The Word for Today with Ray: July 2026

Thursday, July 2, 2026

Hazarshual, Beersheba, and Bizjothjah - Joshua 15:28

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 Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, and Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-eight of Joshua we learn about, “Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah” where we read,

Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah

The verse reads, “Hazarshual, and Beersheba, …” Joshua or the writer began with the word, “Hazarshual” whose name means “jackal village” and was “a town in southern Judah”, “and Beersheba” whose name means “well of the sevenfold oath” and was “a city at the south edge of Israel”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Hazarshual and Beersheba” were included in the dwelling places which were given to the “tribe of Judah” within the promise land.

The verse continues, “… and Biziothjah”. Joshua or the writer added the words, “and Biziothiah” whose name means “contempt of Jehovah” and was “a town in southern Judah near Beersheba”. Joshua or the writer also added “Biziothjah” to the list of “cities” which were allotted to the “tribe of Judah”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we discover how “Hazarshual, Beersheba, and Bizjothjah” were three more of the locations within the promise land that were given to the “tribe of Judah”. One by one these locations were being enumerated. God gave the people of “Judah” these places so they could live and raise their families. God loves people, and He desires a personal relationship with all of us. Our sins have separated us from Him, and because those sins lead to death and eternal separation from God, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins and raised Him from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us to all truth and to empower us to live according to that truth so we too shall receive everything He desires to provide for us. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:12)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Baalah, and Iim, and Azem”, 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".

Hazargaddah, Heshmon and Bethpalet - Joshua 15:27

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 Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, Amam, and Shema, and Moladah”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-seven of Joshua we learn about, “Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet” where we read,

And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet

The verse reads, “And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Hazargaddah” whose name means “village of good fortune” and was “a place in southern Judah”, “and Heshmon” whose name means “rich soil” and was “a town in the extreme south of Judah; site uncertain”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Hazargaddah, and Heshmon” were also among the cities in the promise land which were inherited by “the tribe of Judah”.

The verse goes on to say, “… and Bethpalet” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and Bethpalet” whose name means “house of escape or place of escape” and was “a place in southern Judah”. Joshua or the writer recounted that “Bethpalet” was included within the “cities” that were overtaken and allotted to the “tribe of Judah”

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover three more of the places which were given to the “tribe of Judah” as an inheritance. “Hazargaddah, Heshmon, and Bethpalet” which were once occupied by pagan Gentiles were now the property of the people of “Judah”. God provided this for them, and because He is a loving God, He gave His Only Begotten Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the grave after three days. When we believe and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, we will be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth so our lives are pleasing to Him and we receive the inheritance He desires to give us in this world and the next. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:18)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Aman, Shema and Moladah - Joshua 15:26

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 Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-six of Joshua we learn about, “Amam, and Shema, and Moladah” where we read,

Amam, and Shema, and Moladah

The verse reads, “Amam, and Shema, …” Joshua or the writer began with the word, “Amam” whose name means “their mother” and was “a city in southern Judah”, “and Shema” whose name means “hear” and was “a town in Judah at the limits of the tribe toward Edom in the south”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Aman and Shema” were also added to the list of cities which were inherited by the “tribe of Judah”.

The verse continues, “… and Moladah.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and Moladah” whose name means “birth or race” and was “a town in the south of Canaan allocated to Judah then reallocated to Simeon”. Joshua or the writer included “Moladah” in the territory which was given to the “tribe of Judah”.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see three more “cities” added to the portion of the property within the promise land that was assigned to the “tribe of Judah”. “Amam, Shema and Moladah” were all dwelling places which were seized by Joshua and the people of Israel, and now they were to be the properties of “Judah”. God desires to provide for His people, 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 put His Holy Spirit within us who will guide us into all truth and help us receive that which He desires for us in this world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:12)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Hazor, Hadattah, Zeroth, Hebron and Hazor - Joshua 15:25

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 Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-five of Joshua we learn about, “Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron” where we read,

And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,

The verse reads, “And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Hazor” whose name means “new or fresh” and was “a city in the south of Judah”, “Hadattah” whose name means “fresh or new thing” and was “a city in the south of Judah”, “and Kerioth” whose name means “cities or towns” and was “a town in the southern district of Judah”. Joshua or the writer included “Hazor, Hadattah and Kerioth” to the list of cities which were occupied by the “tribe of Judah”.

The verse continues, “… and Hezron, which is Hazor” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and Hezron” whose name means “surrounded by a wall” and was “a place in the extreme south of Judah”, “which is Hazor” and means “that exists as Hazor whose name means ‘castle’ and was one of the cities of Judah in the extreme south”. Joshua or the writer added “Hezron” or “Hazor” to the list of cities given to the “tribe of Judah”.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn more of the names of the cities given to the “tribe of Judah” for an inheritance within the promise land. “Hazor, Hadattah, Kerioth and Hezron which is Hazor” became places for the people of “Judah” to raise their families and live before God. Their names have interesting meanings, “new, fresh, cities, castle and surrounded by a wall” are similar to that which happens when we surrender our lives to God’s Son Jesus who came into the world to be crucified on the cross for our sins and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him, we are forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and given His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and make all things “new”, place us within His protective care (His castle and walls), and help us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. (See Psalm 127:7-8; 2 Corinthians 5:17)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Amam, and Shema, and Moladah”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Ziph and Telem and Bealoth - Joshua 15:24

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 Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan”, and in chapter fifteen and verse twenty-four of Joshua we learn about, “Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth” where we read,

Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth.

The verse reads, “Ziph, and Telem, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Ziph” whose name means “battlement” and was “a city in southern Judah, between Ithnan and Telem; site unknown”, “and Telem” whose name means “oppression” and was “one of the cities in the extreme south of Judah in the Negeb”. Joshua or the writer added the cities of “Ziph and Telem” to the territory that was given to the “tribe of Judah”.

The verse goes on to say, “… and Bealoth.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and Bealoth” or Baalath whose name means “mistress” and was “a town in south Judah”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Bealoth” was also allotted to the “tribe of Judah”.

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover three more of the cities which were granted to “tribe of Judah” within the promise land. “Ziph, Telem and Bealoth” or “Battlement, oppression and mistress” all became the areas where the people within the clan of “Judah” would raise their families. Jehovah God knew what the people of “Judah” needed, and He gave to them according to His purpose and plan. He knows we need a “Savior” because we have sinned, and sin keeps us separated from Him and will lead to death. (See Romans 3:23; 6:23) For this reason He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and He raised Him from the dead so when we put our faith and trust in Him as our personal “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 give us the ability to live in that truth for all our lives.

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

Until tomorrow…there is more…