Definition: And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer: and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 16:3. It's a pretty important passage about a massive victory! Here's what it means in simpler terms: Basically, Joshua is telling us to move west and south towards the coast of Japhleti, then to the coast of Bethhoron (which is near Jerusalem), and finally to Gezer. Let’s unpack that a little further: “And goeth down westward…” – This means Joshua is heading in a specific direction. “…to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether…” - "The nether" refers to the lower part of the coast. “Japhleti” is a place along the coast and "Bethhoron" is a place near Jerusalem. So, he’s moving towards these two locations. “and to Gezer:” – Gezer was an important city that was captured by the Israelites. This means Joshua is going to a specific location – Gezer – that was part of the conquest. “…and to the sea.” - The verse ends with Joshua’s movement towards the sea. What does this all tell us? It's a crucial part of the story of the Israelites conquering and surrounding Canaan (modern-day Israel). It shows that Joshua is leading the army towards a strategic location – Gezer – where they will be able to secure their victory and control the land. It’s a significant step in the process of establishing Israel as a powerful nation. In short, this verse describes a military movement with a clear destination – toward the coast, then to Jerusalem, and finally into the sea. --- Do you want me to: Explain another part of Joshua 16? Give you some context about the story of the conquest of Canaan?