The interpretation timeline

Josh 15:1

How this passage has been read — the sources, oldest to newest.

From the early Church Fathers to now.

Josh 15:1 · Douay-Rheims

“Now the lot of the children of Juda by their kindreds was this: From the frontier of Edom, to the desert of Sin southward, and to the uttermost part of the south coast.”

Patristic before A.D. 750

254

A.D.

Origen Patristic

c. A.D. 184–253

“"The boundaries of Judah," it says, "were made according to their people from the borders of Edom and from the wilderness of Zin to the west." Therefore, the borders of Judah are next to the borders of Edom. But Edom, as we have already often said, means "earthly things." Therefore, the regions of Judah come just after earthly things. But it also says, "from the wilderness of Zin." Zin means "temptations." Therefore, the regions of the inheritance of Judah come after temptations.”

Source

254

A.D.

Origen Patristic

c. A.D. 184–253

“Moreover, "from the boundaries of Edom" is the wilderness of Zin. We said a little before that the wilderness of Zin signified "temptations," and therefore it was necessary for us to pass through the desert of temptations to attain to the inheritance of the sons of Judah.”

Source

Modern · 1953 →

The in-app commentary runs from the Fathers to the early-modern record, then stops — that's where the public-domain sources end, not where the reading does. For the modern reading, follow the sources directly.