יהושע, פרק י״ט, פסוק ה׳

The allocation of ancient cities often reveals a deep historical background, tracking how settlements changed hands and how their names evolved across different records.

One notable location is Ziklag. While initially under the control of the Philistines, it eventually passed into Israelite hands and became an integrated part of the territory belonging to the kings of Judah [ביאור שטיינזלץ].

Other nearby settlements stand out because of their distinct absence in parallel biblical records. Specifically, Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah are entirely missing from the comprehensive list of cities assigned to the tribe of Judah. Over time, the exact way these locations were recorded also shifted slightly. In the Book of Chronicles, for instance, these same settlements appear with minor textual variations, such as the removal of a definite article or a shift into a plural form [מלבי״ם].