Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Even though this verse is a simple list of cities, the name "Hormah" carries the weight of a past defeat. It means "destruction" or "devotion to utter destruction," a stark reminder of the Israelites' initial loss to the Canaanites there before they eventually conquered the land.
Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a lengthy list of cities and their territories assigned to the tribe of Judah. It follows earlier discussions about Caleb's inheritance and includes details about specific families and geographical divisions within Judah's allotted land. Later verses in this chapter will also mention cities that Judah was unable to conquer, highlighting ongoing challenges even after the initial division of the land.
Some cities in this list aren't just geographical markers; they carry the weight of past failures, reminding us that history, even within God's promises, has its scars.
Joshua 15:30 names three cities: Eltolad, Chesil, and Hormah. While Eltolad and Chesil have less prominent mentions, Hormah stands out.
The Shame of Hormah
Hormah's name is directly linked to a tragic defeat. In Numbers 14, the Israelites, after hearing the spies' fearful report, decided to march into the Promised Land against God's command. They were severely beaten by the Amalekites and Canaanites in the region of Hormah. The name itself comes from a Hebrew word meaning 'destruction' or 'devotion to destruction' – a stark reminder of their disobedience.
Later, in Joshua 19, we see the tribe of Simeon receiving cities, including Hormah. This means that even though this place was once a symbol of their failure, God, in His grace, reassigns it as an inheritance for His people. It's a testament to His faithfulness, even when His people falter.
This short list of cities hints at a complex reality: the Promised Land wasn't always neatly divided. Sometimes, one tribe's inheritance overlapped with another's.
The cities of Eltolad, Chesil, and Hormah are listed here as part of Judah's territory in Joshua 15. However, commentators like Gill point out that these very same cities were later assigned to the tribe of Simeon in Joshua 19.
A Shared Territory
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This overlap wasn't an administrative error; it reflects God's sovereign plan for His people. The tribe of Simeon, being smaller and more scattered, received their portion within the territory allotted to Judah. This arrangement demonstrates:
Understand the original words
Chormah · Hebrew Proper Noun
A name derived from the Hebrew root for 'to devote' or 'to destroy,' often referring to something or someone set apart exclusively for God, usually through total destruction as a judgment against idolatry or evil. In Joshua, it marks a site where a vow was made to God to destroy the enemies of Israel.
These cities were part of Judah's vast inheritance, but some, like Hormah, carry a history of both struggle and eventual Israelite control, highlighting the complex process of establishing God's people in the Promised Land.
c. 1405 BC
Conquest of Canaan begins
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites begin their military campaign to conquer the land of Canaan after crossing the Jordan River.
c. 1400 BC
Land Allotted to Tribes
Following the conquest, the land of Canaan is systematically divided by lot among the twelve tribes of Israel, with Judah receiving a significant portion.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Judah's Inheritance Defined
The specific cities and territories belonging to the tribe of Judah are detailed, including those in the southern regions near Edom, laying the groundwork for later settlements and administrative divisions.
c. 1375 BC
Hormah's Name Origin
The city later known as Hormah was previously called Zephath, and it gained its new name after the Israelites suffered a devastating defeat by the Canaanites there, a significant event remembered in the book of Numbers.
c. 1000 BC
David's Rise to Kingship
Bethlehem, a city within Judah's territory, becomes prominent as the birthplace of King David, a pivotal figure in Israel's history.
This passage directly recounts the disastrous defeat of Israel by the Amalekites and Canaanites at Hormah, giving historical weight to the city's name and significance.
Judges 1:17This verse links Hormah (called Zephath here) to Simeon's conquest, showing the ongoing struggle for these territories and how Simeon received this city as part of his inheritance.
Joshua 19:4This passage confirms that Eltolad, Chesil, and Hormah were assigned to the tribe of Simeon, highlighting the complex distribution of cities and territories within Israel.
1 Samuel 30:14This verse mentions the territory of the Cherethites and Judah, near the south where Hormah was located, providing geographical context for these southern cities.
1 Chronicles 4:29-30This passage provides an alternative name (Tolah) for Eltolad and links Chesil with Bethuel, offering a fuller picture of these cities and their inhabitants as recorded later in Scripture.
calvinJoshua 15:14-63: "And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak."
- And it came to pass as she came unto him, etc Although we may conjecture that the damsel Acsa was of excellent morals and well brought up, as marriage with her had been held forth as the special reward [149] of victory, yet perverse cupidity on her part is here disclosed. She knew that by the divine law women were specially excluded from hereditary lands, but she neverthe…
gillJoshua 15:30: "And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,"
And Eltolad,.... The first of these cities is called Tolad, 1 Chronicles 4:29 , and Chesil seems to be the same with Bethul and Bethuel, Joshua 19:4 1 Chronicles 4:30; and here the Greek version calls it Baithel: and Hormah is the same with Zephath, Judges 1:17. All these three cities were given to the tribe of Simeon, Joshua 19:4.
Even though this verse is a simple list of cities, the name "Hormah" carries the weight of a past defeat. It means "destruction" or "devotion to utter destruction," a stark reminder of the Israelites' initial loss to the Canaanites there before they eventually conquered the land.
This passage is part of a lengthy list of cities and their territories assigned to the tribe of Judah. It follows earlier discussions about Caleb's inheritance and includes details about specific families and geographical divisions within Judah's allotted land. Later verses in this chapter will also mention cities that Judah was unable to conquer, highlighting ongoing challenges even after the initial division of the land.
This passage is part of a lengthy list of cities and their territories assigned to the tribe of Judah. It follows earlier discussions about Caleb's inheritance and includes details about specific families and geographical divisions within Judah's allotted land. Later verses in this chapter will also mention cities that Judah was unable to conquer, highlighting ongoing challenges even after the initial division of the land.
"Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah," — Even though this verse is a simple list of cities, the name "Hormah" carries the weight of a past defeat. It means "destruction" or "devotion to utter destruction," a stark reminder of the Israelites…
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Last reviewed October 2026