provide for His people, and when we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who was sent into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be resurrected from the grave after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit to guide us into all truth and to help us live in a manner that is pleasing to Him wherever we are located in the world. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The Uttermost Cities - Joshua 15:21

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-one of Joshua we learn about, “the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah” where we read,

And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah

toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,

The verse reads, “And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the uttermost cities” which means “and the borders, extremities and outskirts of the dwelling places and towns” “of the tribe” or “belonging to the people group and clan” “of the children” which means “pertaining to the offspring and progeny” “of Judah” or “belonging to Judah whose name means ‘praised’ and was the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer began to tell of the extremities of the borders of the dwelling places that were allotted to the “tribe of Judah”.

The verse continues, “… toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,” Joshua or the writer added the words, “toward the coast” which means “to the border, landmark and space” “of Edom southward” or “belonging to Edom whose name means ‘red’ in a southern direction” “were Kabzeel” which means “existed Kabzeel whose name means ‘God gathers’ and was the most remote city of Judah; located in southern Judah on the border of Edom” “and Eder” whose name means “a flock” and was “a town in the extreme south of Judah on the border of Edom; site unknown”, “and Jagur” whose name means “he sojourns” and was “a town of Judah, one of those farthest to the south, on the frontier of Edom”. Joshua or the writer named “Kabzeel, Eder and Jagur” as dwelling places which were given to the “tribe of Judah” and were located in “the southern border of Edom”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover the first of the cities to be named that were given to the “tribe of Judah”. “Kabzeel, Eder and Jagur” were located in the southern direction on the border of “Edom”, and there were many more places that were to be added to them. God provided for the “tribe of Judah”, and as each of these locations are named, we are able to realize our Great God is more than capable of providing for us. (See Philippians 4:19) God loves the people of Israel, and He loves us. He proved His love toward us when He sent His Only Begotten Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we believe and trust in Him as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so we, like the “tribe of Judah”, will be able to receive all that He has for us according to His perfect will and plan.

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

The Inheritance of Judah - Joshua 15:20

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What would you? Who answered, Give me a blessing; for you have given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty of Joshua we learn, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah” where we read,

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

The verse reads, “This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “this is the inheritance” which means “this, the following places, existed as the possession, property, heritage, share and portion” “of the tribe” or “pertaining to the people group or clan” “of the children” which means “pertaining to the offspring and progeny” “of Judah” or “belonging to Judah whose name means ‘praised’ and was the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer said the following locations were the property and heritage pertaining to the offspring of the “tribe of Judah”.

The verse goes on to say, “… according to their families.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “according to” which means “in keeping with” “their families” or “their, the tribe of Judah’s, kindred, kinsmen and relatives”. Joshua or the writer shared how the following locations were to be in keeping with the kinsmen and relative of the “tribe of Judah”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we understand that the following places listed became the “heritage and possession” of the offspring and kindred of the “tribe of Judah”. We shall discover the names of those locations in our next verses, but for now let us consider that Jehovah God gave all these territories to this “tribe” whose name means “praised”. God loves for us to acknowledge Him and give Him praise, and when we receive His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the grave after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put within us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to praise Him with all our hearts and receive from Him all the blessings He desires to give to us in this life and in the life to come. (See Ephesians 3:20-21)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

A Field in the South Land - Joshua 15:19

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What would you?”, and in chapter fifteen and verse nineteen of Joshua we learn how Caleb’s daughter said, “Give me a blessing; for you have given me a south land” where we read,

Who answered, Give me a blessing; for you have given me a south land;

give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

The verse reads, “Who answered, Give me a blessing; for you have given me a south land;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “who answered” which means “who, Caleb’s daughter Achsah communed and responded”, “give me a blessing” or “grant, assign and bestow upon me, Achsah, a gift, prosperity and a present”: “for you have given me” which means “because, since and on account that you, Caleb, have granted, assigned and bestowed upon me, Achsah” “a south land” or “a district, region and territory in the southern direction”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Caleb’s daughter Achsah” asked him for a gift since he bestowed upon her territory that was in a southern direction.

The verse continues, “give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “give me also” which means “grant, assign and bestow upon me, Achsah, even so, indeed and in addition” “springs of water” or “basins, bowls or fountains with water springs and water courses”. “And he gave her” which means “and he, Caleb, granted, assigned and bestowed upon her, Achsah” “the upper springs” or “the higher basins and fountains of water courses”, “And the nether springs” which means “and the lower basins and fountains of water courses”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Caleb’s daughter Achsah” asked him to supply her with fountains of “water courses”, and he granted to her water courses that were high above and beneath her territory.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how “Caleb’s daughter Achsah” asked her father for sources of water for the territory she was given. “Caleb” assigned to her fountains of water courses that were in a higher and lower region. In other words, her request was supplied. Jehovah God loves to provide for us as well, (See Philippians 4;19) and when we put our faith and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth which shall be like refreshing water to our souls as we live before His eyes. (See John 4:13-14; 7:37-39; Isaiah 44:3)

Next time Joshua or the writer says, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Monday, June 29, 2026

Asking Her Father for a Field - Joshua 15:18

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife”, and in chapter fifteen and verse eighteen of Joshua we learn, “as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field” where we read,

And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field:

and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What would you?

The verse reads, “And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and it came to pass” which means “and it happened and occurred”, “as she came unto him” or “”,“that she moved him” which means “that she, Achsah, incited, allured, instigated and enticed him, Othniel” “to ask of her father a field” or “to inquire, seek and consult from her immediate male progenitor a land, property or ground”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Caleb’s daughter” “Achsah”, entreated her husband “Othniel” to seek “Caleb” for a piece of property.

The verse goes on to say, “and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What would you?” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and she lighted off her ass” which means “and she, Caleb’s daughter Achsah, descended and got down from her, Ashsah’s, donkey”; “and Caleb said unto her” or “and Caleb whose name means ‘dog’ and was “the godly son of Jephunneh and the faithful spy who reported upon the Promised Land favorably and urged its capture”, “what would you?” which means “whatsoever do you, Achsah, desire, wish or want”? Joshua or the writer shared how “Achsah” got down from her donkey, and “Caleb” asked her what she desired.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how “Caleb’s” daughter “Achsah” entreated her husband “Othniel” to ask her father for a piece of property, so she went to her father upon a donkey and descended from it which caused “Caleb” to ask her what she desired. We shall see what she requested in our next verse, but for now, let us use our imaginations to see this event transpire and how the heart of a father and daughter were coming together. God loves us, and when we come to Him through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to come to Him and request whatever is His desire and will is for us. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Hebrews 4:16)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares how Caleb’s daughter says, “give me a blessing; for you have given me a south land”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Othniel, Nephew of Caleb - Joshua 15:17

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.”, and in chapter fifteen and verse sixteen of Joshua we learn about, “Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb” where we read,

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it:

and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

The verse reads, “And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Othniel” whose name means “lion of God” and was “son of Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb, and husband of Achsah the daughter of Caleb and his own niece; first judge of Israel, who after the death of Joshua, delivered the Israelites from the oppression of Chushanrishathaim” “the son of Kenaz” or “the male offspring belonging to Kenaz whose name means ‘hunter’ and was son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau; one of the dukes of Edom”,“the brother of Caleb” which means “the male sibling belonging to Caleb whose name means ‘dog’ and was the godly son of Jephunneh and the faithful spy who reported upon the Promised Land favorably and urged its capture”, “took it” or “seized, captured and occupied it, Kirjathsepher”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Othniel” who was the male offspring of “Kenaz" who was “Caleb’s” brother captured “Kirjathsepher”.

The verse goes on to say, “and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and he gave him” which means “and he, Caleb, granted, bestowed and committed to him, Othniel” “Achsah” whose name means ‘ankle chain or anklet’ and “was the daughter of Caleb and wife of Caleb's nephew” “his daughter to wife” which means “his, Caleb’s, female offspring to be his spouse”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Caleb” granted to “Othniel” his “daughter” “Achsah” to be his “wife”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover how “Othniel”, Caleb’s nephew, took to task the defeating of “Kirjathsepher” and overcame it. “Caleb” gave “Othniel” his “daughter Achsah” to be his “wife” as he promised. Territory by territory “Caleb” was receiving all Jehovah God promised to him, and he employed the services of “Othniel” to complete this portion of his land. God wants us to be ambitious to receive all He has for us, and when we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone and was resurrected from the grave after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us the ability to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him and receives exceeding abundantly more than we ask or think. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:20)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about “Caleb’s daughter”, “she moved him to ask of her father a field”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…