Definition: And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this [was] the south coast.
Explanation: Okay, let’s break down this verse from Joshua 18:19. It's a really important part of understanding how God planned for the Israelites’ conquest of Canaan (modern-day Israel and Palestine). Here’s what it means in simpler terms: Basically, it describes the edge of the border that the Israelites were establishing. Let’s unpack it piece by piece: “And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward…” – This tells us they were marking a boundary line. “Bethhoglah” is an ancient name for the area around the Jordan River, and "northward" means moving towards the north. “…and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan…” – This is where it gets a little more specific. “Outgoings” refers to things that come out from the boundary line. The “north bay” of the salt sea is a special place in the Mediterranean Sea, and the "south end of Jordan" indicates the southern part of the Jordan River Valley. So, the border was extending out towards the north, and it ended at this specific point in the sea. “this [was] the south coast.” - This is the key takeaway – this boundary line marked the southern coast of the land that would eventually become Israel. In a nutshell: The verse describes the exact location where the Israelites were establishing their borders and claiming territory in what is now the South Coast of modern-day Israel and Palestine. Why was this important? This geographical detail was crucial for the Israelites to know where they started and where they ended their conquest. It helped them understand the land, plan their settlements, and establish a clear boundary for their kingdom. --- Do you want me to: Explain another verse? Give you a little more context about the history of this area?