Joshua 15:2
in Joshua 15Their southern border started at the bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea,
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looketh southward;
KJV
And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:
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This verse in Joshua 15
Commentary
6 notes on this verseAnd their south border was from the shore of the salt sea,.... Sometimes called the dead sea, the sea of Sodom, and the lake Asphaltites, which, as Jarchi observes, was southeast of the land of Israel: from the bay that looketh southward; or the "tongue", as the Hebrew, which the Targum and Kimchi interpret of a rock or promontory, the point that ran out into the sea, looking to the southeast.
This site's exposition
the allotment for the clans of the tribe of Judah
on Joshua 15:1-12
Judah is given first and given most, before the tabernacle tribe and before Joseph, which matches the scepter of Genesis 49:10 rather than birth order. The lot is literal, as Numbers 26:55 and Joshua 14:2 both say, so nobody could steer these borders.
This site's exposition
bay on the southern tip of the Salt Sea
The south line starts where Numbers 34:3 said the border of the whole land would start, at the end of the Salt Sea. Gill notes the Hebrew calls the bay a tongue, which the Targum and Kimchi read as a point of rock running out into the water.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
Our Lord therefore, who sprang out of Judah, and whose the kingdom is, shall judge the mount of Esau, Obad. The northern border divided it from the lot of Benjamin. In this, mention is made of the stone of Bohan a Reubenite (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
That although exact survey of this land was not taken 'till chap. xviii, 4, 5, yet there was, and must needs be a general description of it, and a division thereof into nine parts and an half; which, as far as they could guess, were equal either in quantity or quality.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
From the bay that looketh southward - These were the southern limits of the tribe of Judah, which commenced at the extremity of the lake Asphaltites or Dead Sea, and terminated at Sihor or the river of Egypt, and Mediterranean Sea; though some think it extended to the Nile.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיְהִ֤י | vayhi | and it was | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לָהֶם֙ | lahem | to <the> them | ||
| גְּב֣וּל | gevul | border of | H1366 → | 240 times |
| נֶ֔גֶב | negev | [the] south | H5045 → | 112 times |
| מִקְצֵ֖ה | miktzeh | from [the] end of | H7097 → | 97 times |
| יָ֣ם | yam | [the] Sea of | H3220 → | 396 times |
| הַמֶּ֑לַח | hamelach | <the> Salt | H4417 → | 27 times |
| מִן־ | min- | from | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן | halashon | the bay | H3956 → | 117 times |
| הַפֹּנֶ֥ה | haponeh | which faces | H6437 → | 135 times |
| נֶֽגְבָּה׃ | negbah | [the] south towards | H5045 → | 112 times |
וַיְהִ֤יand it was
vayhiH1961 →3559 times
לָהֶם֙to <the> them
lahem
גְּב֣וּלborder of
gevulH1366 →240 times
נֶ֔גֶב[the] south
negevH5045 →112 times
מִקְצֵ֖הfrom [the] end of
miktzehH7097 →97 times
יָ֣ם[the] Sea of
yamH3220 →396 times
הַמֶּ֑לַח<the> Salt
hamelachH4417 →27 times
מִן־from
min-H4480 →1188 times
הַלָּשֹׁ֖ןthe bay
halashonH3956 →117 times
הַפֹּנֶ֥הwhich faces
haponehH6437 →135 times
נֶֽגְבָּה׃[the] south towards
negbahH5045 →112 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Ezekiel 47:8And he said to me, “This water flows out to the eastern region and goes down into the Arabah. When it empties into the Sea, the water there becomes fresh.
it leads to
- Joshua 3:16
the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Deuteronomy 3:17
The Jordan River in the Arabah bordered it from Chinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) with the slopes of Pisgah to the east.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Isaiah 44:3–5
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring.
- Joshua 3:16
Through
Isaiah 11:15The LORD will devote to destruction the gulf of the Sea of Egypt; with a scorching wind He will sweep His hand over the Euphrates. He will split it into seven streams for men…
it leads to
- Zechariah 10:11
They will pass through the sea of distress and strike the waves of the sea; all the depths of the Nile will dry up. The pride of Assyria will be brought down, and the…
- Revelation 16:12
And the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings of the East.
- Isaiah 50:2
Why was no one there when I arrived? Why did no one answer when I called? Is My hand too short to redeem you? Or do I lack the strength to deliver you? Behold,…
- Zechariah 10:11
Through
Joshua 3:16the flowing water stood still. It backed up as far upstream as Adam, a city in the area of Zarethan, while the water flowing toward the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea) was…
it leads to
- Joshua 3:13
When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD—the Lord of all the earth—touch down in the waters of the Jordan, its flowing waters will be cut off and will…
- Joshua 3:13
Through
Genesis 14:3The latter five came as allies to the Valley of Siddim (that is, the Salt Sea).
it leads to
- Numbers 34:12
Then the border will go down along the Jordan and end at the Salt Sea. This will be your land, defined by its borders on all sides.”
- Numbers 34:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies9
On this verse
On this chapter
About Joshua
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and The Berean Standard Bible, Joshua 15, with the verses cited in the note.