Overview:
Balah is a location mentioned in the Old Testament, specifically within the context of the tribal allotments in the Book of Joshua. It is one of the cities given to the tribe of Simeon, which was situated within the larger territory of Judah. The name "Balah" is thought to mean "devourer" or "swallowing," though the exact etymology is not definitively established.

Biblical References:
Balah is referenced in the Book of Joshua as part of the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon. The passage reads:

· Joshua 19:3 : "Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,"

This verse lists Balah among other cities that were part of the inheritance of the Simeonites. The context of this passage is the division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel, following their exodus from Egypt and subsequent conquest of Canaan under the leadership of Joshua.

Historical and Geographical Context:
Balah is located in the southern part of the land allotted to the tribe of Judah, which was later shared with the tribe of Simeon. The exact location of Balah is not definitively known today, and it is not prominently featured in other historical or archaeological records. However, its inclusion in the tribal allotments indicates its significance during the period of settlement in Canaan.

The tribe of Simeon, to which Balah was allotted, was one of the smaller tribes of Israel. Their territory was enveloped within the larger territory of Judah, which suggests a close relationship between these two tribes. This arrangement is reflective of the Simeonites' need for protection and support from the more powerful tribe of Judah.

Theological Significance:
The mention of Balah, like other cities in the tribal allotments, underscores the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding the land of Canaan. The division of the land among the tribes of Israel is a testament to God's faithfulness and the realization of His covenant with the Israelites.

The allocation of cities such as Balah to the tribe of Simeon also highlights the theme of unity and cooperation among the tribes of Israel. Despite being a smaller tribe, Simeon's integration within Judah's territory illustrates the interconnectedness and mutual support that characterized the Israelite confederation.

Related Entries:
· Simeon, Tribe of: The tribe to which Balah was allotted, known for its integration within the territory of Judah.
· Judah, Tribe of: The larger tribe within whose territory Balah was located, playing a significant role in the history of Israel.
· Joshua, Book of: The biblical book that details the conquest of Canaan and the division of the land among the tribes of Israel.

Conclusion:
While Balah is not a prominent city in biblical narratives, its mention in the tribal allotments serves as a reminder of the historical and theological significance of the land distribution among the tribes of Israel. The city represents the fulfillment of divine promises and the cooperative spirit among the tribes during the settlement of the Promised Land.Balah

(Joshua 19:3) [BAAL, Geogr. No. 2, b]

A city in the tribe of Simeon (Joshua 19:3), elsewhere called Bilhah (1 Chronicles 4:29) and Baalah (Joshua 15:29). BALAH

ba'la balah; Bola: A place, unidentified, in the territory of Simeon (Joshua 19:3), called Bilhah in 1 Chronicles 4:29. It may be identical with Baalah in Judah (Joshua 15:29).

1088. Balah -- a place in Simeon
... 1087, 1088. Balah. 1089 . a place in Simeon. Transliteration: Balah
Phonetic Spelling: (baw-law') Short Definition: Balah. Word ...
/hebrew/1088.htm - 6k

1086. balah -- to become old, wear out
... 1085, 1086. balah. 1087 . to become old, wear out. Transliteration: balah Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-law') Short Definition: wear. ... 1085, 1086. balah. 1087 > ...
/hebrew/1086.htm - 6k

1089. balah -- to be troubled
... 1088, 1089. balah. 1090 . to be troubled. Transliteration: balah Phonetic Spelling:
(baw-lah') Short Definition: frightened. ... 1088, 1089. balah. 1090 . ...
/hebrew/1089.htm - 6k

1093. belo -- tribute
... tribute. (Aramaic) from a root corresponding to balah; excise (on articles consumed) --
tribute. see HEBREW balah. 1092, 1093. belo. 1094 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/1093.htm - 6k

1115. bilti -- not, except
... Word Origin from balah Definition not, except NASB Word Usage besides (2), except
(3), except* (1), less than* (1), moreover (1), neither (1), no (15), no ...
/hebrew/1115.htm - 6k

8399. tablith -- destruction
... Word Origin from balah Definition destruction NASB Word Usage destruction (1).
habitable part, world. From balah; consumption -- destruction. see HEBREW balah. ...
/hebrew/8399.htm - 6k

1094. belo -- worn-out things, rags
... Word Origin from balah Definition worn-out things, rags NASB Word Usage worn-out
(3). old. ... see HEBREW balah. 1093, 1094. belo. 1095 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/1094.htm - 6k

1097. beli -- a wearing out
... Word Origin from balah Definition a wearing out NASB Word Usage because* (6), cannot
(1), lack (4), no (6), no more (1), no one (3), nor (1), nothing (1 ...
/hebrew/1097.htm - 6k

1087. baleh -- worn-out
... Word Origin from balah Definition worn-out NASB Word Usage worn (1), worn-out (4).
old. From balah; worn out -- old. see HEBREW balah. 1086, 1087. ...
/hebrew/1087.htm - 6k

1077. bal -- not
... Word Origin from balah Definition not NASB Word Usage cannot (2), fail (1), immovable*
(1), never (1), never* (4), no (5), none (2), nor (5), nothing (1 ...
/hebrew/1077.htm - 6k

The History after the Flood.
... And there were five other cities in the territory of Ham, the son of Noah; the first
called Sodom, then Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim, and Balah, which was also ...
/.../theophilus/theophilus to autolycus/chapter xxxi the history after the.htm

Balah (1 Occurrence)
...BALAH. ba'la balah; Bola: A place, unidentified, in the territory of Simeon (Joshua
19:3), called Bilhah in 1 Chronicles 4:29. ...Balah (1 Occurrence). ...
/b/balah.htm - 7k

Baalah (5 Occurrences)
... Mistress; city. (1.) A city in the south of Judah (Joshua 15:29), elsewhere called
Balah (Joshua 19:3) and Bilhah (1 Chronicles 4:29). Now Khurbet Zebalah. ...
/b/baalah.htm - 10k

Balak (42 Occurrences)

/b/balak.htm - 20k

Ezem (3 Occurrences)
... Ezem (3 Occurrences). Joshua 15:29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem, (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV
NIV). Joshua 19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, (WEB JPS ASV BBE DBY NAS RSV NIV) ...
/e/ezem.htm - 7k

Bal'adan (2 Occurrences)
Bal'adan. Baladan, Bal'adan. Balah . Multi-Version Concordance Bal'adan (2
Occurrences). ... (See RSV). Baladan, Bal'adan. Balah . Reference Bible.
/b/bal'adan.htm - 6k

Bilhah (11 Occurrences)
... bil'-ha (place) (bilhah; Codex Alexandrinus, Balaa; Codex Vaticanus, Abella): A
city in Simeon (1 Chronicles 4:29) = Baalah (Joshua 15:29), Balah (Joshua 19:3 ...
/b/bilhah.htm - 11k

Consume (136 Occurrences)
... There are many other words translated "consume" and "consumed," eg cuph, "to end"
(Jeremiah 8:13 Zechariah 1:2, 3); balah, "to fade," "wear away" (Job 13:28 ...
/c/consume.htm - 40k

Azem (2 Occurrences)
... Azem (2 Occurrences). Joshua 15:29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, (KJV WBS YLT).
Joshua 19:3 And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem, (KJV WBS YLT). ...
/a/azem.htm - 7k

Shual (6 Occurrences)
... DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). Joshua 19:3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, (WEB KJV JPS
ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV). 1 Samuel 13:17 The spoilers ...
/s/shual.htm - 9k

Simeon (48 Occurrences)
... 19:2-6 and 1 Chronicles 4:28, 31 are (the names in parentheses are variations in
the latter reference): Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, Balah (Bilhah), Azem ...
/s/simeon.htm - 35k

Who was Bilhah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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