Definition: And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and [his] border, [even] unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.

Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 13:27. It’s a really important and somewhat mysterious passage in the Bible. Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse describes the boundaries of the kingdom of Sihon – the ancient kingdom that existed in present-day southwestern Israel and Judah – before it was conquered by the Israelites. It’s like a map showing where the kingdom extended . Let's unpack it piece by piece: “Joshua 13:27” : This is the verse itself, giving us the context. “And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon…” : These are names of cities that were part of Sihon’s kingdom. "Betharam" means "the city," "Bethnimrah" means "the town," "Succoth" means "the orchard," and "Zaphon" means “the enclosure.” They were important settlements within his territory. “the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and [his] border…” : This is the crucial part. It tells us that Sihon’s kingdom extended into the area now known as Jordan. He had a border with the Kingdom of Heshbon (which is geographically in modern-day Lebanon). He also had a border with Jordan itself! “… unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.” : This is where it gets really interesting. "Chinnereth" was a large, deep body of water bordering the coast of what is now Israel. “Eastward” refers to the direction towards the east – that’s why it's called the "edge of the sea." So, this verse describes the western edge of the area that Sihon ruled, extending far into the eastern part of the region. In simpler terms: Sihon's kingdom was incredibly large and stretched across a significant portion of what is now Israel and Jordan. It had a lot of cities and settlements within its borders, and it extended as far east as the edge of the sea. Why is this important? This verse is often interpreted as foreshadowing the eventual destruction of Sihon’s kingdom by the Israelites. It suggests that Sihon's empire was unstable and ultimately vulnerable to being conquered. It's a powerful statement about the rise and fall of kingdoms! --- Do you want me to: Explain any part of this verse in more detail? Connect it to a specific biblical story or event? Give you some historical context about Sihon’s kingdom?