The land distributed JOSHUA. CHAPTER XIV. to the people by lot Eleazar, Joshua, and the heads of the fathers, distribute the land by lot to the people, 1–3. The Levites receive no land, but cities to dwell in, and suburbs for their cattle, 4, 5. Caleb requests to have Mount Hebron for an inheritance, because of his former services, 6–12. Joshua grants his request, 13-15. or Num. xxvi. 55; xxxiii. 54; xxxiv. 13. NOTES ON CHAP. XIV. Verse 1. Eleazar the priest, &c.] ELEAZAR, as being the minister of GoD in sacred things is mentioned first. JOSHUA, as having the supreme command in all things civil, is mentioned next. And the HEADS PRINCES of the twelve tribes, who in all things acted under Joshua, are mentioned last. These heads or princes were twelve, Joshua and Eleazar included; and the reader may find their names in Num. xxxiv. 19-28. It is worthy of remark that no prince was taken from the tribes of Reuben and Gad, because these had already received their inheritance on the other side of Jordan, and therefore could not be interested in this division. Verse 2. By lot was their inheritance] Concerning the meaning and use of the lot, see the note on Num. xxxvi. 55; and concerning the manner of casting lots in the case of the scape-goal, see the note on Lev. xvi. 8, 9. On this subject Dr. Dodd has selected some good observations from Calmet and Masius, which I here borrow: "Though God had sufficiently pointed out by the predictions of Jacob, when dying, and those of Moses, what portions he designed for each tribe, we readily discern an admirable proof of his wisdom in the orders he gave to decide them by lot. By this means the false interpretations which might have been given to the words of Jacob and Moses were prevented; and by striking at the root of whatever might occasion jealousies and disputes among the tribes, he evidently secured the honesty of those who were to be appointed to distribute to them the conquered countries in the land of Canaan. Besides, the success of this method gave a fresh proof of the Divinity of the Jewish religion, and the truth of its oracles. Each tribe finding itself placed by lot exactly in the spot which Jacob and Moses had foretold, it was evident that Providence had equally directed both those predictions and that lot. The event justified the truth of the promises. The more singular it was, the more clearly we discern the finger of God in it. The portion, says Masius, fell to each tribe just as Jacob had declared two hundred and fifty years before in the last C A.-M. 2560 B. C. 1444 An. Exod. Isr. 47. Anno ante I. Olymp. 668. 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side Jordan; but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them. 4 Ford the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. © Chap. xiii. 8, 32, 33. - Gen. xlviii. 5; 1 Chron. v. 1, 2. moments of his life, and Moses, immediately before his death; for to the tribe of JUDAH fell a country abounding in vineyards and pastures; to ZEBULUN and ISSACHAR, sea-coasts; in that of ASHER was plenty of oil, wheat, and metals; that of BENJAMIN, near to the temple, was, in a manner, between the shoulders of the Deity; EPHRAIM and MANASSEH were distinguished with a territory blessed in a peculiar manner by Heaven; the land of NAPHTALI extended from the west to the south of the tribe of Judah. Since therefore the lot so well corresponded to these predictions, would it not be insolence and stupidity in the highest degree, not to acknowledge the inspiration of God in the word of Jacob and Moses, the direction of his hand in the lot, and his providence in the event ?" How the lot was cast in this case cannot be particularly determined. It is probable, 1. That the land was geographically divided into ten portions. 2. That each portion was called by a particular name. 3. That the name of each portion was written on a separate slip of parchment, wood, &c. 4. That the names of the claimants were also written on so many ships. 5. The names of the portions, and of the tribes, were put into separate vessels. 6. Joshua, for example, put his hand into the vessel containing the names of the tribes, and took out one slip; while Eleazar took out one from the other vessel, in which the names of the portions were put. 7. The name drawn, and the portion drawn, being read, it was immediately discerned what the district was which God had designed for such a tribe. This appears to be the most easy way to determine such a business. Verse 4. The children of Joseph were two tribes] This was ascertained by the prophetic declaration of their grandfather Jacob, Gen. xlviii. 5, 6; and as Levi was taken out of the tribes for the service of the sanctuary, one of these sons of Joseph came in his place, and Joseph was treated as the first-born of Jacob, in the place of Reuben, who had forfeited his right of primogeniture. With their suburbs for their cattle] For the meaning of this passage the reader is referred to the note on Num. xxxv. 5. Caleb claims his A. M. 2560. B. C. 1444. 47. Anno ante CHAP. XIV.. 5 As the LORD commanded An. Exod. Isr. Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land. 1. Olymp. 668.. 6 Then the children, of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee h in Kadesh-barnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart. Num. xxxv. 2; chap. xxi. 2. Num. xxxii. 12; chap. v.x 17.- Num. xiv. 24, 30; Deut. i. 36, 38.-h Num. xiii. 26. i Num. xiii. 6; xiv. 6.- Num. xiii. 31, 32; Deut. i. 28. 1 Num. xiv. 24; Deut. i. 36.- Num. xiv. 23, 24; Deut. i. 36; chap. i. 3.- - See Num. xiii. 22. m Verse 5. They divided the land.] This work was begun some time before at Gilgal, and was finished some time after at Shiloh. It must have required a very considerable time to make all the geographical arrangements that were necessary for this purpose. Verse 6. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite] In the note on the parallel place, Num. xxxii. 12, it is said Kenaz was probably the father of Jephunneh, and that Jephunneh, not Caleb, was the Kenezite; but still, allowing this to be perfectly correct, Caleb might also be called the Kenezite, as it appears to have been a family name, for Othniel, his nephew and son-in-law, is called the son of Kenaz, chap. xv. 17; Judg. i. 13, and 1 Chron. iv. 13; and a grandson of Caleb is also called the son of Kenaz, 1 Chron. iv. 15. In 1 Chron. ii. 18, Caleb is called the son of Hezron, but this is only to be understood of his having Hezron for one of his ancestors; and son here may be considered the same as descendant; for Hezron, of the tribe of Judah, having come into Egypt one hundred and seventysix years before the birth of Caleb, it is not at all likely that he could be called his father in the proper sense of the term. Besides, the supposition above makes a very good sense, and is consistent with the use of the terms father, son, and brother, in different parts of the sacred writings. portion in Hebron. A. M. 2560. An. Exod. Isr. 47. Anno ante 1 Olymp. 668. 10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel P wandered in the wilderness and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. 11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. 12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: tif so be the LORD will be with me, then "I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. 13 And Joshua blessed. him, w and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunnch Hebron for an inheritance. • Num. xiv. 30.- -P Heb. walked. - Ecclus. xlvi. 9; see Deut. xxxiv. 7.- Deut. xxxi. 2.- Num. xiii. 28, 33. Psa, xviii. 32, 34; lx. 12; Rom. viii. 31.-" Chap. xv, 14; Judg. i. 20.- Chap. xxii. 6.- w Chap. x. 37; xv. 13; Judg. i. 20; see chap. xxi. 11, 12; 1 Chron. vi. 55, 56. V within him, and had followed God fully, therefore he should enter into the land whereinto he came, and his seed should possess it, Probably this relates to Hebron, and was so understood by all parties at that time. This seems tolerably evident from the pointed reference made by Caleb to this transaction. Verse 7. As it was in mine heart.] Neither fear nor favour influenced him on the occasion; he told what he believed to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Verse 9. The land whereon thy feet have trodden] This probably refers to Hebron, which was no doubt mentioned on this occasion. Verse 10. These forty and five years] See the note on chap. xiii. 1. Verse 11. Even so is my strength now] I do not ask this place because I wish to sit down now, and take my ease; on the contrary, I know I must fight, to drive out the Anakim, and I am as able and willing to do it as I was forty-five years ago, when Moses sent me to spy out the land. Verse 12. I shall be able to drive them out] He cannot mean Hebron merely, for that had been taken before by Joshua; but in the request of Caleb doubtless all the circumjacent country was comprised, in many parts of which the Anakim were still in considerable force. It has been conjectured that Hebron itself had again fallen under the power of its former pos Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said] In the place to which Caleb seems to refer, viz., Num. xiv. 24, there is not a word concerning a promise of He-sessors, who, taking the advantage of the absence of the bron to him and his posterity; nor in the place (Deut. i. 36) where Moses repeats what had been done at Kadesh-barnea: but it may be included in what is there spoken. God promises, because he had another spirit Israelitish army, who were employed in other parts of the country, re-entered the city, and restored their ancient domination. But the first opinion seems best founded. Verse 13. Joshua blessed him] As the word bless Joshua grants Hebron to A. M. 2560. An. Exod. Isr. 47. Anno ante 14 JOSHUA. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son - of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto 1. Olymp. 668. this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel. * Chap. xxi. 12; 1 Maċ. ii. 56.- - Ver. 8, 9. often signifies to speak good or well of or to any person, (see the note on Gen. ii. 3,) here it may mean the praise bestowed on Caleb's intrepidity and faithfulness by Joshua, as well as a prayer to God that he might have prosperity in all things; and especially that the Lord might be with him, as himself had expressed in the preceding verse. Verse 14. Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb] Joshua admitted his claim, recognised his right, and made a full conveyance of Hebron and its dependencies to Caleb and his posterity; and this being done in the sight of all the elders of Israel, the right was publicly acknowledged, and consequently this portion was excepted from the general determination by lot; God having long before made the cession of this place to him and to his descendants. Caleb the son of Jephunneh. A. M. 2560. 15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba; which An. Exod. Isr. Arba was a great man among the Anakims. a And the land had rest from war. 47. Anno ante I. Olymp. 668. 2 Gen. xxiii. 2; chap. xv. 13.- Chap. xi. 23. chants' companions, who travelled in the same caravan." Both these names are expressive, and serve to confirm the above conjecture. No notice need be taken of the tradition that this city was called the city of the four because it was the burial-place of Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Such traditions confute themselves. The land had rest from war.] There were no more general wars; the inhabitants of Canaan collectively could make no longer any head, and when their confederacy was broken by the conquests of Joshua, he thought proper to divide the land, and let each tribe expel the ancient inhabitants that might still remain in its own territories. Hence the wars after this time were particular wars; there were no more general campaigns, as it was no longer necessary for the whole Israelitish body to act against an enemy now disjointed and broken. This appears to be the most rational mean Verse 15. And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba] That is, the city of Arba, or rather, the city of the four, for thus p kiryath arba maying of the words, The land had rest from war. be literally translated. It is very likely that this city had its name from four Anakim, gigantic or powerful THE Jewish economy furnishes, not only a history men, probably brothers, who built or conquered it. This of God's revelations to man, but also a history of his conjecture receives considerable strength from chap. providence, and an ample, most luminous, and glorious xv. 14, where it is said that Caleb drove from Hebron comment on that providence. Is it possible that any the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai: man can seriously and considerately sit down to the now it is quite possible that Hebron had its former reading even of this book, without rising up a wiser name, Kirjath-arba, the city of the four, from these and a better man? This is the true history which three sons and their father, who, being men of uncom- everywhere exhibits God as the first mover and prime mon stature or abilities, had rendered themselves fa- agent, and men only as subordinate actors. What a mous by acts proportioned to their strength and influ- miracle of God's power, wisdom, grace, justice, and ence in the country. It appears however from chap. providence are the people of Israel in every period of xv. 13 that Arba was a proper name, as there he is their history, and in every land of their dispersions! called the father of Anak.. The Septuagint call He- If their fall occasioned the salvation of the Gentile bron the metropolis of the Enakim, μntporohis Twv world, what shall their restoration produce! Their Ενακιμ. It was probably the seat of government, future inheritance is not left to what men would call being the residence of the above chiefs, from whose the fortuitous decision of a lot; like Caleb's possession conjoint authority and power it might have been called it is confirmed by the oath of the Lord; and when the an chebron; as the word 2 chabar literally sig-end shall be, this people shall stand in their lot at the nifies to associate, to join in fellowship, and appears to end of the days, and shall again be great to the ends be used, Job xli. 6, for "associated merchants, or mer- of the earth. The lot of the tribe of Judah described, 1. CHAPTER XV. Their south border, 2-4. Their east border, 5-11. Their west border, 12. Caleb's conquest, 13-15. Promises his daughter to the person who should take Kirjath-sepher, 16. Othniel his kinsman renders himself master of it, and gets Achsah to wife, 17. Her request to her father to get a well-watered land, which is granted, 18, 19. The cities of the tribe of Judah are enumerated, 20-63. The lot of the children A. M. 2561. a CHAP. XV. THIS then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the 1. Olyınp. 667 border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast. b 2 And their south border was from the shore of the Salt Sea, from the bay that looketh southward: с е of Judah described. A. M. 2561. B. C. 1443. An. Exod. Isr. 48. Anno ante I. Olymp. 667. Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa: 4 From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: 3 And it went out to the south side to this shall be your south coast. Numbers xxxiv. 3.b Numbers xxxiii. 36. - Hebrew, tongue. NOTES ON CHAP. XV. d Num. xxxiv. 4.- Or, the going up to Acrabbim. Num. first described. xxxiv. 5. By their families] It is supposed that the family divisions were not determined by lot. These were left to the prudence and judgment of Joshua, Eleazar, and the ten princes, who appointed to each family a district in proportion to its number, &c., the general division being that alone which was determined by the lot. To the border of Edom] The tribe of Judah occupied the most southerly part of the land of Canaan. Its limits extended from the extremity of the Dead Sea southward, along Idumea, possibly by the desert of Sin, and proceeding from east to west to the Mediterranean Sea, and the most eastern branch of the river Nile, or to what is called the river of Egypt. Calmet very properly remarks, that Joshua is particular in giving the limits of this tribe, as being the first, the most numerous, most important; that which was to furnish the kings of Judea; that in which pure religion was to be preserved, and that from which the Messiah was to spring. that Judaḥ drew the first lot; and, because of the Verse 1. This then was the lot of the tribe of importance and pre-eminence of this tribe, this lot is Judah] The geography of the sacred writings presents many difficulties, occasioned by the changes which the civil state of the promised land has undergone, especially for the last two thousand years. Many of the ancient towns and villages have had their names, so totally changed, that their former appellations are no longer discernible; several fie buried under their own ruins, and others have been so long destroyed that not one vestige of them remains. On these accounts it is very difficult to ascertain the situation of many of the places mentioned in this and the following chapters. But however this may embarrass the commentator, it cannot affect the truth of the narrative. Some of the principal cities in the universe, cities that were the seats of the most powerful empires, are not only reduced to ruins, but so completely blotted out of the map of the world that their situation cannot be ascertained. Where is Babylon? Where are Nineveh, Carthage, Thebes, Tyre, Baalbec, Palmyra, and the so far-famed and greatly celebrated TROY? Of the former and the latter, so renowned by historians and poets, scarcely a vestige, properly speaking, remains"; nor can the learned agree on the spot once occupied by the buildings of those celebrated cities! Should this circumstance invalidate the whole history of the ancient world, in which they made so conspicuous a figure? And can the authenticity of our sacred historian be impaired, because several of the places, he mentions no longer exist? Surely no nor can it be called in question but by the heedless and superficial, or the decidedly profane. Although some of the cities of the holy land are destroyed, and it would be difficult to ascertain the geography of several, yet enough remain, either under their ancient names, or with such decisive characteristics, that through their new names their ancient appellatives are readily dis cernible. Verse 2. From the bay that looketh southward] These were the southern limits of the tribe of Judah, which commenced at the extremity of the lake Asphaltites or Dead Sea, and terminated at Sihor or the river of Egypt, and Mediterranean Sea; though some think it extended to the Nile. Verse 3. Maaleh-acrabbim} The ascent of the Mount of Scorpions, probably so called from the multitude of those animals found in that place. Kadesh-barnea] This place was called En-mishpat, Gen. xiv. 7. It was on the edge of the wilderness of Paran, and about twenty-four miles from Hebron. Here Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, died; and here Moses and Aaron rebelled against the Lord; hence the place was called Meribah-Kadesh, or the contention of Kadesh. Karkaa] Supposed to be the Coracea of Ptolemy, in Arabia Petræa.-Calmet. Verse 4. Toward Azmon] This was the last city they possessed toward Egypt. It is natural to suppose that the division mentioned here was made after an accurate survey of the land, which might have been made by proper persons accompanying the conquering army of the Israelites. Nine tribes and a half were yet to be accommodated, and the land must be divided into nine parts and a half. This was no doubt done with the utmost judgment and discretion, the advantages and disadvantages of each division being carefully balanced. These were the portions which were divided by lot; and it appears either way. VOL. II. ( 5 ) The river of Egypt] The most eastern branch of the river Nile. See on chap. xiii. 3. But there is much reason to doubt whether any branch of the Nile be meant, and whether the promised land extended to On this subject it is impossible to decide that river. 65 7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going Chap. vii. 26. Chap. xviii. 19. Chap. xviii. 17. k2 Sam. xvii. 17; 1 Kings i. 9. Verse 5. The east border was the Salt Sea] The Salt Sea is the same as the Dead Sea, lake Asphaltites, &c. And here it is intimated that the eastern border of the tribe of Judah extended along the Dead Sea, from its lowest extremity to the end of Jordan, i. e., to the place where Jordan falls into this sea. Verse 6. Beth-hogla] A place between Jericho and the Dead Sea, belonging to, the tribe of Benjamin, chap. xviii. 21, though here serving as a frontier. to the tribe of Judah. Stone of Bohan] This must have been some remarkable place, probably like the stone of Jacob, which afterwards became Beth-el; but where it was situated is uncertain. Verse 7. The valley of Achor] Debir mentioned in this verse is unknown. The valley of Achor had its name from the punishment of Achan. See the account, chap. vii. 24, &c. En-shemesh] The fountain of the sun; it was eastward of Jerusalem, on the confines of Judah and Benjamin. of Judah described. [up to Adummim, which is on the 1 A. M.2561 B. C. 1443. An. Exod. Isr. 48. Anno ante I. Olymp. 667. 8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the n Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnoin westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward: 9 And the border was drawn from the top of 1 Chap. xviii. 16; 2 Kings xxiii. 10; Jer. xix. 2, 6.- Chap. xviii. 28; Judg. i: 21; xix. 10.- Chap, xviii. 16. m is not made till after the father's death. This custom prevailed also in the west. It is common among the aborigines of both Ireland and Wales. The same is Jerusalem] This city. was formerly called Jebus; a part of it was in the tribe of Benjamin}_ Zion, called its citadel, was in the tribe of Judah. · The valley of the giants] Of the Rephaim. See the notes on Gen. yi. 4; xiv. 5; Deut. ii. 7, 11. On this subject, a very intelligent clergyman favours me with his opinion in the following terms: "The boundary between Judah and Benjamin went up from the valley of Hinnom on the east to the top of the hill southward, leaving Jebusi (or Jerusalem) to the northwest adjoining to Benjamin. This mount (Jebusi) lay between the two tribes, which the Jebusites possessed till the time of David. At the 63d verse here, it is said Judah could not drive out these people; and in Judg. i. 21, the same is said of the Benjamites. Each tribe might have attacked them at various times. There were various mounts or tops to these hills. Mount Zion and Moriah, where the temple stood, was in the tribe of Judah; Psa. 1xxviii. 68, 69; lxxxvii. 2. Verse 8. The valley of the son of Hinnom] Who Hinnom was is not known, nor why this was called his valley. It was situated on the east of Jerusalem; "In Deut. xxxiii. 12 it is said of Benjamin, the and is often mentioned in Scripture. The image of Lord shall dwell by him, i. e., near him, or beside his the idol Molech appears to have been set up there; borders, between his shoulders; the line might be cirand there the idolatrous Israelites caused their sons cular between the two hills or tops so as in part to and daughters to pass through the fire in honour of encompass Mount Zion in the tribe of Judah, on which that demon, 2 Kings xxiii. 10. It was also called the temple stood. Benjamin's gate, (mentioned Jer. Tophet, see Jer. vii. 32. When King Josiah removed xxxvii. 12, 13, and xxxviii. 7,) was the gate leading the image of this idol from this valley, it appears to out of the city, into the tribe of Benjamin. So the have been held in such universal execration, that it gate of Ephraim, (2 Kings xiv. 13,) was a gate which became the general receptacle of all the filth and im-led towards the tribe of Ephraim. We give names to purities which were carried out of Jerusalem; and it is supposed that continual fires were there kept up, to consume those impurities and prevent infection. From the Hebrew words Dan ja gei ben Hinnom, the valley of the son of Hinnom, and by contraction, Dn gei Hinnom, the valley of Hinnom, came the Tɛɛvva, Gehenna of the New Testament, called also Teevva TOU TUρos, the Gehenna of fire, which is the emblem of hell, or the place of the damned. See Matt. v. 22, 29, 30; x. 28; xviii. 9, &c. In the East it is common to add the name of the father to that of the son, e. g., “This land belongs to Goborka the son of Kake Prusada." But this addition roads, &c., in the same way now. "Mount Calvary, (which was on the outside of the gate,) seems to have been in the tribe of Benjamin. Query. Whether Calvary or Golgotha was so called from skulls being scattered about there, (as say some,) or rather from the figure of the rock being shaped like a man's skull, with one face of it nearly perpendicular? I incline to this latter opinion. I believe the Jews did not suffer human bones, even of malefactors, to lie about."-J. C. Verse 9. Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim] This place was rendered famous in Scripture, in consequence of its being the residence of the ark, for twenty |