Matthew Poole and continuators on Joshua 15

THis then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families, even to the border of Edom ; the wilderness of Zin southward, was the uttermost part of the south-coast:

For the general understanding of this business, it must be known, 1. That this work of casting Lots was transacted with great seriousness and solemnity in Gods presence, with Prayer and Appeal to him for the decision of the matter. 2. That although an exact survey of this Land was not taken till Iosh. 18. 4, 5. yet there was, and must needs be a general Description of it, and a division thereof into nine parts and a half; which, as far as they could guess, were equal either in Quantity or in Quality. 3. That the Lot did not at this time so peremptorily and unchangeably determine each Tribe, that their Portion could neither be increased nor diminished; as is manifest, because after Iudahs Lot was fixed, Simeons Lot was taken out of it, Iosh. 19. 9. though after the Land was more distinctly known and surveyed, Iosh. 18. it is likely the Bounds were more certain and fixed. 4. That the Lot determined only in general what part or quarter of the Land belonged to each Tribe, but left the particulars to be determined by Ioshua and Eleazar, &c. For the manner of this Lottery, it is probably conceived, that there were two Urns or Pots, into one of which were put the names of all the Tribes, each in a distinct Paper, and into the other the names of each Portion described; then Eleazar, or some other person, drew out first the name of one of the Tribes out of one Pot, and then the name of one Portion out of the other Pot, and that Portion was appropriated to that Tribe; and so the rest. And with respect to these Pots in the bottom of which the Papers lay, these Lots are oft said to come up, or come forth.

Whose Lot came out first by Gods disposition, as a note of his Preeminency above his Brethren.

Which lay Southeast from Iudahs Portion.

Marginal references: Numb. 34. 3.; Numb. 33. 36.

2 And their south-border was from the shore of the salt-sea, from the † bay that looketh southward.

Heb. the Tongue; By which he understands either a creek or arm of that Sea; or a Promontory, which by learned Authors is sometimes called a Tongue; it is no[illegible: 1+ letters] material to know.

Marginal references: ‡ Heb. tongue.

3 And it went out to the south-side to † 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.

Concerning this description of the Southern-Coast of Iudah, See Numb. 34. 3, 4, 5.

Marginal references: ‡ Or, the going up to Acrabbim.

5 And the east-border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan : and their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea, at the uttermost part of Jordan.

i. e. The place where Iordan runs into the Salt-sea.

6 And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed along by the north of Beth-arabah , and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Renben .

Or, on the North, or Northward to Beth-arabah. Which place is attributed to Iudah here, v. 61. and to Benjamin, Josh. 18. 22. because it was a Frontier Town in the borders of Iudah and Benjamin, and therefore promiscuously belonging to both: which also was the case of some other places; and this Cohabitation was convenient to maintain brotherly love and union between the several Tribes, especially in the borders where differences oft arise.

A place so called, not from Bohan's dwelling there (for the Reubenites had no portion on this side Iordan) but from some notable exploit which he did there, though it be not recorded in Scripture.

7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal , that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river : and the border passed towards the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel.

A differing place from that Debir, v. 15. which was near Hebron, and remote from Iudahs border; as also from that Debir, Josh. 13. 26. which was beyond Iordan.

Either that Gilgal nigh Iordan, Josh. 4. 19. or another place of that name.

Or, brook, or valley.

Marginal references: 1 King. 1. 3.

8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom , unto the south-side of the * Jebusite , the same is Jerusalem : and the border went up to the top of the mountain, that lieth before the valley of Hinnom, westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants, northward.

Properly, for the Line went from Iordan and the salt-Sea, to the higher grounds nigh Ierusalem; and therefore the Line is said to go down, Josh. 18. 16. because there it takes a contrary course, and goes downwards to Iordan and the Sea.

A very pleasant place, but afterward made infamous, 2 King. 23. 10

i. e. Of the City of the Iebusites, which was anciently called Iebusi, Josh. 18. last, Iudg. 19. 10.

It may seem hence, and from Deut. 33. 12. Iosh. 18. last. Iudg. 1. 21. that Ierusalem properly, or at least principally, belonged to Benjamin; and yet it is ascribed to Iudah also here, v. 63. and elsewhere, either because a part of the City was allotted to Iudah; or because the Benjamites needed or desired the help and conjunction of this powerful Tribe of Iudah for the getting and keeping of this most important place. And when the Benjamites had in vain attempted to drive out the Iebusites, this work was at last done by the Tribe of Iudah, who therefore had an interest in it by the right of war; as Ziglag which belonged to the Tribe of Simeon, being gotten from the Philistines by David, was adjoined by him to his Tribe of Iudah, 1 Sam. 27. 6.

9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill, unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim.

i. e. Belonging to, or bordering upon Mount Ephron.

10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir , and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, (which is Chesalon) on the north side, and went down to Beth-shemesh , and passed on to Timnah.

Not that of Edom, but another so called from some resemblance it had with that in quality.

Called Kiriath-baal, v. 60. and Iosh. 18. 14.

t There were divers Cities of this name, this in Iudah here, and Iosh. 21. 16. 2 King. 14. 11. another in Issachar, and a third in Naphtali, Josh. 19. 22, 38.

13 ¶ And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even † the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

i. e. Ioshua, as appears by comparing this with Iosh. 14. 6. 12. 13.

Or, Kiriath-arba. Not the City which was the Levites, but the Territory of it, Iosh. 21. 13.

Marginal references: Chap. 14. [illegible: 1 word]; ‡ Or, Kirjath-arb[illegible: 1+ letters].

14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai the children of Anak.

i. e. From the said Territory, from their Caves and Forts in it; compare Iosh. 14. 12. This and the following work was done either in Ioshuahs life-time, as may seem from Iosh. 11. 21. or after his death, as is related Iudg. 1. 10. These Giants having either recovered their Cities, or defended themselves in the mountains.

Either the same who are mentioned Numb. 13. 33. and so they were long-liv'd men, such as many were in those times and places: or their Sons, called by their Fathers names, which is very usual.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1+ letters]udges 1. [illegible: 1 word]

15 And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir , and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher .

The same mentioned above, v. 7.

This c[illegible: 1+ letters]ause seems to be added to distinguish this from the other Debir subdued by Ioshua, Josh. 10. 38, 39.

16 ¶ And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achshah my daughter to wife .

Which is to be understood with some Conditions, as if he were one who could marry her by Gods Law; for every Promise contrary to that, is void; and if she were willing; for though Parents had a great Power over their Children, they could not force them to marry any person against their own wills. He might otherwise be an unfit and unworthy person; but this was no ordinary motion propounded to the imitation of others, but a divine impulse, that Othniel's valour might be more manifest, and so the way prepared for his future Government of the People, Iudg. 3. 9.

17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

Judg. 1. 13. and 3. 9.

Obj. This Marriage was unlawful. Ans. No, for it was not Othniel, but Kenaz who was Caleb's Brother; and besides, the word Brother is commonly used for any Kinsman; And that Caleb was not properly Othniels Brother, sufficiently appears, because Caleb is constantly called the Son of Iephunneh; and Othniel, the Son of Kenaz here, and 1 Chron. 4. 13.

18 And it came to pass as she came unto him , that she moved him to ask of her father a field, and she lighted off her ass , and Caleb said unto her, What wouldst thou?

Or, as she went, to wit, from her Fathers house to her Husbands, as the manner was; See on Matth. 1. 18.

She perswaded her Husband either, 1. That he would ask: or rather, 2. That he would suffer her to ask, as she did.

That she might address her self to her Father in an humble posture, and as a Suppliant, which he understood by her gesture.

19 Who answered, Give me a blessing : for thou hast given me a south land , give me also springs of water . And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs .

i. e. A gift, as that word signifies, Gen. 33. 11.

i. e. A dry Land, which was much exposed to the South-wind, which in those parts was very hot and drying, as coming from the Desarts of Arabia.

i. e. A Field, as she desired, v. 18. wherein are Sgrings of Water, which in that Countrey were of great Price; for it is not probable, that he would give her the Springs, and give to another the grounds in which the Springs were; who could thereby at their pleasure deprive her of the use and benefit of her Springs, so she begs a well moistned Field, which also might give some relief to that which was dry and barren.

i. e. Springs both in the higher and in the lower grounds; or two Fields, one in high, another in low grounds; or rather, one above, and the other below that South and dry ground which she complained of, that by this means it might be watered on both sides.

21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom, southward, were Kabzeel , and Eder, and Jagur;

Those which were on the borders of the Land, not the mid-land cities. It is apparent, that all the Cities belonging to this Tribe, are not mentioned in this Catalogue.

Called Iekabzeel, Neh. 11. 25.

25 And Hazor, Haddattah , and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor ,

Possibly it should be read as one word, Hazor-haddattah, as there is Hazar-gaddah, v. 27. and Hasar-shual, v. 28. such compounded proper names being usual; and this may seem the more probable, because if Hazor and Haddattah were two different Cities, the conjunction and would have been put between them, as it is generally in the rest.

Or, which also is called Hazor; but to distinguish it from the other Hazor, v. 23. this was called also Hezron.

26 Aman, and Shema , and Moladah,

Called also Seba, Jos. 19. 2.

32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine , with their villages.

Obj. Here are 37, or 38 Cities named before; how then are they only reckoned 29? Ans. There were only 29 of them, which either, 1. Properly belonged to Iudah, the rest fell to Simeons Lot; or 2. Were Cities properly so called, i. e. walled Cities, or such as had Villages under them, as it here follows, the rest being great, but unwalled Towns, or such as had no Villages under them.

36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages.

Obj. There are 15 numbred. Ans. Either one of them was no City strictly called; or, Gederah, and Gederothaim is put for Gederah, or Gederothaim, so called; possibly because the City was double, as there want not instances of one City divided into two parts, called the old and the new City. So the conjunction, and, is put for the disjunctive, or, whereof examples have been given before.

Marginal references: Or, or.

42 Libnah , and Ether, and Ashan,

Heb. Libnah. See Ios. 10. 29.

45 Ekron with her † Towns , and her villages .

Here and in the following Verses are contained all the Cities of the Philistines, among which are Gath and Askelon, which peradventure are here omitted, because they were not at this time places of such Power and Eminency, as afterwards they were, but were the Daughters of some of these following Cities, though afterwards the Daughter might overtop the Mother, as is usual.

Heb. Her Daughters, i. e. lesser Cities, or great Towns, subject to Ekrons Jurisdiction.

i. e. Lesser Towns or Hamlets.

Marginal references: ‡ Heb. Daughters. Numb. 21. 25.

47 Ashdod with her † towns and her villages; Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof .

i. e. The Sea-Coast and all other Cities, Towns and Villages upon it.

Marginal references: Heb. Daughters.; Heb. Daughters.

48 ¶ And in the mountains , Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,

i. e. In the higher grounds called Mountains or Hills, in comparison of the Sea-Coast.

49 And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir .

Which also is called Kiriath-sepher, above v. 15. So this City had three Names.

51 And Goshen , and Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages.

See Ios. 10. 41.

55 Maon , Carmel , and Ziph , and Juttah,

Of which see 1 Sam. 23. 25. and 25. 2.

Nabals Country, 1 Sam. 25.

Which gave its name to the Neighbouring Mountain, 1 Sam. 26. 1.

61 ¶ In the wilderness , Beth-arabah, Middin, and Seca[illegible: 1+ letters]ah,

So the Hebrews call places either uninhabited by men, or having but few Inhabitants.

62 And Nibshan, and the city of salt , and Engedi: six cities with their villages.

So called either from the Salt Sea, which was near it; or from the Salt which was made in it, or about it.

63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jeru [illegible: 1+ letters]em , the children of Judah could not drive them out : but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day .

For though Ierusalem was in part taken by Ioshua before this; yet the upper and stronger part of it, called Zion, was still kept by the Iebusites, even until Davids time; and it seems from thence they descended to the lower Town called Ierusalem, and took it; so that the Israelites were forced to win it a second time; yea, and a third time also: for afterwards it was possessed by the Iebusites, Iudg. 19. 11. 2 Sam. 5. 6, 7.

Namely, because of their unbelief, as Christ could do no mighty work—because of the peoples unbelief, Mark 6. 5, 6. Mat. 13. 58. and because of their Sloth, and Cowardise, and Wickedness, whereby they forfeited Gods help, and then they must needs be imporent; but this inability was wilful, and brought upon them by themselves.

The same things which are here said of the children of Iudah, are said of the Benjamites, Iudg. 1. 21. Hence ariseth a question, To which of the Tribes Ierusalem belonged? whether to Benjamin, as is gathered from Gen. 49. 27. Deut. 33. 12. Ier. 6. 1. or to Iudah, as is implied here, and Psal. 78. 68, 69. Some think, that being in the Borders of both, it was common to both, and promiscuously inhabited by both; and it is certain, that after the Captivity it was possessed by both, Neh. 11. 4. But for the present, though it did belong to Benjamin, yet the Children of Iudah being possibly very active in the first taking of it by Ioshua, as they certainly were after his Death, Iudg. 1. 8. they might thereby get some right to share with the Benjamites in the Possession of it. It seems most probable, that part of it, and indeed the greatest part, and main body of it, stood in the Tribe of Benjamin; and hence this is mentioned in the List of their Cities, and not in Iudah's List; and part of it stood in Iudah's share, even Mount Moriah, on which the Temple was built; and Mount Sion, when it was taken from the Iebusites.

When this Book was written, whether in Ioshuah's Life and Old Age, which continued many years after the taking of Ierusalem; or after his Death, when this Clause was added here and elsewhere in this Book by some other man of God, which must needs be done before Davids time, when the Iebusites were quite expelled, and their Fort taken.