10 ¶ And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms. 11 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe; and he burnt Hazor with fire. B. C. 1430-44. 41-47. A. M. 2551-60. 12 And all the cities of those kings, An Exod. Ir. and all the kings of them, did Joshua Annone take, and smote them with the edge of Olyn. 671-6 the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded. 13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn. 14 And all the spoil of these cities, and the Heb. any breath-a Nwab 33 52 Deut. 7.2 & 20. 16, 17-b Heb. on their heap. © Exod 31. 11, 12-d Deut. 7. 2.-e Ch. 1. 7.—f Heb. he removed nothing. Trojan war and both it and its inhabitants are frequently mentioned by Homer, as excelling in works of skill and utility, and abounding in wealth: Ενθ' εσαν οι πεπλοι παμποικίλοι, έργα γυναικών Iliad. xxiii. ver. 741. The art of making glass is attributed by Pliny to this city. SIDON artifex vitri, Hist. Nat. 1. v. c. 19. Misrephoth-maim] Or Misrephoth of the waters. What this place was, is unknown; but Calmet conjectures it to be the same with Sarepta, a city of Phenicia, contiguous to Sidon. The word signifies the burning of the waters, or inflammation-probably it was a place noted for its hot springs; this idea seems to have struck Luther, as he translates it, die warme wasser-the hot waters. Verse 9. He houghed their horses] The Hebrew word py akar, which we render to hough, or hamstring, signifies to wound, cut, or lop off. It is very likely that it means here, not only an act by which they were rendered useless, but by which they were destroyed; as God had purposed that his people should not possess any cattle of this kind, that a warlike and enterprising spirit might not be cultivated among them; and that, when obliged to defend themselves and their country, they might be led to depend upon God for protection and victory. On the same ground, God had forbidden the kings of Israel to multiply horses, Deut. xvii. 16. See the note there, containing the reasons on which this prohibition was founded. Burnt their chariots] As these could have been of no use without the horses. Verse 10. Took Hazor] See on verse the first. Verse 13. The cities that stood still in their strength] The word on telam, which we translate their strength, and the margin, their heap, has been understood two ways. 1. As signifying those cities which had made peace with the Israelites, when conditions of peace were offered, according to the command of the law; and consequently, were not destroyed. Such as the cities of the Hivites, see ver. 19. 2. The cities which were situated upon hills and mountains, which, when taken, might be retained with little difficulty. In this sense the place is understood by the Vulgate, as pointing out the cities, quæ erant in collibus et tumulis site, which were situated on hills and eminences. As the cities of the plain might be easily attacked and carried, Joshua destroyed them, Hazor excepted: but as those on mountains, hills, or other eminences, might be retained with little trouble, prudence would dictate their preservation, as places of refuge in any insurrection of the people, or invasion of their adversaries. The passage in Jeremiah, chap. xxx. 18. Jerusalem shall be builded on her own heap, telah, if understood as above, conveys an easy and clear sense: Jerusalem shall be re-established on her owN HILL. Verse 14. All the spoil of these cities-Israel took] With the exception of those things which had been employed for idolatrous purposes, see Deut. vii. 25. Verse 16. The mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same] This place has given considerable trouble to cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe. d 15 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses. 16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same; 17 Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them. 18 Joshua made war a long time with all those things. g Ch. 12. 8.-h Ch. 10. 41.-i Ch. 12. 7.-k Or, the smooth mountain-1 Deut. 7. 24. Ch. 12. 7.-m Till 1445. Ver. 23. commentators: and it is not easy to assign such a meaning to the place, as may appear in all respects satisfactory. 1. If we consider this verse and the 21st, to have been added after the times in which the kingdom of Israel and Judah were divided, the difficulty is at once removed. 2. The difficulty will be removed, if we consider that mountain and valley are put here for mountains and valleys, and that these include all the mountains and valleys, which were not in the lot that fell to the tribe of Judah. Or, 3. If by mountain of Israel, we understand Beth-el, where God appeared to Jacob, afterward called Israel, and promised him the land of Canaan, a part of the difficulty will be removed. But the first opinion seems best founded; for there is incontestable evidence that several notes have been added to this book since the days of Joshua. See the Preface. Verse 17. From the mount Halak] All the mountainous country that extends from the south of the land of Canaan toward Seir unto Baal-gad, which lies at the foot of mount Libanus, or Hermon, called by some the mountains of Separation, which serve as a limit between the land of Canaan and that of Seir, see chap. xii. 7. The valley of Lebanon] The whole extent of the plain which is on the south, and (probably) north of mount Libanus. Calmet conjectures that Colo-Syria is here meant. Verse 18. Joshua made war a long time] The whole of these conquests was not effected in one campaign: it probably required six or seven years. There are some chronological notices in this book, and in Deuteronomy, by which the exact time may be nearly ascertained. Caleb was forty years old when he was sent from Kadesh-barnea by Moses, to search out the land, about A. M. 2514; and at the end of this war he was eighty-five years old, compare chap. xiv. 10. with Numb. xiii. and Deut. i. consequently the war ended in 2559, which had begun by the passage of Jordan, on the tenth day of the first month of the year 2554. From this date to the end of 2559, we find exactly six years: the first of which Joshua seems to have employed in the conquest of the south part of the land of Canaan, and the other five in the conquest of all the territories situated on the north of that country. See Dodd. "Caleb Calmet computes this differently, and allows the term of seven years for the conquest of the whole land. was forty years old when sent from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land. At the conclusion of the war he was eightyfive years old, as himself says, chap. xiv. ver. 10. From this sum of eighty-five subtract forty, his age when he went from Kadesh-barnea, and the thirty-eight years which he spent in the wilderness after his return, and there will remain the sum of seven years, which was the time spent in the conquest of the land. 1. By protracting the war, the Canaanites had time to repent, having sufficient opportu ty to discern the hand of Jehovah. 2. Agriculture was carried on, and thus provision was made even for the support of the conquerors: for had the land been subdued and wasted at once, tillage must have been stopped, and famine would have ensued. 3. Wild beasts would have multiplied upon them, and the land have been desolated by their means. 4. Had these conquests been more rapid, the people of Israel would have been less affected, and less instructed, by miracles that had passed in such quick succession before their eyes; and as in this case they would have obtained the dominion with comparatively little exertion, they might have felt themselves less interested in the preservation of an inheritance, to obtain which, they had been but at little trouble and little expense. What we labour under the divine blessing to acquire, we are careful to retain: but what comes lightly, 19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save " the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle. 20 For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, Pas the LORD commanded Moses. 21 T And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities. 22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained. 23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel, according to their divisions, by their tribes. ▾ And the land rested from war. n Ch. 9. 3, 7.-o Deut. 2 30. Judg. 14. 4. 1 Sam. 2. 25. 1 Kings 12. 15. Rom. 9. 18. p Deut. 20. 16, 17.-q Numb. 13. 22, 33. Deut. 1. 28. Ch. 15. 13, 14.-r 1 Sam. 17. 4. Ch. 15. 46.-t Numb. 34. 2, &c.-u Numb. 26, 53. Ch. 14. & 15. & 16. & 17. & 18. & 19. v Ch. 14. 15. & 21. 44. & 22. 4. & 23. 1. Ver. 18.-w Numb. 21. M.-x Deut. 3. 8, 9. generally goes lightly. God obliged them to put forth their own strength in this work, and only blessed and prospered them, while they were workers together with him. See the note on chap. xiii. ver. 6. Verse 20. It was of the Lord to harden their hearts] They had sinned against all the light they had received, and God left them justly to the hardness, obstinacy, and pride of their own hearts, for as they chose to retain their idolatry, God was determined that they should be cut off. For as no city made peace with the Israelites but Gibeon and some other of the Hivites, ver. 19. it became therefore necessary to destroy them, for their refusal to make peace was the proof that they wilfully persisted in their idolatry. Verse 21. Cut off the Anakims from Hebron, from Debir] This is evidently a recapitulation of the military operations detailed, chap. x. ver. 36-41. Destroyed-their cities] That is, those of the Anakim; for from ver. 13. we learn that Joshua preserved certain other cities. other side Jordan, toward the rising of the 3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the Salt sea on the east, a the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south under Ashdoth-pisgah :a . 4 And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, & that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei, k 5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites, and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon. 6 Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and " Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. 7 And these are the kings of the country n which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan, on the west, from Baal-gad y Numb. 21. 24. Deut. 2 33, 36. & 3 6, 16.-z Deut. 3. 17-a Ch. 13 - Or, Teman-c Or, the springs of Pisgah, or, the hill-d Deut. 3. 17. Ch. 3. 17. & 4. 49.-e Numb. 21. 35. Deut. 3. 4, 10- Deut. 3. 11. Ch. 13. 12-g Deut. 1. 4 -b Deat 3. 8-i Deut. 3. 10. Ch. 13. 11.-k Deut. 3. 14-1 Numb. 21. 24, 33-m Nunst. 32 29, 33 Deut. 3, 11, 12. Ch. 13. 8.-n Ch. 11. 17. being now conquered, which God designed the Israelites should possess at this time. ACCORDING to the apostle, Hebr. iv. 8, &c. Joshua himself was a type of Christ: the promised land, of the kingdom of heaven; the victories which he gained, of the victory and triumph of Christ; and the rest he procured for Israel, of the state of blessedness at the right hand of God. In this light we should view the whole history, in order to derive those advantages from it, which, as a portion of the revelation of God, it was intended to convey. Those who finally reign with Christ, are they who, through his grace, conquer the world, the devil, and the flesh; for it is only of those who thus overcome that he says, "They shall sit with me on my throne, as I have overcome, and sat down with the Father, on the Father's throne." Rev. iii. 21. Reader, art thou a conqueror. NOTES ON CHAPTER XII. Verse 1. From the river Arnon unto mount Hermon) Arnon was the boundary of all the southern coast of the land occupied by the Israelites beyond Jordan; and the mountains of Hermon were the boundaries on the north. Arnon takes its rise in the mountains of Gilead, and hav run a long way from north to south, falls into the Dead sea, near the same place into which Jordan discharges itself. And all the plain on the east] All the land from the plains of Moab to mount Hermon. Verse 2. From Aroer] Aroer was situated on the western side of the river Arnon, in the middle of the valley, through which this river takes its course. The kingdom of Sihon extended from the river Arnon, and the city of Aroer on the south, to the river Jabbok on the north. Verse 22. In Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod] The whole race of the Anakim was extirpated in this war, except those who had taken refuge in the above cities, which belonged to the Philistines; and in which some of the de-ing scendants of Anak were found even in the days of David. Verse 23. So Joshua took the whole land] All the country described here, and in the preceding chapter. Besides the multitudes that perished in this war, many of the Canaanites took refuge in the confines of the land, and in the neighbouring nations. Some suppose that a party of these fugitive Canaanites made themselves masters of Lower Egypt, and founded a dynasty there, known by the name of the Shepherd Kings; but it is more probable, that the Shepherds occupied Egypt, long before the time that Jacob went thither to sojourn. It is said they founded Tingris or Tangier, where, according to Procopius, they erected two white pillars, with an inscription in the Phoenician language, of which this is the translation: WE ARE THE PERSONS WHO HAVE FLED FROM THE FACE OF JOSHUA THE PLUNDERER, THE SON OF NAVE, or Nun. See Bochart, Phaleg and Canaan, lib. i. c. xxiv. col. 476. Many, no doubt, settled in different parts of Africa, in Asia Minor, in Greece, and in the different islands of the Egean and Mediterranean sea: it is supposed also, that colonies of this people were spread over different parts of Germany and Sclavonia, &c. but their descendants are now so confounded with the nations of the earth, as no longer to retain their original name, or to be discernible. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel] He claimed no peculiar jurisdiction over it; his own family had no peculiar share of it, and himself only the ruined city of Timnath-serah, in the tribe of Ephraim, which he was obliged to rebuild. See chap. xix. 49, 50. and see his Character at the end of the book. And the land rested from war.] The whole territory And from half Gilead] The mountains of Gilead extended from north to south, from mount Hermon toward the source of the river Arnon, which was about the midst of the extent of the kingdom of Sihon; thus Sibon is said to have possessed the half of Gilead, that is, the half of the mountains, and of the country which bore the name of Gilead, on the east of his territories. River Jabbok] This river has its source in the mountains of Gilead; and running from east to west, falls into Jordan. It bounds the territories of Sihon on the north; and those of the Ammonites on the south. Verse 3. The sea of Chinneroth] Or, Gennesareth, the same as the lake or sea of Tiberias. The Salt sea on the east] D' yam hamelec, which is here translated, the Salt sea, is understood by others to mean the sea of the city Melac. Where can we find any thing that can be called a salt sea on the east of the lake of Gennesareth? Some think that the lake Asphaltites, called also the Dead sea, sea of the Desert, sea of Sodom, and Salt sea, is here intended. Beth-jeshimoth] A city near the Dead sea, in the plains of Moab. in the valley of Lebanon, even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua Pgave unto the tribes of Israel, for a possession, according to their divisions; 8 In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; 9 The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Beth-el, one; u 10 The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one; 11 The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one; 12 The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one; 13 The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one; 14 The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one; 18 The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one; 19 The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one; 20 The king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one; 21 The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one; 22 The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one; 23 The king of Dor, in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one: 24 The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one. CHAPTER XIII. Joshua being old, the Lord informs him of the land yet remaining to be possessed, I. Of the unconquered land among the Philistines, 2, 3. Among the Canaanites, Sidonians, and Amorites, 4, 5. The inhabitants of the hill country, and the Sidonians, to be driven out, 6. The land on the east side of Jordan, that was to be divided among the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manassch, 7---12. The Geshurites and Maachathites not expelled, 13. The tribe of Levi receive no inheritance, 14. The possessions of Reuben described, 15-23 The possessions of Gad, 24-23 The possessions of the half tribe of Manassch, 29-31. Recapitulation of the subjects contained in this chapter, 32, 33. A. M. 2500. B. C. 1444. OW Joshua h was old and strick The king of Libnah, one; the king of N en in gears; and the LORD said An Exod Is. 47. 16 The king of Makkedah, one; Adullam, one; of Beth-el, one; 17 The king of Tappuah, one; the Hepher, one; the king king of o Gen. 14. 6. & 32. 3. Deut. 2. 1, 4.-p Ch. 11. 23-q Ch. 10. 40. & 11. 16.-r Exod. 3. 8. & 23. 23. Ch. 9. 1.-s Ch. 6. 2-t Ch. 8. 29-u Ch. 10. 23.-▼ Ch. 10. 33-w Ch. 10. 38. Ch. 10. 29-y Ch. 10. 28.-z Ch. 8. 17. Judg. 1. 22. Ashdoth-pisgah] Supposed to be a city at the foot of mount Pisgah. Verse 4. Coast of Og king of Bashan] Concerning this person, see the notes on Deut. iii. 11. and on Numb. xxi. 35, &c. The remnant of the giants] Or Rephaim. See the notes on Gen. vi. 4. xiv. 5. and Deut. ii. 7, 11. Verse 5. The border of the Geshurites] The country of Bashan, in the days of Moses and Joshua, extended from the river Jabbok, on the south, to the frontiers of the Geshurites and Maachathites, on the north, to the foot of the mountains of Hermon. Verse 7. From Baal-gad] A repetition of what is mentioned chap. xi. 17. Verse 9. The king of Jericho, &c.] On this and the following verses, see the notes on chap. x. 1-3. Verse 13. The king of Geder] Probably the same with Gedor, chap. xv. 36, &c. it was situated in the tribe of Judah. Verse 14. The king of Hormah] Supposed to be the place where the Israelites were defeated by the Canaanites. See Numb. xiv. 45. and which probably was called Hormah, ¬¬n chormah, or destruction, from this circumstance. Verse 15. Adullam] A city belonging to the tribe of Judah, chap. xv. 35. In a cave, at this place, David often secreted himself, during his persecution by Saul, 1 Sam. xxii. 1. Verse 17. Tappuah] There were two places of this name, one in the tribe of Judah, chap. xv. 34. and another in the tribe of Ephraim on the borders of Manasseh: but which of the two is meant here, cannot be ascertained. See the note on chap. xv. 53. Hepher] The same, according to Calmet, as Hophra in the tribe of Benjamin, chap. xviii. 23. Verse 18. Aphek] There were several cities of this name; one in the tribe of Asher, chap. xix. 30. another in the tribe of Judah, 1 Sam. iv. 1. and xxxix. 1. and a third in Syria, 1 Kings xx. 26. and 2 Kings xiii. 17. which of the two former is here intended, cannot be ascertained. Lasharon] There is no city of this name known. Some consider the lamed in the word pr la-sharon, to be the sign of the genitive case; and in this sense it appears to have been understood by the Vulgate, which translates Rex Saron, the king of Sharon. This was rather a district than a city, and is celebrated in the Scriptures for its fertility, Isa. xxxiii. 9. xxxv. 2. Some suppose it was the same with Saron, near Lydda, mentioned in Acts ix. 35. Verse 20. Shimron-meron] See on chap. xi. 1. Verse 21. Taanach] A city in the half tribe of Manasseh, in the west of Jordan, not far from the frontiers of Zebulon, chap. xxvii. 11. This city was assigned to the Levites, chap. xxi. 25. unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land i to be possessed. Anno ante L. Olymp. 668. 2 This is the land that yet remaineth: 1 all a 1 Kings 4. 10-b Or, Sharon. Isai 33.9 Ch. 11. 10.-d Ch. 11. 1. & 19. 15. e Ch. 19. 37.-f Ch. 11. 2-g Gen. 14. 1, 2 Isai. 9. 1-h See Ch. 14. 10. & 23. I. i Heb. to possess it. Deut. 31. 3—k Juig. 3. 1.—Joel 3, 4. Jokneam of Carmel] This city is said to have been at the foot of mount Carmel, near the river Belus, in the tribe of Zebulon, chap. xix. 11. It was given to the Levites, chap. xxi. 34. Verse 23. The king of Dor] The city of this name fell to the lot of the children of Manasseh, chap. xvii. 11. Bochart observes that it was one of the oldest royal cities in Phoenicia. The Canaanites held it, Judg. i. 27. Antiochus Sydetes besieged it in after times, but could not make himself master of it. See Bochart. Canaan, lib. i. c. 28, and Dodd. The king of the nations of Gilgal] This is supposed to mean the higher Galilee, surnamed Galilee of the Gentiles, or nations, as the Hebrew word goyim, means. On this ground it should be read king of Galilee of the nations. Others suppose it is the same country with that of which Tidal was king, see Gen. xiv. 1. The place is very uncertain, and commentators have rendered it more so by their conjectures. Verse 24. King of Tirzah] This city appears to have been, for a long time, the capital of the kingdom of Israel, and the residence of its kings. See 1 Kings xiv. 17. xv. 21, 33. Its situation cannot be exactly ascertained; but it is supposed to have been situated on a mountain, about three leagues south of Samaria. All the kings thirty and one] The Septuagint say ELKOOL EVVEα twenty-nine, and yet set down but twentyeight, as they confound or omit the kings of Beth-el, Lasharon, and Madon. So many kings in so small a territory, shows that their kingdoms must have been very small indeed. The kings of Beth-el and Ai, had but about 12,000 subjects in the whole; but in ancient times, all kings had very small territories. Every village or town had its chief; and this chief was independent of his neighbours, and exercised regal power in his own district. In reading all ancient histories, as well as the Bible, this circumstance must be kept constantly in view; for we ought to consider, that in those times, both kings and kingdoms were but a faint resemblance of those now. Great Britain, in ancient times, was divided into many kingdoms: in the time of the Sarons, it was divided into seven, hence called the Saxon heptarchy. But when Julius Cæsar first entered this island, he found four kings in Kent alone; Cingentorix, Corvilius, Taximagulus, and Segonar. Hence we need not wonder at the numbers we read of in the land of Canaan. Ancient Gaul was thus divided: and the great number of sovereign princes, secular bishops, landgraves, dukes, &c. &c. in Germany, are the modern remains of those ancient divisions. NOTES ON CHAPTER XIII. Verse 1. Joshua was old] He is generally reputed to have been at this time about a hundred years of age: he had spent about seven years in the conquest of the land, and is supposed to have employed about one year in diVerse 22. Kedesh] There was a city of this name inviding it, and he died about ten years after, aged one hunthe tribe of Naphtali, chap. xix. 37. It was given to the Levites, and was one of the cities of refuge, chap. xx. 7. dred and ten years. It is very likely that he intended to subdue the whole land, before he made the division of it the borders of the Philistines, and all shuri, Ge 3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites: 4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians, unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites: 5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from " Baal-gad unto mount Hermon, unto the entering into Hamath. 6 All the inhabitants of the hill country, from Lebanon unto Misrephoth-maim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by ri Ver. 13. 2 Sam. 3. 3. & 13. 37, 38-n Jer. 2. 18.-o Judg. 3. 3. 1 Sam. 6. 4, 16. Zeph 2 5-p Deut 2 23-q Or, the cave-r Ch. 19. 30.- See Judg. 1. 34-1 Kings 5. 18. Psa. 83. 7. Ezek. 27. 9. among the tribes; but God did not think proper to have this done. So unfaithful were the Israelites, that he appears to have purposed that some of the ancient inhabitants should still remain, to keep them in check; and that the respective tribes should have some labour, to drive out from their allotted borders the remains of the Canaanitish nations. There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.] That is, very much when compared with that on the other side Jordan, which was all that could as yet be said to be in the hands of the Israelites. Verse 2. The borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri] The borders of the Philistines, may mean the land which they possessed on the sea coast, southwest of the land of Canaan. There were several places named Geshuri, but that spoken of here was probably the region on the south of Canaan, toward Arabia, or toward Egypt. Calmet. Cellarius supposes it to have been a country in the vicinity of the Amalekites. Verse 3. From Sihor, which is before Egypt] Supposed by some to be the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, near to the Arabian desert: called also the river of Egypt, Numb. xxxiv. 5. Jer. ii. 18. On this subject an intelligent friend favours me with the following opinion: "The river Sihor is supposed by some to be the Nile, or a branch of it. Others think it the same as what is frequently called the river of Egypt, which lay before, or toward the borders of Egypt; which arose out of the mountains of Paran, and ran westward, falling into that bay of the Mediterranean which lies south of the land of the Philistines. This river is often mentioned as the boundary of the Israelites to the southwest, as Euphrates, the great river, was on the northeast. "There was a desert, or considerable distance between what is called the river of Egypt, and the isthmus of Suez. Solomon reigned to the borders of Egypt; i. e. to this desert; but not in Egypt, nor to the river Nile. "Upon the whole, (though there are difficulties in the matter) I incline to think that the river in question was not the Nile. Sihor (black) might, from some circumstances, be applied to another river as well as the Nile: though some places in Isaiah and Jeremiah seem to restrict it to the Nile." J. C. lot unto the Israelites, for an inheritance, as I' have commanded thee. 7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 8 With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, eren as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them; 9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon; 10 And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon; a 11 And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites, and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah; u Ch. 12. 7.- Ch. 11. 8-w See Ch. 23. 13. Judg. 2 2, A-x Ch. 14. 1,2 y Numb. 32. 33. Deut. 3. 12, 13. Ch. 22. 4-z Verse 16. Numb. 21. 30-a Nomb. 21 24, 25-b Chap. 12 5. the Hivites. The Avites seem to have been a very incon siderable tribe, who dwelt in some of the skirts of Palestine. They had been originally deprived of their country by the Caphtorim; and though they lived as a distinct people, they had never afterward arrived to any authority. Verse 4. The land of the Canaanites] This lay on the south of the country of the Philistines, toward the sea coast. Mearah] Supposed to be the city Maratha, on the Mediterranean sea. Calmet. Or the river Majora, which falls into the Mediterranean sea, between Sidon and Berytus. See PLINY, Hist. Nat. lib. v. c. 20. Aphek] See on chap. xii. 18. To the borders of the Amorites] Though the term Amorite, is sometimes used to designate the inhabitants in general, of the land of Canaan; yet it must be considered in a much more restricted sense in this place. As no Amorites are known to have dwelt in this quarter, Calmet supposes we should read Aramites, or Syrians. Joshua, says he, proceeds from Sidon to Aphck, a city of Syria, between Heliopolis and Babylon, where was the temple of the Venus of Aphek; and which is spoken of in 1 Kings xx. 26. 2 Kings xiii. 18. as the capital of the kings of Syria. From this, Joshua passes on to the frontiers of the Syrians, toward Gebal or Gabala, which, according to Ptolemy, was situated in Phoenicia. This conjeeture of Calmet is not supported by any authority, either from the ancient Versions, or MSS. Houbigant, however, approves of it: the emendation is simple, as it consists in the interchange of only two letters in the same word; ha-aramey, for pha-amorey. Verse 5. The land of the Giblites] This people dwelt beyond the precincts of the land of Canaan, on the east of Tyre and Sidon. See Ezek. xxvii. 9. Psal. lxxiii. 8. their capital was named Gebal. See Dodd. All Lebanon] See on chap. xi. 17. Verse 6. Misrephoth-maim] See on chap. xi. 7. Them will I drive out] That is, if the Israelites continued to be obedient; but they did not, and therefore they never fully possessed the whole of that land, which, on this condition alone, God had promised them: the Sidenians were never expelled by the Israelites; and were only brought into a state of comparative subjection, in the days of David and Solomon. Ekron northward] Ekron was one of the five lordships of the Philistines, and the most northern of all the Some have taken upon them to deny the authenticity of districts they possessed. Baal-zebub, its idol, is famous Divine revelation, relative to this business, "because," in Scripture, see 2 Kings i. 2, &c. The five lordships of say they, "God is stated to have absolutely promised that the Philistines, were Gaza, Ashdod, Askalon, Gath, and Joshua should conquer the whole land, and put the IsraelEkron. There is no proof that ever the Israelites pos-ites in possession of it." This is a total mistake. 1. God sessed Ekron; though, from chap. xvi. 11. some think it was originally given to Judah, but the text does not say so; it only states, that the border of the tribe of Judah, went out UNTO THE SIDE of Ekron. From chap. xix. 43. we learn that it was a part of the lot of Dan, but it does not appear to have been possessed by any of those tribes. Counted to the Canaanite] It is generally allowed, that the original possessors of this country were the descendants of Canaan, the youngest son of Ham. The Philistines sprung from Misraim the second son of Ham, and having dispossessed the Avim from the places they held in this land, dwelt in their stead. See Gen. x. 13, 14. Five lords of the Philistines] These dynasties are famous in the Scriptures for their successful wars against the Israelites, of whom they were almost the perpetual Scourge. Also the Avites] These must not be confounded with never absolutely, i. e. unconditionally, promised to put them in possession of this land. The promise of their possessing the whole, was suspended on their fidelity to God. They were not faithful, and therefore God was not bound by his promise to give them any part of the land after their first act of national defection from his worship. 2. God never said that Joshua should conquer the whole land, and gire it to them; the promise was simply this, "Thou shalt bring them into the land, and thou shalt divide it among them:" both of which he did, and procured them footing by his conquests, sufficient to have enabled them to establish themselves in it for ever. 3 It was never said, Thou shalt conquer it all, and then divide it; no. Several of the tribes, after their quota was allotted them, were obliged to drive out the ancient inhabitants. See on chap. xi. 18. Verse 7. The nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manas thereof. 12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which | ter their families, the cities and the villages reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out. 13 Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day. 14 Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none P inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel, made by fire, are their inheritance, as he said unto them. 15 And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. 16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, i and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba; 17 Heshbon, and all the cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and 1 Bamoth-baal, and Bethbaal meon, 18 in phaath, And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Me 19 And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zareth-shahar in the mount of the valley, 20 And Beth-peor, and PAshdoth-pisgah, and Beth-jeshimoth; 21 And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country. 22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them. 23 And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben af e Deut. 3. 11. Ch. 12. 4-d Numb. 21. 24, 35.-e Ver. 11.-f Numb. 18. 20, 23, 24. Ch. 14. 3, 4-g Ver. 33-h Ch. 12 2-i Numb. 21. 28-k Numb. 21. 30. Ver. 9. 1 Or, the high places of Baal, and hours of Baal-meon: See Numb. 32. 38. a Numb. 21. 23-n Numb. 32 37.-0 Numb. 32. 38.-p Deut. 3. 17. Ch. 12. 3. q Or, springs of Pisgah, or, the hill.-r Deut. 3. 10. seh] The other half tribe of Manasseh, with the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, had got their inheritance on the other side of Jordan, in the land formerly belonging to Og king of Bashan, and Sihon king of the Amorites. Verse 9. From Aroer] See on chap. xii. 2. Verse 11. Border of the Geshurites] See on chap. xii. 5. Verse 17. Bamoth-baal] The high places of Baal, probably so called from altars erected on hills, for the impure worship of this Canaanitish Priapus. Verse 18. Jahaza] A city near Medeba and Dibon. It was given to the Levites, 1 Chron. vi. 78. Kedemoth] Mentioned Deut. ii. 26. supposed to have been situated beyond the river Arnon. Mephaath] Situated on the frontiers of Moab, on the eastern part of the desert. It was given to the Levites, chap. xxi. 37. Verse 19. Kirjathaim] This city, according to Eusebius, was nine miles distant from Medeba, toward the east. It passed from the Emim to the Moabites; from the Moabites to the Amorites; and from the Amorites to the Israelites, Gen. xiv. 5. Deut. ii. 20. Calmet supposes the Reubenites possessed it till the time they were carried away by the Assyrians; and then the Moabites appear to have taken possession of it anew, as he collects from Jer. xlviii. and Ezek. xxv. Sibmah] A place remarkable for its vines.-See Isa. xvi. 8, 9. Jerem. xlviii. 32. Zareth-shahar, in the mount of the valley] This probably means a town situated on or near to a hill, in some flat country. Verse 20. Beth-peor] The house or temple of Peor, situated at the foot of a mountain of the same name.-See Numb. xxv. 3. Verse 21. The princes of Midian] See the history of this war, Numb. xxxi. 1, &c. and from that place, this and the following verse seem to be borrowed; for the introduction of the death of Balaam here, seems quite irrelevant. Verse 23. The cities and the villages] By villages, Dn chatserim, it is likely that moveable villages or tents are meant; such as are in use among the Bedouin Arabs places where they were accustomed to feed and pen their cattle. 24 And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families. 25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before y Rabbah; 26 And from Heshbon unto Ramath-mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir; 27 And in the valley, Beth-aram, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon, king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinneroth, on the other side Jordan eastward. b 28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages. 29 And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families. 30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities. 31 And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families. 32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward. 33 But unto the tribe of Levi, Moses gave not any inheritance, the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them. 8 Numb. 21. 21-t Numb. 31. 8.-a Numb. 22. 5 & 31. 8-v Or, diviner. w Numb. 32. 35-x Compare Numb. 21. 26, 28, 29, with Deut. 2. 19. & Julg. 11. 13, 15, &c.-y 2 Sam. 11. 1. & 12 26.-z Numb. 32. 36.-a Gen. 33. 17. 1 Kings 7. 46. b Numb. 31. 11.-e Numah. 32. 41. 1 Chron. 2. 23.-d Ch. 12. 4.-e Numb. 34. 39, 40. f Ver. 14. Ch. 18. 7.-g Numb. 18. 20. Deut. 10. 9. & 18. 1, 2 Verse 25. Half the land of the children of Ammon] This probably was land which had been taken from the Ammonites by Sihon, king of the Amorites; and which the Israelites possessed by right of conquest. For although the Israelites were forbidden to take the land of the Ammonites, Deut. ii. 37. yet this part, as having been united to the territories of Sihon, they might possess, when they defeated that king, and subdued his kingdom. Verse 26. Ramath-Mizpeh] The same as Ramathgilead. It was one of the cities of refuge, chap. xx. 8. Deut. iv. 47. Mahanaim] Situated on the northern side of the brook Jabbok; celebrated for the vision of the two camps of angels, which Jacob had there: see Gen. xxxii. 2. Verse 27. Beth-aram] This city was rebuilt by Herod, and called Livias: in honour of Livia, the wife of Augustus. Josephus calls it Julias: Julia being the name which the Greeks commonly give to Livia.-Calmet. Succoth] A place between Jabbok and Jordan; where Jacob pitched his tents, from which circumstance it obtained its name, see Gen. xxxiii. 17. Verse 29. The half tribe of Manasseh] When the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested to have their settlement on the east side of Jordan, it does not appear that any part of the tribe of Manasseh requested to be settled in the same place. But as this tribe was numerous, and had much cattle, Moses thought proper to appoint one half of it to remain on the east of Jordan, and the other to go over and settle on the west side of that river. Verse 30. The towns of Jair] These were sixty cities, they are mentioned afterward, and in 1 Chron. ii. 21, &c. They are the same with the Haroth-jair, mentioned Numb. xxxii. 41. Jair was the son of Segub, grandson of Esron or Hezron, and great grandson of Machir by his grandmother's side, who married Hezron of the tribe of Judah. See his genealogy 1 Chron. ii. 21-24. Verse 32. Which Moses did distribute] Moses had settled every thing relative to these tribes before his death, having appointed them to possess the territories of Og, king of Bashan, and Sihon, king of the Amorites. For particulars on this chapter, the reader, if he judge it of consequence, may consult Calmet. |