“And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,”
This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Joshua that describes the division of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel. In Joshua 19, the territory allotted to the tribe of Dan is outlined. This specific verse mentions three cities: Elon, Thimnathah, and Ekron.
Elon: The city of Elon, also known as Elon Bethhanan, was located in the northern region of the tribe of Dan. It is mentioned only briefly in the Bible, and its significance beyond this verse is not extensively recorded.
Thimnathah: Thimnathah, also referred to as Timnah, was another city within the territory of the tribe of Dan. It is mentioned in other biblical accounts as well. One notable occurrence is the story of Samson, a judge of Israel, who married a Philistine woman from Timnah (Judges 14:1-5). This marriage led to various events and conflicts involving Samson and the Philistines.
Ekron: Ekron was an important Philistine city and one of the five principal cities of the Philistine Pentapolis. It was located within the territory of the tribe of Dan. Ekron is mentioned throughout the Bible, particularly in relation to conflicts between the Israelites and Philistines. It was one of the cities that the Israelites were unable to fully conquer during the time of Joshua (Joshua 13:3). Later, during the time of King David and King Solomon, Ekron became an integral part of the kingdom of Israel (1 Kings 4:9).
These three cities, Elon, Thimnathah, and Ekron, were located in the area designated for the tribe of Dan. The division of the land among the tribes of Israel was an important aspect of fulfilling God’s promise to the Israelites and settling them in the Promised Land.
Overall, this verse provides geographical details regarding the distribution of land and highlights the presence of various cities within the allotted territory of the tribe of Dan.
