"Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,"
Historical Context:Joshua 15:35 is part of a larger passage that describes the division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel. In Joshua 15, the boundaries and cities of the tribe of Judah are outlined. This verse specifically lists some of the cities that were allotted to the tribe of Judah.
Jarmuth:Jarmuth was a city in the lowlands of Judah. It is mentioned in various places in the Bible, such as Joshua 10:3 and Joshua 12:11. In Joshua 10, the king of Jarmuth was one of the five Amorite kings who formed a coalition against the Israelites. Joshua and the Israelites defeated these kings, and Jarmuth was one of the cities captured.
Adullam:Adullam was a city located in the Shephelah region of Judah. It is mentioned several times in the Old Testament, including Genesis 38:1, where Judah stayed in Adullam after the incident with Tamar. Additionally, David sought refuge in the cave of Adullam when he was fleeing from King Saul (1 Samuel 22:1).
Socoh:Socoh was a town located in the lowlands of Judah. It is mentioned in 1 Samuel 17:1 in the context of the battle between David and Goliath. Goliath, the Philistine champion, came from Gath and stationed himself between Socoh and Azekah. This battle is a well-known event demonstrating David’s faith and courage.
Azekah:Azekah was a town in the Shephelah region of Judah. It is mentioned in various biblical accounts, including the battle between the Israelites and the Philistines. In 1 Samuel 17:1, Goliath camped between Socoh and Azekah. It is also mentioned in Jeremiah 34:7 as one of the cities of Judah that was besieged by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon.
These four cities mentioned in Joshua 15:35 played significant roles in the history of Israel. They were located in the territory of the tribe of Judah and were scenes of battles, refuge, and significant events in the lives of important biblical figures like Joshua, David, and Judah.
Overall, this verse is a small part of the larger narrative in Joshua that outlines the distribution of land to the tribes of Israel, fulfilling God’s promise to the Israelites and establishing their presence in the Promised Land.
