Original Word: דִּלְעָן
Part of Speech: Proper Name Location
Transliteration: Dil`an
Pronunciation: dee-LAHN
Phonetic Spelling: (dil-awn')
KJV: Dilean
NASB: Dilean
Word Origin: [of uncertain derivation]

1. Dilan, a place in Israel

Dilean

Of uncertain derivation; Dilan, a place in Palestine -- Dilean.

Word Origin
from Delilah
Definition
a city in Judah
NASB Translation
Dilean (1).

דִּלְעָן proper name, of a location a city of Judah, Joshua 15:38.

Geographical Setting

Dilean belongs to the Shephelah—the gently rolling lowlands that lie between the coastal plain of Philistia and the Judean hill country. This zone provided Judah with fertile fields for grain and vineyards, strategic access to trade routes, and a buffer against coastal aggressors. By locating Dilean among a cluster that includes Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, Mizpeh, and Joktheel, Scripture places it in the south-western portion of Judah’s allotment.

Biblical Occurrence

Joshua 15:38 lists the town in the territorial survey of Judah: “Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel”. No further narrative is attached to the name; nonetheless, its inclusion testifies to the meticulous fulfillment of God’s promise that every tribe would receive a defined inheritance in the land (Joshua 13:7; Joshua 21:45).

Historical Context

1. Settlement Pattern: The Shephelah towns were fortified agricultural centers. Excavations at comparable sites show four-room houses, rock-cut cisterns, and defensive walls dating to the Late Bronze and early Iron Ages—matching Joshua’s timeframe.
2. Strategic Value: Control of the lowlands meant guarding the approach to the Judean highlands. Judah’s ability to hold towns like Dilean curbed Philistine expansion until periods of national unfaithfulness (Judges 13:1).
3. Covenant Record: Chronicling even the smaller villages served as a legal title deed for future generations returning from exile (Nehemiah 11:25-30 echoes the precedent).

Possible Site Identification

Scholars have proposed Khirbet Dila, Tel el-Duweir region, or Khirbet Deir el-‘Aroub, all lying within the Shephelah corridor between Lachish and the Judean hills. None is certain, but each candidate underscores proximity to vital valleys such as the Elah and the Lachish, reinforcing Dilean’s role in Judah’s agricultural and military infrastructure.

Theological and Ministry Insights

• Faithfulness in Detail: That Scripture records a single-line mention of Dilean highlights God’s concern for every locale and person within His covenant community.
• Corporate Inheritance: Dilean stands as a reminder that the promises to Judah were corporate; even modest towns shared equally in the blessing. This foreshadows the New Testament truth that every member of Christ’s body possesses a divinely apportioned role (1 Corinthians 12:18).
• Stewardship of Land: Judah’s obligation to cultivate and defend Dilean models responsible stewardship of the resources God entrusts to His people (Deuteronomy 6:10-12).

Related Themes

1. Territorial Lists—Numbers 34; Joshua 19.
2. Shephelah Conflicts—1 Samuel 17; 2 Chronicles 26:10.
3. Restoration of Towns after Exile—Nehemiah 3; Nehemiah 11.

Modern Relevance for Believers

Believers often overlook the “Dileans” of life—seemingly minor ministries, unnoticed congregations, or quiet acts of service. Yet their inclusion in God’s record assures that nothing devoted to Him is insignificant (Hebrews 6:10). Just as Dilean occupied a strategic though humble place in Judah, so every believer and local church occupies a vital position in the unfolding plan of God.

וְדִלְעָ֥ן ודלען vedilAn wə·ḏil·‘ān wəḏil‘ānInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts