“And Elath, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,”
This verse is part of a larger passage in the book of Joshua that describes the allocation of the tribal territories of the Israelites in the Promised Land. In this particular verse, it mentions three cities: Elath, Gibbethon, and Baalath.
Elath: Elath, also known as Eilat, was a city located on the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba, a northeastern arm of the Red Sea. It was situated in the territory of the tribe of Judah and later became an important port city during the time of King Solomon (1 Kings 9:26).
Gibbethon: Gibbethon was a city assigned to the tribe of Dan. It was originally a city of the Philistines but was captured by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua (Joshua 19:43). Gibbethon is mentioned in other parts of the Bible, particularly in relation to the divided kingdom of Israel, as it became one of the cities of the tribe of Dan during the reign of King Baasha (1 Kings 15:27; 16:15-18).
Baalath: Baalath was a city allocated to the tribe of Dan, but it is unclear where exactly it was located. There are different opinions regarding its precise location, and the name “Baalath” is associated with various places in different regions. It may have been a different city from the Baalath mentioned elsewhere in the Bible (1 Kings 9:18; 2 Chronicles 8:6).
This verse is primarily focused on listing these cities within the assigned territories of the tribes of Judah and Dan. The book of Joshua emphasizes the fulfillment of God’s promise to give the land of Canaan to the Israelites, with specific divisions and inheritances for each tribe. These divisions were made to ensure that each tribe received its designated portion of land.
Overall, Joshua 19:44 is a small part of the larger narrative in the book of Joshua, highlighting the division of land among the tribes of Israel as they settled in the Promised Land.
