Joshua 15

THis then was the lot For the general understanding of this business, it must be known, 1. That this work of casting Lots was transacted with great seriousness and solemnity in Gods presence, with Prayer and Appeal to him for the decision of the matter. 2. That although an exact survey of this Land was not taken till Iosh. 18. 4, 5. yet there was, and must needs be a general Description of it, and a division thereof into nine parts and a half; which, as far as they could guess, were equal either in Quantity or in Quality. 3. That the Lot did not at this time so peremptorily and unchangeably determine each Tribe, that their Portion could neither be increased nor diminished; as is manifest, because after Iudahs Lot was fixed, Simeons Lot was taken out of it, Iosh. 19. 9. though after the Land was more distinctly known and surveyed, Iosh. 18. it is likely the Bounds were more certain and fixed. 4. That the Lot determined only in general what part or quarter of the Land belonged to each Tribe, but left the particulars to be determined by Ioshua and Eleazar, &c. For the manner of this Lottery, it is probably conceived, that there were two Urns or Pots, into one of which were put the names of all the Tribes, each in a distinct Paper, and into the other the names of each Portion described; then Eleazar, or some other person, drew out first the name of one of the Tribes out of one Pot, and then the name of one Portion out of the other Pot, and that Portion was appropriated to that Tribe; and so the rest. And with respect to these Pots in the bottom of which the Papers lay, these Lots are oft said to come up, or come forth. of the tribe of the children of Judah Whose Lot came out first by Gods disposition, as a note of his Preeminency above his Brethren. by their families, even to the border of Edom Which lay Southeast from Iudahs Portion.; the wilderness of Zin southward, was the uttermost part of the south-coast:

And their south-border was from the shore of the salt-sea, from the † bay Heb. the Tongue; By which he understands either a creek or arm of that Sea; or a Promontory, which by learned Authors is sometimes called a Tongue; it is no... material to know. that looketh southward.

And it went out to the south-side Concerning this description of the Southern-Coast of Iudah, See Numb. 34. 3, 4, 5. to † Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south-side unto Kadesh-barnea: and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa.

From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south-coast.

And the east-border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan i. e. The place where Iordan runs into the Salt-sea.: and their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea, at the uttermost part of Jordan.

And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah Or, on the North, or Northward to Beth-arabah. Which place is attributed to Iudah here, v. 61. and to Benjamin, Josh. 18. 22. because it was a Frontier Town in the borders of Iudah and Benjamin, and therefore promiscuously belonging to both: which also was the case of some other places; and this Cohabitation was convenient to maintain brotherly love and union between the several Tribes, especially in the borders where differences oft arise., and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Renben A place so called, not from Bohan's dwelling there (for the Reubenites had no portion on this side Iordan) but from some notable exploit which he did there, though it be not recorded in Scripture..

And the border went up toward Debir A differing place from that Debir, v. 15. which was near Hebron, and remote from Iudahs border; as also from that Debir, Josh. 13. 26. which was beyond Iordan. from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal Either that Gilgal nigh Iordan, Josh. 4. 19. or another place of that name., that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river Or, brook, or valley.: and the border passed towards the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel.

And the border went up Properly, for the Line went from Iordan and the salt-Sea, to the higher grounds nigh Ierusalem; and therefore the Line is said to go down, Josh. 18. 16. because there it takes a contrary course, and goes downwards to Iordan and the Sea. by the valley of the son of Hinnom A very pleasant place, but afterward made infamous, 2 King. 23. 10, unto the south-side of the * Jebusite i. e. Of the City of the Iebusites, which was anciently called Iebusi, Josh. 18. last, Iudg. 19. 10., the same is Jerusalem It may seem hence, and from Deut. 33. 12. Iosh. 18. last. Iudg. 1. 21. that Ierusalem properly, or at least principally, belonged to Benjamin; and yet it is ascribed to Iudah also here, v. 63. and elsewhere, either because a part of the City was allotted to Iudah; or because the Benjamites needed or desired the help and conjunction of this powerful Tribe of Iudah for the getting and keeping of this most important place. And when the Benjamites had in vain attempted to drive out the Iebusites, this work was at last done by the Tribe of Iudah, who therefore had an interest in it by the right of war; as Ziglag which belonged to the Tribe of Simeon, being gotten from the Philistines by David, was adjoined by him to his Tribe of Iudah, 1 Sam. 27. 6.: and the border went up to the top of the mountain, that lieth before the valley of Hinnom, westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants, northward.

And the border was drawn from the top of the hill, unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron i. e. Belonging to, or bordering upon Mount Ephron. and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim.

And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir Not that of Edom, but another so called from some resemblance it had with that in quality., and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, (which is Chesalon) on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh Called Kiriath-baal, v. 60. and Iosh. 18. 14., and passed on to Timnah. t There were divers Cities of this name, this in Iudah here, and Iosh. 21. 16. 2 King. 14. 11. another in Issachar, and a third in Naphtali, Josh. 19. 22, 38.

And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward, and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel: and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

And the west border was to the great sea; and the coast thereof: this is the coast of the children of Judah round about, according to their families.

¶ And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he i. e. Ioshua, as appears by comparing this with Iosh. 14. 6. 12. 13. gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even † the city of Arba Or, Kiriath-arba. Not the City which was the Levites, but the Territory of it, Iosh. 21. 13. the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

And Caleb drove thence i. e. From the said Territory, from their Caves and Forts in it; compare Iosh. 14. 12. This and the following work was done either in Ioshuahs life-time, as may seem from Iosh. 11. 21. or after his death, as is related Iudg. 1. 10. These Giants having either recovered their Cities, or defended themselves in the mountains. the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai Either the same who are mentioned Numb. 13. 33. and so they were long-liv'd men, such as many were in those times and places: or their Sons, called by their Fathers names, which is very usual. the children of Anak.

And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir The same mentioned above, v. 7., and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher This c... ause seems to be added to distinguish this from the other Debir subdued by Ioshua, Josh. 10. 38, 39..

¶ And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achshah my daughter to wife Which is to be understood with some Conditions, as if he were one who could marry her by Gods Law; for every Promise contrary to that, is void; and if she were willing; for though Parents had a great Power over their Children, they could not force them to marry any person against their own wills. He might otherwise be an unfit and unworthy person; but this was no ordinary motion propounded to the imitation of others, but a divine impulse, that Othniel's valour might be more manifest, and so the way prepared for his future Government of the People, Iudg. 3. 9..

And Judg. 1. 13. and 3. 9. Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb Obj. This Marriage was unlawful. Ans. No, for it was not Othniel, but Kenaz who was Caleb's Brother; and besides, the word Brother is commonly used for any Kinsman; And that Caleb was not properly Othniels Brother, sufficiently appears, because Caleb is constantly called the Son of Iephunneh; and Othniel, the Son of Kenaz here, and 1 Chron. 4. 13. took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

And it came to pass as she came unto him Or, as she went, to wit, from her Fathers house to her Husbands, as the manner was; See on Matth. 1. 18., that she moved him to ask She persuaded her Husband either, 1. That he would ask: or rather, 2. That he would suffer her to ask, as she did. of her father a field, and she lighted off her ass That she might address her self to her Father in an humble posture, and as a Suppliant, which he understood by her gesture., and Caleb said unto her, What wouldst thou?

Who answered, Give me a blessing i. e. A gift, as that word signifies, Gen. 33. 11.: for thou hast given me a south land i. e. A dry Land, which was much exposed to the South-wind, which in those parts was very hot and drying, as coming from the Desarts of Arabia., give me also springs of water i. e. A Field, as she desired, v. 18. wherein are Sgrings of Water, which in that Countrey were of great Price; for it is not probable, that he would give her the Springs, and give to another the grounds in which the Springs were; who could thereby at their pleasure deprive her of the use and benefit of her Springs, so she begs a well moistned Field, which also might give some relief to that which was dry and barren.. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs i. e. Springs both in the higher and in the lower grounds; or two Fields, one in high, another in low grounds; or rather, one above, and the other below that South and dry ground which she complained of, that by this means it might be watered on both sides..

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah, according to their families.

And the uttermost cities Those which were on the borders of the Land, not the mid-land cities. It is apparent, that all the Cities belonging to this Tribe, are not mentioned in this Catalogue. of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom, southward, were Kabzeel Called Iekabzeel, Neh. 11. 25., and Eder, and Jagur;

And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,

And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan.

Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth.

And Hazor, Haddattah Possibly it should be read as one word, Hazor-haddattah, as there is Hazar-gaddah, v. 27. and Hasar-shual, v. 28. such compounded proper names being usual; and this may seem the more probable, because if Hazor and Haddattah were two different Cities, the conjunction and would have been put between them, as it is generally in the rest., and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor Or, which also is called Hazor; but to distinguish it from the other Hazor, v. 23. this was called also Hezron.,

Aman, and Shema Called also Seba, Jos. 19. 2., and Moladah,

And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet,

And Hazar-shual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,

Baalah, and lim, and Azem,

And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,

And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah.

And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine Obj. Here are 37, or 38 Cities named before; how then are they only reckoned 29? Ans. There were only 29 of them, which either, 1. Properly belonged to Iudah, the rest fell to Simeons Lot; or 2. Were Cities properly so called, i. e. walled Cities, or such as had Villages under them, as it here follows, the rest being great, but unwalled Towns, or such as had no Villages under them., with their villages.

And in the vale, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam.

Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,

And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities Obj. There are 15 numbred. Ans. Either one of them was no City strictly called; or, Gederah, and Gederothaim is put for Gederah, or Gederothaim, so called; possibly because the City was double, as there want not instances of one City divided into two parts, called the old and the new City. So the conjunction, and, is put for the disjunctive, or, whereof examples have been given before. with their villages.

Zenan, and Hedashah, and Migdal-gad,

And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,

Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,

And Cabbon, and Lahmas, and Kithlish,

And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages.

Libnah Heb. Libnah. See Ios. 10. 29., and Ether, and Ashan,

And Jiphta, and Ashnah, and Nezib,

And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages.

Ekron Here and in the following Verses are contained all the Cities of the Philistines, among which are Gath and Askelon, which peradventure are here omitted, because they were not at this time places of such Power and Eminency, as afterwards they were, but were the Daughters of some of these following Cities, though afterwards the Daughter might overtop the Mother, as is usual. with her † Towns Heb. Her Daughters, i. e. lesser Cities, or great Towns, subject to Ekrons Jurisdiction., and her villages i. e. Lesser Towns or Hamlets..

From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay † near Ashdod with their villages.

Ashdod with her † towns and her villages; Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof i. e. The Sea-Coast and all other Cities, Towns and Villages upon it..

¶ And in the mountains i. e. In the higher grounds called Mountains or Hills, in comparison of the Sea-Coast., Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,

And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir Which also is called Kiriath-sepher, above v. 15. So this City had three Names..

And Anab, and Esh... emoh, and Anim,

And Goshen See Ios. 10. 41., and Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages.

Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,

And * Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,

And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba, (which is Hebron) and Zior: nine cities with their villages.

Maon Of which see 1 Sam. 23. 25. and 25. 2., Carmel Nabals Country, 1 Sam. 25., and Ziph Which gave its name to the Neighbouring Mountain, 1 Sam. 26. 1., and Juttah,

And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,

Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages.

Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,

And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon: six cities with their villages.

Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim) and Rabbah: two cities with their villages.

¶ In the wilderness So the Hebrews call places either uninhabited by men, or having but few Inhabitants., Beth-arabah, Middin, and Seca... ah,

And Nibshan, and the city of salt So called either from the Salt Sea, which was near it; or from the Salt which was made in it, or about it., and Engedi: six cities with their villages.

As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jeru... em For though Ierusalem was in part taken by Ioshua before this; yet the upper and stronger part of it, called Zion, was still kept by the Iebusites, even until Davids time; and it seems from thence they descended to the lower Town called Ierusalem, and took it; so that the Israelites were forced to win it a second time; yea, and a third time also: for afterwards it was possessed by the Iebusites, Iudg. 19. 11. 2 Sam. 5. 6, 7., the children of Judah could not drive them out Namely, because of their unbelief, as Christ could do no mighty work—because of the peoples unbelief, Mark 6. 5, 6. Mat. 13. 58. and because of their Sloth, and Cowardise, and Wickedness, whereby they forfeited Gods help, and then they must needs be imporent; but this inability was wilful, and brought upon them by themselves.: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem The same things which are here said of the children of Iudah, are said of the Benjamites, Iudg. 1. 21. Hence ariseth a question, To which of the Tribes Ierusalem belonged? whether to Benjamin, as is gathered from Gen. 49. 27. Deut. 33. 12. Ier. 6. 1. or to Iudah, as is implied here, and Psal. 78. 68, 69. Some think, that being in the Borders of both, it was common to both, and promiscuously inhabited by both; and it is certain, that after the Captivity it was possessed by both, Neh. 11. 4. But for the present, though it did belong to Benjamin, yet the Children of Iudah being possibly very active in the first taking of it by Ioshua, as they certainly were after his Death, Iudg. 1. 8. they might thereby get some right to share with the Benjamites in the Possession of it. It seems most probable, that part of it, and indeed the greatest part, and main body of it, stood in the Tribe of Benjamin; and hence this is mentioned in the List of their Cities, and not in Iudah's List; and part of it stood in Iudah's share, even Mount Moriah, on which the Temple was built; and Mount Sion, when it was taken from the Iebusites. unto this day When this Book was written, whether in Ioshuah's Life and Old Age, which continued many years after the taking of Ierusalem; or after his Death, when this Clause was added here and elsewhere in this Book by some other man of God, which must needs be done before Davids time, when the Iebusites were quite expelled, and their Fort taken..