Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah - Joshua 15:41

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families” which included among others “fourteen cities with their villages: Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad, and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, and Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish”, and in chapter fifteen and verse forty-one of Joshua we learn about, “Gederoth, Bethdagon, Naamah, and Makkedah” where we read,

And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; 

sixteen cities with their villages:

The verse reads, “and Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Gederoth" whose name means “walls” and was “a town in the low country of Judah”, “Bethdagon” whose name means “house of Dagon” and was “the temple of Dagon in Judah”, “and Naamah” or “loveliness” and was “a town in the lowlands of Judah in Philistia, “and Makkedah” which means “place of shepherds” and was “the location of a cave in Judah where Joshua captured and executed five Canaanite kings during the conquest; located near Bethhoron and Libnah”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Gederoth, Bethdagon, Naamah and Makkedah” were among the dwelling places that were granted to the “tribe of Judah”. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “sixteen cities with their villages:” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “sixteen cities” which means “sixteen dwelling places or towns” “with their villages” or “alongside and accompanying their, the sixteen cities’, settled abodes and towns”. Joshua or the writer shared how there were “sixteen” dwelling places accompanied by their settled abodes that were assigned to the people of “Judah”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how “Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah” were included in the “sixteen” dwelling places in this area that were given to the “tribe of Judah”. These places were given specifically to the people of “Judah”, and God has a place for us as well. When we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who came into the world to be crucified on the cross for the sins of all man and to be 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 help us live according to that truth wherever we are in the world. (See John 3:16; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11) 

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Libnah, Ether, and Ashan”, 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".