Joshua 21:23
And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
Original Language Analysis
וּמִמַּ֨טֵּה
And out of the tribe
H4294
וּמִמַּ֨טֵּה
And out of the tribe
Strong's:
H4294
Word #:
1 of 10
a branch (as extending); figuratively, a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction), ruling (a sceptre), throwing (a lance),
דָ֔ן
of Dan
H1835
דָ֔ן
of Dan
Strong's:
H1835
Word #:
2 of 10
dan, one of the sons of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory; likewise a place in palestine colonized by them
אֶֽת
H853
אֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
וְאֶת
H853
וְאֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
5 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִגְרָשֶֽׁהָ׃
with her suburbs
H4054
מִגְרָשֶֽׁהָ׃
with her suburbs
Strong's:
H4054
Word #:
6 of 10
a suburb (i.e., open country whither flocks are driven from pasture); hence, the area around a building, or the margin of the sea
אֶֽת
H853
אֶֽת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
7 of 10
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Historical Context
Gibbethon (Tell el-Melat) was a Philistine stronghold on Dan's western border. The repeated biblical mention of Israel besieging it (1 Kings 15:27; 16:15) shows it remained Philistine-controlled into the divided monarchy period, circa 900 BC—400 years after its supposed allocation to Levites. This failure illustrates the incomplete conquest's consequences. Eltekeh (Tell esh-Shallaf) appears in Sennacherib's annals as the site where he defeated an Egyptian relief force in 701 BC. Dan's coastal cities were perpetually contested territory.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Dan's failure to possess its inheritance warn against incomplete obedience to God's commands?
- What does God's allocation of Levitical cities in Dan, despite foreknowing that tribe's apostasy, teach about His character?
- How does Gibbethon's centuries-long Philistine occupation illustrate the long-term consequences of failing to drive out enemies?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs (מִמַּטֵּה־דָן אֶת־אֶלְתְּקֵה וְאֶת־גִּבְּתוֹן, mimateh-Dan et-Eltekeh ve'et-Gibbeton)—The shift to Dan introduces a tragic trajectory. Dan, assigned the fertile coastal plain, failed to drive out the Amorites and was "forced into the hill country" (Judges 1:34-35). Eventually most of the tribe migrated north and established idolatrous worship at Laish/Dan (Judges 18), creating one of Israel's two great apostasy centers under Jeroboam (1 Kings 12:28-30). Gibbethon witnessed this failure firsthand: Israel besieged it during Baasha's, Zimri's, and Omri's reigns (1 Kings 15:27; 16:15-17), indicating it remained under Philistine control for generations despite being allocated to Levites.
That God allocated Levitical cities in Dan despite foreknowing that tribe's apostasy demonstrates that divine provision precedes human response. The light was given; Dan chose darkness.