In biblical terminology, "daughter-towns" refers to smaller settlements or villages that are dependent on or associated with a larger city, often described as the "mother city." This concept is rooted in the ancient Near Eastern practice of urban planning and settlement organization, where a central city would serve as the hub of administration, commerce, and defense, while surrounding smaller towns would support and be supported by the central city.

The term "daughter-towns" is not explicitly used in the Berean Standard Bible , but the concept is evident in various passages where cities and their surrounding settlements are mentioned. These towns often played a crucial role in the economic and social structure of the region, providing agricultural produce, labor, and military support to the central city.

Biblical References:

1. Joshua 15:45-47 : "Ekron, with its towns and villages; from Ekron to the sea, all that lay alongside Ashdod, with their villages. Ashdod, with its towns and villages; Gaza, with its towns and villages, as far as the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea." This passage highlights the relationship between major Philistine cities and their dependent towns, illustrating the concept of daughter-towns.

2. Numbers 21:25 : "So Israel took all these cities and settled in the cities of the Amorites, in Heshbon and all its villages." Here, the Israelites capture Heshbon and its surrounding villages, indicating a central city with dependent settlements.

3. 2 Chronicles 28:18 : "The Philistines also raided the cities of the foothills and the Negev of Judah. They captured and occupied Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, and Gederoth, as well as Soco, Timnah, and Gimzo with their villages." This passage describes the Philistines capturing cities and their associated villages, again reflecting the daughter-town structure.

Historical and Cultural Context:

In the ancient Near East, the relationship between a mother city and its daughter-towns was vital for the survival and prosperity of the region. The mother city often provided protection and governance, while the daughter-towns contributed resources and manpower. This interdependence was crucial in times of war, trade, and agriculture.

The concept of daughter-towns also reflects the hierarchical nature of ancient societies, where power and resources were concentrated in central locations, and smaller communities were integrated into this system. This structure allowed for efficient management of resources and defense, as well as the spread of cultural and religious practices.

Theological Implications:

From a theological perspective, the concept of daughter-towns can be seen as a metaphor for the relationship between God and His people. Just as a mother city provides for and protects its daughter-towns, God is seen as the provider and protector of His people. This relationship emphasizes the importance of community, interdependence, and the centrality of God in the life of believers.

In summary, while the term "daughter-towns" is not explicitly used in the Bible, the concept is integral to understanding the social and economic structures of ancient biblical societies. The relationship between a mother city and its daughter-towns provides insight into the organization and functioning of these communities, as well as offering a metaphor for the divine relationship between God and His people.Daughter-towns (17 Occurrences)

Joshua 15:45
Ekron, with her daughter-towns and her unwalled places;
(BBE)

Joshua 15:47
Ashdod, with her daughter-towns and her unwalled places; Gaza, with her daughter-towns and her unwalled places, to the stream of Egypt, with the Great Sea as a limit.
(BBE)

Joshua 17:11
In Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean and its daughter-towns, and Ibleam and its daughter-towns, and the people of Dor and its daughter-towns, and the people of En-dor and its daughter-towns, and the people of Taanach and its daughter-towns, and the people of Megiddo and its daughter-towns, that is, the three hills.
(BBE)

Judges 1:27
And Manasseh did not take away the land of the people of Beth-shean and its daughter-towns, or of Taanach and its daughter-towns, or of the people of Dor and its daughter-towns, or of the people of Ibleam and its daughter-towns, or of the people of Megiddo and its daughter-towns, driving them out; but the Canaanites would go on living in that land.
(BBE)

Judges 11:26
While Israel was living in Heshbon and its daughter-towns and in Aroer and its daughter-towns and in all the towns which are by the side of the Arnon, for three hundred years, why did you not get them back at that time?
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 7:28
Their heritage and their living-places were Beth-el and its daughter-towns, and Naaran to the east, and Gezer to the west, with its daughter-towns, as well as Shechem and its daughter-towns as far as Azzah and its daughter-towns;
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 7:29
And by the limits of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and its daughter-towns, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, with their daughter-towns. In these the children of Joseph, the son of Israel, were living.
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 8:12
And the sons of Elpaal: Eber and Misham and Shemed (he was the builder of Ono and Lod and their daughter-towns);
(BBE)

1 Chronicles 18:1
And it came about after this that David made an attack on the Philistines and overcame them, and took Gath with its daughter-towns out of the hands of the Philistines.
(BBE)

2 Chronicles 28:18
And the Philistines, forcing their way into the towns of the lowlands and the south of Judah, had taken Beth-shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth and Soco, with their daughter-towns, as well as Timnah and Gimzo and their daughter-towns, and were living there.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:25
And for the daughter-towns with their fields, some of the men of Judah were living in Kiriath-arba and its daughter-towns, and in Dibon and its daughter-towns, and in Jekabzeel and its daughter-towns,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:27
And in Hazar-shual, and in Beer-sheba and its daughter-towns,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:28
And in Ziklag, and in Meconah and its daughter-towns,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:30
Zanoah, Adullam and their daughter-towns, Lachish and its fields, Azekah and its daughter-towns. So they were living from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom.
(BBE)

Nehemiah 11:31
And the children of Benjamin were living from Geba, at Michmash and Aija, and at Beth-el and its daughter-towns,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:28
And the sons of the music-makers came together from the lowland round about Jerusalem and from the daughter-towns of the Netophathites,
(BBE)

Nehemiah 12:29
And from Beth-gilgal and from the fields of Geba and Azmaveth: for the music-makers had made daughter-towns for themselves round about Jerusalem.
(BBE)

Daughter-towns (17 Occurrences)
Daughter-towns. Daughters-in-law, Daughter-towns. Daunted .
Multi-Version Concordance Daughter-towns (17 Occurrences). ...
/d/daughter-towns.htm - 12k

Living-places (17 Occurrences)
... 1 Chronicles 7:28 Their heritage and their living-places were Beth-el and its
daughter-towns, and Naaran to the east, and Gezer to the west, with its daughter...
/l/living-places.htm - 12k

Unwalled (39 Occurrences)
... with their unwalled places. (BBE). Joshua 15:45 Ekron, with her daughter-towns
and her unwalled places; (BBE). Joshua 15:46 From Ekron ...
/u/unwalled.htm - 17k

Driving (144 Occurrences)
... Judges 1:27 And Manasseh did not take away the land of the people of Beth-shean
and its daughter-towns, or of Taanach and its daughter-towns, or of the people ...
/d/driving.htm - 37k

Music-makers (18 Occurrences)
... Nehemiah 12:28 And the sons of the music-makers came together from the lowland round
about Jerusalem and from the daughter-towns of the Netophathites, (BBE). ...
/m/music-makers.htm - 12k

Forcing (25 Occurrences)
... their way into the towns of the lowlands and the south of Judah, had taken
Beth-shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth and Soco, with their daughter-towns, as well ...
/f/forcing.htm - 15k

Lowlands (25 Occurrences)
... their way into the towns of the lowlands and the south of Judah, had taken
Beth-shemesh and Aijalon and Gederoth and Soco, with their daughter-towns, as well ...
/l/lowlands.htm - 14k

Limit (115 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, with her daughter-towns and her unwalled places; Gaza, with
her daughter-towns and her unwalled places, to the stream of Egypt, with the ...
/l/limit.htm - 36k

Stream (96 Occurrences)
... Joshua 15:47 Ashdod, with her daughter-towns and her unwalled places; Gaza, with
her daughter-towns and her unwalled places, to the stream of Egypt, with the ...
/s/stream.htm - 42k

Hills (132 Occurrences)
... Joshua 17:11 In Issachar and Asher, Manasseh had Beth-shean and its daughter-towns,
and Ibleam and its daughter-towns, and the people of Dor and its daughter...
/h/hills.htm - 36k

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