Joshua 15:53

53 Ianum et Bethafua et Afeca

Joshua 15:53 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 15:53

And Janum
Under the word "Janum", Jerom writes F12, there is a village called Janua, three miles from Legion to the south, but seems not to be what is written;

and Bethtappuah
is by Jerom called Bethaphu F13, and said to be a village in the tribe of Judah, fourteen miles beyond Raphia, as you go to Egypt, which is the border of Palestine;

and Aphekah;
Jerom speaks F14 of a large castle in his time called Apheca, near the town of Palestine; there were several places of the name of Aphek; (See Gill on Joshua 12:18). As for Bethtappuah, it seems to be a place which was dedicated to a deity to which apples were sacred, in memory of the apple by which mankind was seduced; there was in later times a goddess called Pomona from hence.


FOOTNOTES:

F12 De loc. Heb. fol. 92. I.
F13 Ibid. fol. 89. F.
F14 Ibid. fol. 88. D.

Joshua 15:53 In-Context

51 Gosen et Olon et Gilo civitates undecim et villae earum
52 Arab et Roma et Esaan
53 Ianum et Bethafua et Afeca
54 Ammatha et Cariatharbe haec est Hebron et Sior civitates novem et villae earum
55 Maon et Chermel et Zif et Iotae
The Latin Vulgate is in the public domain.