Joshua 22:10

unto the borders of Jordan More literally, the circles of the Jordan. Comp. Joshua 13:2, "the borders (or circles) of the Philistines;" Joel 3:4, "all the coasts (or circles) or Palestine;" Matthew 3:5; "the region round aboutJordan." The region indicated is a portion of what is now called the Ghorof the Jordan, the low tract or plain along the river, through which it flows. Wyclif renders it, "whanne thei weren comen to the mynde hyllis of Jordan."

that are in the land of Canaan That is on the west side of "the Ghor." They desired to anticipate any assertion that the Jordan constituted in itself a barrier between them and their western brethren and the Sanctuary of God at Shiloh.

a great altar to see to i. e. an altar great to behold; so high and wide that it would be seen from a great distance. "An auter of mychilnes with out mesure," Wyclif. The site of this interesting memorial has been lately discovered by the officers of the Survey of Palestine. It is an almost inaccessible mountain, except from the north, where the ascent is called Tal'at abn'Ayd= "the going up to Ed." It projects like a white bastion towards the river, some twenty miles north of Jericho, and close to the line of march from Shiloh to Gilead, and on its summit are the remains of a huge monument of masonry, bearing traces of fire on its upper surface. It is mentioned in the Jewish Talmud under the name of Surtabeh, and is said to have been a beacon station.

Mentioned only once in the Bible, this altar, erected by the two and a half tribes on their return from Western Palestine as a "witness" that they too were co-heirs with their brethren on the other side of the river, had dropped entirely out of all hope of recovery. The place has now been found by Lieut. Conder, its name still existing, on the high peak known as Kurn Surtabeh, in the valley of the Jordan. Independently of the special interest attaching to the spot, this recovery illustrates remarkably the vitality of the old Biblical names. (Quarterly Statement, 1874, p. 241.)

to see to = to behold. "Faire to see to, goodlie to behold." Ad aspectum præclarus. Baret, Alvearie, s. v: "If such rank corne be once cut down with the syth … certain it is that the grain in the ear will be longer to see to, howbeit void and without any floure within it." Holland's Pliny, xviii. 17; Bible Word-Book, p. 425;

"Care and utmost shifts,

How to secure the lady from surprisal,

Brought to my mind a certain shepherd lad

Of small regard to see to." Milton's Comus, 618.