It proceeded to AzmonAzmon is a location mentioned in the context of defining the southern border of the tribe of Judah. It is believed to be situated in the Negev region, which is a desert area in southern Israel. The exact location of Azmon is not definitively known today, but it is thought to be near the modern-day border between Israel and Egypt. This area was significant as it marked the boundary of the Promised Land given to the Israelites. The mention of Azmon highlights the importance of clearly defined borders in the ancient world, which were crucial for maintaining tribal territories and ensuring peace among neighboring peoples.
joined the Brook of Egypt
The "Brook of Egypt" is traditionally identified with the Wadi El-Arish, a seasonal riverbed that flows into the Mediterranean Sea. This brook served as a natural boundary between the land of Canaan and Egypt. In biblical times, it was a significant geographical marker that delineated the extent of the land promised to the Israelites. The use of natural features like rivers and brooks for borders was common in ancient times, providing clear and recognizable boundaries. This brook is also mentioned in other biblical passages, such asNumbers 34:5 and1 Kings 8:65, reinforcing its role as a significant border marker.
and ended at the Sea
The "Sea" referred to here is the Mediterranean Sea, which formed the western boundary of the land allotted to the tribe of Judah. The Mediterranean Sea was a crucial feature for trade and travel in the ancient world, providing access to other cultures and economies. For the Israelites, having a border that reached the sea symbolized the fulfillment of God's promise to give them a land "flowing with milk and honey" (Exodus 3:8). The sea also served as a natural defense against potential invaders from the west.
This was their southern border
The southern border of Judah was significant not only for its geographical implications but also for its theological symbolism. It represented the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to give their descendants a specific land. The delineation of borders was essential for maintaining the identity and unity of the Israelite tribes. This border also served as a reminder of God's faithfulness and the importance of obedience to His commands in order to maintain the blessings of the land. The southern border, along with the other borders of the Promised Land, is a testament to God's provision and the establishment of His people in a land of their own.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
AzmonA location marking part of the southern boundary of the land allotted to the tribe of Judah. Its exact location is not definitively known today, but it is significant as a boundary marker.
2.
Brook of EgyptOften identified with the Wadi El-Arish, this brook served as a natural boundary between the land of Canaan and Egypt. It is a significant geographical feature in the delineation of the Promised Land.
3.
The SeaRefers to the Mediterranean Sea, which formed the western boundary of the land allotted to the tribe of Judah. It is a major geographical landmark in the region.
4.
Southern BorderThe southern boundary of the land allotted to the tribe of Judah, which is being described in this passage. It is part of the larger division of the Promised Land among the tribes of Israel.
Teaching Points
God's Faithfulness in PromisesThe detailed description of the land's boundaries in
Joshua 15:4 is a testament to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the patriarchs. Believers can trust that God will fulfill His promises in their lives as well.
Importance of BoundariesJust as physical boundaries were important for the tribes of Israel, spiritual and moral boundaries are essential for believers today. Setting and respecting boundaries can lead to a more disciplined and fruitful Christian life.
Historical and Spiritual HeritageUnderstanding the historical context of the land of Israel helps believers appreciate their spiritual heritage. It reminds us of the continuity of God's plan from the Old Testament to the New Testament.
God's Sovereignty Over NationsThe delineation of borders in the Bible reflects God's sovereignty over nations and history. Believers can find comfort in knowing that God is in control of world events and personal circumstances.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of Joshua 15:4?
2.How does Joshua 15:4 illustrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises?
3.What boundaries in Joshua 15:4 teach us about God's order and structure?
4.How can we apply the concept of boundaries from Joshua 15:4 today?
5.What connections exist between Joshua 15:4 and God's covenant with Abraham?
6.How does understanding Joshua 15:4 enhance our view of God's sovereignty?
7.How does Joshua 15:4 fit into the historical context of ancient Israel's boundaries?
8.What archaeological evidence supports the locations mentioned in Joshua 15:4?
9.Why are specific geographic boundaries important in Joshua 15:4?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 15?
11.Who were the Galileans in the Bible?
12.Do the territorial descriptions in Joshua 15:1-12 conflict with other biblical texts or known ancient boundaries, suggesting an editorial or historical inconsistency?
13.If Psalm 47:4 says God chooses Israel's inheritance, why do other Bible passages suggest different territorial boundaries and covenants?
14.Do any historical records or archaeological findings corroborate the gathering of 4,000 people near the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 15:32-38)?What Does Joshua 15:4 Mean
It proceeded to AzmonThe pronoun “it” points back to the boundary line God assigned Judah. Azmon lay in the arid southwest, beyond Kadesh-barnea, close to the wilderness of Zin. By naming the spot, Scripture fixes the line in real geography, just asNumbers 34:4-5 records: “the border will turn from Azmon to the Brook of Egypt.” The land promise inGenesis 15:18 (“To your offspring I have given this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates”) is beginning to look concrete and measurable. God is not speaking in abstractions; He is drawing a map His people can walk.
joined the Brook of EgyptFrom Azmon the border “joined the Brook of Egypt.” This seasonal wadi, often identified with today’s Wadi el-Arish, marked the spot where Canaan ended and Egypt began (see1 Kings 8:65;2 Kings 24:7;Isaiah 27:12). In other words, Judah’s allotment stretched right up to the threshold of the great empire that had once enslaved them. The precise wording underscores two truths:
• God grants borders that protect His people.
• God sets limits that keep them distinct from surrounding nations.
and ended at the SeaThe line reaches “the Sea,” the Mediterranean.Joshua 15:12 later calls it “the Great Sea.” Once the boundary touched water, the point was fixed and unmistakable.Exodus 23:31 had forecast this coast-to-coast promise: “I will set your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines.” The western shoreline provided Judah with trade, food, and a constant reminder of God’s vast provision.
This was their southern borderWith one concise sentence, Scripture wraps up the southern line. Nothing is left to negotiation or guesswork.
• The tribe of Judah receives a tangible inheritance (Joshua 14:1-2).
• Every boundary stone proclaims God’s faithfulness (Deuteronomy 34:4).
• Clear limits help prevent tribal disputes (Joshua 18:5;Ezekiel 47:19).
Because the line is God-drawn, respecting it becomes an act of worship and obedience.
summaryJoshua 15:4 traces Judah’s southern edge from the desert station of Azmon, along the Brook of Egypt, to the Mediterranean Sea. The verse testifies that God keeps His covenant in detailed, geographic reality, providing His people with secure borders and a heritage they can stand on.
(4)
This shall be your south coast.--This phrase does not seem to fit in with the language of the rest of the passage. But it is extremely like a reminiscence of the language of Moses in
Numbers 34:3;
Numbers 34:6;
Numbers 34:9;
Numbers 34:12. "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth" was the instruction to Joshua, and in describing the border of Judah, he is really describing also the southern border of all Israel; and he does it throughout in language very like that of Moses in Numbers 34. But Moses wrote it in the second person and in the future tense throughout; Joshua wrote it in the third person and in the past tense, with this one exception, in which he seems to have unconsciously adopted the phraseology of the lawgiver instead of the historian.
Verse 4. -
The river of Egypt (see above,
Joshua 13:3). "Westward, as far as Egypt, there is a sandy, salt, barren, unfruitful, and uninhabitable waste" (Knobel). The land, he adds, is better near Gaza, but near the sea it is still pure waste.
And the goings out of that coast were at the sea. The word coast, derived through the French from the Latin
costa, signifies, like it, a
side. It is now used only of the border formed by the sea, but at an earlier period it had a wider signification. The Hebrew word is translated "border" in ver. 1. The meaning is that the boundary line of Judah ran as far as the sea.
This shall be your south coast. Or,
this shall be to you the southern boundary. The historian here quotes the directions given to Moses in
Numbers 34, with the evident intention of pointing out that the south border of the children of Israel coincided with that of the tribe of Judah.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
It proceededוְעָבַ֣ר(wə·‘ā·ḇar)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5674:To pass over, through, or by, pass onto Azmon,עַצְמ֗וֹנָה(‘aṣ·mō·w·nāh)Noun - proper - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 6111:Azmon -- a place on the southern border of Canaanjoined the Brookנַ֣חַל(na·ḥal)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5158:A stream, a winter torrent, a, valley, a shaftof Egypt,מִצְרַ֔יִם(miṣ·ra·yim)Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714:Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africaand endedתֹּצְא֥וֹת(tō·ṣə·’ō·wṯ)Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 8444:An outgoing, extremity, perhaps source, escapeat the Sea.יָ֑מָּה(yām·māh)Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3220:A sea, the Mediterranean Sea, large river, an artifical basinThisזֶה־(zeh-)Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088:This, thatwasיִהְיֶ֥ה(yih·yeh)Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961:To fall out, come to pass, become, betheirלָכֶ֖ם(lā·ḵem)Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's Hebrewsouthernנֶֽגֶב׃(ne·ḡeḇ)Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5045:South country, the Negeb, southborder.גְּב֥וּל(gə·ḇūl)Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1366:A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed
Links
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OT History: Joshua 15:4 And it passed along to Azmon went (Josh. Jos) 
