“And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;”
Joshua 19:26 is a verse from the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament. It is part of a larger section that describes the division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel. In this particular verse, the territory of the tribe of Asher is being delineated.
To better understand the verse, let’s look at its context. In Joshua 19, the land is being allotted to the tribe of Asher. This process involves dividing the land into sections and assigning portions to each tribe. The verse mentions several cities and landmarks that form the boundaries of Asher’s territory.
Alammelech: The name “Alammelech” is mentioned here as a city that marks the border of Asher’s territory. Unfortunately, there isn’t much information available about this specific city, as it is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible.
Amad: Like Alammelech, “Amad” is also not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, making it difficult to provide further details about this particular location.
Misheal: Similarly, “Misheal” is not mentioned elsewhere in the Bible, so its specific location and significance are unknown.
Carmel: The verse indicates that Asher’s territory extends westward to Carmel. Carmel is a well-known geographical feature in Israel, primarily a mountain range that stretches along the Mediterranean coast. It is mentioned numerous times throughout the Bible, often associated with its lush vegetation and beauty. Mount Carmel is especially renowned for the events that took place there during the time of the prophet Elijah (1 Kings 18).
Shihor-libnath: The verse also mentions “Shihor-libnath” as a boundary. Shihor is a term used to refer to a river or a brook, and Libnath could be the name of a place or region. However, there is limited information available about the specific location of Shihor-libnath.
While the details about Alammelech, Amad, and Misheal are scarce, the mention of Carmel provides a familiar landmark, and Shihor-libnath suggests a watercourse. These locations helped define the borders of the tribe of Asher’s allotted territory.
It’s worth noting that for a comprehensive understanding of the Book of Joshua and the division of the Promised Land, studying the entire chapter and the surrounding passages is beneficial. The geographical details listed in Joshua 19 outline the specific boundaries and regions assigned to each tribe of Israel, reflecting God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the Israelites.
