Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon - Joshua 15:32

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 “Bethpalet, Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah, Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, and Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah”, and in chapter fifteen and verse thirty-two of Joshua we learn about, “Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon” where we read,

And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: 

all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:

The verse reads, “And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Lebaoth” whose name means “witness” and was “a town in southern Judah”, “and Shilhim” whose name means “fountains” and was “a city in the southern portion of Judah”, “and Ain” whose name means “spring” and was “one of the southernmost cities of Judah in the Nekeb and allotted to the tribe of Simeon and given to the priests”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimon” were added to the “cities” given to the “tribe of Judah”. 

 

The verse continues, “all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:” Joshua or the writer added the words, “all the cities” which means “each, every and the whole number of the dwelling places or towns” “are twenty and nine” or “existed as twenty-nine”, “with their villages” which means “accompanied by their, the cities’, settled abodes or towns”. Joshua or the writer shared how there were “twenty-nine” dwelling places in total that were given to the “tribe of Judah”, and there were accompanying settled abodes that were in addition to them.

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover more of the places that were given to the “tribe of Judah”. “Lebaoth, Shilhim,  Ain and Rimmon” were among the “twenty-nine cities” which were provided, and there were other settled abodes that accompanied them. God gave abundantly to the people of “Judah”, and He desires to give to us through 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 believe 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 empower us to live according to that truth so we receive all the inheritance He desires to give us. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 3:20; Colossians 1:12)

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah”, 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".