Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah - Joshua 15:44

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 Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages: Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, and Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib”, and in chapter fifteen and verse forty-four of Joshua we learn about, “Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah” where we read,

And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:

The verse reads, “And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Keilah" whose name means “fortress” and was “a city in the lowlands of Judah northwest of Hebron”, “and Achzib” whose name means “deceit” and was “a town in the lowland of west Judah”, “and Mareshah” whose name means “crest of a hill” and was “one of the cities in the lowlands of Judah”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Keilah, Achzib and Mareshah” were also given to the “tribe of Judah” within the promise land. 

 

The verse continues, “nine cities with their villages:” Joshua or the writer added the words, “nine cities” which means “nine dwelling places or town” “with their villages” or “alongside and accompanied by their, the nine cities’, settled abodes and towns”. Joshua or the writer shared how there were “nine” dwelling places and their accompanying settle abodes that were allotted to the clan of “Judah” in this area of the promise land. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn about three more dwelling places, “Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah” and the settled abodes near them, that were bestowed upon the people of “Judah” within the promise land. Although these places may not be familiar to us, we can imagine locations with the names of “fortress, deceit and crest of a hill” were utilized by the people of “Judah” to raise their families in the presence of Almighty God. God gives us our places to live, and they are all over the world. Because we have sin in our lives, “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (See John 3:16-17) God wants us to live with Him forever, and when we put our faith and trust in His Son Jesus who died upon the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the grave after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to empower us to live in keeping with that truth so wherever we are in the world we will live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. 

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Ekron, with her towns and her villages:”, 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".