Joshua 15 - Introduction
_A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444._ The bounds of the inheritance of Judah, Joshua 15:1. The assignment of Hebron to Caleb and his family, Joshua 15:13. The cities of Judah, Joshua 15:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444._ The bounds of the inheritance of Judah, Joshua 15:1. The assignment of Hebron to Caleb and his family, Joshua 15:13. The cities of Judah, Joshua 15:20.... [ Continue Reading ]
_This then was the lot_ For the general understanding of this business of casting lots, it must be observed, 1st, That it was transacted with great seriousness and solemnity, in God's presence, with prayer and appeal to him for the decision of the matter. 2d, That although an exact survey of this la... [ Continue Reading ]
_The bay that looketh southward_ Hebrew, _the tongue;_ either a creek or arm of that sea, or a promontory, which by learned authors is sometimes called a tongue. Every sea is salt, but this had an extraordinary saltness, the effect of that fire and brimstone which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The end of Jordan_ The place where Jordan runs into the salt sea. _The stone of Bohan_ A place so called, not from Bohan's dwelling there, (for the Reubenites had no portion on this side Jordan,) but from some notable exploit which he did there, though it is not recorded in Scripture.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Northward looking toward Gilgal_ Having Gilgal to the north of it. Which is to be understood, not of that Gilgal near Jericho, but of that place called Geliloth, (Joshua 18:17,) which was distant from thence, as appears by what follows. _And the border went up_ Properly; for the line went from Jord... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the coast of the children of Judah, round about according to their families_ That is, thus the lot was bounded on all sides in the first draught of it. Which being afterward found too large, it was contracted into a narrower compass, that more room might be made for the tribe of Simeon, who... [ Continue Reading ]
_Caleb drove thence_ That is, from the said territory, from their caves and forts in it; these giants having either recovered their cities, or defended themselves in the mountains. Caleb did not drive them out by his own power alone, but by the confederate army of the tribes of Judah and Simeon, (Ju... [ Continue Reading ]
_Caleb said_ Made proclamation throughout the army which he led against Debir. _Achsah my daughter to wife_ Which is to be understood with some conditions, as, if he were one who could marry her according to God's law; and if she were willing; for though parents had a great power over their children... [ Continue Reading ]
_As she came_ Or, _as she went;_ namely, from her father's house to her husband's, as the manner was. _She moved him_ She persuaded her husband, either, 1st, That he would ask: or rather, 2d, That he would suffer her to ask, as she did. _She lighted_ That she might address herself to her father in a... [ Continue Reading ]
_A blessing_ That is, a gift, as that word signifies, Genesis 33:11. _A south land_ That is, a dry land, which was much exposed to the south wind, which, in those parts, was very hot and drying, as coming from the deserts of Arabia. _Springs of water_ That is, a field wherein are springs of water, w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Twenty-nine_ Here are thirty-seven or thirty-eight cities named before; how then are they only reckoned twenty-nine? There were only twenty-nine of them which either, 1st, Properly belonged to Judah; the rest falling to Simeon's lot. Or, 2d, Were cities properly so called; that is, walled cities, o... [ Continue Reading ]
_The mountains_ That is, in the higher grounds, called mountains or hills, in comparison of the sea-coast.... [ Continue Reading ]
_City of Salt_ So called, either from the salt sea, which was near it, or from the salt which was made in, or about it.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem_ Jerusalem was in part taken by Joshua before this; but the upper and stronger part of it, called Zion, was still held by the Jebusites, even till David's time. And, it is probable, they descended from thence to the lower town, called Jerusalem, and took... [ Continue Reading ]