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Joshua Chapter
Nineteen
Joshua 19
Chapter Contents
The lot of Simeon. (1-9) The lot of Zebulun. (10-16) The
lot of Issachar
Asher
Naphtali
and Dan. (17-51)
Commentary on Joshua 19:1-9
(Read Joshua 19:1-9)
The men of Judah did not oppose taking away the cities
within their border
when convinced that they had more than was right. If a
true believer has obtained an unintended and improper advantage in any thing
he will give it up without murmuring. Love seeketh not her own
and doth not
behave unseemly; it will induce those in whom it richly dwells
to part with
their own to supply what is lacking to their brethren.
Commentary on Joshua 19:10-16
(Read Joshua 19:10-16)
In the division to each tribe of Israel
the prophetic
blessings of Jacob were fulfilled. They chose for themselves
or it was divided
to them by lot
in the manner and places that he foresaw. So sure a rule to go
by is the word of prophecy: we see by it what to believe
and it proves beyond
all dispute the things that are of God.
Commentary on Joshua 19:17-51
(Read Joshua 19:17-51)
Joshua waited till all the tribes were settled
before he
asked any provision for himself. He was content to be unfixed
till he saw them
all placed
and herein is an example to all in public places
to prefer the
common welfare before private advantage. Those who labour most to do good to
others
seek an inheritance in the Canaan above: but it will be soon enough to
enter thereon
when they have done all the service to their brethren of which
they are capable. Nor can any thing more effectually assure them of their title
to it
than endeavouring to bring others to desire
to seek
and to obtain it.
Our Lord Jesus came and dwelt on earth
not in pomp but poverty
providing rest
for man
yet himself not having where to lay his head; for Christ pleased not
himself. Nor would he enter upon his inheritance
till by his obedience to
death he secured the eternal inheritance for all his people; nor will he
account his own glory completed
till every ransomed sinner is put in
possession of his heavenly rest.
── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Joshua》
Joshua 19
Verse 1
[1] And
the second lot came forth to Simeon
even for the tribe of the children of
Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the
inheritance of the children of Judah.
Within the inheritance of Judah — This was so ordered by God's providence
partly to fulfil that
threatning that he would divide and scatter this tribe in Israel
Genesis 49:7
which was hereby done in part
because they had no distinct lot
but were as inmates to Judah; partly
because
now upon the more exact survey of the land
it appeared
that the part given to
Judah did far exceed the proportion which they needed
or which the other
tribes could expect. And this was the least of the tribes
Numbers 26:14
and therefore fittest to be put
within another tribe.
Verse 11
[11] And their border went up toward the sea
and Maralah
and reached to
Dabbasheth
and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
Toward the sea —
The lot of this tribe was washed by the midland sea on the west
and by the sea
of Tiberias on the east
answering Jacob's prophecy
Zebulun shall be an haven
of ships; trading ships on the great sea
and fishing ships on the sea of
Galilee.
Before Jokneam —
Supposed to be Kishon.
Verse 15
[15] And
Kattath
and Nahallal
and Shimron
and Idalah
and Bethlehem: twelve cities
with their villages.
Beth-lehem —
Not that where Christ was born
which was in Judah
but another.
Twelve cities —
There are more numbered here
but the rest either were not cities properly so
called
or were not within this tribe
but only bordering upon it
and
belonging to other tribes.
Verse 18
[18] And
their border was toward Jezreel
and Chesulloth
and Shunem
Jezreel —
The royal city
1 Kings 21:1. This tribe
because it lay between
Benjamin on the south
and Zebulun on the north
is not here described by its
borders
which were the same with theirs; but by some of its cities.
Verse 26
[26] And Alammelech
and Amad
and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward
and to Shihorlibnath;
Carmel west-ward — Or
Carmel by the sea
to distinguish it from Carmel in the tribe of Judah. This
was a place of eminent fruitfulness
agreeable to the prophecy concerning
Asher
Genesis 49:20.
Verse 27
[27] And
turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon
and reacheth to Zebulun
and to the
valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek
and Neiel
and goeth
out to Cabul on the left hand
Cubal — A
city so called.
Left hand —
That is
on the north
which
when men look towards the east
as is usual
is
on their left hand.
Verse 28
[28] And
Hebron
and Rehob
and Hammon
and Kanah
even unto great Zidon;
Kenah —
Namely
Kenah the greater
in the upper Galilee; not Kenah the less
which was
in the lower Galilee.
Zidon —
Called great for its antiquity
and riches
and glory. The city either was not
given to the Israelites
or at least was never possessed by them; not without a
singular providence of God
that they might not by the opportunity of so good a
port
be engaged in much commerce with other nations; from which
together with
wealth
that great corrupter of mankind
they might contract their errors and
vices.
Verse 29
[29] And
then the coast turneth to Ramah
and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast
turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to
Achzib:
To Ramah —
From the north southward.
To Tyre —
Exclusively
for this city was no part of the land given them. But this was not
the same city we read of afterwards. For that was built on an island
this on
the continent. Probably into these strong holds Tyre and Sidon
many of the
Canaanites fled
when Joshua invaded them.
Verse 30
[30]
Ummah also
and Aphek
and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
Twenty two cities —
Here are more named
but some of them were not within this tribe
but only
bordering places.
Verse 33
[33] And
their coast was from Heleph
from Allon to Zaanannim
and Adami
Nekeb
and
Jabneel
unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
Their coast —
Their northern border drawn from west to east
as appears
because when this
coast is described and brought to its end
the coast is said to turn from the
east westward
verse 34.
The out-goings —
The end of that coast.
Verse 35
[35] And
the fenced cities are Ziddim
Zer
and Hammath
Rakkath
and Chinnereth
Cinnereth —
Whence the lake of Cinnereth or Genesareth received its name.
Verse 41
[41] And
the coast of their inheritance was Zorah
and Eshtaol
and Irshemesh
Of their inheritance — Which is here described only by its cities
not its borders
which are
in part the same with Judah's
and their inheritance is in good part taken out
of Judah's too large portion; as appears from divers of the cities here
mentioned
which are also reckoned in Judah's portion.
Verse 47
[47] And
the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the
children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem
and took it
and smote it with
the edge of the sword
and possessed it
and dwelt therein
and called Leshem
Dan
after the name of Dan their father.
Went up to fight —
This was done after Joshua's death
and seems to be here inserted
that all the
chief places where the Danites dwelt
tho' far distant
might be mentioned
together; and to give an account of this strange accident
why they removed
from their appointed portion to so remote a place; which may be this
that
being much molested by their bad neighbours
they thought fit to go to some
place remote from them
which also they were in a manner constrained to do
because otherwise they must have taken some part of the portions of other
tribes
whereas now going to the very utmost northern point of the land
they
took that which did not belong to any other tribe.
Verse 49
[49] When
they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts
the
children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
The children of Israel — That is
they are said to give it
because the whole land was given to
Joshua
and Eleazar
and the princes
as joint trustees
acting in the name
and for the good of the people: so that even Joshua could take nothing without
their gift.
Verse 50
[50]
According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked
even
Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city
and dwelt therein.
The word of The Lord — As God had promised
or commanded; either formerly
or at this time by
Eleazar.
He built —
That is
repaired and enlarged it
in which sense Nebuchadnezzar is said to
have built Babylon
Daniel 4:30.
── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Joshua》
19 Chapter 19
Verses 1-51
The part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore
the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
A too extensive earthly portion
A fine lesson for such who
in the amplitude of their earthly
portion
have more than themselves or their families in conscience require
when numbers of their brethren
high-born as themselves and heirs to the
noblest hopes
have many of them not only a scanty lot
but scarcely the common
necessaries of life. If the one has too little
surely it may be said
though
few are likely to allow it
the other has too much. And why this disparity in
the condition of the brethren but for the trial of faith in the one and the display of charity in
the other? What
an admonition in so impoverished a world as this
where so many
comparatively
speaking
yea
and in cases not a few
literally are houseless and helpless
without means of daily sustenance
to contract their own borders that room may
be given to these destitute Simeonites. The first Christians did this to an
extent not now required: so powerfully did the love of Christ operate in their
hearts
and so little hold had earthly things of their affections when placed
in competition with spiritual and heavenly interests
that the multitude of
them that believed were of one heart and of one soul--and in this too
in
practice as well as in sentiment (Acts 4:34-35). Without reducing to one
common stock
that distribution which should be alike to all
a state of things
evidently adapted only to times of persecution
and that under no other
circumstances could answer the designs of Providence in a condition of trial
common to this life
who is there that thinks he has too much
and is so
affected with the little which others have of the same household of faith
that
he is cheerfully ready to allow a part in his portion? therein discovering that
amiable feature of the Christian character which the apostle has marked as
strikingly beautiful
“willing to distribute.” (W. Seaton.)
An inheritance to Joshua
--
The leader disinterested
As in a shipwreck the captain is the last to leave the
doomed vessel
so here the leader of the nation was the last to receive a
portion. With rare self-denial he waited till every one else was provided for.
Here we have a glimpse of his noble spirit. That there would be much grumbling
over the division of the country he no doubt counted inevitable
and that the
people would be disposed to come with their complaints to him followed as a
matter of course. See how he circumvents them! Whoever might be disposed to go
to him complaining of his lot knew the ready answer he would get--“You are not
worse off than I am
for as yet I have got none!” Joshua was content to see the
fairest inheritance disposed of to others
while as yet none had been allotted
to him. He might have asked for an inheritance in the fertile and beautiful vale
of Shechem
consecrated by one of the earliest promises to Abraham
near to
Jacob’s well and his ancestor Joseph’s Comb
or under shadow of the two
mountains
Ebal and Gerizim
where so solemn a transaction had taken place
after his people entered the land. He asks for nothing of the kind
but for a
spot on one of the highland hills of Ephraim
a place so obscure that no trace
of it remains. It is described in Judges 2:9 as “Timnath-heres
in the hill
country of Ephraim
on the north of the mountain of Gaash.” The north side of
the mountain does not indicate a spot remarkable either for amenity or
fertility. In the days of Jerome his friend Paula is said to have expressed
surprise that the distributer of the whole country reserved so wild and
mountainous a district for himself. His choice of it was a splendid rebuke to
the grumbling of his tribe
to the pride and selfishness of the “great people”
who would not be content with a single lot
and wished an additional one to be
assigned to them. “Up with you to the mountain
” was Joshua’s spirited reply;
“cut down the wood
and drive out the Canaanites!” In any case
he set a
splendid example of disinterested humility. How nobly contrasted with men like
Napoleon
who used his influence so greedily for the enrichment and
aggrandisement of every member of his family! Joshua came very near to the
spirit of our blessed Lord. (W. G. Blaikie
D. D.)
Self the last to be considered
The servant
though honourable above all
and worthy a double
portion
was as the last and least among them
and gave rest to others before
he took rest himself. In this he was a striking type of that adorable Redeemer
the captain of the host of the Lord
who
till He had obtained full conquest
and possession for His people
sat not down at the right hand of God
in the
presence of His triumphant Church. Though Lord of all
yet He became the
servant of all
and as an example ever to be studied and copied by His
followers
said in expressive condescension and abasement
“Am not I among you
as one that serveth?” Oh! that this mind were more evidently in us which was in
Christ Jesus
who
in all He sacrificed
suffered
and forewent
ever looked on
the things of others
and in His self emptyings placed His own felicity and
glory in the salvation of His people. The lot assigned Joshua was his choice
and within the portion of his own tribe. There was nothing of pre-eminence to
distinguish it from the possession of others
except as himself gave note to
it
and being the residence of one so exalted in character
so great in
achievements. It does not appear the best of the land
yet it possessed one
advantage
beyond what it could have had in fertility and extent
being near to
Shiloh
the habitation of holiness and seat of mercy. Lot chose Sodom for the
pleasantness and fertility of its plain
but Joshua chose Timnath-serah for the
holiness of its vicinity. How few in the settlements of life
whose means
afford the advantage of choice
are determined by considerations of piety and
the hope of rendering service to God and His people! Generally a residence is
sought which promises gratifications most congenial with their earthly wishes
or where they may receive the
greatest good to themselves
and not where they may do the greatest good to others. (W.
Seaton
M. A.)
──《The Biblical Illustrator》
19 Chapter 19
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 19
In
this chapter an account is given of the lots of the six remaining tribes
and
the cities in them
as of Simeon
whose cities were chiefly within the tribe of
Judah
Joshua 19:1; of
Zebulun
its border and cities
Joshua 19:10; of
Issachar
its border and cities
Joshua 19:17; of
Asher
its border and cities
Joshua 19:24; of
Naphtali
its border and cities
Joshua 19:32; of
Dan
its border and titles
Joshua 19:40; and
lastly of a gift of inheritance to Joshua
Joshua 19:49.
Verse 1
And the second lot came forth to Simeon
.... That is
the second of the seven lots
of which Benjamin's was the first; otherwise
there were the two lots of Judah and Joseph
which preceded both these:
even for the tribe
of the children of Simeon
according to their families; for though
many of their cities had been given by lot to the tribe of Judah
yet it seems
as if there were others they had by a special lot cast for them
as many as
were sufficient for their families:
and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children
of Judah; which was done partly because this was but a small tribe
and
particularly because the lot put up
which fell to the tribe of Judah
was too
large for it
more than they could occupy
too much being put to this lot by
the first measurers of the land; and partly to fulfil the prophecy of Jacob
that the Simeonites should be scattered in Jacob
and divided in Israel
Genesis 49:7; and
hence it is that the lots of these two tribes lying together
and being so
intermixed
that the tribe of Judah called upon that of Simeon to join them in
fighting against the Canaanites
and taking out of their hands the cities that
belonged to them
Judges 1:3.
Verse 2
And they had in their inheritance Beersheba and Sheba
.... Or
Beersheba
that is
Sheba; for so the particle "vau" is sometimes
usedF26Vid. Noldium
p. 280. No. 1200.
and must be so used here;
or otherwise
instead of thirteen
it will appear that there are fourteen
cities
contrary to the account of them
Joshua 19:6; so
Kimchi and Ben Melech make them one city. And it may be observed
that in the
enumeration of the cities of Simeon
1 Chronicles 4:28;
Sheba is left out
and only Beersheba is mentioned; which
was a well known
place in
the farthest border of the land of Israel southward
and the reason
of its name is manifest
Genesis 21:31; See
Gill on Joshua 15:28
and Moladah; another of the cities of Judah
Joshua 15:26.
Verse 3
And Hazarshual
.... See Gill on Joshua 15:28
and Balah
and Azem; of these places see Gill
on Joshua 15:29; for
Balah is the same with Baalah there
and with Bilhah 1 Chronicles 4:29;
and Azem with Ezem there.
Verse 4
And Eltolad
and Bethul
and Hormah. These were all
cities of Judah
Joshua 15:30;
Eltolad is the same with Tolad
and Bethul with Bethuel
1 Chronicles 4:29
and with Chesil
Joshua 15:30
mentioned there along with Hormah; See Gill on Joshua 15:30.
Verse 5
And Ziklag
.... Another of the cities of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:31
and Bethmarcaboth
and Hazarsusah; or Hazarsusim
as in 1 Chronicles 4:31;
the one signifies a chariot house
and the other a court or stable for horses
which made Bochart conjectureF1Hierozoic. l. 2. c. 9. col. 158.
that they were places where Solomon kept his chariots and horses; but it should
be observed that these were the names by which these places went in the times
of the old Canaanites; and seem to me rather where some of their kings had
their horses and chariots; or rather where there were temples dedicated to the
horses and chariots of the sun; see 2 Kings 23:11.
Verse 6
And Bethlebaoth
and Sharuhen
.... Whether the first is
the same with Lebaoth
a city of Judah
Joshua 15:32; and
with the Bethleptepha of JosephusF2De Jud. Bell. l. 4. c. 8. sect.
1.
and the Betholene of PlinyF3Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 14.
is not
certain: in this place secret to have been an idol temple of the Canaanites
dedicated to lions
as in Egypt there was a city called Leontopolis
from
whence was the Leontopolitan nome
the inhabitants of which worshipped lionsF4Strabo.
Geograph. l. 17. p. 559. ; and the Egyptians had temples dedicated to them
as
AelianusF5De Animal. l. 12. c. 7. relates. Both these places are
thought to be the same with Bethbirei and Shaaraim in 1 Chronicles 4:31;
of the latter of which see Joshua 15:36. Those
who take Sheba
Joshua 19:2
to be
the same with Shema
Joshua 15:26
make
but one city here
and take away the last
as the Greek version does
and
render the word "and their fields"
and so the number still is as
follows:
thirteen cities and their villages; the sum total of those
enumerated above.
Verse 7
Ain
Remmon
.... Of the two first
which were cities of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:32
and Ether
and Ashan; of the two last; see
Gill on Joshua 19:42
four cities and their villages; Ain
Remmon
therefore
could not be one city
at this time
as it seems to have been in the times of
Nehemiah
Nehemiah 11:29; or
otherwise there would have been but three cities.
Verse 8
And all the villages that were round about these cities
.... Not only
the suburbs adjoining to those cities which are mentioned before
but the
several small distinct towns and villages
scattered up and down in the
country:
to Baalathbeer
Ramath of the south: this is the same with
Baal in 1 Chronicles 4:33;
and with Ramath of the south
or south Ramoth
as it is called 1 Samuel 30:27; all
these are the names of one and the same city:
this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of
Simeon
according to their families; that is
the above named
cities fell to the lot of the inheritance of the Simeonites
and were divided
among them according to the number of their respective families; at least
these were the chief and principal of them; for all that they possessed are not
mentioned
particularly one called Tochen
1 Chronicles 4:32;
and another
the name of which is Etam there
unless that is thought to be the
same with Ether here in Joshua 19:7.
Josephus saysF6Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22.
this tribe took by
lot that part of Idumea which lay near to Egypt and Arabia.
Verse 9
Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the
inheritance of the children of Simeon
.... Which is the reason
why no description is given of the border of their inheritance
because that is
before given in the account of the lot of Judah:
for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: they had more
cities than they could fill with people
and more land than they could
cultivate; they had an hundred fourteen cities with their villages:
therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the
inheritance of them; the one being a small tribe
and the other large
and for the
reasons given; See Gill on Joshua 19:1.
Verse 10
And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun
according to their families
.... Who
though younger
than Issachar
has his lot before him
agreeably to the order in which his
blessing is predicted
both by Jacob and Moses
Genesis 49:13;
and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid; or "by
Sarid"
as Masius
who takes this to be the southwest border of Zebulun
being near Carmel; in which he seems to be right.
Verse 11
And their border went up toward the sea
.... Westward
towards the Mediterranean sea
which fulfilled the prophecies of Jacob and
Moses
that Zebulun should dwell by the sea
be an haven of ships
and take of
the abundance of the seas
as in the places before referred to; and so Josephus
says
the Zebulunites took the land unto the lake of Gennesaret
by or about
Carmel and the sea:
and Maralah; which Jerom callsF7De loc. Heb. fol. 90. K. the
ascent of Zebulun; for from hence it went up from the sea
and reached to
Dabbasheth; which Jerom calls Dasbath; the word signifies a hump that is on a
camel's back
Isaiah 30:6; so
called because when that is hurt by burdens it is cured with honeyF8T.
Bab. Sabbat
fol. 154. 2. ; it seems to denote some place or city at a point of
land or promontory
that stood out towards the sea
as that of Carmel; or some
city on the back of Carmel
resembling a camel's hump:
and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; of Jokneam;
see Gill on Joshua 12:22; and
this river was either the river Kishon
or Belus
sometimes called Pagida; from
whence sand was taken to make glass ofF11Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19.
& l. 36. c. 26.
and was near Carmel
as Jokneam was.
Verse 12
And turned from Sarid eastward
.... This describes the
southern border
going on from west to east:
towards the sunrising
unto the border of Chislothtabor; this Jerom
places in the tribe of Issachar
it bordered on both tribes; and he saysF12De
loc. Heb. fol. 88. D. H.
that in his time there was a little village called
Chaselus
eight miles from Diocaesarea
at the foot of Mount Tabor in the
plains:
and then goeth out to Daberath; which also was a city in
the tribe of Issachar
given to the Levites
Joshua 21:28. JeromF13lbid.
fol. 90. I. speaks of a little village of the Jews by Mount Tabor
of the
country belonging to Diocaesarea
called Dabira; this place is still in being.
Mr. Maundrell saysF14Journey from Aleppo
&c. p. 115.
at the
bottom of Tabor westward stands Debarah
supposed by some to take its name from
Deborah
the famous judge and deliverer of Israel:
and goeth up to Japhia; this JeromF15De
loc. Heb. fol. 92. K. says is the town called Sycamine
as you go from Caesarea
to Ptolemais
above the sea
because of Mount Carmel
called Epha
thought by
some to be the Jebba of PlinyF16Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19. . It seems
however
to be the Japha of JosephusF17De Bello Jud. l. 3. c. 6.
sect. 31.
which he speaks of as being a strong fortified place both by nature
and art.
Verse 13
And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher
.... Which was
the native place of Jonah the prophet
2 Kings 14:25; and
where Jerom saysF18Praefat. in Jonam. his grave was shown
and was a
small village in his time two miles from Sippore
then called Diocaesarea:
to Ittahkazin; of this place we have no account elsewhere
but it was not far from the former:
and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah; where the
eastern border ended. Some versions make Remmonmethoar distinct places; but
where either of them were exactly is not known: some
as the Targum
Jarchi
and Kimchi
render the word "Methoar which goes about"; that is
the
border went about from Remmon to Neah
which by Jerom is called Anna
and who
observesF19De loc. Heb. fol. 38. H.
that there is another village
called Anna
ten miles from Neapolis
as you go to Aelia; and by whom also
Methoar is reckoned a distinct place
and called Amathar.
Verse 14
And the border compasseth it from the north side to Hannathon
.... This is
the northern border of the tribe
which took a circuit from the last place to
this; of which and the following place we have no account; Jerom only makes
mention of them as in the tribe of Zebulun:
and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel; here the
northern border ended
which
Masius conjectures
was part of the valley of
Carmel.
Verse 15
And Kattath
and Nahallal
.... Of the two first of
these we read nowhere else
but in Joshua 21:34
and Shimron was a royal city
the king of which Joshua took and hanged
Joshua 11:1
and Idalah is a place Bochart conjecturesF20Canaan
l. 1. c. 3.
col. 356. where the goddess Venus was worshipped
Idalia being one of her
names:
and Bethlehem is a different place from that which was the
birthplace of our Lord
called Bethlehem of Judah
to distinguish it from this:
twelve cities with their villages; more are named
but some
of them belonged to other tribes
and only lay on the borders of this; and
others might not be properly cities
but small towns.
Verse 16
This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun
according to
their families
.... Which was allotted to it and divided
according to the
number of its families:
these cities with their villages; before enumerated
excepting such as only bordered on them; though indeed there were other cities
which belonged to them
or might be after given them
not here mentioned
as
Kartah and Dimnah
Joshua 21:34.
Verse 17
And the fourth lot came out
to Issachar
.... The fourth of the seven drawn at Shiloh:
for the children of Issachar
according to their families: among whom
the inheritance that came to them by the lot was divided
according to the
number of them.
Verse 18
And their border was towards Jezreel
.... Which was
a royal seat in the time of Ahab
1 Kings 21:1; and
according to Jerom was near to Maximianopolis; See Gill on Hosea 1:5; and the
same writerF21De loc. Heb. fol. 92. I. says in his day a large
village of this name was shown in the great plain between Scythopolis and Legion
(he means the plain of Jezreel)
and it was the border of Issachar:
and Chesulloth was different from the Chislothtabor
Joshua 19:12; that
as Masius observes
was to the north
this to the south of Mount Tabor:
and Shunem is a place well known for being the dwelling place of a certain
woman in the times of Elisha
whose son the prophet raised from the dead
2 Kings 4:8; Jerom
calls it Sonam
where was the Shunammite woman; but this city here seems to be
what he calls Salem
in the tribe of Issachar; and he adds
that there was
shown in his day a village by this name
five miles from Mount Tabor to the
southF23De loc. Heb. fol. 94. K. L. : according to BuntingF24Travels
p. 143.
it was forty eight miles from Jerusalem to the north
not far from
Nain.
Verse 19
And Hapharaim
.... The first of these is by JeromF25Ut
supra
(De loc. Heb.) fol. 88. I. called Aphraim
a city of the tribe of
Issachar; and adds
there is at this day a village called Affarea
six miles
from Legion to the north:
and Shion; of Seon or Soen
the same with Shion here
he saysF26lbid.
fol. 94. K.
there was a village of this name shown in his time near Mount
Tabor:
and Anaharath
of which we have no account elsewhere.
Verse 20
And Rabbith
.... The first of these Jerom callsF1De loc. Heb. fol.
94. B. Rabboth in the tribe of Issachar:
and Kishion
as Masius notes
seems to given name to the river Kishon near
it; some take it to be the same with Kedesh
1 Chronicles 6:72
and Abez
of which no mention is made elsewhere.
Verse 21
And Remeth
.... Remeth seems to be the same with Jarmuth
Joshua 21:29; and
with Ramoth
1 Chronicles 6:73
and Engannim seems to be the same with Anem in 1 Chronicles 6:73
there were several of this name
which seem to have been places full of
gardens
and well watered; for the word signifies a fountain of gardens.
Engannim is now called Jenine
distant from Tabor twenty two miles
a place of
gardens
of water
and of pleasure
as a travellerF2Biddulph apud
Lightfoot. Talmud. Exercitat. in John iv. 1. of ours tells us; who also
declaresF3lb. apud Fuller's Pisgah Sight
p. 161.
that
in his
whole journey from Damascus to Jerusalem
he saw not more fruitful ground
and
so much together
than he did in twenty two miles of riding between Mount Tabor
and Engannim. This seems to be the same place Mr. MaundrellF4Journey
from Aleppo
&c. p. 111. calls Jeneen
a large old town on the outskirts of
Esdraelon. Dr. LightfootF5Chorograph. notes in Luke
p. 370. is
inclined to believe
that Nain
where the widow's son was raised to life
Luke 7:11
is the
same with Engannim
for which he gives various reasons:
and Enhaddah; Jerom says
in his timeF6Ut
supra. (De. loc. Heb. fol. 94. B.) there was a village called Enadda
ten miles
from Eleutheropolis
as you go from thence to Aelia; but seems not to be the
same with Enhaddah here:
and Bethpazzez; of Bethpazzez no mention is made elsewhere.
"Beth" signifies a "house"
and "Pazzez" in the
Arabic tongue signifies "silver"; so this with the old Canaanites
might be a treasure city
like those in Egypt
Exodus 1:11. But
where a word begins with "Beth"
as the name of a place
I always
suspect there was an idol temple there; now as the word in Hebrew signifies the
same as "Peor"
opening
here might be a temple to that deity
or to
one that was similar to the god of the Moabites
and design a Priapus
among
the Canaanites like that; or as the word in the Syriac and Chaldee languages
signifies to redeem
deliver
and save
this temple might be dedicated to some
idol as their deliverer and saviour.
Verse 22
And the coast reacheth to Tabor
.... Tabor was the name
of a mountain in those parts; it is generally supposed to be the mountain on
which our Lord was transfigured
though it is not sufficiently evident; See
Gill on Jeremiah 46:18.
There was a city of this name near it
1 Chronicles 6:77
and which is meant here
and which either gave unto or received name from the
mount. The Greeks call it Itabyrium
and it is described by PolybiusF7Hist.
l. 5. p. 413. as situated on a hill rising in the form of a pap or breast
and
has an ascent of more than fifteen furlongs
and he calls it a city:
and Shahazimah is not mentioned any where else:
and Bethshemesh; there seem to have been several cities
at
least more than one
of the name of Bethshemesh; one in the tribe of Judah
Joshua 21:16; and
another in the tribe of Naphtali
Joshua 19:38; which
perhaps may be the same with this
it lying on the borders of both tribes. In
this
and so in others of the same name
was a temple dedicated to the sun by
the Heathens
as there was one of the same name in Egypt for the same reason
Jeremiah 43:13
and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan; here it
ended: so Josephus says
that the border of this tribe in the length of it were
Mount Carmel (at one end)
and the river (i.e. Jordan
at the other); and at
the breadth of it the mountain Itabyrium
or Mount Tabor: it had Jordan on the
east
the sea on the west
Zebulun on the north
and Manasseh on the south:
sixteen cities with their villages; which was the sum total
of them.
Verse 23
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of
Issachar
.... Which fell to them by lot
as before described:
according to their families; was divided among them
according to the number of them:
the cities and their villages; the cities before
enumerated
and the villages adjacent to them.
Verse 24
And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher
.... Which
entitled them to an inheritance next described:
according to their families; which was sufficient for
them
and divided to them according to their number.
Verse 25
And their border was Helkath
.... Helkath seems to be
the same with Hukok
1 Chronicles 6:75;
and according to Masius it lay ten or twelve miles above Ptolemais:
and Hali
of which we read nowhere else.
and Beten is by JeromF8De loc. Heb. fol. 89. H. called Bathne
and was in his time a village by the name of Bethebem
eight miles from
Ptolemais to the east. RelandF9Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 617.
seems to think it might be the Ecbatana of PlinyF11Nat. Hist. l. 5.
c. 19.
which he speaks of as near Mount Carmel
and not far from Ptolemais:
and Achshaph was a royal city
whose king was taken by
Joshua; see Gill on Joshua 11:1.
Verse 26
And Alammelech
and Amad
.... Of the two first of
these there is no mention elsewhere:
and Misheal is the same with Mashal
1 Chronicles 6:74;
and is by JeromF12De loc. Heb. fol. 93. E. called Masan
and said to
be near Carmel to the sea:
and reacheth to Carmel westward; or
"to the
sea"
as Carmel is called "Carmel by the sea"; see Gill on Jeremiah 46:18
it
is hereby distinguished from Carmel in the tribe of Judah
Joshua 15:55;
(PlinyF13Ut supra. (Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19.) calls it a promontory):
and to Shihorlibnath; the Vulgate Latin and
Septuagint versions make two places of it: but the sum of the cities after
given will not admit of it: more rightly Junius renders it Sihor by Libhath
and takes Sihor to be the river Belus
or Pagidus; so called either because of
its likeness to the Nile
one of whose names is Sihor
Jeremiah 2:18; or
because its waters might be black and muddy; it was the river out of which sand
was fetched to make glass of: and Libnath
which has its name from whiteness
the same writer thinks may be the Album Promontorium
or white promontory of
PlinyF14Ibid.
which he places near Ptolemais
between Ecdippa and
Tyre
and is very probable.
Verse 27
And turneth towards the sunrising
.... Or eastward:
to Bethdagon; there was a city of this name in the tribe
of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:41.
Dagon
being a god of the Phoenicians
had temples built for him in various
places in Canaan:
and reacheth to Zebulun; not the tribe of
Zebulun
but a city so called
the same JosephusF15De Bello Jud. l.
2. c. 18. sect. 9. calls a strong city of Galilee
which had the name of Men
perhaps from the populousness of it
and separated Ptolemais from Judea:
and to the valley of Jiphthahel; see Joshua 19:14
toward the north side of Bethemek; of Bethemek no mention
is made elsewhere: perhaps here was an idol temple before dedicated to the god
of the valleys; see 1 Kings 20:28
and Neiel; which the Greek version calls Inael
of which Jerom saysF16De
loc. Heb. fol. 88. I.
it is a certain village called Betoaenea
fifteen miles
from Caesarea
situated on a mountain to the east
on which are said to be
wholesome baths:
and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand; not the land
of Cabul
1 Kings 9:13; but a
city
which JosephusF17Vita ejus
sect. 43. calls a village on the
borders of Ptolemais. The JewsF18Echa Rabbati
fol. 75. 4. speak of
a city of this name
destroyed because of contentions in it.
Verse 28
And Hebron
.... Hebron seems to be the same with Abdon
Joshua 21:30; ר and ד being changed
of which
there are other instances; and hereby this is distinguished from another Hebron
in the tribe of Judah
more commonly known
Joshua 15:54
and Rehob; in the time of JeromF19De loc. Heb. fol. 94. A.
there was a village called Rooba
four miles from Scythopolis
and which he
says was a city separated to the Levites
as this was
or one of the same name
in this tribe; for there was another
Joshua 19:30; see Joshua 21:31; but
whether either of them is the same with this is not certain:
and Hammon; of this city we read nowhere else:
and Kanah; this Kanah is generally thought to be the same where Christ
wrought his first miracle
John 2:1. Jerom
expressly saysF21Ibid. fol. 90. B.
there was a Cana in the tribe
of Asher
where our Lord and Saviour turned water into wine
John 2:1
and from
whence was Nathanael
John 21:2; and it
is at this day
adds he
a town in Galilee of the Gentiles. PhocasF23Apud
Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 680. places Cana between Sippori and
Nazareth
which is now shown six Roman miles from Sippori to the west
a little
inclining to the north; and there is also in the same tract Cephar Cana
four
miles from Nazareth to the north
inclining to the east; and it is disputed which
of these two is Cana of Galilee the New Testament: with this account agrees
pretty much what our countryman Mr. MaundrellF24Journey from Aleppo
&c. p. 117. gives of his travels in those parts:"taking leave of
Nazareth
(he says
) and going at first northward
we crossed the hills that
encompassed the vale of Nazareth at that side; after which we turned to the
westward
and passed in view of Cana of Galilee
the place signalized with the
beginning of Christ's miracles
John 2:11; in an
hour and a half more we came to Sepharia;'
or
Sippori:
even unto great
Zidon; of great Zidon
and why so called; see Gill on Joshua 11:8.
Verse 29
And then the coast turneth to Ramah
.... Which was
a city in the tribe of Naphtali
Joshua 19:36; and
on the borders of Asher; though JeromF25De loc. Heb. fol. 94. B.
distinguishes them
and speaks of a Ramah in Asher
and another in Naphtali
as
different cities of the same name; as there were several of this name
so
called from their being built on an eminence. Masius conjectures it is the same
with Sarepta
Luke 4:26; famous
for its wine; and Bacchus
as the poet says
loves the hills:
and to the strong city Tyre; it is thought this is
not to be understood of the famous city
so much spoken of in other parts of
Scripture
and in profane history; since
as it is observed
that is not
mentioned in Scripture until the times of David; and though Homer makes frequent
mention of Sidon
yet never of Tyre. The words signify the strong fortress of a
rock
or a fortress on a high rock; so Kimchi and Ben Melech; and it might be a
fortified city
which being built on a rock
might have the name of Zor or
Tyre
and not be the famous city of that name. JeromF26De loc. Heb.
fol. 94. B. renders it the fortified city of the Assyrians:
and the coast turneth to Hosah; of which we nowhere else
read:
and the outgoings thereof are at the sea; the
Mediterranean sea; where the coast ended this way:
from the coast to Achzib; this JeromF1Ibid.
fol. 88. I. says is Ecdippa
nine miles from Ptolemais
as you go to Tyre; and
this is confirmed by a learned traveller of our own nationF2Maundrell's
Journey from Aleppo
&c. p. 53. ; it is now called Zib; See Gill on Micah 1:14.
Verse 30
Ummah also
.... Ummah is not mentioned any where else:
and Aphek; of which; see Gill on Joshua 12:18
and Rehob; of which; see Gill on Joshua 19:28
twenty and two cities with their villages: there are
more set down in the account
but some of them did not belong to the tribe
only were on the border of it.
Verse 31
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of
Asher
.... As before described
a goodly heritage; it was
according to
the prediction of Jacob and Moses
Genesis 49:20; a
very fruitful country. JosephusF3Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22. says
the country from Carmel called the valley
because it was such
even all over
against Sidon
fell to the Asherites
Asher had Mount Libanus on the north
Naphtali on the east
Zebulun on the south and southeast
the sea on the west:
according to their families; the number of them
so
their lot was divided to them:
these cities with their villages; before named.
Verse 32
The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali
.... The tribe
of Naphtali
and directed what should be the inheritance of this tribe:
even for the
children of Naphtali
according to their families; which was to
be divided among them
according to the number of their
families.
Verse 33
And their coast was from Heleph
.... That is
their
northern coast
reaching from west to east
as appears by the ending of it at
Jordan; the Alexandrian copy of the Greek version calls it Mlepeh
the Targum
Meheleph
and Jerom
Mealeb
which he calls the border of Naphtali; which
though to the north
cannot be expressly said what and where it was:
from Allon to Zaanannim; or rather from the oak
or from the plain in ZaanannimF4"Ab querceto in
Tzahanannimis"
Junius & Tremellius; so Piscator. ; for it seems to be
the same with the plain of Zanaaim
Judges 4:11.
and Adami
Nekeb; some make these to be but one city
and the
latter only an epithet of the former; but the TalmudistsF5T. Hieros.
Megillah
fol. 70. 1. make them two
as we do
and call the first Damin
and
the latter Ziadetha; but what and where either of them were exactly is not
known; for Adami cannot be the same with Adam
Joshua 3:16; as
some think; for that was in Peraea
on the other side Jordan; See Gill on Joshua 3:16
and Jabneel; Jabneel is different from that which was on the borders of
Judah
Joshua 15:11; and
is called by the JewsF6T. Hieros. Megillah
fol. 70. 1. since
Cepherjamah:
unto Lakum; of which we nowhere else read:
and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan; here the
coast ended this way.
Verse 34
And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor
.... This was
the southern border
reaching from east to west; it began at Aznothtabor
which
JeromF7De loc. Heb. fol. 88. I. says was a village in his time
belonging to the country of Diocaesarea
in the plains; there is another place
called Chislothtabor
on the borders of Zebulun
Joshua 19:12
and goeth out from thence to Hukkok: there the southern
border ended
which was in the border of Asher
and is the same with Helkath
Joshua 19:25; with
which compare 1 Chronicles 6:75
and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side
and reacheth to Asher
on the west side and to Judah upon Jordan towards the sunrising; so that as it
was bounded by Lebanon
on the north
near to which some of the cities were
mentioned in Joshua 19:33
it
had Zebulun on the south
Asher on the west
and Jordan to the east; for by
Judah is not meant the tribe of Judah
from which Naphtali was at a great
distance
but a city so called
as FullerF8Pisgah-Sight
B. 2. c. 4.
p. 104. seems rightly to conjecture.
Verse 35
And the fenced cities are Ziddim
.... The later
name of Ziddim
according to the TalmudF9Ut supra. (T. Hieros.
Megillah
fol. 70. 1.)
was Cepharchitiya
or the village of wheat
perhaps
from the large quantity or goodness of wheat there:
Zer is called by JeromF11De loc. Heb. fol. 95. A. Sor
and
interpreted Tyre
the metropolis of Phoenicia
very wrongly
and
in the tribe
of Naphtali:
and Hammath probably was built by the youngest son of Canaan
Genesis 10:18; or
had its name in memory of him; it lay to the north of the land of Israel; see Numbers 34:8
Rakkath
and Chinnereth; Rakkath according to the
Jewish writersF12T. Hieros. ut supra. (Megillah
fol. 70. 1.) is the
same with Tiberias
as Chinnereth with Gennesaret
from whence the lake or sea
of Tiberias
and the country and lake of Gennesaret
had their names
often
mentioned in the New Testament. Gennesaret was a most delicious and fruitful
spot
and fulfilled the prophecy of Moses
Deuteronomy 33:23;
concerning Naphtali.
Verse 36
And Adamah
.... Adamah is different from Adami
Joshua 19:33; and
may seem to confirm the notion of some
that Nekeb there is an epithet of it
and so distinguishes it from Adamah here:
and Ramah; of Ramah
as there were several places of this name; see Gill on
Joshua 19:29
and Hazor was a royal city
of which; see Gill on Joshua 11:1.
Verse 37
And Kedesh
.... This is Kedesh in Galilee
in Mount Naphtali
to distinguish
it from others of the same name; it was one of the cities of refuge
Joshua 20:7. Jerom
saysF13Ut supra
(De loc. Heb.) fol. 90. B. in his day it was called
Cidissus
and was twenty miles from Tyre by Paneas; See Gill on Joshua 12:22.
and Edrei is a different place from one of that name in the kingdom of Og
Numbers 21:33
and Enhazor
of which we read nowhere else.
Verse 38
And Iron
.... Of Iron no mention is made elsewhere:
and Migdalel
which Jerom calls Magdiel
he saysF13De
loc. Heb. fol. 93. L. was shown a small village
five miles from Dara
as you
go to Ptolemais:
and Horem is not mentioned anywhere elsewhere;
and Bethanath; Jerom also relatesF14Ibid. fol.
89. H.
that Bathana
in the tribe of Naphtali
was a village that went by the
name of Betbanes
fifteen miles from Caesarea:
and Bethshemesh was another city
in which was a temple
dedicated to the sun
when inhabited by the Canaanites; see Joshua 19:22; and
so in Bethanath there might be a temple dedicated to some deity
though now
uncertain what:
nineteen cities with their villages; there are more
mentioned
but some of them might be only boundaries
and so belonged to
another tribe.
Verse 39
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali
.... Which
JosephusF15Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22. thus describes;"the
country to the east
as far as Damascus the city
and upper Galilee
the
Naphtalites took
unto Mount Lebanon
and the fountains of Jordan
which flow
out of the mount
reaching the northern border of the city Arce:"
according to their families; which was divided among
them
according to the number of their families:
the cities and their villages; before enumerated.
Verse 40
And the seventh lot came out
for the tribe of the children of Dan
.... Which was the last
lot drawn
and which appointed an inheritance to this tribe:
according to their families; the number of them.
Verse 41
And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah
and Eshtaol
.... The tribe
of Dan is not described by places the boundaries of it
as other tribes
but by
its cities
which were chiefly
at least several of them
taken out of the
tribe of Judah
as the two first of these most manifestly were; See Gill on Joshua 15:33
and Irshemesh signifies the city of the sun
as the Targum
interprets it
and was so called very probably from a temple in it
dedicated
to the idolatrous worship of the sun
but a different place from Bethshemesh in
other tribes; though those of that name
as this
had it for the like reason;
and so Heliopolis
in Egypt
which signifies the same
where was a temple of
the same kind; as there was another city of this name
between the mountains of
Libanus and Antilibanus
now called BalbecF16See Maundrell's Journey
from Aleppo
&c. p. 120
138.
where the ruins of the temple are yet to be
seen: but this was a different place
the Septuagint version calls it Sammaus
and it was
according to JeromF17Comment. in Ezek. xlviii. fol. 263.
A.
the same with Emmaus
afterwards called Nicopolis; which
if the same
Emmaus with that in Luke 24:13; though
some doubt it
was sixty furlongs from Jerusalem
or seven miles and a half.
Verse 42
And Shaalabbin
.... The first of these is the same with
Shaalbim
Judges 1:35; and
which JeromF18De loc. Heb. fol. 94. K. calls Selab
in the tribe of
Dan; and which he says was in his day shown a large village on the borders of
Sebaste
by the name of Selaba.
and Ajalon is famous for the standing still of the moon in its valley while
Joshua pursued his enemies; see Gill on Joshua 10:12
and Jethlah
of which we read nowhere else.
Verse 43
And Elon
.... Of Elon no mention is made elsewhere:
and Thimnathah is a different place from Timnah in the
tribe of Judah
Joshua 15:10. JeromF19De
loc. Heb. fol. 88. E. speaks of the Thamnitic country
so called from the
village Thamna
which seems to be this:
and Ekron was one of the five principalities of the Philistines
and never
possessed by the Israelites; it first fell by lot to the tribe of Judah
and
afterwards given to the tribe of Dan
Joshua 15:45.
Verse 44
And Eltekeh
.... Eltekeh was a city given to the Levites
Joshua 21:23; and
supposed by some to be the same with Eltekon in the tribe of Judah given to the
Danites
Joshua 15:59
and Gibbethon was in the hands of the Philistines in the
reign of Asa
1 Kings 15:21; and
in the same place JeromF20De loc. Heb. fol. 92. C. calls Gabatha a
city of the strangers
or Philistines; and which lie places near Bethlehem in
the tribe of Judah:
and Baalath is not the same with Baalah
Joshua 15:29; but
the Baalath rebuilt by Solomon
1 Kings 9:18;
called by JosephusF21Antiqu. l. 8. c. 6. sect. 1. Baleth
and spoken
of by him as near to Gazara in the land of the Philistines; of these two last
cities
the TalmudistsF23T. Hieros. Sanhedrin
fol. 18. 3. say that
their houses belonged to Judah
and their fields to Dan.
Verse 45
And Jehud
.... Of Jehud no mention is made elsewhere:
and Beneberak signifies sons of lightning; see Mark 3:17. JeromF24De
loc. Heb. fol. 89. H. speaks of tills as the name of two places
Bane in the
tribe of Dan
and Barach in the same tribe
and which was in his day near
Azotus. This place was famous in later times among the Jews for being a place
where one of their noted Rabbins
R. Akiba
abode and taught for some timeF25T.
Bab. Sanhedrin
fol. 32. 2. :
and Gathrimmon was in Jerom'sF26De loc. Heb.
fol. 92. C. time a very large village
twelve miles from Diospolis
or Lydda
as you go from Eleutheropolis to it; it was a city given to the Levites
Joshua 21:24.
Verse 46
And Mejarkon
and Rakkon
.... Of the two first of
these we read no where else.
with the border before Japho; Japho is the same with
Joppa
now called at this day Jaffa
a port in the Mediterranean sea
famous
for being the place where Jonah took shipping; see Gill on Jonah 1:3; and
where the Apostle Peter resided some time; see Gill on Acts 9:36; and See
Gill on Acts 9:38. It is
not certain whether Joppa itself was in the tribe of Dan
or only on the
borders of it; the coast of Dan reached "over against" it
as it may
be rendered
and included the villages and little cities that were near it; for
such there were
as JosephusF2De Bello Jud. l. 3. c. 8. sect. 4.
testifies.
Verse 47
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little
for them
.... Being a very numerous tribe
the cities allotted them were
not sufficient for them; or rather
leaving out the supplement "too
little"
the words will run
it "went out from them"; they lost
part of it
being driven out of the valley into the mountain by the Amorites
Judges 1:34; which
obliged them to seek out elsewhere for habitations:
therefore the children of Dan went out to fight against Leshem; called Laish
Judges 18:1
where
the whole story is related of their lighting against this place and taking it;
which
though some time after the death of Joshua
is here recorded to give at
once an account of the inheritance of Dan; and which is no argument against
Joshua's being the writer of this book
as is urged; since it might be inserted
by another hand
Ezra
or some other inspired man
for the reason before given:
and took and smote it with the edge of the sword
and possessed it
and dwelt therein; being a Canaanitish city
they put all in
it to the sword
as the Lord had commanded
and took possession of it for an
habitation:
and called Leshem Dan
after the name of Dan their father; this is the
place which is always meant
where the phrase is used "from Dan to
Beersheba"
Judges 20:1
this
being at the utmost northern border of the land of Canaan
as Beersheba was at
the further part of the southern coast of it. It was
according to JeromF3De
loc. Heb. fol. 93. A.
situated near Paneas
out of which the river Jordan
flowed; and Kimchi on the text observes
their RabbinsF4T. Bab.
Megillah
fol. 6. 1. & Bava Bathra
fol. 74. 2. say
that Leshem is Pamias
(i.e. Paneas)
and that Jordan flows from the cave of Pamias
and had its name שיודד מדן because it descended
from Dan; and so JosephusF5Antiqu. l. 15. c. 10. sect. 3. De Bello
Jud. l. 1. c. 21. sect. 3. & l. 3. c. 9. sect. 7. says
that Panium is a
cave under a mountain
from whence rise the springs of Jordan
and is the
fountain of it; and Pliny also saysF6Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 15.
the
river Jordan rises out of the fountain Paneas. This city was enlarged and
beautified by Philip Herod
and he called it by the name of Caesarea Philippi
both in honour of Tiberius CaesarF7Joseph. Antiqu. l. 18. c. 2.
sect. 1. and after his own name
by which name it goes in Matthew 16:13; and
is called in the Jerusalem Targum on Genesis 14:14
Dan
of Caesarea.
Verse 48
This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan
.... Before
described by its cities
which were in it. This tribe was bounded by Ephraim on
the north
by Judah on the east
by Simeon on the south
and by the
Mediterranean sea on the west. JosephusF8Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect.
22. says
the Danites enjoyed the vale which lies to the setting sun
bounded
by Azotus and Doris
and all Jamnia and Getta
from Accaron (or Ekron) to the
mountain from whence the tribe of Judah begins:
according to their families; which inheritance was
distributed according to the number of their families:
their cities with their villages; before named.
Verse 49
And when they made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by
their coasts
.... That is
Eleazar
Joshua
and the ten men appointed for
this
purpose; when all the lots were drawn
and the several inheritances which
came up to them were divided among the families of the respective tribes
this
work being finished:
the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of
Nun among them; most interpreters observe the modesty of Joshua
that though the
oldest and the greatest man in the nation
the chief governor
yet had his
inheritance last of all; nor did he take any part to himself
it was given to
him by the people
who had the whole land divided among them; in which he was a
type of Christ; see 2 Corinthians 8:9 Philemon 2:6.
Verse 50
According to the word of the Lord
.... Or mouth of the
Lord; either according to the oracle of Urim and Thummim
which Eleazar
consulted on this occasion; or according to what the Lord had said to Moses
at
the same time that Hebron was ordered to Caleb
Joshua 14:6; and
they gave him the city which he asked
even Timnathserah in
Mount Ephraim; he chose a place in his own tribe
for he was of the tribe of
Ephraim; and it seems that what he chose was none of the best of places; for
Paula
as JeromF9Epitaph. Paulae
fol. 59. L. relates
when she
travelled into those parts
wondered that the distributor of the possessions of
the children of Israel should choose such a rough and mountainous place for
himself; of its situation
see Joshua 24:30
and he built the city
and dwelt therein; he rebuilt
it
and fitted it for his own habitation
and for those that belonged to him.
(Timnathserah means "an abundant portion" or "a place in the
sun". Joshua great reward was in seeing the promises of God fulfilled
before his very eyes Joshua 21:45 and
the children of Israel serving the Lord's during his lifetime Joshua 24:31.
Joshua may have received but a small inheritance in the promised land but this
was just an earnest of his future glorious inheritance in eternity. The saints
of God have the best portion saved for the last John 2:10 whereas
the worldling has his best portion now; his worst is yet to come. Editor.)
Verse 51
These are the inheritances which Eleazar the priest
and
Joshua the son of Nun
.... The one the high priest
and the other the chief governor of
the nation:
and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of
Israel; the princes appointed for this service
whose names are given Numbers 34:18; the
inheritances before described in the preceding chapters by their boundaries and
cities
these the said persons
divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh; and so has
particular reference to the seven lots drawn there for seven of the tribes
by
which their inheritances were assigned to them: and this was done
before the Lord
at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation; see Joshua 18:1
so they made an end of dividing the country; though it was
not as yet wholly subdued.
──《John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible》