The lot of the tribe of Judah: its border traced from the wilderness of Zin to the great sea; Caleb drives out the three sons of Anak, Achsah asks of her father the springs of water; the roll of Judah's cities.
Tap any Hebrew word to reveal its root, value, and meanings.
And the lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was to the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south.
verse value 2653
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "son" (בְּנֵ֥י, 3 letters) and the longest is "by·their·clans" (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "wilderness·of·Zin" (מִדְבַּר־צִ֛ן), "south" (תֵימָֽן). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "to·border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'by·their·clans', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 6 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֣י [and·it·was] (31) + הַגּוֹרָ֗ל [lot] (244) + לְמַטֵּ֛ה [to·tribe·of] (84) + בְּנֵ֥י [son] (62) + יְהוּדָ֖ה [Judah] (30) + לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑ם [by·their·clans] (898) + אֶל־גְּב֨וּל [to·border] (72) + אֱד֧וֹם [Edom] (51) + מִדְבַּר־צִ֛ן [wilderness·of·Zin] (386) + נֶ֖גְבָּה [south-country] (60) + מִקְצֵ֥ה [from·end·of] (235) + תֵימָֽן [south] (500) = 2653.
Rashi
Even unto the border of Edom. Near the border of Edom.
Toward the south. In the southern border of the Land of Israel.
Even unto the uttermost part of the south. At the end of the entire border.
Radak
"Nagbah [Southward]." At the edge of the south, the Wilderness of Zin was on the southern side; not the entirety of the southern border, but only from its southern extremity.
"From the tongue." The tongue of the sea, and Jonathan translated it as "the rock that faces south," meaning: a tongue of rock.
Metzudat David
"According to their families." What is meant by "according to their families"? It is possible that they allotted a separate portion to each and every family, and they were not mixed together with one another.
"Unto the border of Edom." To the portion that lies at the border of Edom, which stood in the south of the Land of Israel.
“From the wilderness of Zin, southward.” He means to say that the wilderness of Zin was at the southern border of Judah, and then he explains further, “from the end of Teman.” He means to say that the wilderness of Zin did not extend along the entire length of the southern border, but rather it was located at the end of Teman, and from there the southern border began.
Metzudat Zion
גְּבוּל (gevul, the border). A boundary and limit.
And their south border was from the uttermost part of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looked southward.
verse value 1245
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 38 letters. The shortest word is "sea" (יָ֣ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "from·the·tongue" (מִן־הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "from·the·tongue" (מִן־הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן), "that·turns" (הַפֹּנֶ֥ה). The root נגב appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "to·them" (root הם, 63x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'salt', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיְהִ֤י [and·it·was] (31) + לָהֶם֙ [to·them] (75) + גְּב֣וּל [border] (41) + נֶ֔גֶב [south-country] (55) + מִקְצֵ֖ה [from·end·of] (235) + יָ֣ם [sea] (50) + הַמֶּ֑לַח [salt] (83) + מִן־הַלָּשֹׁ֖ן [from·the·tongue] (475) + הַפֹּנֶ֥ה [that·turns] (140) + נֶֽגְבָּה [south-country] (60) = 1245.
Rashi
And it was their border. The southern border of Judah.
From the uttermost part of the Salt Sea. It is the southeastern corner of the Land of Israel in Eleh Ha-Massei (Numbers 34:3).
From the bay. Of the sea.
Metzudat David
"The border of the Negev" – from the southern extremity, from east to west:
From the end of the Salt Sea, which stood to the east of the Land of Israel, and from there the wilderness of Zin began:
"From the tongue." Of that sea:
Metzudat Zion
הַלָּשׁוֹן (ha-lashon, the promontory). The head of the sea extended like a tongue.
And it went out southward of the ascent of Akrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and went up by the south of Kadesh-barnea, and passed along by Hezron, and went up to Addar, and turned about to Karka.
verse value 3766
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 71 letters. The shortest word is "Zin" (צִ֔נָה, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·south-country" (אֶל־מִנֶּ֜גֶב, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 278: and·passed, and·passed. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "to·south-country" (אֶל־מִנֶּ֜גֶב), "Akrabbim" (עַקְרַבִּים֙), "Zin" (צִ֔נָה). The root עבר appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·south-country" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "and·passed" (root עבר, 82x in Joshua); "and·rise" (root עלה, 60x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Kadesh-barnea', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Rashi
And went out southward to the Ascent of Akrabbim. And it does not say 've-yatsa ve-nasav ve-ta'er' (and it went out and it turned and it was marked out), except in a place where the boundary line protrudes outward or draws in to the inside and is not going straight. And here it protrudes outward and comes southward of the Ascent of Akrabbim, to the south of the Ascent of Akrabbim. And it turns out that the Ascent of Akrabbim is within the line, and it passed and came to the west.
Tsinnah (Zin). To Zin, and every word that requires a lamed at its beginning placed a heh at its end.
And went up. All that goes up from the east, toward Jerusalem it goes up. And from Jerusalem and onward it descends. Here we learned that Jerusalem is higher than all the Land of Israel. And Jerusalem is not mentioned in this border, for it was in the northern border of Judah, as stated in the matter.
And went up southward to Kadesh-barnea. The line goes to the south of Kadesh-barnea. And it turns out that Kadesh is within the line.
And passed along to Hezron. Toward the west it counts and goes on, until and their uttermost goings-out were the sea.
Radak
"Al Mingeib" – to the place that was south of the Ascent of Akrabbim.
Metzudat David
"And it went out." That boundary went out outward to expand further, and came to the place that was to the south of the Ascent of Akrabbim. If so, the Ascent of Akrabbim was within the boundary and counted to Judah. (Whenever it is written "and it went out," it means that the measuring cord went out outward, and that inheritance expanded, and in that width it went from there onward. And whenever it is written "and it turned" or "and it curved," it means that the measuring cord circled only that place, and after that the measuring cord returned to the original width, or when one side ended and it circled to another side. And whenever it is written "the extremities," it either means that there the boundary ended completely, or it means that there the original width ended, for from there onward the inheritance became narrower, as will be seen in the diagram.) "And passed over to Zin." From there the boundary passed over to Zin, for the final Heh in its name stands in place of the initial Lamed. (Whenever it is written "and it passed over," it means in a straight and level place. And whenever it is written "and it went up," it means that it went up the ascent of a mountain. And whenever it is written "and it went down," it means that it went down the descent of a mountain.) Southward to Kadesh-barnea. And it was therefore from the inheritance of the children of Judah.
Malbim
And it went out. (As it is stated): [In every place] where it is written "and it went out," the measuring cord went out and deviated from the straight line to the side, either inward or outward. And in every place where it is written "and it turned," it turned around two sides, like the shape of the letter dalet. And in every place where it is written "and it circumscribed," it circumscribed a certain place on three sides and returned to the straight line as at the beginning. Now, it is written here, "and it went out toward the south, above Akrabbim," and in the portion of the journeys (Numbers 34:4) it is written, "and your border shall turn from the south above Akrabbim." For Akrabbim was not directly opposite the sea, but rather extended toward the south; and the cord went out from east to west diagonally toward the south, and from this aspect it says here "and it went out." And from the aspect that there it was a corner and an angle, encompassed by two sides, it is appropriate to say "and it turned."
"And he went up from the Negev to Kadesh Barnea." And in the parashah of Masei (Numbers 34:4), it says, "and its outgoings shall be from the Negev to Kadesh Barnea." The general rule is that wherever it says "and its outgoings," it indicates either that the constriction ended there, or that the deviation ended there. This means that up to this place, the boundary line had deviated from the straight line, and now it returned to its straight course. Since it previously stated, "and he went out toward the Negev, above Akrabbim," the line had deviated, for this is the meaning of the term "went out" (yatsa). In this deviation, it passed beyond Tzin until Kadesh Barnea, and there the deviation ceased. Therefore, it says, "and its outgoings." Hence, the Torah states (Numbers 34:4), "and it went out to Hazar Addar," because from Kadesh the line deviated inward, and at Hazar Addar it reached the straight line. Here, the text is concise and relies on what was stated in the Torah.
And it passed along to Azmon, and went out at the Brook of Egypt; and the goings out of the border were at the sea; this shall be your south border.
verse value 2393
Insights
Verse structure: 14 words, 59 letters. Notable word values: "and·were" ((והיה)) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "torrent" (נַ֣חַל, 3 letters) and the longest is "Azmon" (עַצְמ֗וֹנָה, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 55: sea, south-country. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Azmon" (עַצְמ֗וֹנָה), "this·shall·be" (זֶה־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה). The root היה appears 3 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·were" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "and·passed" (root עבר, 82x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'sea', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 4 words. Full calculation: וְעָבַ֣ר [and·passed] (278) + עַצְמ֗וֹנָה [Azmon] (261) + וְיָצָא֙ [and·he·went·out] (107) + נַ֣חַל [torrent] (88) + מִצְרַ֔יִם [Egypt] (380) + (והיה) [and·were] (26) + וְהָי֛וּ [and·they·shall·be] (27) + תֹּצְא֥וֹת [limits·of] (897) + הַגְּב֖וּל [border] (46) + יָ֑מָּה [sea] (55) + זֶה־יִֽהְיֶ֥ה [this·shall·be] (42) + לָכֶ֖ם [to·you] (90) + גְּב֥וּל [border] (41) + נֶֽגֶב [south-country] (55) = 2393.
Rashi
Their uttermost goings-out thereof were the sea. The end of the border to the Great Sea, which is the western border for all the Land of Israel. And it turns out that Judah's border holds the entire length of the Land of Israel from east to west, and it stands in the south of the Land of Israel.
Radak
"This shall be your southern border." It should have said, "this shall be their southern border" [in the third person], since the entire section is a narration of events. But it is possible that the meaning is that the border shall indeed be theirs, just as it is stated in the Torah: "This shall be your southern border."
Metzudat David
"The extremities of the boundary." The end of the boundary reaches the Great Sea, thus it is found that the boundary of Judah held the entire length of the Land of Israel from east to west.
"This shall be for you." This means that this boundary shall serve as the boundary for all of Israel, the southern border from east to west, as it is stated:
Malbim
"And the Wadi of Egypt went out." And in the parashah of Masei (Numbers 34:5) it is written, "and it turned," and this is as was stated above: since it deviated from its course inward, and the wadi circled around to the sea, which was on the inside, here it says "went out" in the sense of the point of meeting, and there it says "turned" in the sense of returning in a circle and being at the corner.
And the east border was the Salt Sea, even to the end of the Jordan. And the border of the north side was from the bay of the sea at the end of the Jordan.
verse value 2641
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "sea" (יָ֣ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·border" (וּגְב֥וּל, 5 letters). Words sharing gematria 269: until·end, Jordan, Jordan. 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "from·tongue·of" (מִלְּשׁ֣וֹן). The root גבול appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "Jordan" (root ירדן, 70x in Joshua); "sea" (root ים, 40x in Joshua). First appearance of the root פאה ("to·side·of") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jordan', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 7 words. Full calculation: וּגְב֥וּל [and·border] (47) + קֵ֙דְמָה֙ [eastward] (149) + יָ֣ם [sea] (50) + הַמֶּ֔לַח [salt] (83) + עַד־קְצֵ֖ה [until·end] (269) + הַיַּרְדֵּ֑ן [Jordan] (269) + וּגְב֞וּל [and·border] (47) + לִפְאַ֤ת [to·side·of] (511) + צָפ֙וֹנָה֙ [north] (231) + מִלְּשׁ֣וֹן [from·tongue·of] (426) + הַיָּ֔ם [sea] (55) + מִקְצֵ֖ה [from·end·of] (235) + הַיַּרְדֵּֽן [Jordan] (269) = 2641.
Rashi
And the border on the east side. The line stretched to the eastern border of Judah.
The Salt Sea. Which is the southeastern corner of the land, in Eleh Masei (there).
Even to the mouth of the Jordan. The width of Judah's border is not except opposite the Salt Sea, even to the place where the Jordan falls into the Salt Sea, for the Jordan too is in the eastern border of the Land of Canaan, as it is said in Eleh Ha-Massei in the eastern border (there 34:12): and the border shall go down the Jordan, and their uttermost goings-out shall be the Salt Sea, which is in the corner.
And the border on the north side. The line of the border stretched to the north from east to west, from the tongue of the Salt Sea, from the place where the Jordan falls into it, as we said that there the width of the eastern border ends and it went up to the west side, Beth-hoglah, and the line passed north of Beth-arabah, and it turns out that Beth-arabah is within Judah's border, within the line.
Metzudat David
"And the eastern boundary." From the south toward the north:
"The Salt Sea." The entire length of the sea constituted the boundary, and its entire breadth, too, belonged to his (Judah's) inheritance.
"Until the end of the Jordan." Its southern end that falls into the sea (but from there the Jordan went along the southern border toward the west and fell into the Great Sea, as our Sages of blessed memory stated (Bekhorot 55a), and this clarifies what is written (Genesis 13:11): "And Lot journeyed from the east," for he turned westward, toward the plain of the Jordan which faces west; and this also clarifies what is written (Genesis 50:10): "And they came... to the other side of the Jordan." And the intent is: to the other side of the Jordan that faces west, for they had no need to travel by way of the eastern other side of the Jordan):
"And the border toward the north: from the east toward the west:"
"From the tongue of the sea." The one facing north, and it is the end of the Jordan that faces south.
Metzudat Zion
לִפְאַת (lif'at, to the side of). To the side and direction.
And the border went up to Beth-hoglah, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
verse value 2461
Insights
Verse structure: 13 words, 56 letters. The shortest word is "house·of" (בֵּ֣ית, 3 letters) and the longest is "son·of·Reuben" (בֶּן־רְאוּבֵֽן, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 111: and·rise, and·rise. The root עלה appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "and·passed" (root עבר, 82x in Joshua); "house·of" (root בית, 65x in Joshua). First appearance of the root חגלה ("Hoglah") in Joshua. First appearance of the root הערבה ("Arabah") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Arabah', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 5 words. Full calculation: וְעָלָ֤ה [and·rise] (111) + הַגְּבוּל֙ [border] (46) + בֵּ֣ית [house·of] (412) + חׇגְלָ֔ה [Hoglah] (46) + וְעָבַ֕ר [and·passed] (278) + מִצְּפ֖וֹן [north] (266) + לְבֵ֣ית [to·the·house·of] (442) + הָעֲרָבָ֑ה [Arabah] (282) + וְעָלָ֣ה [and·rise] (111) + הַגְּב֔וּל [border] (46) + אֶ֥בֶן [stone] (53) + בֹּ֖הַן [Bohan] (57) + בֶּן־רְאוּבֵֽן [son·of·Reuben] (311) = 2461.
Rashi
And the border went up, etc., the stone of Bohan. All that goes until Jerusalem goes up.
Radak
"Stone of Bohan, son of Reuben." The name of the Master of the Place was Bohan, son of Reuben, and so did Jonathan translate: "Bohan, son of Reuben," and the name of the place was "Stone." Perhaps there was a large stone there as a marker for the boundary of the place.
Metzudat David
Beit Hoglah. He means to say, from its north, as mentioned in the boundaries of Benjamin:
"From the north, etc." If so, Beth-arabah was within the confines of the border and was reckoned to Judah (and even though Beth-arabah is counted among the inheritance of Benjamin, we must say that there were two places with the same name, and one of them had an additional name to distinguish between them, which is not mentioned in Scripture; and similarly we must say in every place where the name of a single location is mentioned two or three times, whether in the inheritance of one tribe or in the inheritance of two tribes).
Metzudat Zion
Even Bohan. It is the name of a place:
“Son of Reuben.” A city of a man whose name was Reuben; and similarly (Jeremiah 48:45): “from the midst of Sihon.”
Malbim
Beit Hoglah. It was outside the boundary line and belonged to Benjamin (below 18:21), and the shoulder of Beit Hoglah belonged to Judah (below 18:19); therefore, it said there, "and passed over to the shoulder of Beit Hoglah."
"North of Beth-arabah." And it belonged to Judah; this is the Beth-arabah that is counted below in verse 61. Yet there was also a Beth-arabah belonging to Benjamin (below 18:22). The one mentioned here is what is stated there (ibid. 18): "and passes over to the shoulder, opposite the Arabah, northward, and descends to the Arabah." Both are included here under the name "Beth-arabah."
And the border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is over against the ascent of Adummim, which is on the south side of the brook; and the border passed along to the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel.
verse value 5454
Insights
Verse structure: 22 words, 101 letters. Verse gematria: 5454 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "turning" (פֹּנֶ֣ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "to·the·Gilgal" (אֶל־הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 211: to·Debir, to·waters·of·En-. 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "from·the·valley·of" (מֵעֵ֣מֶק), "turning" (פֹּנֶ֣ה), "to·the·Gilgal" (אֶל־הַגִּלְגָּ֗ל). The root גבול appears 2 times in this verse. 18 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·faces" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "and·they·shall·be" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "to·waters·of·En-" (root איל, 135x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·the·brook', dividing the verse into phrases of 14 and 8 words.
Rashi
And the border went up to Debir from the valley of Achor. For the valley of Achor was between the stone of Bohan and Debir.
And it looked northward to Gilgal. And when it reaches opposite Gilgal, the border widens and the line of the boundary goes out to the north side to Gilgal, which is opposite the ascent of Adummim, which the ascent is south of the brook. And it turns out that the brook is outside the line, not in Judah's border.
South of the brook. A valley and a slope without water.
To En-rogel. The spring of the washers. Targum Yonatan translated: "Ein Qatzra," and it calls the washer "rogel," because he tramples the woolen clothes with his feet — "polush" in Old French.
Radak
"Unto Gilgal, which is opposite the Ascent of Adummim." The place is called Gilgal, and is also called Geliloth for a reason known to them; and Adummim is likewise the name of a place, called so for a reason known to them. And so did Jonathan translate: "to the ascent of Adummim."
"Al ein rogel." The Targum translates it as "le-ayn qetzra," and "qetzra" in the language of our Sages of blessed memory refers to a laundryman. The Targum renders "sadeh kebus" as "chakhal mishta qetzraya." And the laundryman is called "rogel" because he scrubs the garments with his feet while washing them.
Metzudat David
"From the Valley of Achor." For it is stated, "From the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben, the boundary came to the Valley of Achor." Although it is not explicitly mentioned [in the current verse], it is understood from itself [i.e., from the context].
"And turned northward." When the boundary came opposite Gilgal, the measuring cord widened and extended to the north side toward Gilgal, which is opposite the Ascent of Adummim. That ascent stands on the southern side of the valley, and the boundary went from Gilgal, opposite it, to the ascent of Adummim. And the valley was outside the measuring cord, not within the territory of Judah.
"And the border passed." From the ascent of Adummim:
"And its ends were, etc." North of En Rogel was the end of the boundary at this width, and from there onward the measuring line entered inward, and the inheritance was shortened.
Metzudat Zion
נֹכַח (nokhach, opposite). Facing.
Malbim
"And the border went up to Debir" – this teaches that from the stone of Bohan it descended into the valley of Achor, and from there it ascended to Debir. And Debir was part of the territory of Judah (as stated below, verse 49); therefore, this landmark is not mentioned in the boundary description of Benjamin (Joshua 18:19).
"And it turned northward toward Gilgal." Explanation: Here the boundary line deviated from its course toward the north. And what is stated, "toward Gilgal," means "toward the district," for [the town of] Gilgal was near the Valley of Achor, between the Jordan and Jericho (as stated above 5:10; 7:26). For regarding the border of Benjamin, it is stated (below 18:17), "and it went out to the districts that are opposite Adummim." And there it did not mention "which is south of the valley." Accordingly, "opposite Adummim" means that from the border there were many districts, and they belonged to Benjamin. And one of those districts, which is south of the valley, belonged to Judah. And this is what is intended here by "toward Gilgal, which is opposite Adummim," namely, the one that is south of the valley, which was from Judah. And there [in the verse regarding Benjamin] the reference is to the other districts that belonged to Benjamin, and thither went out the boundary line of Benjamin. And this deviation, wherein the line deviated northward, extended as far as En-rogel, as it states, "and its outlets shall be to En-rogel." For there the line began to return to the straight line, until En-rogel was the end of the deviation. And when it came to the Valley of Ben-hinnom, the line was on the straight line that bounds opposite Debir and the stone of Bohan. And by this you will understand what is stated regarding the border of Benjamin (ibid., 16–17): "and it went down to En-rogel, and it compassed from the north, and it went out to En-shemesh, and it went out to the districts that are opposite Adummim, and it went down to the stone of Bohan." For the line that went from En-rogel to En-shemesh went out to the outside. And upon its arrival at En-shemesh, there it compassed En-shemesh from three directions, for this is the definition of "compassed." And from there it went out to the districts of Adummim, for it returned and deviated inward, for the term "went out" is also used for this. And it went down to the stone of Bohan, and there it was on the previous straight line, opposite the Valley of Ben-hinnom.
And the border went up by the Valley of the son of Hinnom to the side of the Jebusite southward—the same is Jerusalem—and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the Valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the uttermost part of the vale of Rephaim northward.
verse value 4911
Insights
Verse structure: 21 words, 93 letters. Notable word values: "valley" (גֵּ֣י) = 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "valley" (גֵּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "valley·of·Rephaim" (עֵמֶק־רְפָאִ֖ים, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 501: that, that. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "to·head" (אֶל־רֹ֣אשׁ), "valley·of·Hinnom" (גֵֽי־הִנֹּם֙), "valley·of·Rephaim" (עֵמֶק־רְפָאִ֖ים). The root עלה appears 2 times in this verse. 16 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "to·shoulder" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "upon·face·of" (root פנים, 91x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jerusalem', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 12 words.
Rashi
And it went up, etc., [to] the Valley of Ben-hinnom. It is still going up a little until En-eitam, and from there onward it descends; and this is what our Sages, of blessed memory, said in [the tractate discussing] the Slaughter of the Holy Offerings (Zevachim 54b): They intended to build it at En-eitam, which is a little higher than Jerusalem.
To the shoulder of the Jebusite, which is Jerusalem. And it turns out that Jerusalem is outside the line and not in Judah's border, but in Benjamin's border which is north of Judah.
Radak
“Gai, son of Hinnom.” The Targum translates: “The valley, son of Hinnom.” And this valley was adjacent to Jerusalem. It is the place that King Josiah defiled because of the idols that were there. And the name of the lord of that place from ancient times was Ben-Hinnom, or Hinnom. And concerning what is written, “and the border went up,” and the place was Gai [a valley], it does not mean that it went up opposite the valley; rather, it went up to the place where the valley was. In all these borders, it says “went up,” because Jerusalem is higher than all the lands.
Valley of Rephaim. The Targum: "the plain of the mighty men," and it is of this place that it is said, "like one who gleans ears of grain in the Valley of Rephaim"; and that place was from of old the place of the mighty men, the giants.
Ralbag
And the border goes up [through] the Valley of Ben-hinnom, to the shoulder of the Jebusite, which is on the south -- it is Jerusalem. It appears from this place that Jerusalem was not divided among the tribes. But what is said after this, 'And the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out, and the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah in Jerusalem' -- this indicates that Jerusalem was from the inheritance of the children of Judah. For he did not say 'the children of Israel could not drive them out,' but he said 'the children of Judah could not drive them out.' And from what is said in the inheritance of Benjamin, in the counting of their cities that fell to them as an inheritance: 'And Zela, and Haeleph, and the Jebusite, which is Jerusalem' -- it appears that Jerusalem was from the inheritance of the children of Benjamin. And for this the dispute fell whether Jerusalem was divided among the tribes or not. A doubt already falls in what is mentioned here in the inheritance of the children of Judah, that afterward they gave some of their cities to the tribe of Simeon. And he mentioned the reason for this: that the portion of the children of Judah was too much for them. And the children of Simeon inherited within their inheritance. How is this possible? And this whole division was by lot by the word of God. Did something escape from Him, until at first He gave to the tribe of Judah more than is fitting, and afterward when He saw that it did not suffice, He was forced to give to the tribe of Simeon from the inheritance of the children of Judah? This is not possible to be thought in this way. And we say in resolving this doubt: within the boundaries of the inheritance of the children of Judah, which were intended by God, there were from the cities more than was fitting for them. And not all those cities fell to the children of Judah, but they were counted because of their being all within its boundaries. And after this he explained what was of these cities to the tribe of Simeon. And in this was fulfilled what is said in the Torah, 'I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel,' as we explained there.
Metzudat David
"And the border went up." From En Rogel, the border entered inward, on the southern side, and went up the mountain ascent to the Valley of Ben-Hinnom, which stood on the south side of Jerusalem (and Jerusalem itself was part of the territory of Benjamin, but a strip extended from the territory of Judah and came to Jerusalem; Zevachim 54b). The verse uses the expression "went up" because Jerusalem was higher than all the land of Israel, except for Ein Eitam.
This is Jerusalem. Regarding the Jebusite, it says:
And the border went up to the top of the mountain. It was still ascending until it reached the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, which is the Ein Etam mentioned by our Sages of blessed memory (Zevachim 54b). The mountain was to the west of the Valley of Ben-Hinnom and at the northern end of the Valley of Rephaim; thus, the valley was within the boundary of Judah.
Malbim
"And the border went up." This ascent extended as far as the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, and from there it began to descend, as our Sages of blessed memory stated: "He intended to build it [the altar] at Ein Etam, which is more elevated" (Zevachim 54b).
"This is Jerusalem." It is called the Jebusite shoulder because the Jebusites dwelt there. And when it says "from the south," it is clear that Jerusalem belonged to Benjamin and was counted as part of his inheritance (Joshua 18:28).
"And the border went up to the top of the mountain." The explanation is that the beginning of the mountain is at the edge of its slope, and in the portion of Benjamin (ibid., 18:16), this is called the edge of the mountain.
“The Valley of Hinnom to the west.” This means that the mountain was located to the west of the Valley of Hinnom and to the north of the Valley of Rephaim.
And the border was drawn from the top of the mountain to the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah—the same is Kiriath-jearim.
verse value 5044
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 70 letters. Verse gematria: 5044 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "water·of" (מֵ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "hill·Ephron" (הַר־עֶפְר֑וֹן, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 607: and·was·drawn, and·was·drawn. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "from·head·of" (מֵרֹ֣אשׁ), "hill·Ephron" (הַר־עֶפְר֑וֹן). The root תאר appears 2 times in this verse. 13 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·the·cities·of" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "she" (root הוא, 77x in Joshua). First appearance of the root תאר ("and·was·drawn") in Joshua. First appearance of the root בעלה ("Baalah") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'hill·Ephron', dividing the verse into phrases of 10 and 6 words.
Rashi
And compassed. A term of turning in a circle, as (Isaiah 44:13): and with the compass he marketh it out. And Yonatan translated all of them: 'veyischar' (and it circled).
And went out to the cities of Mount Ephron. The line goes out to the north side, and the border widened even to the cities of Mount Ephron.
And the border compassed it to Baalah. This is not to the west, but it protruded to the north side.
Radak
"And the border curved." Whenever the term "ve-ta'ar" appears, the Targum translates it as "yisachor," meaning "it goes around," just as in the verse "and with a compass he marks it out," which refers to the concept of encircling.
"The fountain of the waters of Nephtoah." This is what is called, in the words of our Sages of blessed memory, "Ein Eitam" [the Spring of Etam].
Metzudat David
And he went out to the cities of the mountain of Ephron. He intended to say: on the northern side, and they belonged to Judah.
Metzudat Zion
וְתָאַר (veta'ar, and shall pass along). A matter of circling and winding, like (Isaiah 44:13) and with the compass he marks it out.
Malbim
"And the boundary went around." I have already established that wherever the term "and the boundary went around" appears, it denotes a circular path encompassing three sides. Here, the cord traced a circular course, taking a strip of land in a circular shape from the portion of Benjamin to the portion of Judah, as our Sages of blessed memory stated (Yoma 12a): "A strip of land extended from the portion of Judah and entered into the portion of Benjamin, and upon it the Altar was built," until this circuit was completed at the spring of the waters of Nephtoah. Therefore, regarding Benjamin (Joshua 18:16), the phrase "and the boundary went around" is not mentioned, for there the cord followed the convexity of the circle, not its concavity.
And it described the boundary at Baalah. Kiriath-jearim belonged to Judah (verse 60), and it bounded the entire width of the border of Benjamin (18:14–15). And what is meant by "this Kiriath-jearim"? Because there was another Baalah in the Negev (verse 29), which is the one given to Simeon (19:3). Therefore, Kiriath-jearim is called (1 Samuel 6:2) by the name Baalah of Judah. And according to this, the cord went north to the cities of the mountain of Ephron, and there it encompassed Kiriath-jearim from three sides and entered into the border of Judah, but all of it protruded from the boundary line outward, opposite the inheritance of Benjamin. And near Kiriath-jearim, on its southern side, was a sea or a place called by that name. And when the cord went out and encompassed Kiriath-jearim, it rested in its circuit, which encompassed the western and northern sides of Kiriath-jearim, and returned on the eastern side of Kiriath-jearim and circled to its south and reached the sea, and this is what it says:
And the border turned about from Baalah westward to mount Seir, and passed along to the side of mount Jearim on the north—the same is Chesalon—and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed along by Timnah.
verse value 5024
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 73 letters. The shortest word is "sea" (יָ֙מָּה֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "hill·Jearim" (הַר־יְעָרִ֛ים, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 278: and·passed, and·passed. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "from·Baalah" (מִבַּעֲלָ֥ה), "to·hill" (אֶל־הַ֣ר), "hill·Jearim" (הַר־יְעָרִ֛ים). The root איל appears 2 times in this verse. 14 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "to·hill" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "and·passed" (root עבר, 82x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Chesalon', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Rashi
And the border compassed from Baalah westward. Now it returns to its first counting, from east to west.
To the shoulder of Mount Jearim, which is on the north side thereof. For the line was on the north side of Mount Jearim. And it turns out that Mount Jearim is within Judah's border, within the line.
Metzudat David
Yam. Toward the west:
“From the north.” It turns out that Mount Ya’arim, which is Kasselon, was within the boundary, and it belonged to Judah.
Malbim
"And the boundary turned from Baalah westward." For there it turned in the shape of the letter dalet. And by this you will understand how it can be explained that in the inheritance of the children of Benjamin (18:15) it says that the boundary went out from Baalah westward, and there it went from west to east — and how did it reach this sea? Rather, this sea was south of Baalah, on its eastern side, and from the sea it turned to Mount Seir, for the range of the mountain of Judah touches on its southern side Mount Seir, and a portion of it is called by the name Mount Seir. And it passed to the west and reached, from the north, Kesalon; and this is not the Kesil mentioned in verse 30, which was in the Negev and given to Simeon.
"And he went down to Beth-shemesh." [The one] belonging to Judah (for there was still another Beth-shemesh in the territory of Issachar (below 19:22) and in the territory of Naphtali (ibid. 34), and similarly you will find (I Samuel 5:10; 6:12) that the Ark of the LORD was returned from Ekron to Beth-shemesh, and from there to Kiriath-jearim):
"And it passed on to Timnah." For it belonged to Judah (verse 57):
And the border went out to the side of Ekron northward; and the border was drawn to Shikkeron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out at Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
verse value 4395
Insights
Verse structure: 16 words, 76 letters. The shortest word is "sea" (יָֽמָּה, 3 letters) and the longest is "hill·the·Baalah" (הַר־הַֽבַּעֲלָ֖ה, 7 letters). Words sharing gematria 107: and·he·went·out, and·he·went·out. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "to·Shikkeron" (שִׁכְּר֔וֹנָה), "hill·the·Baalah" (הַר־הַֽבַּעֲלָ֖ה), "Jabneel" (יַבְנְאֵ֑ל). The root גבול appears 3 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·they·shall·be" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "to·shoulder" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Jabneel', dividing the verse into phrases of 12 and 4 words.
Rashi
And the uttermost goings-out of the border. The end of the border.
Westward. To the Great Sea, which is on the western side.
Metzudat David
“Toward the north.” And Ekron shall be within the border.
"[Its] extremities." The end of the border ends at the Great Sea.
Malbim
And he went out. He turned aside a second time toward the north, to the shoulder of Ekron of the Philistines, and it belonged to Judah (verse 45):
"And it curved," etc., "to Shikkeron." It was outside the border, and [the line] encompassed it from three sides, and the line returned to the place where it had been, opposite the shoulder of Ekron, and passed straight to Mount Baalah, and from there it went out and turned aside from its straight course to Jabneel. And this is not the Jabneel of Naphtali (19:33):
And as for the west border, the Great Sea was the border thereof. This is the border of the children of Judah round about according to their families.
verse value 1369
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 46 letters. Verse gematria: 1369 = 37². The shortest word is "sea" (יָ֔ם, 2 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Judah" (בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֛ה, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 47: and·border·of, and·border. The root גבול appears 3 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Judah" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·border·of" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "this" (root זה, 51x in Joshua). First appearance of the root סביב ("around") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·border', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וּגְב֣וּל [and·border·of] (47) + יָ֔ם [sea] (50) + הַיָּ֥מָּה [sea] (60) + הַגָּד֖וֹל [the·great] (48) + וּגְב֑וּל [and·border] (47) + זֶ֠ה [this] (12) + גְּב֧וּל [border] (41) + בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֛ה [sons·of·Judah] (92) + סָבִ֖יב [around] (74) + לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָֽם [by·their·clans] (898) = 1369.
Radak
"The Great Sea and the boundary. And the boundary of Judah to the west was the Great Sea:"
"And the border: the sea," meaning the Great Sea, and its border was the border of Judah on the western side. And so did Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translate: "And its boundaries."
Metzudat David
"And the boundary of the sea." The western boundary, from north to south:
"The Great Sea." The Great Sea served as a boundary:
And its border. He means to say that the islands of the sea are also considered part of the border of Judah, and they were his inheritance.
"Around their families." This means: the border that encircles the inheritance of all their families.
And to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of Hashem to Joshua, even Kiriath-arba, which Arba was the father of Anak—the same is Hebron.
verse value 3915
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 68 letters. Notable word values: "Hashem" (יְהֹוָ֖ה) = 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "gave" (נָ֤תַן, 3 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Judah" (בְּנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֔ה, 8 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·to·Caleb" (וּלְכָלֵ֣ב). 15 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Hashem" (root יהוה, 217x in Joshua); "sons·of·Judah" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "Joshua" (root יהושע, 125x in Joshua). First appearance of the root קריה ("Kiriath-") in Joshua. First appearance of the root ענק ("the·Anak") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Joshua', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 6 words.
Rashi
According to the mouth of the Lord unto Joshua. As the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Joshua.
Metzudat David
“at the command of the Lord.” This means that Joshua did not give it to Caleb on his own initiative, but rather at the command of the Lord.
"Father of Anak." This means: Arba was the father of the Anak, i.e., [he was] the greatest among the giants.
Malbim
“According to the word of the Lord.” In every place it is written “by the word of the Lord,” but here, and below (17:4) in the portion concerning the daughters of Zelophehad, and below (21:3) concerning the cities of the Levites, it is written “according to the word of the Lord.” This is because in all these cases the commandment had already been given previously by Moses, and it is not a new commandment; whereas in a new commandment it is always written “by the word of the Lord.”
And Caleb drove out thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
verse value 4980
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 53 letters. The shortest word is "from·there" (מִשָּׁם֙, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Ahiman" (וְאֶת־אֲחִימַן֙, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 516: and·he·drove·out, and·Ahiman. 6 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·he·drove·out" (וַיֹּ֤רֶשׁ), "the·three" (אֶת־שְׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה), "Sheshai" (אֶת־שֵׁשַׁ֤י). The root ענק appears 2 times in this verse. 10 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "son" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "from·there" (root שם, 31x in Joshua); "and·he·drove·out" (root ירש, 29x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'the·Anak', dividing the verse into phrases of 6 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֤רֶשׁ [and·he·drove·out] (516) + מִשָּׁם֙ [from·there] (380) + כָּלֵ֔ב [Caleb] (52) + אֶת־שְׁלוֹשָׁ֖ה [the·three] (1042) + בְּנֵ֣י [son] (62) + הָעֲנָ֑ק [the·Anak] (225) + אֶת־שֵׁשַׁ֤י [Sheshai] (1011) + וְאֶת־אֲחִימַן֙ [and·Ahiman] (516) + וְאֶת־תַּלְמַ֔י [and·Talmai] (887) + יְלִידֵ֖י [born] (64) + הָעֲנָֽק [the·Anak] (225) = 4980.
Rashi
And Caleb dispossessed. After the death of Joshua, for still in Joshua's days Hebron was not captured, as it is said in the book of Judges (1:20). And it was not written here except because of the division.
Malbim
"And he inherited." This occurred during the lifetime of Joshua. As for what is implied in the Book of Judges that it happened after his death, I explained there (1:11). Likewise, the narrative that appears here from verse 15 through verse 20 is duplicated there, and I explained it there. (32) "All twenty-nine cities." Yet when you count them individually, you find thirty-eight. The commentators wrote that these nine extra cities were taken by the sons of Simeon from the portion of Judah, and they are mentioned in the inheritance of Simeon: Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, Ezem, Eltolad, Hormah, Ziklag, Ein, and Rimmon. However, my mind does not rest with this explanation. First, you will not find thirty-eight cities unless you interpret the statement "and Hazor-hadattah, and Kerioth-hezron, which is Hazor" as referring to four cities. In truth, the statement (verse 25) "Hezron is Hazor" indicates that it is one city, just as it is stated (verse 49) "Kiriath-sannah is Debir," and (verse 49) "Kiriath-baal is Kiriath-jearim." Furthermore, I do not understand the statement "Hezron is Hazor," since Hazor was already counted (in verse 23). Moreover, what is listed in the inheritance of Simeon (19:3) "Balah is Baalah," and "Bethul" (ibid., 4) is Kesil. Likewise, what is stated there (ibid., 6) "Beth-lebaoth and Sharuhen" refers to Lebaoth and Shilhim mentioned here, for the pronunciation of the names of cities and people changes, as is known to one who examines the variants found in the Book of Chronicles. And according to my understanding from the words of our Sages of blessed memory, it appears that Kinah, Dimonah, and Adadah are one city: the main city was named Kinah, and the suburbs of the city were named Dimonah and Adadah. Likewise, Ziklag, Madmannah, and Sansannah are also one city: the main city was named Ziklag, and its suburbs were named Madmannah and Sansannah. And likewise, the statement "and Hazor-hadattah, and Kerioth-hezron, which is Hazor" is not included in the count, for this is an explanation of Hazor, meaning that all these, namely Hazor-hadattah, meaning the new court, and the villages of Hazor, are included in Hazor. He gave this sign because there was another Hazor in Naphtali (below 19:36, and it is the one mentioned above, chapter 11). And likewise, Lebaoth and Shilhim, which the commentators counted as two, are one, as I proved regarding the inheritance of the sons of Simeon that Lebaoth and Sharuhen mentioned there are one; see there. According to this, there are only twenty-nine cities, no more. With this, you will understand the wondrous words of the Gemara (Gittin 7b): Rav Huna bar Nathan said to Rav Ashi: "What is written: 'Kinah, Dimonah, and Adadah'?" He said to him: "It is counting the towns of the Land of Israel." He said to him: "Do you think I do not know that it is counting the towns of the Land of Israel? Rather, Rav Gaviah of Argoza gave a reason for it: 'Anyone who has jealousy (kinah) against his fellow and is silent (domem), dwelling forever (adei ad) – judgment is done for him.'" He said to him: "But what about Ziklag, Madmannah, and Sansannah? Is it not the same?" He said to him: "If Rav Gaviah of Argoza were here, he would have given a reason for it." Rav Acha of Bei Chalza gave a reason for it thus: "Anyone who has an outcry for a morsel of bread (tza'akat legima) against his fellow and is silent, dwelling in a thornbush (seneh) – judgment is done for him," end of quote. And if you plow with my heifer, you will find their new meaning. For they knew that Kinah, Dimonah, and Adadah are one city and its districts, and they sought to ask for a reason why here the districts and suburbs of the city of Kinah are listed, which are not in the count of cities, whereas this was not done anywhere else. And this is what Rav Huna bar Nathan answered Rav Ashi, who said to him: "It is counting the towns of the Land of Israel" (meaning that it also counts the small cities). "Do you think I do not know, etc.," meaning: Nevertheless, a reason is needed for why the small cities that are not in the number are counted here. Only Rav Gaviah gave a reason for it, for in that generation, the name of the city of Kinah with its districts was customary on their lips as a sign and support for moral teachings. Therefore, he mentioned the city of Kinah as they were accustomed to mention it with its districts, to recall the moral lesson they inscribed in it for remembrance. And regarding the question: "But are not Ziklag, Madmannah, and Sansannah also counted, a city and its districts, and does it not also require a reason why the districts were mentioned?" until Rav Acha came and said that the sign of the moral teaching was also for them in the remembrance of the city of Ziklag and its districts.
And he went up thence against the inhabitants of Debir—now the name of Debir beforetime was Kiriath-sepher.
verse value 2867
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "from·there" (מִשָּׁ֔ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "Kiriath-sepher" (קִרְיַת־סֵֽפֶר, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·name·of·Debir" (וְשֵׁם־דְּבִ֥ר), "Kiriath-sepher" (קִרְיַת־סֵֽפֶר). The root דבר appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "against·inhabitants·of" (root איל, 135x in Joshua); "to·face" (root פנים, 91x in Joshua); "Debir" (root דבר, 68x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Debir', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיַּ֣עַל [and·went·up] (116) + מִשָּׁ֔ם [from·there] (380) + אֶל־יֹשְׁבֵ֖י [against·inhabitants·of] (353) + דְּבִ֑ר [Debir] (206) + וְשֵׁם־דְּבִ֥ר [and·name·of·Debir] (552) + לְפָנִ֖ים [to·face] (210) + קִרְיַת־סֵֽפֶר [Kiriath-sepher] (1050) = 2867.
Rashi
Kiriath-sepher. Our Sages said (Temurah 16a): these are the laws that were forgotten during the days of mourning for Moses, which Othniel the son of Kenaz restored through his sharp reasoning [pilpul].
Radak
"And the name of Debir was formerly Kiriath-sepher." Our Sages of blessed memory said that in the Persian language they call a book "dabir."
And Caleb said: ‘He that smites Kiriath-sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.’
verse value 4567
Insights
Verse structure: 10 words, 48 letters. Notable word values: "to·him" (ל֛וֹ) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "to·him" (ל֛וֹ, 2 letters) and the longest is "Kiriath-sepher" (אֶת־קִרְיַת־סֵ֖פֶר, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "who·smites" (אֲשֶׁר־יַכֶּ֥ה), "Kiriath-sepher" (אֶת־קִרְיַת־סֵ֖פֶר), "and·takes·it" (וּלְכָדָ֑הּ). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "who·smites" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "and·said" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua); "and·I·will·give" (root נתן, 86x in Joshua). First appearance of the root בת ("my·daughter") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·takes·it', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 5 words. Full calculation: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר [and·said] (257) + כָּלֵ֔ב [Caleb] (52) + אֲשֶׁר־יַכֶּ֥ה [who·smites] (536) + אֶת־קִרְיַת־סֵ֖פֶר [Kiriath-sepher] (1451) + וּלְכָדָ֑הּ [and·takes·it] (65) + וְנָתַ֥תִּי [and·I·will·give] (866) + ל֛וֹ [to·him] (36) + אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה [Achsah] (556) + בִתִּ֖י [my·daughter] (412) + לְאִשָּֽׁה [to·wife] (336) = 4567.
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. .
verse value 2718
Insights
Verse structure: 9 words, 42 letters. Verse gematria: 2718 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "brother" (אֲחִ֣י, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·took·it" (וַֽיִּלְכְּדָ֛הּ, 6 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Othniel" (עׇתְנִיאֵ֥ל), "son·of·Kenaz" (בֶּן־קְנַ֖ז), "and·he·gave·to·him" (וַיִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ). 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·he·gave·to·him" (root נתן, 86x in Joshua); "son·of·Kenaz" (root בין, 48x in Joshua); "and·took·it" (root לכד, 22x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Caleb', dividing the verse into phrases of 5 and 4 words. Full calculation: וַֽיִּלְכְּדָ֛הּ [and·took·it] (75) + עׇתְנִיאֵ֥ל [Othniel] (561) + בֶּן־קְנַ֖ז [son·of·Kenaz] (209) + אֲחִ֣י [brother] (19) + כָלֵ֑ב [Caleb] (52) + וַיִּתֶּן־ל֛וֹ [and·he·gave·to·him] (502) + אֶת־עַכְסָ֥ה [Achsah] (556) + בִתּ֖וֹ [his·daughter] (408) + לְאִשָּֽׁה [to·wife] (336) = 2718.
Rashi
The brother of Caleb. From his mother.
Radak
“Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb.” Our Sages of blessed memory said that he was his brother on his mother’s side, for Caleb was the son of Jephunneh, whereas Othniel was the son of Kenaz. As for the phrase “Caleb the Kenizzite,” it attributes him to his mother’s husband. It is also possible to explain that he was his brother on both his father’s and his mother’s side, and that his father’s name was Caleb, son of Jephunneh and Kenaz, for we find many instances of a single person having two names. However, what seems most correct to me is that Kenaz was the name of the head of the family, and the members of the family were traced to him. Thus, whether it says “the Kenizzite” or “son of Kenaz,” it is all one thing, for it is unlikely that a person would be traced to his mother’s husband; even with regard to the mother’s family, we do not find that a person is traced to anything other than his father’s house. And as for the statement, “All these are the sons of Makir, the father of Gilead,” the reason it says “and Segub and Jaïr were the sons of Makir’s daughter” is because of the cities that Jaïr possessed in the land of Gilead.
And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she persuaded him to ask of her father a field; and she alighted from off her ass; and Caleb said to her: ‘What would you?’
verse value 3461
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 58 letters. The shortest word is "field" (שָׂדֶ֔ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·she·incited·him" (וַתְּסִיתֵ֙הוּ֙, 7 letters). 8 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "in·her·coming" (בְּבוֹאָ֗הּ), "and·she·incited·him" (וַתְּסִיתֵ֙הוּ֙), "to·Saul" (לִשְׁא֤וֹל). 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·it·was" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "and·he·said·to·her" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua); "in·her·coming" (root בוא, 58x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on '(he) ass', dividing the verse into phrases of 9 and 3 words.
Rashi
And she lighted down. And itarkinat, she inclined herself to fall at his feet.
Radak
“And it came to pass when she came in.” [This is explained] by the letter bet being one of the “letters of use” [a prefixed functional particle], and its meaning is: as she came into her husband’s house.
"And she turned him aside." She persuaded her husband to ask her father for a field, but he was unwilling to ask. When she saw this, "she fell off the donkey," meaning she threw herself from the donkey upon which she was riding. The Targum of Jonathan translates it as "and she leaned over," and similarly, the Targum translates "and she fell off the camel."
Metzudat David
"When she came." To her husband's house:
"ותסיתהו": She induced her husband and enticed him to grant her permission so that she could ask her father for a field.
And she fell off the donkey. She threw herself off the donkey to fall to the ground:
"What is troubling you? What is lacking to you that you wish to inquire about?"
Metzudat Zion
וַתִּצְנַח (vatitsnak, and she fell). A matter of sinking in, like (Judges 4:21) "vatitznach ba'aretz" [it (the tent peg) sank into the ground], meaning she threw herself with force as if she were driven into the ground.
And she said: ‘Give me a blessing; for that you have set me in the Southland, give me therefore springs of water.’ And he gave her the Upper Springs and the Nether Springs.
verse value 7999
Insights
Verse structure: 18 words, 69 letters. The shortest word is "for" (כִּ֣י, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·gave·to·her" (וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֗הּ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 433: bowls·of, bowls, bowls. 7 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "blessing" (בְרָכָ֗ה), "south-country" (הַנֶּ֙גֶב֙), "you·gave·me" (נְתַתָּ֔נִי). The root נתן appears 4 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·she·said" (root אמר, 140x in Joshua); "land" (root ארץ, 95x in Joshua); "give·me" (root נתן, 86x in Joshua). First appearance of the root גלה ("bowls·of") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'water', dividing the verse into phrases of 11 and 7 words.
Rashi
Give me a blessing. Sustenance.
The south country. Dry, as (Genesis 8:13): the face of the ground was 'charav' (dry). And its translation: 'negivu,' sheyka in the language, a house swept of all good, a man in whom there is nothing but Torah.
Natatani (you have given me). You gave to me, as (there, 37:4): 'deberu le-shalom' (they spoke to him of peace), meaning 'diber eilav' (he spoke to him); (Jeremiah 10:20): 'banai yetsauni' (my children have gone out from me), meaning 'yatsu mimeni' (they went out from me); (I Kings 19:21): 'va-yevashlem' (and he boiled them), meaning 'bishel lahem' (he cooked/boiled for them).
Gilot (springs).
Radak
"Blessing." The Targum translates it as "an inheritance," and it is possible to interpret "blessing" literally, as an addition of good — meaning that he would add for her beyond what he had [already] given her, for it seemed as though he had given her a thirsty and dry land. This is what she said: "You have given me the land of the Negev." [Similarly,] the Targum renders "the waters dried up" [ḥarvu ha-mayim] as "negivu maya" [using the same root as "Negev"]. And she asked that he give her additionally the field in which were the "springs of water," to water the land of the Negev that he had given her. The meaning of "netatani" is "you have given to me." It is also possible to interpret "blessing" further as [bereikhah] "pool," with a tzere. And Jonathan [ben Uzziel] translated "You have given me the land of the Negev" as "You have given me the land of the south." And the meaning of "springs of water" is fountains, like "a sealed spring" [gal na'ul], or alternatively, pools of collected water. And the Targum translates it as "a place of irrigation."
Metzudat David
"For the land of the Negev you have given me." The portion of the field which You gave me from of old is a dried-up land, without springs of water.
"And you shall give to me." To this I ask: that which You will give me, a plot of land with a spring of water in it.
"Gulloth." He gave her a field with a spring above and a spring below:
Metzudat Zion
Blessing. A gift and an offering, as it is written (Genesis 33:11): “Please accept my blessing.”
The Negev. The matter is dryness, as it says (Isaiah 21:1): "like whirlwinds in the Negev."
“Netatani.” You have given to me:
Gullot (springs). It is a spring, like (Song of Songs 4:12) "a sealed spring" [gal na'ul], and it is called so on account of its turning and rolling.
"Et." With:
Illiyot. From the word *elyon* (upper):
And the cities at the uttermost part of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the border of Edom in the South were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur;
verse value 1686
Insights
Verse structure: 11 words, 55 letters. The shortest word is "from·end·of" (מִקְצֵה֙, 4 letters) and the longest is "sons·of·Judah" (בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֔ה, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "in·the·south" (בַּנֶּ֑גְבָּה), "Kabzeel" (קַבְצְאֵ֥ל), "and·Eder" (וְעֵ֖דֶר). 11 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Judah" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "and·they·were" (root היה, 150x in Joshua); "the·cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·south', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 3 words. Full calculation: וַיִּֽהְי֣וּ [and·they·were] (37) + הֶֽעָרִ֗ים [the·cities] (325) + מִקְצֵה֙ [from·end·of] (235) + לְמַטֵּ֣ה [to·tribe·of] (84) + בְנֵֽי־יְהוּדָ֔ה [sons·of·Judah] (92) + אֶל־גְּב֥וּל [to·border] (72) + אֱד֖וֹם [Edom] (51) + בַּנֶּ֑גְבָּה [in·the·south] (62) + קַבְצְאֵ֥ל [Kabzeel] (223) + וְעֵ֖דֶר [and·Eder] (280) + וְיָגֽוּר [and·Jagur] (225) = 1686.
Rashi
And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah. In the border of the tribe of Judah. This is what our Sages said (Gittin 7a): Joshua did not count except towns that stand on the borders.
Radak
"And the cities were from the end of the tribe of the children of Judah." The meaning is as if it were reversed: "And it was from the end of the cities of the tribe of the children of Judah to the border of Edom in the south." Therefore, it is vocalized with a tsere, because it is in the construct state. And in saying "from the end," this is what our Sages of blessed memory said: Joshua did not enumerate except the cities that stand on the borders.
Metzudat David
"From the end." Those standing at the end of Judah’s inheritance, near the border of Edom, in the south of Judah.
Verse structure: 3 words, 18 letters. The shortest word is "and·Kinah" (וְקִינָ֥ה, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Dimonah" (וְדִימוֹנָ֖ה, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Kinah" (וְקִינָ֥ה), "and·Dimonah" (וְדִימוֹנָ֖ה), "and·Adadah" (וְעַדְעָדָֽה). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְקִינָ֥ה [and·Kinah] (171) + וְדִימוֹנָ֖ה [and·Dimonah] (121) + וְעַדְעָדָֽה [and·Adadah] (159) = 451.
Verse structure: 3 words, 14 letters. The shortest word is "and·Kedesh" (וְקֶ֥דֶשׁ, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Hazor" (וְחָצ֖וֹר, 5 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Ithnan" (וְיִתְנָֽן). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְקֶ֥דֶשׁ [and·Kedesh] (410) + וְחָצ֖וֹר [and·Hazor] (310) + וְיִתְנָֽן [and·Ithnan] (516) = 1236.
Verse structure: 3 words, 13 letters. The shortest word is "Ziph" (זִ֥יף, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Bealoth" (וּבְעָלֽוֹת, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Ziph" (זִ֥יף), "and·Telem" (וָטֶ֖לֶם), "and·Bealoth" (וּבְעָלֽוֹת). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: זִ֥יף [Ziph] (97) + וָטֶ֖לֶם [and·Telem] (85) + וּבְעָלֽוֹת [and·Bealoth] (514) = 696.
and Hazor, and Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron—the same is Hazor;
verse value 2123
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "she" (הִ֥יא, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Kerioth" (וּקְרִיּ֔וֹת, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Hadattah" (חֲדַתָּה֙), "and·Kerioth" (וּקְרִיּ֔וֹת). The root חצור appears 2 times in this verse. 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "she" (root הוא, 77x in Joshua). Full calculation: וְחָצ֤וֹר [and·Hazor] (310) + חֲדַתָּה֙ [Hadattah] (417) + וּקְרִיּ֔וֹת [and·Kerioth] (722) + חֶצְר֖וֹן [Hezron] (354) + הִ֥יא [she] (16) + חָצֽוֹר [Hazor] (304) = 2123.
Metzudat David
"And Hazor, etc." There are four towns in this verse: Hazor is the first; Hadattah is the second; Kerioth is the third; Hezron—that is, Hazor—is the fourth. This is not the Hazor mentioned at the beginning of the verse, nor is it the one mentioned in the preceding verse (verse 23):
Verse structure: 3 words, 13 letters. The shortest word is "Amam" (אֲמָ֥ם, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Moladah" (וּמוֹלָדָֽה, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Amam" (אֲמָ֥ם), "and·hear" (וּשְׁמַ֖ע). 3 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·hear" (root שמע, 29x in Joshua). Full calculation: אֲמָ֥ם [Amam] (81) + וּשְׁמַ֖ע [and·hear] (416) + וּמוֹלָדָֽה [and·Moladah] (91) = 588.
Verse structure: 5 words, 23 letters. The shortest word is "sheba" (שֶׁ֖בַע, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Biziothiah" (וּבִזְיוֹתְיָֽה, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Beer-" (וּבְאֵ֥ר), "and·Biziothiah" (וּבִזְיוֹתְיָֽה). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·Hazar-" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua); "sheba" (root שבע, 30x in Joshua). First appearance of the root באר ("and·Beer-") in Joshua. Full calculation: וַחֲצַ֥ר [and·Hazar-] (304) + שׁוּעָ֛ל [fox] (406) + וּבְאֵ֥ר [and·Beer-] (209) + שֶׁ֖בַע [sheba] (372) + וּבִזְיוֹתְיָֽה [and·Biziothiah] (446) = 1737.
Verse structure: 3 words, 13 letters. The shortest word is "Baalah" (בַּעֲלָ֥ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Iim" (וְעִיִּ֖ים, 5 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Iim" (וְעִיִּ֖ים). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: בַּעֲלָ֥ה [Baalah] (107) + וְעִיִּ֖ים [and·Iim] (136) + וָעָֽצֶם [and·Ezem] (206) = 449.
Verse structure: 3 words, 17 letters. The shortest word is "and·Chesil" (וּכְסִ֖יל, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Eltolad" (וְאֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד, 7 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Chesil" (וּכְסִ֖יל). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְאֶלְתּוֹלַ֥ד [and·Eltolad] (477) + וּכְסִ֖יל [and·Chesil] (126) + וְחׇרְמָֽה [and·Hormah] (259) = 862.
Verse structure: 3 words, 17 letters. The shortest word is "and·Ziklag" (וְצִֽקְלַ֥ג, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Madmannah" (וּמַדְמַנָּ֖ה, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Madmannah" (וּמַדְמַנָּ֖ה), "and·Sansannah" (וְסַנְסַנָּֽה). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְצִֽקְלַ֥ג [and·Ziklag] (229) + וּמַדְמַנָּ֖ה [and·Madmannah] (145) + וְסַנְסַנָּֽה [and·Sansannah] (231) = 605.
and Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon; all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages.
verse value 3412
Insights
Verse structure: 8 words, 43 letters. The shortest word is "and·Ain" (וְעַ֣יִן, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·their·villages" (וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Lebaoth" (וּלְבָא֥וֹת), "and·Shilhim" (וְשִׁלְחִ֖ים), "pomegranate" (וְרִמּ֑וֹן). 8 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "all·cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua); "and·Ain" (root עין, 24x in Joshua). First appearance of the root רמון ("pomegranate") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'pomegranate', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 4 words. 6 of the verse's 8 words begin with the letter ו. Full calculation: וּלְבָא֥וֹת [and·Lebaoth] (445) + וְשִׁלְחִ֖ים [and·Shilhim] (394) + וְעַ֣יִן [and·Ain] (136) + וְרִמּ֑וֹן [pomegranate] (302) + כׇּל־עָרִ֛ים [all·cities] (370) + עֶשְׂרִ֥ים [twenty] (620) + וָתֵ֖שַׁע [and·nine] (776) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 3412.
Rashi
All the cities [total] twenty-nine, with their villages. And counted individually, you find thirty-eight. But these extra [nine] were taken by the children of Simeon from the territory of the children of Judah, and they are mentioned in Simeon's inheritance: Beer-sheba and Moladah, Hazar-shual and Etzem and Eltolad and Hormah and Ziklag and Ain and Rimmon — these are the nine extras enumerated here.
Radak
"All the cities are twenty-nine." And in their detailed listing, you will find thirty-eight; the nine extra ones belonged to the tribe of Simeon, and they are counted within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah in the detailed listing, because they were within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, as it is stated, "And their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah." And there it is written: "These are the additional cities for Simeon: Beersheba, and Hazar Shual, Balah — and this is Beal, as is written here — and Ezem, and Eltolad, and Bethul — this is Ksil, as is written here — and Hormah, and Ziklag, and Ain, and Rimmon" — and behold, they are ten in this count. And they are counted in the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon. And we have no remaining cities except nine. Rather, we say that Balah is not Beal, and Bethul is not Ksil, even though it appears so. Furthermore, there are other cities counted for the tribe of Simeon within the inheritance of Judah, and they are also counted in the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon, and they are Ether and Ashan, as it is written, "And Ziklag," which is mentioned here for the tribe of Judah, and it is also mentioned for the tribe of Simeon. And we see that from the day that David dwelt in it, it belonged to the kings of Judah. We say that the children of Israel captured it at the time of the conquest of the land, and it fell to the portion of Simeon. And afterward, the king of Gath took it from them, until David dwelt in it. Therefore, it belonged to the kings of Judah from that day onward.
Metzudat David
Twenty-nine. In their detailed enumeration you will find thirty-eight, and this is because nine of them did not remain with the tribe of Judah, for the tribe of Simeon took them from the territory of Judah, and they are mentioned here in the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon. They are: Beer-sheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, Ezem, Eltolad, Hormah, Ziklag, Ain, and Rimmon.
And their villages. And besides their villages:
Cross-references: Joshua 19:6; Zechariah 14:10; Nehemiah 11:29; I Chronicles 4:32
Verse structure: 4 words, 21 letters. The shortest word is "in·the·Lowland" (בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֑ה, 5 letters) and the longest is "Eshtaol" (אֶשְׁתָּא֥וֹל, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "in·the·Lowland" (בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֑ה), "Eshtaol" (אֶשְׁתָּא֥וֹל), "and·Zorah" (וְצׇרְעָ֖ה). 4 unique roots are used. First appearance of the root צרעה ("and·Zorah") in Joshua. The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·Lowland', dividing the verse into phrases of 1 and 3 words. Full calculation: בַּשְּׁפֵלָ֑ה [in·the·Lowland] (417) + אֶשְׁתָּא֥וֹל [Eshtaol] (738) + וְצׇרְעָ֖ה [and·Zorah] (371) + וְאַשְׁנָֽה [and·Ashnah] (362) = 1888.
Verse structure: 5 words, 23 letters. The shortest word is "and·En-" (וְעֵ֣ין, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Enam" (וְהָעֵינָֽם, 6 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Enam" (וְהָעֵינָֽם). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·En-" (root עין, 24x in Joshua). Full calculation: וְזָנ֙וֹחַ֙ [and·Zanoah] (77) + וְעֵ֣ין [and·En-] (136) + גַּנִּ֔ים [gardens] (103) + תַּפּ֖וּחַ [Tappuah] (494) + וְהָעֵינָֽם [and·Enam] (181) = 991.
Verse structure: 4 words, 19 letters. The shortest word is "Socoh" (שׂוֹכֹ֖ה, 4 letters) and the longest is "Jarmuth" (יַרְמוּת֙, 5 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Adullam" (וַֽעֲדֻלָּ֔ם), "Socoh" (שׂוֹכֹ֖ה), "and·Azekah" (וַעֲזֵקָֽה). 4 unique roots are used. Full calculation: יַרְמוּת֙ [Jarmuth] (656) + וַֽעֲדֻלָּ֔ם [and·Adullam] (150) + שׂוֹכֹ֖ה [Socoh] (331) + וַעֲזֵקָֽה [and·Azekah] (188) = 1325.
Radak
"Socoh and Azekah." And furthermore, further on it mentions Socoh again, and likewise Ashnah is mentioned in two places; they are called by the same name, and one of them should have had an additional name to distinguish between them, but this is not mentioned in the text.
and Shaaraim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, with Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.
verse value 3589
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 45 letters. The shortest word is "cities" (עָרִ֥ים, 4 letters) and the longest is "four·ten" (אַרְבַּֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה, 8 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Shaaraim" (וְשַׁעֲרַ֙יִם֙), "and·Adithaim" (וַֽעֲדִיתַ֔יִם), "and·Gederah" (וְהַגְּדֵרָ֖ה). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua); "four·ten" (root ארבע, 20x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Gederothaim', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. 5 of the verse's 7 words begin with the letter ו. Full calculation: וְשַׁעֲרַ֙יִם֙ [and·Shaaraim] (626) + וַֽעֲדִיתַ֔יִם [and·Adithaim] (540) + וְהַגְּדֵרָ֖ה [and·Gederah] (223) + וּגְדֵרֹתָ֑יִם [and·Gederothaim] (663) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + אַרְבַּֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [four·ten] (848) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 3589.
Rashi
Fourteen cities with their villages. And in their detail fifteen. I say that Tappuah and its spring are one, and its explanation is Tappuah and its spring, which is En-tappuah mentioned in Manasseh's inheritance: unto the inhabitants of En-tappuah.
Radak
“Fourteen cities.” And in their detailed enumeration, you will find fifteen; and it is possible that Gederah and Gederothaim are one and the same city.
Metzudat David
"Gederah and Gederothaim." It is one city, called by two names:
Verse structure: 3 words, 15 letters. The shortest word is "Zenan" (צְנָ֥ן, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Migdal-gad" (וּמִגְדַּל־גָּֽד, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Zenan" (צְנָ֥ן), "and·Hadashah" (וַחֲדָשָׁ֖ה), "and·Migdal-gad" (וּמִגְדַּל־גָּֽד). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: צְנָ֥ן [Zenan] (190) + וַחֲדָשָׁ֖ה [and·Hadashah] (323) + וּמִגְדַּל־גָּֽד [and·Migdal-gad] (90) = 603.
Metzudat David
Tzannan. Etc. These too were located in the lowlands, but in a different district; therefore, He listed these separately and those separately. Likewise, it is stated everywhere that He listed these alone and those alone.
Verse structure: 3 words, 17 letters. The shortest word is "and·Dilan" (וְדִלְעָ֥ן, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Mizpeh" (וְהַמִּצְפֶּ֖ה, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Dilan" (וְדִלְעָ֥ן), "and·Joktheel" (וְיׇקְתְאֵֽל). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְדִלְעָ֥ן [and·Dilan] (160) + וְהַמִּצְפֶּ֖ה [and·Mizpeh] (226) + וְיׇקְתְאֵֽל [and·Joktheel] (547) = 933.
Verse structure: 3 words, 15 letters. The shortest word is "Lachish" (לָכִ֥ישׁ, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Eglon" (וְעֶגְלֽוֹן, 6 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Bozkath" (וּבׇצְקַ֖ת), "and·Eglon" (וְעֶגְלֽוֹן). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: לָכִ֥ישׁ [Lachish] (360) + וּבׇצְקַ֖ת [and·Bozkath] (598) + וְעֶגְלֽוֹן [and·Eglon] (165) = 1123.
Verse structure: 3 words, 16 letters. The shortest word is "and·Cabbon" (וְכַבּ֥וֹן, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·one of the lowland towns of Judah" (וְכִתְלִֽישׁ, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Cabbon" (וְכַבּ֥וֹן), "and·Lahmas" (וְלַחְמָ֖ס), "and·one of the lowland towns of Judah" (וְכִתְלִֽישׁ). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְכַבּ֥וֹן [and·Cabbon] (84) + וְלַחְמָ֖ס [and·Lahmas] (144) + וְכִתְלִֽישׁ [and·one of the lowland towns of Judah] (766) = 994.
and Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages.
verse value 3284
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 40 letters. The shortest word is "cities" (עָרִ֥ים, 4 letters) and the longest is "Beth-dagon" (בֵּית־דָּג֥וֹן, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Gederoth" (וּגְדֵר֕וֹת), "Beth-dagon" (בֵּית־דָּג֥וֹן), "and·Naamah" (וְנַעֲמָ֖ה). 7 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Makkedah', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּגְדֵר֕וֹת [and·Gederoth] (619) + בֵּית־דָּג֥וֹן [Beth-dagon] (475) + וְנַעֲמָ֖ה [and·Naamah] (171) + וּמַקֵּדָ֑ה [and·Makkedah] (155) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + שֵׁשׁ־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [something bleached white·ten] (1175) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 3284.
Metzudat David
"Gederoth, Beth-dagon." These are two towns, one called Gederoth and the other Beth-dagon.
and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages.
verse value 2278
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. The shortest word is "nine" (תֵּ֖שַׁע, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·their·villages" (וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Keilah" (וּקְעִילָ֥ה), "and·Achzib" (וְאַכְזִ֖יב), "and·Mareshah" (וּמָֽרֵאשָׁ֑ה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Mareshah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּקְעִילָ֥ה [and·Keilah] (221) + וְאַכְזִ֖יב [and·Achzib] (46) + וּמָֽרֵאשָׁ֑ה [and·Mareshah] (552) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + תֵּ֖שַׁע [nine] (770) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 2278.
from Ekron even to the sea, all that were by the side of Ashdod, with their villages.
verse value 1876
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 31 letters. The shortest word is "all" (כֹּ֛ל, 2 letters) and the longest is "that·is·beside" (אֲשֶׁר־עַל־יַ֥ד, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "from·Ekron" (מֵעֶקְר֖וֹן), "and·westward" (וָיָ֑מָּה), "that·is·beside" (אֲשֶׁר־עַל־יַ֥ד). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "that·is·beside" (root אשר, 271x in Joshua); "all" (root כל, 96x in Joshua); "and·westward" (root ים, 40x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·westward', dividing the verse into phrases of 2 and 4 words. Full calculation: מֵעֶקְר֖וֹן [from·Ekron] (466) + וָיָ֑מָּה [and·westward] (61) + כֹּ֛ל [all] (50) + אֲשֶׁר־עַל־יַ֥ד [that·is·beside] (615) + אַשְׁדּ֖וֹד [Ashdod] (315) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 1876.
Metzudat David
From Ekron and westward, etc. From Ekron westward, all the cities near the place of Ashdod belonged to Judah, as well as the villages of those cities.
Metzudat Zion
עַל יָד (al yad, near). [Meaning] at a place, like (II Samuel 18:18) "yad Avshalom" [the monument of Absalom].
Ashdod, its towns and its villages; Gaza, its towns and its villages; to the Brook of Egypt, the Great Sea being the border thereof.
verse value 2725
Insights
Verse structure: 12 words, 61 letters. The shortest word is "strong" (עַזָּ֛ה, 3 letters) and the longest is "her·daughters" (בְּנוֹתֶ֣יהָ, 6 letters). Words sharing gematria 473: her·daughters, her·daughters. 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "strong" (עַזָּ֛ה), "until·torrent" (עַד־נַ֣חַל). The root בת appears 2 times in this verse. 9 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "border" (root גבול, 84x in Joshua); "and·the·sea" (root ים, 40x in Joshua); "and·its·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'Egypt', dividing the verse into phrases of 8 and 4 words. Full calculation: אַשְׁדּ֞וֹד [Ashdod] (315) + בְּנוֹתֶ֣יהָ [her·daughters] (473) + וַחֲצֵרֶ֗יהָ [and·its·villages] (319) + עַזָּ֛ה [strong] (82) + בְּנוֹתֶ֥יהָ [her·daughters] (473) + וַחֲצֵרֶ֖יהָ [and·its·villages] (319) + עַד־נַ֣חַל [until·torrent] (162) + מִצְרָ֑יִם [Egypt] (380) + וְהַיָּ֥ם [and·the·sea] (61) + (הגבול) [border] (46) + הַגָּד֖וֹל [the·great] (48) + וּגְבֽוּל [and·border] (47) = 2725.
Rashi
And the Great Sea, and its border. Islands in the sea that they call 'alshish' in Old French.
Radak
"And the great sea and the boundary." It is written "the boundary," meaning that the sea was their boundary, and it is read "the great."
Metzudat David
“Until the Wadi of Egypt.” This refers to the southern border of the territory of Judah.
"And the Great Sea." This means, "and up to the Great Sea," which was located in its west.
And the border. Also the border of the sea includes the islands in the sea; they too are reckoned as part of the inheritance of Judah.
And in the hill-country: Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh;
verse value 1726
Insights
Verse structure: 4 words, 18 letters. The shortest word is "and·in·the·mountain" (וּבָהָ֑ר, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Jattir" (וְיַתִּ֖יר, 5 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·in·the·mountain" (וּבָהָ֑ר), "thorns" (שָׁמִ֥יר), "and·Jattir" (וְיַתִּ֖יר). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·in·the·mountain" (root הר, 39x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·in·the·mountain', dividing the verse into phrases of 1 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּבָהָ֑ר [and·in·the·mountain] (213) + שָׁמִ֥יר [thorns] (550) + וְיַתִּ֖יר [and·Jattir] (626) + וְשׂוֹכֹֽה [and·Socoh] (337) = 1726.
Verse structure: 4 words, 18 letters. Verse gematria: 1118 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "she" (הִ֥יא, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Kiriath-sannah" (וְקִרְיַת־סַנָּ֖ה, 8 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Dannah" (וְדַנָּ֥ה), "and·Kiriath-sannah" (וְקִרְיַת־סַנָּ֖ה). 4 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "she" (root הוא, 77x in Joshua); "Debir" (root דבר, 68x in Joshua). Full calculation: וְדַנָּ֥ה [and·Dannah] (65) + וְקִרְיַת־סַנָּ֖ה [and·Kiriath-sannah] (831) + הִ֥יא [she] (16) + דְבִֽר [Debir] (206) = 1118.
Verse structure: 3 words, 15 letters. The shortest word is "and·Anab" (וַעֲנָ֥ב, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Eshtemoh" (וְאֶשְׁתְּמֹ֖ה, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Anab" (וַעֲנָ֥ב), "and·Eshtemoh" (וְאֶשְׁתְּמֹ֖ה), "and·Anim" (וְעָנִֽים). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וַעֲנָ֥ב [and·Anab] (128) + וְאֶשְׁתְּמֹ֖ה [and·Eshtemoh] (752) + וְעָנִֽים [and·Anim] (176) = 1056.
and Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages.
verse value 2170
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 30 letters. The shortest word is "and·Goshen" (וְגֹ֥שֶׁן, 4 letters) and the longest is "eleven" (אַחַת־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה, 7 letters). 4 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Goshen" (וְגֹ֥שֶׁן), "and·Holon" (וְחֹלֹ֖ן), "and·Giloh" (וְגִלֹ֑ה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "eleven" (root אחד, 52x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Giloh', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְגֹ֥שֶׁן [and·Goshen] (359) + וְחֹלֹ֖ן [and·Holon] (94) + וְגִלֹ֑ה [and·Giloh] (44) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + אַחַת־עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה [eleven] (984) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 2170.
Verse structure: 3 words, 13 letters. The shortest word is "Arab" (אֲרַ֥ב, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·Rumah" (וְרוּמָ֖ה, 5 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Rumah" (וְרוּמָ֖ה), "and·Eshan" (וְאֶשְׁעָֽן). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: אֲרַ֥ב [Arab] (203) + וְרוּמָ֖ה [and·Rumah] (257) + וְאֶשְׁעָֽן [and·Eshan] (427) = 887.
Verse structure: 4 words, 23 letters. Verse gematria: 1332 is divisible by 18, the value of chai ('life'). The shortest word is "and·Janum" (וְיָנ֥וּם, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Beth-tappuah" (וּבֵית־תַּפּ֖וּחַ, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Janum" (וְיָנ֥וּם), "and·Beth-tappuah" (וּבֵית־תַּפּ֖וּחַ), "and·Aphekah" (וַאֲפֵֽקָה). 4 unique roots are used.
Verse structure: 4 words, 17 letters. Notable word values: "and·Juttah" (וְיוּטָּֽה) = 36, double chai. The shortest word is "Maon" (מָע֥וֹן, 4 letters) and the longest is "and·Juttah" (וְיוּטָּֽה, 5 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Carmel" (כַּרְמֶ֖ל), "and·Ziph" (וָזִ֥יף), "and·Juttah" (וְיוּטָּֽה). 4 unique roots are used. Full calculation: מָע֥וֹן [Maon] (166) + כַּרְמֶ֖ל [Carmel] (290) + וָזִ֥יף [and·Ziph] (103) + וְיוּטָּֽה [and·Juttah] (36) = 595.
Metzudat David
And "zayif." This is not the "zayif" mentioned above (verse 24):
Verse structure: 3 words, 18 letters. The shortest word is "and·Zanoah" (וְזָנֽוֹחַ, 5 letters) and the longest is "and·Jezreel" (וְיִזְרְעֶ֥אל, 7 letters). 2 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Jezreel" (וְיִזְרְעֶ֥אל), "and·Jokdeam" (וְיׇקְדְעָ֖ם). 3 unique roots are used. Full calculation: וְיִזְרְעֶ֥אל [and·Jezreel] (324) + וְיׇקְדְעָ֖ם [and·Jokdeam] (230) + וְזָנֽוֹחַ [and·Zanoah] (77) = 631.
Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages.
verse value 2005
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 27 letters. The shortest word is "ten" (עֶ֖שֶׂר, 3 letters) and the longest is "and·their·villages" (וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן, 7 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "the·Kain" (הַקַּ֖יִן), "Gibeah" (גִּבְעָ֣ה), "and·Timnah" (וְתִמְנָ֑ה). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Timnah', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: הַקַּ֖יִן [the·Kain] (165) + גִּבְעָ֣ה [Gibeah] (80) + וְתִמְנָ֑ה [and·Timnah] (501) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + עֶ֖שֶׂר [ten] (570) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 2005.
Verse structure: 3 words, 16 letters. The shortest word is "Halhul" (חַלְח֥וּל, 5 letters) and the longest is "Beth-zur" (בֵּֽית־צ֖וּר, 6 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "Halhul" (חַלְח֥וּל), "Beth-zur" (בֵּֽית־צ֖וּר), "and·Gedor" (וּגְדֽוֹר). 3 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "Beth-zur" (root בית, 65x in Joshua). Full calculation: חַלְח֥וּל [Halhul] (82) + בֵּֽית־צ֖וּר [Beth-zur] (708) + וּגְדֽוֹר [and·Gedor] (219) = 1009.
and Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages.
verse value 3536
Insights
Verse structure: 6 words, 32 letters. Verse gematria: 3536 is divisible by 26, the value of the divine name Hashem. The shortest word is "six" (שֵׁ֖שׁ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·Beth-anoth" (וּבֵית־עֲנ֖וֹת, 8 letters). 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Maarath" (וּמַעֲרָ֥ת), "and·Beth-anoth" (וּבֵית־עֲנ֖וֹת), "and·Eltekon" (וְאֶלְתְּקֹ֑ן). 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "cities" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·Beth-anoth" (root בית, 65x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'and·Eltekon', dividing the verse into phrases of 3 and 3 words. Full calculation: וּמַעֲרָ֥ת [and·Maarath] (716) + וּבֵית־עֲנ֖וֹת [and·Beth-anoth] (944) + וְאֶלְתְּקֹ֑ן [and·Eltekon] (587) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + שֵׁ֖שׁ [six] (600) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 3536.
In the wilderness: Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah;
verse value 1157
Insights
Verse structure: 5 words, 22 letters. Verse gematria: 1157 is divisible by 13, the value of echad ('one') and ahavah ('love'). The shortest word is "house·of" (בֵּ֚ית, 3 letters) and the longest is "in·the·wilderness" (בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר, 5 letters). 1 word in this verse appears nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Secacah" (וּסְכָכָֽה). 5 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "house·of" (root בית, 65x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'in·the·wilderness', dividing the verse into phrases of 1 and 4 words. Full calculation: בַּמִּדְבָּ֑ר [in·the·wilderness] (248) + בֵּ֚ית [house·of] (412) + הָעֲרָבָ֔ה [the·Arabah] (282) + מִדִּ֖ין [Middin] (104) + וּסְכָכָֽה [and·Secacah] (111) = 1157.
and Nibshan, and the City of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages.
verse value 2224
Insights
Verse structure: 7 words, 34 letters. The shortest word is "six" (שֵׁ֖שׁ, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·city·of·the·salt" (וְעִיר־הַמֶּ֖לַח, 8 letters). Words sharing gematria 369: and·city·of·the·salt, and·their·villages. 3 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Nibshan" (וְהַנִּבְשָׁ֥ן), "and·city·of·the·salt" (וְעִיר־הַמֶּ֖לַח), "gedi" (גֶּ֑דִי). The root עיר appears 2 times in this verse. 6 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "and·city·of·the·salt" (root עיר, 138x in Joshua); "and·their·villages" (root חצר, 36x in Joshua); "and·En-" (root עין, 24x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'gedi', dividing the verse into phrases of 4 and 3 words. Full calculation: וְהַנִּבְשָׁ֥ן [and·Nibshan] (413) + וְעִיר־הַמֶּ֖לַח [and·city·of·the·salt] (369) + וְעֵ֣ין [and·En-] (136) + גֶּ֑דִי [gedi] (17) + עָרִ֥ים [cities] (320) + שֵׁ֖שׁ [six] (600) + וְחַצְרֵיהֶֽן [and·their·villages] (369) = 2224.
And as for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Judah at Jerusalem, to this day.
verse value 3910
Insights
Verse structure: 15 words, 82 letters. The shortest word is "until" (עַ֖ד, 2 letters) and the longest is "and·Jebusite" (וְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙, 9 letters). 5 words in this verse appear nowhere else in Joshua. Unique to this verse in Joshua (hapax): "and·Jebusite" (וְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙), "dwelling" (יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י), "not·prevailed" (לֹא־יָכְל֥וּ). The root ישב appears 2 times in this verse. 12 unique roots are used. Frequent roots: "sons·of·Judah" (root בן, 156x in Joshua); "day" (root יום, 79x in Joshua); "dwelling" (root ישב, 51x in Joshua). The etnachta (major mid-verse pause) falls on 'to·dispossess·them', dividing the verse into phrases of 7 and 8 words.
Rashi
The children of Judah could not dispossess them. We learned in Sifrei: R. Joshua ben Korcha says: they were able to, but they were not permitted because of the oath that Abraham swore to Abimelech. And Jebusite is not after the nation, but the tower of David which was in Jerusalem and its name was Yebus. And the children of that district were from the Philistines. And when the children of Judah conquered Jerusalem they did not dispossess the children of that district.
Radak
They could not dispossess them. It is written "they could," for even in the future they would not be able to do so until David came. And we read it as "they could not," for they were unable then to dispossess them at the time of the conquest of the land. And our Sages of blessed memory said: They were able, but they were not permitted, because of the oath that Abraham swore to Abimelech. And this Jebusite was not one of the seven nations [subject to the oath of eradication], but rather a single man whose name was Jebus, and he was a Philistine, from the seed of Abimelech. And the place was called after his name, Jebus. And the people of that family, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, their name was Jebusites, tracing their lineage to Jebus. And so too was Ornan the Jebusite, who was the king of that place. And the fortress of this place is Zion, which is in Jerusalem. And until David, this place was not conquered. And according to the opinion of our Sages of blessed memory, they did not conquer it because of the oath. And David removed the blind and the lame, who were copper idols, and upon them was written the matter of the oath. And afterward he conquered that tower. And afterward David purchased the City of the Jebusites for Israel with a sale of gold, in writing, for an eternal possession, as it is said, "And David gave to Ornan for the place..." And furthermore, they said that the oath was "to me, and to my son's son, and to my grandson." And when the sons of Judah conquered Jerusalem, the grandson of Abimelech was still alive, and they could not conquer the fortress yet because of the oath. And in the days of David, the grandson was no longer alive. And it is also written similarly in the Book of Samuel. And according to the simple meaning, the fortress was strong, and there was no strength in the sons of Judah to dispossess them. Perhaps there was a cause from the Lord that that fortress not be captured until David, king of Israel, reigned, so that it would be called after his name, for he was the head of the kingdom of Israel. And what it says "to this day," Joshua wrote thus, for he wrote his book according to tradition, and in his days they had not dispossessed them from Jerusalem. And even in the days of David we find that they were still there.
Metzudat David
The Jebusite. The name of the nation:
The children of Judah could not dispossess them. For they too had a portion in Jerusalem, together with the children of Benjamin, as our Sages of blessed memory said (Zevachim 53b): “A strip extended from the portion of Judah, etc.”
Malbim
"And the Jebusite." The contradiction that exists from here to the Book of Judges (chapter 1), I have written and explained correctly (there, verse 8):
Rashi
Radak
Metzudat David
Metzudat Zion