_A.M. 2560. B.C. 1444._ The setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh, Joshua 18:1. Joshua's stirring up the seven remaining tribes to look after their lot, Joshua 18:2. The division of the land into several lots assigned to those several tribes, Joshua 18:8. The lot of Benjamin, Joshua 18:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The whole congregation of the children of Israel_ Not only their elders, and heads of their tribes, who represented the people of Israel, and are sometimes meant by _the whole congregation;_ but, as the expression may here very well signify, the whole body of the people, who, it is probable, accomp... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seven tribes who had not received their inheritance_ For whom no lot had been drawn at Gilgal. The reason of which, perhaps, was, that the last-mentioned tribes of the house of Joseph were not satisfied with the division which was begun to be made there; and therefore Joshua discontinued his procee... [ Continue Reading ]
_How long are ye slack_? It is probable, that being weary of war, and now having sufficient plenty of all things, they were unwilling to run into new hazards. _Give out three men Three_, not _one_, for the more exact observation both of the measure and quality of the several portions, and for greate... [ Continue Reading ]
_Into seven parts_ Their business was to divide the country into seven portions of equal extent or worth, and leave God to appoint which portion should fall to each tribe; who could have no reason to complain when the division was made by themselves. Indeed, no tribe was so great but one of these pa... [ Continue Reading ]
_That I may cast lots for you here before the Lord_ That is, before the ark or tabernacle, that God may be witness and judge, and be acknowledged to be the author of the division, and each tribe may be contented with its lot, as being appointed by divine authority, and that your several possessions... [ Continue Reading ]
_The men went and passed through the land_ Josephus tells us they were occupied seven months in taking this survey, and making the description here mentioned. _And described it by cities_ Or, _according to the cities_ to which the several provisions or territories belonged. _Joshua cast lots for the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The lot of Benjamin came up_ No doubt it was by peculiar direction of Providence that the children of Benjamin should have the first lot of these seven, next to the children of Joseph, they two being the only sons of Rachel, the beloved wife of Jacob. For thus it happened that their _coast_, or the... [ Continue Reading ]
_The corner of the sea southward_ No account can be given of this border, according to our translation. For it is certain it did not compass any corner of the Mediterranean sea, (and no other sea can be here meant,) nor come near unto it. Therefore, by פאת ים, _peath-jam_, which we translate _corner... [ Continue Reading ]
_The cities of the tribe_ Having given a description of the bounds of the country, the historian sets down the principal cities in it. The first of which, Jericho, was well known; the territory of which remained, though the city itself was destroyed. _And the valley of Keziz_ Rather, _Emir-keziz_, f... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jebusi, which is Jerusalem_ See Joshua 15:63, where it is reckoned to the tribe of Judah; for both that tribe and Benjamin had an interest in it, as we have there stated. _The inheritance of the children of Benjamin_ Which was one of the smallest, with respect to the quantity of ground which th... [ Continue Reading ]