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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》