Joshua 15:23
New International Version
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

New Living Translation
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

English Standard Version
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

Berean Standard Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

Berean Literal Bible
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

King James Bible
And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

New King James Version
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

New American Standard Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, and Ithnan,

NASB 1995
and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,

NASB 1977
and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,

Legacy Standard Bible
and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,

Amplified Bible
and Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,

Berean Annotated Bible
Kedesh (holy place), Hazor (castle), Ithnan (hire),

Christian Standard Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

American Standard Version
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

English Revised Version
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

Good News Translation
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

International Standard Version
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

NET Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

New Heart English Bible
and Kedesh, and Hazor Ithnan,

Webster's Bible Translation
And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
Majority Text Translations
Majority Standard Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

World English Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

Berean Literal Bible
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

Young's Literal Translation
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Kedesh and Hazor and Ithnan,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Cades and Asor and Jethnam,

Catholic Public Domain Version
and Kadesh and Hazor and Ithnan,

New American Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, and Ithnan;

New Revised Standard Version
Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Kedesh, Hazor, Nathnin,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Qadesh and Khatsur and Nathnin
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
and Cades, and Asorionain, and Maenam,

Additional Translations ...



Context
The Cities of Judah
22Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, 23Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, 24Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,…

Cross References
Kedesh,

Joshua 20:7
So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

Judges 4:6
She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Surely the LORD, the God of Israel, is commanding you: ‘Go and march to Mount Tabor, taking with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun.

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

Joshua 11:1
Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon; to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph;

Judges 4:2
So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his forces was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth-hagoyim.

1 Kings 9:15
This is the account of the forced labor that King Solomon imposed to build the house of the LORD, his own palace, the supporting terraces, and the wall of Jerusalem, as well as Hazor, Megiddo, and Gezer.
Ithnan,

1 Chronicles 4:28-33
They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, / Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, / Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, …

Joshua 19:1-9
The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe of Simeon: Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah / and included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah, / Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem, …

Nehemiah 11:25-30
As for the villages with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, and their villages; / in Jeshua, Moladah, and Beth-pelet; / in Hazar-shual; in Beersheba and its villages; …
Numbers 34:2-12
“Command the Israelites and say to them: When you enter the land of Canaan, it will be allotted to you as an inheritance with these boundaries: / Your southern border will extend from the Wilderness of Zin along the border of Edom. On the east, your southern border will run from the end of the Salt Sea, / cross south of the Ascent of Akrabbim, continue to Zin, and go south of Kadesh-barnea. Then it will go on to Hazar-addar and proceed to Azmon, …

Deuteronomy 19:8-9
And if the LORD your God enlarges your territory, as He swore to your fathers, and gives you all the land He promised them, / and if you carefully keep all these commandments I am giving you today, loving the LORD your God and walking in His ways at all times, then you are to add three more cities to these three.

Judges 1:1-2
After the death of Joshua, the Israelites inquired of the LORD, “Who will be the first to go up and fight for us against the Canaanites?” / “Judah shall go up,” answered the LORD. “Indeed, I have delivered the land into their hands.”

1 Kings 4:7-19
Solomon had twelve governors over all Israel to provide food for the king and his household. Each one would arrange provisions for one month of the year, / and these were their names: Ben-hur in the hill country of Ephraim; / Ben-deker in Makaz, in Shaalbim, in Beth-shemesh, and in Elon-beth-hanan; …

Ezekiel 47:13-23
This is what the Lord GOD says: “These are the boundaries by which you are to divide the land as an inheritance among the twelve tribes of Israel; Joseph shall receive two portions. / You are to divide it equally among them. Because I swore with an uplifted hand to give it to your forefathers, this land will fall to you as an inheritance. / This shall be the boundary of the land: On the north side it will extend from the Great Sea by way of Hethlon through Lebo-hamath to Zedad, …

Genesis 15:18-21
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your descendants I have given this land—from the river of Egypt to the great River Euphrates— / the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, / Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, …

Exodus 23:31
And I will establish your borders from the Red Sea to the Sea of the Philistines, and from the desert to the Euphrates. For I will deliver the inhabitants into your hand, and you will drive them out before you.


Treasury of Scripture

And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

Kedesh

Joshua 12:22
The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;

Numbers 33:37
And they removed from Kadesh, and pitched in mount Hor, in the edge of the land of Edom.

Deuteronomy 1:19
And when we departed from Horeb, we went through all that great and terrible wilderness, which ye saw by the way of the mountain of the Amorites, as the LORD our God commanded us; and we came to Kadeshbarnea.

Hazor the LXX.

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Hazor Kedesh
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Hazor Kedesh
Joshua 15
1. The borders of the lot of Judah
13. Caleb's portion and conquest
16. Othniel, for his valour, marries Achsah, Caleb's daughter
18. She obtains a blessing of her father
21. The cities of Judah
63. The Jebusites unconquered












Kedesh,

Kedesh, meaning “holy” or “sacred,” was a town in the southern territory of Judah. Its precise location is unknown, and it should be distinguished from the better-known Kedesh in Naphtali. Its inclusion in Joshua’s list records part of Judah’s settled inheritance.

Jos 20:7 So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country…
Jdg 4:6 She summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali…
Jos 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,

Hazor,

Hazor was another city in Judah’s Negev region, distinct from the prominent northern Hazor. Its name means “enclosure” or “fortress,” suggesting it may have been a fortified settlement. It likely served as one of the smaller settlements within Judah’s southern holdings.

Jos 11:1 Now when Jabin king of Hazor heard about these things…
Jdg 4:2 So the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan…
1Ki 9:15 This is the account of the forced labor…

Ithnan,

Ithnan is otherwise unknown in Scripture and has not been securely identified. Its place in the list reflects the careful record of the towns assigned to Judah.

1Ch 4:28-33 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual,…
Jos 19:1-9 The second lot came out for the clans of the tribe…
Neh 11:25-30 As for the villages with their fields, some of the people…

Persons / Places / Events
1. Kedesh
A city located in the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. The name "Kedesh" means "holy" or "sacred" in Hebrew, indicating its possible significance as a place of worship or sanctuary.

2. Hazor
Another city within the boundaries of Judah. Not to be confused with the more famous Hazor in the north, this Hazor is part of the southern hill country. The name "Hazor" means "enclosure" or "village."

3. Ithnan
A lesser-known city in the list of towns within Judah's inheritance. The meaning of "Ithnan" is not entirely clear, but it is part of the detailed territorial description given to the tribe of Judah.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Inheritance
The detailed listing of cities in Joshua 15 highlights the importance of inheritance and God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises to the tribes of Israel. Believers today can trust in God's promises and His provision for their lives.

Significance of Names
The names of the cities, such as Kedesh meaning "holy," remind us of the importance of holiness and dedication to God in our own lives. We are called to be set apart for His purposes.

God's Sovereignty in Details
The meticulous recording of territories and cities shows God's sovereignty and attention to detail. This encourages us to trust that God is involved in the details of our lives and has a plan for each of us.

Community and Belonging
The allocation of land to the tribes of Israel emphasizes the importance of community and belonging. As believers, we are part of a spiritual community and have a place in God's family.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1. What is the meaning of Joshua 15:23?

2. How does Joshua 15:23 demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises?

3. What can we learn about God's plan from the cities listed in Joshua 15:23?

4. How does Joshua 15:23 connect to God's covenant with Abraham in Genesis 15?

5. How can understanding Joshua 15:23 strengthen our trust in God's promises today?

6. What practical steps can we take to remember God's faithfulness as seen in Joshua 15:23?

7. What is the historical significance of the locations mentioned in Joshua 15:23?

8. How do archaeologists verify the existence of the cities listed in Joshua 15:23?

9. Why are specific cities named in Joshua 15:23 important to biblical history?

10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 15?


Joshua 15:23 may seem like a simple roll call of three towns, yet it stands as a threefold witness to the Lord’s unfailing faithfulness. Kedesh highlights the precision of fulfilled promise, Hazor showcases God’s comprehensive victory and personal care, and Ithnan reminds us that even the smallest allotment is eternally secure. In every name, the text shouts that God keeps His word down to the last detail—and invites us to rest confidently in that same faithfulness today.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Kedesh,
וְקֶ֥דֶשׁ (wə·qe·ḏeš)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 6943: Kedesh -- 'sanctuary', the name of several places in Israel

Hazor,
וְחָצ֖וֹר (wə·ḥā·ṣō·wr)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 2674: Hazor -- the name of several places in Palestine, also one in Arabia

Ithnan,
וְיִתְנָֽן׃ (wə·yiṯ·nān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 3497: Ithnan -- a city in the desert of Judah


Additonal Resources
Joshua 15:23 Blue Letter Bible
Joshua 15:23 Bible Gateway
Joshua 15:23 Bible.com

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Joshua 15:23 Study Bible
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OT History: Joshua 15:23 Kedesh Hazor Ithnan (Josh. Jos)

Joshua 15:22
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