תִּמְנָה

תִּמְנָה

Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine

Definition

Timnah is the name of two distinct locations in ancient Israel. The first is a town in the hill country of Judah, mentioned in the tribal allotments (Joshua 15:10, 57) and later associated with the story of Samson, who sought a wife from the Philistines of Timnah (Judges 14:1-5). The second is a location in the northern territory of Dan (Joshua 19:43), which may be a different site. The name also appears in the narrative of Judah and Tamar, where Judah goes to Timnah to shear his sheep (Genesis 38:12-14).

Biblical Usage

The word is used exclusively as a proper noun for place names. It appears in narrative contexts within Genesis, Joshua, and Judges. In Genesis 38, it is the destination for Judah's business. In Joshua, it is listed in the territorial boundaries for Judah (Joshua 15:10) and among the cities of Judah (Joshua 15:57) and Dan (Joshua 19:43). Its most famous usage is in Judges 14, where it is the Philistine town from which Samson takes a wife, setting the stage for his conflicts.

Etymology

Derived from the root מָנָה (mānâ, H4487), meaning 'to count, number, or assign.' Timnah (תִּמְנָה) essentially means 'allotted portion' or 'assignment,' reflecting its nature as a designated territory or settlement within the tribal divisions of the land.

Semantic Range

As a geographical name, Timnah itself is not theologically loaded. However, its biblical appearances are theologically significant. In Genesis 38, Judah's journey to Timnah leads to his encounter with Tamar, a crucial event in the lineage of David and Christ. In Judges, Timnah represents the Philistine encroachment and cultural intermingling that Samson both participates in and judges, highlighting themes of God's sovereignty using flawed individuals and the conflict between Israel and the nations. Timnah's identity shifted based on period and control. The Judahite Timnah of Joshua's allotment was an Israelite town. By the time of Samson (Judges 14), it was under Philistine control, illustrating the fluid and contested borders during the period of the Judges. A town's affiliation could change, impacting its cultural and religious practices. חֵלֶק (ḥēleq, H2506) — A more general term for 'portion' or 'share,' often of land or inheritance, whereas Timnah is a specific place name derived from the concept of an allotment. נַחֲלָה (naḥălâ, H5159) — Refers specifically to an 'inheritance' or 'hereditary possession,' especially of land given by God, a broader concept than the named portion of Timnah.

Word Details