Maon, Carmel, Ziph and Juttah - Joshua 15:55

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 “Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof. And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir, and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages: Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, and Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah, and Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages”, and in chapter fifteen and verse fifty-five of Joshua we learn about, “Maon, Carmel, Ziph and Juttah” where we read,

Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah

The verse reads, “Maon, Carmel …” Joshua or the writer began with the word, “Moan" or Moanites whose name means “habitation” and was “a city of Judah located eight miles south of Hebron”, “Carmel” whose name means “garden-land” and was “a town in the mountains on the west side of the Dead Sea and south of Hebron”. Joshua or the writer added “Maon and Carmel” to the list of names of the “cities” that were given to the “tribe of Judah”. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… Ziph, and Juttah.” Joshua or the writer continued with the word, “Ziph” whose name means “battlement” and was “a city of Judah, southeast of Hebron, between Carmel and Juttah in the highland district”, “and Juttah” whose name means “stretched out” and was “a town in the mountains of Judah, in the neighborhood of Maon and Carmel; modern 'Yutta'”. Joshua or the writer included “Ziph and Juttah” as dwelling places that were allotted to the people of “Judah”. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn about four more “cities” that were granted as an inheritance to the people of “Judah”. “Maon, Carmel, Ziph, and Juttah” became locations where the “tribe of Judah” could raise their families and conduct themselves in a way that is pleasing to Jehovah God. God wants everyone to have a personal relationship with Him, and because sin has separated us from Him, He sent His 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 submit to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equipped 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 wherever we are in the world. 

Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah”, 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".