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Ithnan

biblical_place_name theological_term standard

A biblical town listed among the towns of Judah in the Old Testament.

At a Glance

A town in the tribal allotment of Judah, mentioned in Joshua 15.

Key Points

Description

Ithnan is the name of a town included in the list of Judah’s inherited territory in Joshua 15. The biblical text identifies it as part of Judah’s settlement pattern, but gives no extended narrative, doctrinal teaching, or historical detail about the place. For that reason, it is best treated as a geographical entry rather than as a theological term.

Biblical Context

Joshua records Ithnan among the towns in the southern hill country of Judah. The mention contributes to the larger picture of Israel’s tribal inheritance and settlement under God’s covenant promises.

Historical Context

Beyond its appearance in the Judah town list, Scripture does not preserve further historical detail about Ithnan. Its exact location has not been securely identified.

Jewish and Ancient Context

As with many minor biblical place names, Ithnan would have been understood as part of the inherited land of Judah and the covenant geography of Israel, even though little else is known about it.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew place name; the meaning is uncertain.

Theological Significance

Ithnan has little direct theological content, but it supports the biblical theme that God’s covenant promises were worked out in real places and historical boundaries.

Philosophical Explanation

This is a concrete geographic referent rather than an abstract idea. Its value lies in historical and canonical context, not in doctrinal symbolism.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not overinterpret Ithnan or assign it symbolic meaning the text does not provide. Its exact site is uncertain, and Scripture does not develop it beyond a town name.

Major Views

There is no major doctrinal debate about Ithnan. The only common issue is the uncertainty of its modern identification and location.

Doctrinal Boundaries

Ithnan should be treated as a historical-biblical place name, not as a doctrine, symbol, or test case for theology.

Practical Significance

It reminds readers that biblical revelation is grounded in real history and geography, even in brief town lists.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Ithnan

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