| Back to Home Page | Back to Book Index
|
Joshua Chapter
Eighteen
Joshua 18
Chapter Contents
The tabernacle set up at Shiloh. (1) The remainder of the
land described and divided. (2-10) The boundaries of Benjamin. (11-28)
Commentary on Joshua 18:1
(Read Joshua 18:1)
Shiloh was in the lot of Ephraim
the tribe to which
Joshua belonged
and it was proper that the tabernacle should be near the
residence of the chief governor. The name of this city is the same as that by
which Jacob prophesied of the Messiah
Genesis 49:10. It is supposed by some that the
city was thus called
when it was chosen for the resting-place of the ark
which typified our great Peace-maker
and the way by him to a reconciled God.
Commentary on Joshua 18:2-10
(Read Joshua 18:2-10)
After a year or more
Joshua blamed their slackness
and
told them how to proceed. God
by his grace
has given us a title to a good
land
the heavenly Canaan
but we are slack to take possession of it; we enter
not into that rest
as we might by faith
and hope
and holy joy. How long
shall it be thus with us? How long shall we thus stand in our own light
and
forsake our own mercies for lying vanities? Joshua stirs the Israelites up to
take possession of their lots. He is ready to do his part
if they will do
theirs.
Commentary on Joshua 18:11-28
(Read Joshua 18:11-28)
The boundaries of each portion were distinctly drawn
and
the inheritance of each tribe settled. All contests and selfish claims were
prevented by the wise appointment of God
who allotted the hill and the valley
the corn and pasture
the brooks and rivers
the towns and cities. Is the lot
of any servant of Christ cast in affliction and sorrow? It is the Lord; let him
do what seemeth him good. Are we in prosperity and peace? It is from above. Be
humbled when you compare the gift with your own unworthiness. Forget not Him
that gave the good
and always be ready to resign it at his command.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Joshua》
Joshua 18
Verse 1
[1] And
the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh
and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued
before them.
Set up the tabernacle — By God's appointment. It was removed from Gilgal
partly for the honour
and conveniency of Joshua
that he being of the tribe of Ephraim
and seating
himself there
might have the opportunity of consulting with God as often as he
needed; and partly for the conveniency of all the tribes
that being in the
center of them
they might more easily resort to it from all places. Here the
tabernacle continued for above three hundred years
even 'till Samuel's days
1 Samuel 1:3. Shiloh was the name given to the
Messiah in dying Jacob's prophecy. So the pitching the tabernacle in Shiloh
intimated to the Jews
that in that Shiloh whom Jacob spoke of
all the
ordinances of this worldly sanctuary should have their accomplishment
in a
greater and more perfect tabernacle.
Verse 3
[3] And Joshua said unto the children of Israel
How long are ye slack to go
to possess the land
which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
How long are you slack — This slackness is supposed to arise from an opinion of the impossibility
of making any regular distribution of the parts
'till the whole were more
exactly surveyed
which accordingly is here done. Likewise
being weary of war
and having sufficient plenty of all things
they were unwilling to run into new
hazards.
Verse 4
[4] Give
out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them
and they
shall rise
and go through the land
and describe it according to the
inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
Three men —
Three
not one
for more exact observation both of the measure and quality of
the several portions
and for greater assurance of their care and faithfulness
in giving in their account.
Of each tribe —
One of each of these tribes
who were yet unprovided for.
Verse 5
[5] And
they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the
south
and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
Seven parts —
Which were of equal extent or worth: for no tribe was so great
but one of
these parts in its full extent would abundantly suffice them; and there was no
reason why the portions should be greater or less according as the tribes at
present were more or fewer in number
because of the various changes which
happened therein successively; it being usual for one tribe to be more numerous
than another in one age
which was fewer in the next. And if the several tribes
had increased more
and not diminished their numbers by their sins
they might
have sent forth colonies
and taken any part of the land
even as far as
Euphrates
all which the Lord of the whole earth had given them a right to
which when they pleased they might take possession of.
Judah shall abide on the south — They shall not be disturbed in their possession
but shall keep it
except some part of it shall be adjudged to another tribe.
Joseph on the north — In
respect of Judah
not of the whole land; for divers other tribes were more
northern than they.
Verse 6
[6] Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts
and bring the
description hither to me
that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our
God.
Before the Lord —
That is
before the ark or tabernacle
that God may be witness and judge
and
author of the division
that each may be contented with his lot
and that your
several possessions may be secured to you as things sacred.
Verse 9
[9] And
the men went and passed through the land
and described it by cities into seven
parts in a book
and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
By cities —
Or
according to the cities
to which the several parties or territories
belonged.
Verse 11
[11] And
the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their
families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah
and the children of Joseph.
And the children of Joseph — Wherein we see the wisdom of Divine Providence
this being the only
place in which that prophecy
Deuteronomy 33:12
could have been accomplished.
Providence cast Benjamin next to Joseph on the one hand
because Benjamin was
own and only brother to Joseph
and next to Judah on the other hand
that this
tribe might hereafter unite with Judah
in an adherence to the throne of David
and the temple at Jerusalem.
Verse 14
[14] And
the border was drawn thence
and compassed the corner of the sea southward
from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof
were at Kirjathbaal
which is Kirjathjearim
a city of the children of Judah:
this was the west quarter.
Kirjath-jearim —
The Israelites changed the name
to blot out the remembrance of Baal.
Verse 16
[16] And
the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of
the son of Hinnom
and which is in the valley of the giants on the north
and
descended to the valley of Hinnom
to the side of Jebusi on the south
and
descended to Enrogel
The end of the mountain — The place where the mountain ends
and the valley begins.
Before the valley —
That is
in the prospect of that valley.
In the valley on the north — Which extends unto this other valley on the north-side of it.
Of Jebusi — To
that part where the Jebusites lived
which was in and near Jerusalem.
Verse 21
[21] Now
the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families
were Jericho
and Bethhoglah
and the valley of Keziz
Jericho —
For tho' the city was destroyed
the territory remained.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Joshua》
18 Chapter 18
Verses 1-28
The whole congregation . . . assembled
together at Shiloh
and set up the tabernacle.
Religion in the new land
An event of great importance now occurs; the civil arrangements of
the country are in a measure provided for
and it is time to set in order the
ecclesiastical establishment. First
a place has to be found as the centre of
the religious life; next
the tabernacle has to be erected at that place--and
this is to be done in the presence of all the congregation. It is well that a
godly man like Joshua is at the head of the nation: a less earnest servant of
God might have left this great work unheeded. How often
in the emigrations of
men
drawn far from their native land in search of a new home
have
arrangements for Divine service been forgotten! In such cases the degeneracy
into rough manners
uncouth ways of life
perhaps into profanity
debauchery
and lawlessness
has usually been awfully rapid. On the other hand
when the
rule of the old puritan has been followed
“Wherever I have a house
there God
shall have an altar”; when the modest spire of the wooden church in the prairie
indicates that regard has been had to the gospel precept--“Seek ye first the
kingdom of God and His righteousness
and all these things shall be added unto
you”--a touch of heaven is imparted to the rude and primitive settlement; we
may believe that the spirit of Christ is not unknown; the angels of virtue and
piety are surely hovering round it. The narrative is very brief
and no reason
is given why Shiloh was selected as the religious centre of the nation. “We
should have thought that the preference would have been given to Shechem
a few
miles north
in the neighbourhood of Ebal and Gerizim
which had already been
consecrated in a sense to God. That Shiloh had been chosen by Divine direction
we can hardly doubt
although there may have been reasons of various kinds that
commended it to Joshua. Situated about half-way between Bethel and Shechem
in
the tribe of Ephraim
it was close to the centre of the country
and
moreover
not difficult of access for the eastern tribes. Here
then
assembled the whole
congregation of the children of Israel
to set up the tabernacle
probably with
some such rites as David performed when it was transferred from the house of
Obed-Edom to Mount Zion. Hitherto it had remained at Gilgal
the headquarters
and depot of the nation. The “whole congregation” that now assembled does not
necessarily mean the whole community
but only selected representatives
not
only of the part that had been engaged in warfare
but also of the rest of the
nation. (W. G. Blaikie
D. D.)
How long are ye slack to
go to possess the land?--
Joshua’s remonstrance
I. Is not the
goodly portion freely provided
and waiting your acceptance? Hath not the Lord
God of your fathers freely given you a title to the country of peace and rest
in heaven? May not “an entrance be ministered unto you abundantly”? &c. His
hand broke asunder your chains
when ye lay helpless in the land of your
spiritual bondage--when Satan was your taskmaster
sin your service
and death
your wages. He paid the full ransom of your deliverance. The same hand which
took you forth from the captivity and death of sin has still led you onward
cheered with increasing hope of reposing in the kingdom and glory of Jesus
Christ. As your day
so has your strength been. Is there then
in the little
circle of perishing enjoyments around you
is there
even among the present
spiritual privileges with which Divine love has invested you
anything
sufficiently great to satisfy the aspirations of one who looks for the mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life?
II. Is not the
attainment of salvation the great business of life
to which ye should be
devoted? Your life
in its best and only worthy acceptation
consists not in
seeking “what ye shall eat
and what ye shall drink
and wherewithal ye shall
be clothed
” and how ye shall enjoy the present
and be aggrandised for the
future; but in holy resolve and aim to seek the salvation that is in Christ
Jesus with eternal glory. Be your portion of present advantages
whether
temporal or spiritual
what it may
let it not absorb your minds
that ye may
rest upon it
and seek nothing beyond. Do not live so much beneath your
privileges as to be satisfied with the mere shadow of good; while the pure
perfect
unsatiating
and everlasting reality solicits you in vain.
III. Have ye not
lost time enough already? If we look inward to the experience of our own
hearts--if we recollect the testimony of years past and gone
they will surely
speak of long and guilty inattention to the duty of serving God who hath called
us to His kingdom and glory. How many opportunities have ye possessed of
walking with God
like Enoch
and of illustrating the holy character of His
religion so unequivocally
that men must have taken knowledge of you that you
had been with Jesus! What then remains? Redeem the time by an increasing zeal
and diligence to do the work of God
and to attain by His grace a meetness for
the inheritance of the saints in light. (R. P. Buddicom
M. A.)
Slack to possess
The weakness of our nature discovers itself
even under the most
prosperous and encouraging circumstances. This degrades our conquests and
diminishes the glory of our triumphs. Either self-indulgence
indolence
or
indifference was the cause why they were slack to go to possess the land. The
luxury of new and undisturbed possessions succeeding to the incessant toils and
privations of warfare too long
and it may be too immoderately
entwined about
their earthly affections
and retained them in the lap of indulgence. A
condition like this
so congenial with the fleshly desires of the heart
induced a frame of indolence which was not only indisposed but might render
them indifferent to new achievements
How unfavourable to those energies and
exertions which require the mortification of self-indulgence as a condition of
uninterrupted prosperity! This has often been found attended with more
dangerous results than even the most pressing adversity. Who has not needed
this reproof again and again? “Why are ye slack to go to possess the land?”
Present gratifications have made us indifferent to future interests; and
private satisfactions to public duties. Let the Christian remember that he owes
much to the interests of others
not only to the present
but even to future
generations
as far as concerns the Church of God; and therefore
to live to
himself
inclosed within the narrow limits of his own person and concerns
is
unworthy the greatness of his character
and far beneath the dignity of his
being. Though nothing were wanting to render complete our personal estate or
family patrimony
yet let us remember that we have much to achieve for others
for our brethren
and the cause of truth
that require self-denying and
self-sacrificing exertions. (W. Seaton.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》
18 Chapter 18
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.
Verse 1
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.
Verse 2
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.
Verse 3
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.
Verse 4
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.
Verse 5
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.
Verse 6
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.
Verse 7
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.
Verse 8
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.
Verse 9
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.
Verse 10
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.
Verse 11
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.
Verse 12
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.
Verse 13
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.
Verse 14
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.
Verse 15
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;
Verse 16
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.
Verse 17
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.
Verse 18
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.
Verse 19
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.
Verse 20
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.
Verse 21
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.
Verse 22
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.
Verse 23
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.
Verse 24
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.
Verse 25
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.
Verse 26
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. .
Verse 27
And Rekem
and Irpeel
and Taralah. Of these cities there is
no mention made elsewhere.
Verse 28
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》