Joshua 19:34
Then the border turned westward to Aznoth-tabor and ran from there to Hukkok, touching Zebulun on the south side, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east.
Then the border turned westward
The phrase "turned westward" indicates a change in direction, which is significant in the delineation of tribal territories. In Hebrew, the word for "turned" is "פנה" (panah), which can also mean to face or to turn one's attention. This suggests a deliberate and purposeful action in defining the land. The westward direction is significant as it moves towards the Mediterranean Sea, symbolizing openness and expansion. This turning point in the border reflects God's providence in establishing boundaries for His people, ensuring each tribe has its allotted inheritance.

to Aznoth-tabor
Aznoth-tabor is a location whose exact site is not definitively known today, but it is believed to be near Mount Tabor. The name "Aznoth" may derive from a root meaning "ears" or "peaks," possibly referring to the topographical features of the area. Mount Tabor itself is a significant biblical landmark, often associated with divine encounters and military victories. This connection underscores the importance of the land as a place of both spiritual and physical significance for the Israelites.

and went from there to Hukkok
Hukkok is another location whose precise identification is uncertain, though it is thought to be in the region of Galilee. The movement "from there to Hukkok" suggests a continuation of the boundary line, emphasizing the thoroughness with which the land was divided. The name "Hukkok" may be related to a root meaning "to engrave" or "to inscribe," symbolizing the permanence of the tribal boundaries established by God.

and reached Zebulun on the south
Zebulun was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, and its territory was located in the northern part of the land. The phrase "reached Zebulun" indicates the southern boundary of the land allotted to the tribe of Naphtali. Zebulun's territory was known for its strategic location and trade routes, highlighting the interconnectedness of the tribes and the importance of each tribe's inheritance in fulfilling God's plan for Israel.

Asher on the west
The tribe of Asher was located to the west of Naphtali, along the Mediterranean coast. The mention of Asher here emphasizes the western boundary of Naphtali's territory. Asher's land was known for its fertility and abundance, often symbolizing blessing and prosperity. This boundary serves as a reminder of God's provision and the richness of the inheritance given to His people.

and Judah at the Jordan on the east
The reference to "Judah at the Jordan on the east" is intriguing, as Judah's main territory was in the southern part of Israel. This phrase likely refers to a specific area or outpost associated with Judah near the Jordan River. The Jordan River is a significant biblical symbol of transition and new beginnings, marking the eastern boundary of Naphtali's land. This connection to Judah, the tribe from which the Messiah would come, underscores the unity and continuity of God's promises to His people across different regions and tribes.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Aznoth-tabor
A location mentioned as a boundary marker for the tribe of Naphtali. Its exact location is uncertain, but it is believed to be near Mount Tabor.

2. Hukkok
Another boundary location for Naphtali, possibly a village or region in the northern part of Israel.

3. Zebulun
One of the tribes of Israel, whose territory bordered Naphtali to the south.

4. Asher
Another tribe of Israel, located to the west of Naphtali's territory.

5. Judah at the Jordan
This phrase is somewhat enigmatic, as Judah's territory was primarily in the south. It may refer to a specific landmark or a historical claim.
Teaching Points
Understanding God's Provision
The detailed boundaries show God's specific provision and care for each tribe, reminding us that God knows our needs and provides accordingly.

The Importance of Boundaries
Just as the tribes had specific boundaries, we too need boundaries in our lives to maintain order and purpose.

Unity Among Diversity
The tribes had distinct territories but were part of one nation. This teaches us the value of unity in diversity within the body of Christ.

Historical and Spiritual Heritage
Recognizing the historical significance of these locations can deepen our appreciation for the spiritual heritage we have in Christ.

Trust in God's Promises
The fulfillment of land allotments is a testament to God's faithfulness in keeping His promises, encouraging us to trust Him in our lives.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the specific mention of boundaries in Joshua 19:34 reflect God's attention to detail in His provision for His people?

2. In what ways can establishing personal boundaries help us maintain a healthy spiritual life, similar to the tribal boundaries in ancient Israel?

3. How does the unity among the tribes of Israel, despite their distinct territories, inspire us to foster unity within our own Christian communities?

4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in fulfilling a promise in your life. How does this relate to the fulfillment of land allotments in Joshua?

5. Considering the historical significance of the locations mentioned in Joshua 19:34, how can understanding our spiritual heritage impact our faith journey today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Numbers 34
This chapter outlines the boundaries of the Promised Land, providing context for the division of land among the tribes, including Naphtali.

Deuteronomy 33:23
Moses' blessing to Naphtali, which speaks of the tribe's favor and abundance, connecting to the land's richness and strategic location.

Judges 4-5
The account of Deborah and Barak, where Naphtali plays a significant role in the battle against Sisera, highlighting the tribe's strategic importance.
A Too Extensive Earthly PortionW. Seaton.Joshua 19:1-51
Self the Last to be ConsideredW. Seaton, M. A.Joshua 19:1-51
The Leader DisinterestedW. G. Blaikie, D. D.Joshua 19:1-51
People
Allon, Anath, Asher, Dagon, Dan, Danites, Eleazar, Elon, Heleb, Hepher, Hosah, Israelites, Issachar, Japhia, Jezreel, Joshua, Naphtali, Nun, Rehob, Serah, Shema, Shimron, Shual, Simeon, Simeonites, Timnah, Zebulun, Zidon
Places
Achshaph, Achzib, Adami-nekeb, Aijalon, Ain, Allammelech, Amad, Anaharath, Aphek, Ashan, Aznoth-tabor, Baalath, Baalath-beer, Balah, Beersheba, Bene-berak, Beten, Beth-anath, Beth-dagan, Beth-emek, Beth-lebaoth, Bethlehem, Beth-marcaboth, Beth-pazzez, Beth-shemesh, Bethul, Cabul, Carmel, Chesulloth, Chinnereth, Chisloth-tabor, Dabbesheth, Daberath, Dan, Ebez, Ebron, Edrei, Ekron, Elon, Eltekeh, Eltolad, En-gannim, En-haddah, Eshtaol, Ether, Ezem, Gath-hepher, Gath-rimmon, Gibbethon, Gibeah, Hali, Hammath, Hammon, Hannathon, Hapharaim, Hazar-shual, Hazar-susah, Hazor, Heleph, Helkath, Horem, Hormah, Hosah, Hukkok, Idalah, Ir-shemesh, Ithlah, Jabneel, Japhia, Jehud, Jezreel, Jokneam, Joppa, Jordan River, Kanah, Kattath, Kedesh, Kishion, Lakkum, Leshem, Mahalab, Me-jarkon, Migdal-el, Mishal, Moladah, Nahalal, Neah, Negeb, Neiel, Rabbith, Rakkath, Rakkon, Ramah, Rehob, Remeth, Rimmon, Sarid, Shaalabbin, Shahazumah, Sharuhen, Sheba, Shiloh, Shimron, Shion, Shunem, Sidon the Great, Tabor, Timnah, Timnath-serah, Tyre, Ummah, Valley of Iphtahel, Yiron, Zaanannim, Zer, Ziddim, Ziklag, Zorah
Topics
Asher, Aznoth, Aznothtabor, Aznoth-tabor, Az'noth-tabor, Border, Boundary, Coast, East, Goes, Hukkok, Hukok, Jordan, Judah, Limit, Proceeded, Ran, Reached, Reacheth, South, Stretching, Sunrise, Sunrising, Sun-rising, Tabor, Thence, Touched, Touching, Towards, Turneth, Turning, Turns, West, Westward, Westwards, Zebulun, Zeb'ulun
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Joshua 19:1-47

     7266   tribes of Israel

Joshua 19:1-48

     5235   boundary

Library
Tiberias.
All the Jews declare, almost with one consent, that this was a fortified city from ancient times, even from the days of Joshua, and was the same with Rakkath, of which mention is made, Joshua 19:35. "Rakkath is Tiberias," say the Jerusalem Gemarists. And those of Babylon say the same, and that more largely: "It is clear to us that Rakkath is Tiberias." And when, after a few lines, this of Rabbi Jochanan was objected, "When I was a boy, I said a certain thing, concerning which I asked the elders,
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Chammath. Ammaus. The Warm Baths of Tiberias.
Chammath and Rakkath are joined together, Joshua 19:35. For they were very neighbouring cities; Rakkath is Tiberias,--and Chammath, the town Ammaus, in Josephus. Of their neighbourhood, the Jerusalem Talmudists write thus: "The men of a great city may walk" (on the sabbath) "through a whole small city" (which was within a sabbath-day's journey); "but the inhabitants of a small city walk not through a whole great city." And then follows, "Formerly the men of Tiberias walked through all Chammath; but
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Some Other Towns Near Tiberias. Beth-Meon. Caphar Chittaia. Paltathah.
Among the towns, neighbouring upon Tiberias, Tarichee is especially commemorated in Josephus, a city thirty furlongs distant from Tiberias: you will find in him the history and mention of it very frequent. In the Talmudists we meet with other names also. I. Beth-Meon. "The men of Tiberias, who went up to Beth-Meon to be hired for workmen, were hired according to the custom of Beth-Meon: the men of Beth-Meon, who went down to Tiberias to be hired, were hired according to the custom of Tiberias." This
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Eastern Wise-Men, or Magi, visit Jesus, the New-Born King.
(Jerusalem and Bethlehem, b.c. 4.) ^A Matt. II. 1-12. ^a 1 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem [It lies five miles south by west of Jerusalem, a little to the east of the road to Hebron. It occupies part of the summit and sides of a narrow limestone ridge which shoots out eastward from the central chains of the Judæan mountains, and breaks down abruptly into deep valleys on the north, south, and east. Its old name, Ephrath, meant "the fruitful." Bethlehem means "house of bread." Its modern
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Within what Tribe the Lake of Gennesaret Was.
By comparing the maps with the Talmudic writers, this question ariseth: for there is not one among them, as far as I know, which does not altogether define the sea of Gennesaret to be without the tribe of Naphthali; but the Talmudists do most plainly place it within. "The Rabbins deliver: The sea of Tiberias is in the portion of Naphtali; yea, it takes a full line for the nets on the south side of it: as it is said, 'Possess the sea and the south,' Deuteronomy 33:23." The Gloss is; "(Naphtali) had
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

The First Sign --The Marriage in Cana.
"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, and His disciples, to the marriage. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine. And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it. Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews' manner of purifying, containing two
Marcus Dods—The Expositor's Bible: The Gospel of St. John, Vol. I

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
"From Beth-horon to Emmaus it was hilly."--It was sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem.--"To eight hundred only, dismissed the army, (Vespasian) gave a place, called Ammaus, for them to inhabit: it is sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem." I inquire, whether this word hath the same etymology with Emmaus near Tiberias, which, from the 'warm baths,' was called Chammath. The Jews certainly do write this otherwise... "The family (say they) of Beth-Pegarim, and Beth Zipperia was out of Emmaus."--The
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica

Jesus Calls Four Fishermen to Follow Him.
(Sea of Galilee, Near Capernaum.) ^A Matt. IV. 18-22; ^B Mark I. 16-20; ^C Luke V. 1-11. ^a 18 And walking ^b 16 And passing along by the sea of Galilee [This lake is a pear-shaped body of water, about twelve and a half miles long and about seven miles across at its widest place. It is 682 feet below sea level; its waters are fresh, clear and abounding in fish, and it is surrounded by hills and mountains, which rise from 600 to 1,000 feet above it. Its greatest depth is about 165 feet], he [Jesus]
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Sennacherib (705-681 B. C. )
The struggle of Sennacherib with Judaea and Egypt--Destruction of Babylon. Sennacherib either failed to inherit his father's good fortune, or lacked his ability.* He was not deficient in military genius, nor in the energy necessary to withstand the various enemies who rose against him at widely removed points of his frontier, but he had neither the adaptability of character nor the delicate tact required to manage successfully the heterogeneous elements combined under his sway. * The two principal
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8

Third Withdrawal from Herod's Territory.
Subdivision D. The Transfiguration. Concerning Elijah. (a Spur of Hermon, Near Cæsarea Philippi.) ^A Matt. XVII. 1-13; ^B Mark IX. 2-13; ^C Luke IX. 28-36. ^c 28 And it came to pass about eight days { ^a six days} ^c after these sayings [Mark agrees with Matthew in saying six days. Luke qualifies his estimate by saying "about." But if we regard him as including the day of the "sayings" and also the day of the transfiguration, and the other two as excluding these days, then the three statements
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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