Joshua 19:37 - Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor,

Generated Verse: Joshua 19:37

What does "Joshua 19:37" mean?


Joshua 19:37 lists cities that were allotted to the tribe of Naphtali in the division of the land of Canaan. "Kedesh, Edrei, En Hazor" are simply three of those cities named in that verse. Let's break them down individually, keeping in mind that our knowledge of their precise locations and identities is sometimes debated:

Kedesh: Kedesh was a significant city. There were several places named Kedesh, but the one referred to here is generally identified as Kedesh in Galilee. It was designated as a city of refuge (Joshua 20:7) and a Levitical city (Joshua 21:32). It held strategic importance throughout various periods of Israelite history. In 2 Kings 15:29, Tiglath-Pileser III of Assyria captured Kedesh.

Edrei: There are two Edrei mentioned in the Bible. One is in Bashan, associated with King Og, and conquered by the Israelites (Numbers 21:33-35). The Edrei mentioned in Joshua 19:37 is a different, less prominent city within the territory of Naphtali. Its exact location is uncertain, but it would have been within the tribal boundaries.

En Hazor: "En" means "spring" or "fountain." En Hazor thus means "Spring of Hazor" or "Fountain of Hazor." This suggests a location near the larger and more significant city of Hazor, known for its strategic importance.

In short, the verse identifies the locations of three specific cities that were within the territory given to the tribe of Naphtali. The verse itself does not offer any explicit symbolic meaning beyond its geographical significance in defining tribal boundaries within the land of Canaan.

Some scholars might also explore the potential etymological meanings of the names (Kedesh=holy place, Edrei=stronghold, En Hazor=spring/fountain of the enclosure) and attempt to derive a deeper symbolic meaning. However, this would involve a more speculative interpretation beyond the straightforward geographical context.

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