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Joshua Chapter
Eighteen
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 18
This
chapter informs us of the setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh
Joshua 18:1; of the
notice Joshua took
that seven tribes had not received their inheritance
Joshua 18:2; of the
instructions he gave them to send three men out of each tribe
and describe the
land not yet disposed of
and bring the account to him
which was accordingly
done
Joshua 18:3; and
then he cast lots for them
and the first lot came up for Benjamin
Joshua 18:10; the
borders of whose lots are described
Joshua 18:12; and
the several cities in it enumerated
Joshua 18:21.
Joshua 18:1 Now
the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh
and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. And the land was subdued before
them.
YLT
1And all the company of the
sons of Israel are assembled [at] Shiloh
and they cause the tent of meeting to
tabernacle there
and the land hath been subdued before them.
And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled
together at Shiloh
.... The whole body of the people
men
women
and children
as
well as the camp
Joshua 18:9; at
least all that had not received their inheritances in the land. Hither they
came from Gilgal
where the camp and tabernacle had been ever since their
passage over Jordan; but now the land being in the main subdued
that was too
far off both for the camp and tabernacle
and therefore they moved further into
the land
and nearer Jerusalem
where in time the tabernacle was to be placed.
The place they assembled at
Shiloh
was in the tribe of Ephraim
of which
tribe Joshua was
and whose lot and inheritance was now fixed
and it was not
far from Jerusalem
about two leagues. Jerom saysF21De loc. Heb.
fol. 94. I. it was ten miles from
Neapolis or Shechem
in the country of
Acrabatena; and that there were scarce any ruins of it to be seen in his day
only an altar demolished was shownF23Comment. in Soph. c. 1. fol.
94. I. Epitaph. Paul. fol. 59. L. . It seems to have its name from the
peaceable condition the land was now in
and very likely was now given it on
that account:
and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there; no doubt by
the appointment and direction of God
signified to Eleazar the high priest
either by a voice
or by Urim and Thummim; and the removal of it seemed
necessary
partly that because several camps which surrounded it were now
broken up and settled in their cities
as Reuben
Judah
and Ephraim; and
partly that it might be near where Joshua
the governor of Israel
resided
Ephraim being his tribe; and also since Gilgal
on the borders of the land
was
too far off for the people to resort to the tabernacle
and therefore it was
proper it should be more in the heart of the country: when this was done
cannot certainly be determined; Kimchi says it was fourteen years after the
Israelites came into the land of Canaan; and so saysF24Seder Olam
Rabba
c. 11. p. 32. their chronology; but it is highly probable it was before
that time
and not longer than seven or eight years at most; here the
tabernacle continued
according to the Jewish writersF25
three
hundred sixty nine years
even unto the times of Samuel
when for the sins of
the sons of Eli it was removed. EupolemusF26Apud Euseb. Praepar.
Evangel. l. 9. c. 30. p. 447.
an Heathen writer
speaks of the holy temple
being fixed at Shiloh by Joshua:
and the land was subdued before them: the far
greater part of it
and all so as to have no disturbance from
or war with
the
inhabitants.
Joshua 18:2 2 But there remained among
the children of Israel seven tribes which had not yet received their
inheritance.
YLT
2And there are left among
the sons of Israel who have not shared their inheritance
seven tribes
And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes
.... Which
were those of Benjamin
Simeon
Zebulun
Issachar
Asher
Naphtali
and Dan:
which had not yet received their inheritance; and for which
the lots were not cast.
Joshua 18:3 3 Then Joshua said to the
children of Israel: “How long will you neglect to go and possess the land which
the Lord
God of your fathers has given you?
YLT
3and Joshua saith unto the
sons of Israel
`Till when are ye remiss to go in to possess the land which He
hath given to you
Jehovah
God of your fathers?
And Joshua said unto the children of Israel
.... To those
of the seven tribes:
how long are you slack to go to possess the land which the
Lord God of your fathers hath given you? not that they might have
taken possession of it of themselves
without having it assigned to them by
lot; that they did not do this
is not what is complained of
and they stand
reproved for; but that when two tribes and a half had received their
inheritance
these seemed indifferent to it
showed no inclination and
disposition towards it
and much less eagerness to have a settlement
and did
not apply to the court for it; which dilatoriness might arise from the present
affluence of all good things they enjoyed through the spoils of the enemy; and
partly through slothfulness
being tired of the war
and perceiving that they
must be involved in it again to dispossess the Canaanites of some of the cities
that would fall to their lot; and
perhaps
their slackness might be the more
increased
by observing the dissatisfaction of the tribes with the lot they had
received
and therefore waited till things were adjusted to greater
satisfaction.
Joshua 18:4 4 Pick out from among you
three men for each tribe
and I will send them; they shall rise and go
through the land
survey it according to their inheritance
and come back
to me.
YLT
4Give for you three men for
a tribe
and I send them
and they rise and go up and down through the land
and describe it according to their inheritance
and come in unto me
Give out from among you three men for each tribe
.... That is
for each of the seven tribes
in all twenty one; though some think they were to
be taken out of all the nine tribes and a half
and were thirty six; and so
JosephusF1Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 21. seems to understand it; but
then he makes but one out of each tribe to be sent
and but ten in all
which
is a great oversight in that historian:
and I will send them; Joshua would not take
upon him to name the persons
but left it to their own choice for their greater
satisfaction; but when chosen and presented to him
he would give them a
commission and directions what to do:
and they shall rise; gird themselves
and
prepare for their journey
and set out:
and go through the land; of Canaan; not the whole
of it
but that part which as yet was not disposed of; though some think they
were to go through and describe the whole land; but I see no reason for that
for what was described was to be divided into seven parts only
and what
belonged already to Judah and Joseph
seem plainly to be excepted in Joshua 18:5
and describe it according to the inheritance of them; take the
dimensions of it
and divide it into seven parts
according to the number of
the tribes that had not received their inheritance. Jarchi thinks this
description and division were not to be made equally
but according to the
largeness and smallness of the tribes; but this could not be done by the
measurers
since the inheritance of each depended on the lot that was afterward
to be cast
which by this means would have been rendered needless:
and they shall come again to me; which seems
to be not only a precept or instruction to them
that when they had done their
business
they should come to Joshua and give him an account of it; but an
assurance also of their safety
that they should receive no disturbance nor
hurt from the remaining Canaanites
but should return safe and well.
Joshua 18:5 5 And they shall divide it
into seven parts. Judah shall remain in their territory on the south
and the
house of Joseph shall remain in their territory on the north.
YLT
5and they have divided it
into seven portions -- Judah doth stay by its border on the south
and the
house of Joseph do stay by their border on the north –
And they shall divide it into seven parts
.... According
to the number of the seven tribes not yet settled; and this they were to
describe and divide was all the land subdued
or not subdued
only the
following excepted:
Judah shall abide in their coast on the south; on the south
of the land of Canaan
where their lot fell
so that needed not to be measured
and described; and this tribe was to retain what they were possessed of
unless
it should appear they had too much
and others wanted
and they willing to part
with some of it to their brethren
as they afterwards did to the tribes of
Simeon and Dan:
and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coast on the north; on the north
of the tribe of Judah; not of the land of Canaan
for some other tribes lay
more northerly.
Joshua 18:6 6 You shall therefore survey
the land in seven parts and bring the survey here to me
that I may cast
lots for you here before the Lord our God.
YLT
6and ye describe the land
[in] seven portions
and have brought [it] in unto me hither
and I have cast
for you a lot here before Jehovah our God;
Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts
.... Or ye
shall describe the land
even the seven parts of it when divided; it seems as
if they were first to describe in general all the land not disposed of
and
then divide it into seven parts
and make a particular description of each
part
or form a plan
or draw a map of every part:
and bring the description hither to me; not by word
of mouth
but as written in a book
or marked out in a map
and laid before
him
see Joshua 18:9
that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord your God; in Shiloh
at
the door of the tabernacle
and so before the Lord who dwelt in it
at whose
disposal the lot was
and by which everyone of the seven tribes would have
their part and portion assigned them most fitting and convenient for them
according to the will and counsel of God
in which it became them to acquiesce.
Joshua 18:7 7 But the Levites have no
part among you
for the priesthood of the Lord is their
inheritance. And Gad
Reuben
and half the tribe of Manasseh have received
their inheritance beyond the Jordan on the east
which Moses the servant of the
Lord gave them.”
YLT
7for there is no portion to
the Levites in your midst
for the priesthood of Jehovah [is] their
inheritance
and Gad
and Reuben
and the half of the tribe of Manasseh
received their inheritance beyond the Jordan eastward
which Moses servant of
Jehovah gave to them.'
But the Levites have no part among you
.... And so
needed not to send any men out of their tribe to measure the land on their
account
and is a reason why the remaining part of the land was to be divided
into seven parts only:
for the priesthood of the Lord is his inheritance; not only the
office
but what appertained to it
all the perquisites of it
the tithes
firstfruits
parts of the sacrifices
&c. see Joshua 13:14
and Gad
and Reuben
and half the tribe of Manasseh
have received
their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east
which Moses the servant of the
Lord gave them; and so had no share in the division of the land of Canaan
being
sufficiently provided for.
Joshua 18:8 8 Then the men arose to go
away; and Joshua charged those who went to survey the land
saying
“Go
walk
through the land
survey it
and come back to me
that I may cast lots for you
here before the Lord
in Shiloh.”
YLT
8And the men rise and go;
and Joshua commandeth those who are going to describe the land
saying
`Go
and walk up and down through the land
and describe it
and turn back unto me
and here I cast for you a lot before Jehovah in Shiloh.'
And the men arose
and went away
.... The seven tribes
took the advice of Joshua
chose three men out of each tribe
and presented
them to him
who gave them their commission and instruction to go and describe
the land of Canaan
not yet disposed of
and whether subdued
or not subdued;
upon which they prepared for their journey
and took it
after he had given
them the following charge:
and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land; before they
departed from him:
saying
go and walk through the land; and take
particular notice
and an exact survey of it
both of the quality and the
quantity of it:
and describe it; its cities and towns
hills and dales
the
goodness and badness of the soil
and put it down in a book
or lay it out in a
map
that it may be discerned by the eye what number of cities
and what space
of ground it contains
and what parts are hilly and woody
and what otherwise:
and come again to me; to make a report of it:
that I may cast lots for you before the Lord in Shiloh; that is
for
the several tribes which they belonged to
and by whom they were chosen for
this purpose.
Joshua 18:9 9 So the men went
passed
through the land
and wrote the survey in a book in seven parts by cities; and
they came to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.
YLT
9And the men go
and pass
over through the land
and describe it by cities
in seven portions
on a book
and they come in unto Joshua
unto the camp
[at] Shiloh.
And the men went and passed through the land
....
Undisturbed by the inhabitants that remained; the fear of the Israelites being
still upon them
and the providence of God restraining them
so that the men
passed through the whole country
and took a survey of it without any
molestation:
and described it by cities
into seven parts
in a book; or map
or
rather made seven maps of it
and set down the several cities in each division
with the places adjacent
hills and vales
and marked out a plain and exact
chorography of the whole
by which it appears they must be men well skilled in
geometry. JosephusF2Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 21. says
that Joshua
added to them some that understood geometry; but doubtless the persons each
tribe chose and sent were such whom they knew were well versed in that art
and
so fit for the business; and which they had
no doubt
learned in Egypt
this being
one part of the wisdom and learning of the Egyptians; who boasted of it as an
invention of theirs
as Diodorus SiculusF3Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 63.
relates; and indeed they were obliged to study it
their country being divided
into several homes
and these into lesser districts
and which also were
subdivided
and according thereunto were the king's taxes levied upon them; and
what with the confusion frequently made by the overflowings of the Nile
they
were frequently obliged to measure their land over again; and hence they became
expert in this science
which is commonly believed took its rise from them
and
passed into Greece
as HerodotusF4Euterpe
sive
l. 2. c. 109.
and
StraboF5Geograph. l. 17. p. 541
542. Vid. Suidam in voce γεωμετρια.
and other authors relate; however
it is certain from this
instance in the time of Joshua
that geometry was not the invention of
Anaximander
about five hundred years before Christ
as some have assertedF6Vid.
Strabo. Geograph. l. 1. p. 5. Lar. l. 2. Vit. Anaximan I. :
and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh; where the
camp
as well as the people in common
and the tabernacle
were; they returned
as JosephusF7Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 21.) says
at the
end of seven months; and to measure so much land
and make such divisions of
it
and give the plans and maps of each division
must take up a considerable
time.
Joshua 18:10 10 Then Joshua cast lots for
them in Shiloh before the Lord
and there Joshua divided
the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.
YLT
10And Joshua casteth for them
a lot in Shiloh before Jehovah
and there Joshua apportioneth the land to the
sons of Israel
according to their divisions.
And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the Lord
.... For the
seven tribes
as he had for the two tribes and a half at Gilgal; of the manner
of casting lots; see Gill on Numbers 26:55
and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel
according to their division: the land that was divided into seven parts
he distributed to the seven tribes
as the lot came up for them
and then
divided these several parts according to the families and households in each
tribe.
Joshua 18:11 11 Now the lot of the tribe
of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families
and the
territory of their lot came out between the children of Judah and the children
of Joseph.
YLT
11And a lot goeth up [for]
the tribe of the sons of Benjamin
for their families; and the border of their
lot goeth out between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.
And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up
according to their families
.... This was the first lot of the seven
that came up; it was but a small lot
and therefore called "little
Benjamin"
Psalm 68:27; but
the land was very pleasant and fruitful. JosephusF8Antiqu. l. 5. c.
1. sect. 22. says
this lot was very strait
because of the goodness of the
soil
for it took in Jericho
and the city of Jerusalem:
and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of
Judah and the children of Joseph; having Judah on the
south
and Joseph on the north; this was so ordered by the providence of God
that Benjamin should lie close to Joseph
being own brothers
and the only
children of Rachel
Jacob's beloved wife; and that it should be next to Judah
with whom it was to unite
both in religious and civil affairs
and both met in
and had a part of Jerusalem
the metropolis of Israel; and this lot fell
exactly according to the prediction of Moses
and the order of it
who places
Benjamin between Judah and Joseph
the tribe of Levi having no share in the
division of the land
Deuteronomy 33:7.
Joshua 18:12 12 Their border on the north
side began at the Jordan
and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the
north
and went up through the mountains westward; it ended at the Wilderness
of Beth Aven.
YLT
12And the border is to them
at the north side from the Jordan
and the border hath gone up unto the side of
Jericho on the north
and gone up through the hill-country westward
and its
outgoings have been at the wilderness of Beth-Aven;
And their border on the north side was from Jordan
.... Which was
the eastern boundary of the tribe
and hence proceeded from east to west
and
formed its northern border
which is described in like manner as the lot of the
children of Joseph
Joshua 16:1
and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side; from Jordan
it went to the north of Jericho
and so took in that place
which was within
the tribe of Benjamin
Joshua 18:21
and went up through the mountains westward; the mountains
that were on the north of Jericho; for
as Strabo saysF9Geograph. l.
16. p. 525.
Jericho was surrounded with mountains
see Joshua 2:16;
through these mountains the coast went on towards the western border of the
tribe:
and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven: a place near
Bethel and Ai
to which there was a wilderness adjoining
see Joshua 7:2; here
ended the northern border.
Joshua 18:13 13 The border went over from
there toward Luz
to the side of Luz (which is Bethel) southward; and
the border descended to Ataroth Addar
near the hill that lies on the
south side of Lower Beth Horon.
YLT
13and the border hath gone
over thence to Luz
unto the side of Luz (it [is] Beth-El) southward
and the
border hath gone down [to] Atroth-Addar
by the hill that [is] on the south of
the lower Beth-Horon;
And the border went over from thence towards Luz
.... From
Bethaven
where the northern border ended
the western began
and went on to
Luz:
to the side of Luz
which is Bethel
southward; that is
passed along
leaving that city to the south
which formerly was called Luz
but now Bethel
which though distinct places formerly
yet being very near
might in process of time be joined; See Gill on Joshua 16:2
and the border descended to Atarothadar
the same with
Archiataroth; see Gill on Joshua 16:2
and
See Gill on Joshua 16:5
near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether
Bethhoron; so called to distinguish it from Bethhoron the upper
situated
on an hill or mountain
Joshua 16:5; this
was rebuilt by Solomon
1 Kings 9:17.
Joshua 18:14 14 Then the border extended
around the west side to the south
from the hill that lies before Beth
Horon southward; and it ended at Kirjath Baal (which is Kirjath Jearim)
a city of the children of Judah. This was the west side.
YLT
14and the border hath been
marked out
and hath gone round to the corner of the sea southward
from the
hill which [is] at the front of Beth-Horon southward
and its outgoings have
been unto Kirjath-Baal (it [is] Kirjath-Jearim)
a city of the sons of Judah:
this [is] the west quarter.
And the border was drawn thence
.... From
Bethhoron:
and compassed the corner of the sea southward; it is hard to
say what sea is meant
or what by it. FullerF11Pisgah Sight
B. 2.
c. 12. p. 251. conjectures
that as the Hebrews call any confluence of water a
sea
as we call such a "mere"
the great waters in Gibeon may be
meant
Jeremiah 41:12; for
it cannot mean the Mediterranean sea
for Dan lay between Benjamin and that;
and yet if a sea is meant
no other can be; wherefore it is best to render it
the "west quarter"
as it is in the latter part of this verse; and so
the same word is translated
Joshua 18:12; the
"west"
and not the "sea"
as it sometimes is; for the
border of Benjamin did not reach the sea any where; though JosephusF12Ut
supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22.) makes it to extend to it
and says
that
the length of it was from the river Jordan to the sea:
the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; the hill that
lay to the south of nether Bethhoron
as in Joshua 18:13
and the goings out thereof
the end of the western
coast:
were at Kirjathbaal
which is Kirjathjearim
a city of the
children of Judah; of which see Joshua 15:9
this was the west quarter; as thus described.
Joshua 18:15 15 The south side began
at the end of Kirjath Jearim
and the border extended on the west and went out
to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.
YLT
15And the south quarter [is]
from the end of Kirjath-Jearim
and the border hath gone out westward
and gone
out unto the fountain of the waters of Nephtoah;
And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim
.... Where the
western quarter ended:
and the border went out on the west; not directly south
but
somewhat westerly. It is
in the original
"the sea"
and should be
rendered
"from the sea"
or "from the west"F13ימה "a mari"
Masius; "ab occidente"
Noldius
No. 1083. p. 239. ; and Jarchi confesses his ignorance
and says
I
know not what sea it is; and well he might
for there was no sea here; but the
Mediterranean sea
being to the west of the land of Israel
it is often used
for the west in the Hebrew language
and so here:
and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah; See Gill on Joshua 15:9;
Joshua 18:16 16 Then the border came down
to the end of the mountain that lies before the Valley of the Son of
Hinnom
which is in the Valley of the Rephaim[a] on the
north
descended to the Valley of Hinnom
to the side of the Jebusite city
on the south
and descended to En Rogel.
YLT
16and the border hath come
down unto the extremity of the hill which [is] on the front of the valley of
the son of Hinnom
which [is] in the valley of the Rephaim northward
and hath
gone down the valley of Hinnom unto the side of Jebusi southward
and gone down
[to] En-Rogel
And the border came down
.... In the description
of the border of Judah
hereabout
it is said to go up
Joshua 15:5;
because there
as Jarchi observes
the measure was from east to west
but here
from west to east:
to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of
the son of Hinnom; this south border of Benjamin is the same with the north border
of Judah; and the same places are mentioned in the description of the one as of
the other
see Joshua 15:8. The
mountain is Mount Moriah
and which is in the valley
of the giants on the north; on the north of the valley of Rephaim:
and descended to the valley of Hinnom; the border
from the end of Mount Moriah to that valley:
to the side of Jebusi on the south; to the south side of
Jerusalem
having that city on the south:
and descended to Enrogel; of which See Gill on Joshua 15:7.
Joshua 18:17 17 And it went around from
the north
went out to En Shemesh
and extended toward Geliloth
which is
before the Ascent of Adummim
and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of
Reuben.
YLT
17and hath been marked out on
the north
and gone out to En-Shemesh
and gone out unto Geliloth
which [is]
over-against the ascent of Adummim
and gone down [to] the stone of Bohan son
of Reuben
And was drawn from the north
.... Turning northward
and looking that way from the west to the east:
and went forth to Enshemesh; or the fountain of the
sun
see Joshua 15:7
and went forth toward Geliloth; called Gilgal
Joshua 15:7
which is over against the going up to Adummim; a place
between Jerusalem and Jericho
see Joshua 15:7
and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben; see Joshua 15:6.
Joshua 18:18 18 Then it passed along
toward the north side of Arabah
[b] and went
down to Arabah.
YLT
18and passed over unto the
side over-against Arabah northward
and gone down to Arabah;
And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward
.... The same
with Betharabah
Joshua 15:6; and so
it is called here in the Greek version:
and went down unto Arabah; the same as before
and
included it
for it is mentioned among the cities of this tribe
Joshua 18:22.
Joshua 18:19 19 And the border passed
along to the north side of Beth Hoglah; then the border ended at the north bay
at the Salt Sea
at the south end of the Jordan. This was the southern
boundary.
YLT
19and the border hath passed
over unto the side of Beth-Hoglah northward
and the outgoings of the border
have been unto the north bay of the salt sea
unto the south extremity of the
Jordan; this [is] the south border;
And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward
.... Inclining
somewhat toward the north
but not leaving the city to the north
for it is
included in the lot of Benjamin
Joshua 18:21; of
which place see Joshua 15:6
and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt
sea; here ended the southern border of Benjamin
even at the bay or
creek of the salt sea
which looked northward
as the southern border of Judah
began at that bay of it
which looked southward
Joshua 15:2
at the south end of Jordan; where it fell into the
salt sea:
this was the south coast; as before described.
Joshua 18:20 20 The Jordan was its border
on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin
according to its boundaries all around
according to their families.
YLT
20and the Jordan doth border
it at the east quarter; this [is] the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin
by
its borders round about
for their families.
And Jordan was the border of it on the east side
.... It had
Jordan on the east
Dan on the west
Judah on the south
and Joseph or Ephraim
on the north:
this was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin
by
the coasts thereof round about
according to their families; this is the
general description of the limits of this tribe
the particular cities in it
follow.
Joshua 18:21 21 Now the cities of the
tribe of the children of Benjamin
according to their families
were Jericho
Beth Hoglah
Emek Keziz
YLT
21And the cities for the
tribe of the sons of Benjamin
for their families
have been Jericho
and
Beth-Hoglah
and the valley of Keziz
Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin
according to their families
were Jericho
.... Which
though destroyed
and not to be rebuilt as a city
was yet a place inhabited
and in future times was rebuilt
and in great splendour
and continued to the
time of Christ; of which see Joshua 2:1
and Bethhoglah
where or near to which was the threshing
floor of Atad
at which lamentation was made for Jacob; see Gill on Genesis 1:10
and
See Gill on Joshua 15:6
and the valley of Keziz; or Emekkeziz; so the
Greek version calls it Amecasis: it is highly probable it was in the valley or
plain of Jericho
and perhaps might have its name from the incision of the
balsam tree there; which
as PlinyF14Nat. Hist. l. 12. c. 25. says
was cut with glass or a stone
or with knives made of bone; if cut with iron
it kills it.
Joshua 18:22 22 Beth Arabah
Zemaraim
Bethel
YLT
22and Beth-Arabah
Zemaraim
and Beth-El
And Betharabah
.... Of the first of these; see Gill on Joshua 15:6
and Zemaraim; one of the sons of Canaan was named Zemira
Genesis 10:18; by
whom this city Zemaraim might be built
or however have its name given it
in
memory of him; there was a mountain of this name in the tribe of Ephraim
near
to which this city might be
2 Chronicles 13:4.
and Bethel; of the last of these; see Gill on Joshua 7:2.
Joshua 18:23 23 Avim
Parah
Ophrah
YLT
23and Avim
and Parah
and
Ophrah
And Avim
and Parah
.... Of the two first of
these we read nowhere else:
and Ophrah is not the same with Ophrah in Judges 6:11; that
belonged to the tribe of Manasseh
but rather that which was in the land of
Shuah
1 Samuel 13:17.
Jerom calls this place Aphrah
in the tribe of Benjamin
and saysF15De
loc. Heb. fol. 88. H.
in his time there was a village called Effrem
five
miles from Bethel to the east
which very probably is the same with this.
Joshua 18:24 24 Chephar Haammoni
Ophni
and Gaba: twelve cities with their villages;
YLT
24and Chephar-Haammonai
and
Ophni
and Gaba; twelve cities and their villages.
And Chepharhaammonai
and Ophni
.... Of the two first of
these no mention is made elsewhere:
and Gaba is the same with Gibeah
a well known place
because of the foul
fact committed there
which had like to have been the ruin of this tribe
Judges 19:14; and
for being the native place of King Saul
hence called "Gibeah of
Saul"
1 Samuel 11:4; it
was about six or seven miles from Jerusalem; see Gill on Hosea 5:8; twelve
cities with their villages; which agrees with the account of them.
Joshua 18:25 25 Gibeon
Ramah
Beeroth
YLT
25Gibeon
and Ramah
and
Beeroth
Gibeon
.... Gibeon is the place from whence the Gibeonites came
who
deceived Joshua
Joshua 9:3. Jerom
saysF16De loc. Heb. fol. 92. A.
in his time there was a village
shown of this name
four miles from Bethel to the east
near Ramah
next
mentioned:
and Ramah
which Jerom relatesF17Ibid. fol. 94. B. was six miles
from Aelia or Jerusalem to the north
against Bethel. Rauwolff
a traveller in
those parts
saysF18Travels
par. 3. c. 1. p. 215. Ed. Ray.
that
the town of Rama is situated on an ascent
in plain fields
which extend
themselves for two leagues to the hill of the city of Jerusalem; these fields
are very fruitful and well tilled
and sown with corn
cotton
and Indian
millet; the town is pretty large
but very open
like unto a village
very
pitifully built
where one may still see here and there some signs of old
buildings:
and Beeroth was a city that belonged to the Gibeonites
Joshua 9:17; and
Jerom saysF19Vid. Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 618.
in
his time was shown the village
seven miles from Aelia or Jerusalem
as you go
to Neapolis or Shechem.
Joshua 18:26 26 Mizpah
Chephirah
Mozah
YLT
26and Mizpeh
and Chephirah
and Mozah
And Mizpeh
.... Frequent mention is made of Mizpeh in Scripture; according
to FullerF20Pisgah-Sight
B. 2. c. 12. p. 209.
it was about eight
miles from Gibeah; it was near Ramathon
which Josephus saysF21Antiqu.
l. 8. c. 12. sect. 3. was forty furlongs from Jerusalem:
and Chephirah was one of the cities subject to Gibeon
Joshua 9:17.
and Mozah; there was a place called Motza
near to Jerusalem
where they
used to go to get willows at the feast of tabernaclesF23Misn.
Succah
c. 4. sect. 5. .
Joshua 18:27 27 Rekem
Irpeel
Taralah
YLT
27and Rekem
and Irpeel
and
Taralah
And Rekem
and Irpeel
and Taralah. Of these cities there is
no mention made elsewhere.
Joshua 18:28 28 Zelah
Eleph
Jebus (which
is Jerusalem)
Gibeath
and Kirjath: fourteen cities with their
villages. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to
their families.
YLT
28and Zelah
Eleph
and
Jebusi (it [is] Jerusalem)
Gibeath
Kirjath: fourteen cities and their
villages. This [is] the inheritance of the sons of Benjamin
for their
families.
And Zelaheath
.... Zelah was the buryingplace of Saul and
his family
2 Samuel 21:14.
Eleph is nowhere else mentioned; some join it with Zelah
and make one
city of it
but then the number of cities given could not be completed; both
Jarchi and Kimchi say they were two cities
as doubtless they were:
and Jebusi
which is Jerusalem; of Jerusalem
being called Jebusi
see Joshua 15:63; it
belonged partly to the tribe of Judah
and partly to the tribe of Benjamin;
Mount Zion belonged to Judah
and Moriah to Benjamin:
Gibeath was a distinct city both from Gaba and Gibeon; by its being
mentioned with Jerusalem
it should seem to be near it. JeromF25De
loc. Heb. fol. 92. C. speaks of Gabaatha in the tribe of Benjamin
twelve miles
from Eleutheropolis
where the grave of the Prophet Habakkuk was shown:
and Kirjath signifies a
city
but what city is meant is not known:
fourteen cities with their villages; and just so many are
mentioned by name:
this is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin
according to their families; these cities
with others perhaps not
mentioned
were allotted to the tribe of Benjamin for their families to dwell
in.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)