INTRODUCTION JOSHUA 13 In this chapter Joshua is informed by the Lord, or put in mind, that part of the land of Canaan remained unconquered, and which it was; and is directed to divide the whole land among the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 13:1; and since the two tribes of Reu... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW JOSHUA WAS OLD, [AND] STRICKEN IN YEARS,.... How old he was cannot be said precisely, but it is very probable he was now about an hundred years of age, for he lived to be an hundred ten; and the land of Canaan was seven years in dividing, as the Jews generally say, and it seems as if he did not... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS [IS] THE LAND THAT YET REMAINETH,.... Unconquered and not enjoyed, namely, what is after described; and this account is given for Joshua's information, that he might know what to divide, and for the people of Israel's sake, that they might know what they had a right to a claim upon; what they s... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM SIHOR, WHICH [IS] BEFORE EGYPT,.... Which Jarchi and Kimchi interpret of the river Nile, and so that river is called, Jeremiah 2:18; it seems to have this name from the waters of it being black and turbid; and hence it was called by the Greeks "Melas"; and by the Latins "Melo"; though it is tho... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE SOUTH, ALL THE LAND OF THE CANAANITES,.... That is, of those Canaanites who were particularly so called, in distinction from those of the other nations or tribes, and who dwelt in several parts of the land, some in the east and others in the west, see Joshua 11:3; and, as it seems here, so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LAND OF THE GIBLITES,.... This was another country that remained unconquered; the Greeks call it Byblus, and near to which Pliny e speaks of a place called Gabale, and is now called Gibyle; it is f said to be "pleasantly situated by the seaside, and at present it contains but a little exten... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE HILL COUNTRY,.... Not in Judea, but in and about Lebanon, as follows: FROM LEBANON UNTO MISREPHOTHMAIM; of which see Joshua 11:8; [AND] ALL THE SIDONIANS; the inhabitants of the ancient city of Sidon, and the villages and lands belonging to it: these remained unconquered... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE DIVIDE THIS LAND FOR AN INHERITANCE,.... Having the command and authority of God for it, he was to set about it at once, with all diligence and application: UNTO THE NINE TRIBES: of Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Ephraim, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali, in which order they are... [ Continue Reading ]
WITH WHOM THE REUBENITES AND THE GADITES HAVE RECEIVED THEIR INHERITANCE,.... That is, along with the half tribe of Manasseh, but not with that half of it before mentioned, who was to haven division of a part with the nine tribes, but with the other half of the tribe settled beyond Jordan; with them... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM AROER, THAT [IS] ON THE BANK OF THE RIVER ARNON,.... A city belonging to Moab, from whence the description begins, the river Arnon, on which it was situated, being the border between Moab and the Amorites, Numbers 21:13; AND THE CITY THAT [IS] IN THE MIDST OF THE RIVER; or "even the city"; mea... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE CITIES OF SIHON KING OF THE AMORITES, WHICH REIGNED IN HESHBON,.... A city he took from the Moabites, and made it his royal seat, Numbers 21:26: UNTO THE BORDER OF THE CHILDREN OF AMMON; which was the river Jabbok, Deuteronomy 3:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GILEAD,.... The land of Gilead, which was part of the kingdom of Og, half of which was given to Reuben, and the other half to Gad: AND THE BORDER OF THE GESHURITES AND MAACHATHITES; of which see Deuteronomy 3:14; AND ALL MOUNT HERMON; called also Sirion, Shenir, and Sion, Deuteronomy 3:9; AND... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE KINGDOM OF OG IN BASHAN, WHO REIGNED IN ASHTAROTH AND IN EDREI,.... Joshua 12:4; WHO REMAINED OF THE REMNANT OF THE GIANTS; was descended from those that remained in Ashtaroth, after the rest were cut off by Chedorlaomer, Genesis 14:5; called there the Rephaim, as here: FOR THESE DID MOSES... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL EXPELLED NOT THE GESHURITES, NOR THE MAACHATHITES,.... Neither in the times of Moses, nor in the times of Joshua: BUT THE GESHURITES AND THE MAACHATHITES DWELL AMONG THE ISRAELITES UNTIL THIS DAY: in full possession of their cities unmolested; yea, in later time... [ Continue Reading ]
ONLY UNTO THE TRIBE OF LEVI HE GAVE NONE INHERITANCE,.... Neither the Lord, nor Moses by his order, nor did he appoint any inheritance for them, either beyond Jordan, or on this side it, for the Lord was to be their inheritance, Numbers 18:20; THE SACRIFICES OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL MADE BY FIRE ... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES GAVE UNTO THE TRIBE OF THE CHILDREN OF REUBEN [INHERITANCE] ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES. According to the number of them, and sufficient for them.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEIR COAST WAS FROM AROER THAT [IS] ON THE BANK OF THE RIVER ARNON,.... As the country of Sihon is described, Joshua 13:9; from whence it appears that it was his country which was given to Reuben, though not all of it: AND THE CITY THAT [IS] IN THE MIDST OF THE RIVER; Joshua 13:9; AND ALL TH... [ Continue Reading ]
HESHBON, AND ALL HER CITIES THAT [ARE] IN THE PLAIN,.... Which was by Medeba, and reached to Dibon: DIBON, AND BAMOTHBAAL, AND BETHBAALMEON; Dibon was rebuilt by Gad, though it belonged to Reuben, and perhaps was inhabited by both, being on the borders of each; and Bamothbaal signifies the high pla... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JAHAZAH,.... Called Jahaz, Numbers 21:23, where the battle was fought between Sihon and Israel: AND KEDEMOTH; near to which was a wilderness, which took its name from it, from whence Moses sent messengers with words of peace to Sihon, Deuteronomy 2:26; AND MEPHAATH; thought to be the Maipha of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND KIRJATHAIM,.... Of which Numbers 32:37; AND SIBMAH; of which Numbers 32:3 and Numbers 32:38; AND ZARETHSHAHAR, IN THE MOUNT OF THE VALLEY; which was built on one of the mountains that looked over the valley of Moab, as did Nebo, Pisgah, Abarim; perhaps it is the same place Josephus k calls Za... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BETHPEOR,.... So called from Peor, the idol of the Moabites, and where very likely there had been a temple built to the honour of it; over against this place was a valley, where Israel abode some time, Deuteronomy 3:29; AND ASHDODPISGAH; of which see Deuteronomy 3:17; AND BETHJESHIMOTH; of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE CITIES OF THE PLAIN,.... In the champaign country, as well as those in the mountainous part: AND ALL THE KINGDOM OF SIHON; or, as Masius renders the words, "which all had been the kingdom of Sihon"; for the whole kingdom of Sihon was not given to Reuben, only a part of it, and the rest... [ Continue Reading ]
BALAAM ALSO, THE SON OF BEOR THE SOOTHSAYER, DID THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SLAY WITH THE SWORD,.... At the same time that the princes of Midian were slain, and which is also observed, Numbers 31:8. Kimchi supposes that he returned to Midian, on hearing that the counsel he gave to them, to ensnare Israe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE BORDER OF THE CHILDREN OF REUBEN WAS JORDAN, AND THE BORDER [THEREOF],.... As their border eastward was Aroer on the river Arnon, so their border westward was the river Jordan: THIS [WAS] THE INHERITANCE OF THE CHILDREN OF REUBEN, AFTER THEIR FAMILIES, THE CITIES AND THE VILLAGES THEREOF; w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES GAVE [INHERITANCE] UNTO THE TRIBE OF GAD,.... On the other side Jordan, as he did to Reuben: [EVEN] UNTO THE CHILDREN OF GAD, ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES: according to the number and largeness of them, dividing to each their part and portion.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEIR COAST WAS JAZER,.... Their southern coast; of Jazer, see Numbers 21:32; where it is called Jaazer, and is mentioned in Isaiah 16:8; and in Jeremiah 48:32, where it is spoken of as a city of Moab, as it was in the days of those prophets: AND ALL THE CITIES OF GILEAD; which lay in those pa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FROM HESHBON UNTO RAMATHMIZPEH, AND BETONIM,.... This was their coast from the south to the north, and so describes their eastern border, which reached from Heshbon, given to the tribe of Reuben, Joshua 13:7; to these places mentioned; Ramathmizpeh, the same with Ramothgilead, which Jerom o say... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE VALLEY, BETHARAM,.... The same with Bethharan, Numbers 32:36: AND BETHNIMRAH; sometimes called Nimrah, Numbers 32:3; near to which were some waters, called the waters of Nimrim, Isaiah 15:6; It was in Jerom's p time a large village; it seems to have its name from leopards, which perhaps... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS [IS] THE INHERITANCE OF THE CHILDREN OF GAD, AFTER THEIR FAMILIES,.... As described in Joshua 13:27: THE CITIES AND THEIR VILLAGES; the cities given them, some of which are mentioned by name, and the villages adjacent and belonging to them were included in them.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOSES GAVE [INHERITANCE] UNTO THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH,.... Whether at their request or of himself, there being land enough for them, and the two tribes of Gad and Reuben, is not certain: AND [THIS] IS [THE POSSESSION] OF THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH, BY THEIR FAMILIES; which is after related a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEIR COAST WAS FROM MAHANAIM,.... A place in the tribe of Gad, Joshua 13:26; which was the boundary of the half tribe that way: ALL BASHAN; so famous for its oxen, and for pasturage for them, and for its oaks, called by Josephus Batanea: ALL THE KINGDOM OF OG KING OF BASHAN; which, besides Ba... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HALF GILEAD,.... The other half not given to the Gadites, who had that half of it which Sihon possessed, and the tribe of Manasseh that half of it which Og possessed, see Deuteronomy 3:12; AND ASHTAROTH, AND EDREI, CITIES OF THE KINGDOM OF OG IN BASHAN; which are particularly mentioned, because... [ Continue Reading ]
THESE [ARE THE COUNTRIES] WHICH MOSES DID DISTRIBUTE FOR INHERITANCE IN THE PLAINS OF MOAB,.... Which is particularly described, that each might know their proper portion: ON THE OTHER SIDE JORDAN BY JERICHO EASTWARD; of the land of Canaan; of Jordan by Jericho, Numbers 22:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT UNTO THE TRIBE OF LEVI MOSES GAVE NOT [ANY] INHERITANCE,.... Neither on the other side Jordan, nor did he order them any in Canaan; but expressly declared they were to have no part in the division of it, though they were his own tribe; which shows him to be a disinterested man, that he faithfull... [ Continue Reading ]