Joshua 14:4

_FOR THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH WERE TWO TRIBES, MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM: THEREFORE THEY GAVE NO PART UNTO THE LEVITES IN THE LAND, SAVE CITIES TO DWELL IN, WITH THEIR SUBURBS FOR THEIR CATTLE AND FOR THEIR SUBSTANCE._ The children of Joseph were two tribes. Since two and one-half tribes were settled х_ MEE`EEBER_ (H5676)] on the other side - i:e., on the east of Jordan (see the note at Joshua 1:14; Joshua 9:10; Joshua 17:5) - and the Levites had no inheritance assigned them in land, there would have been only eight tribes and a-half to provide for. But Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph, had been constituted two tribes ...

4._They gave no part unto the Levites, _etc It is here repeated for the third time with regard to the Levites, that they were not included in the number, so as to have the portion of a tribe assigned to them; but it is mentioned for a different purpose, for it is immediately after added, that the sons of Joseph were divided into two tribes, and were thus privileged to obtain a double portion. Thus had Jacob prophesied, (Genesis 49:0) or rather, like an arbiter appointed by God, he had in this matter preferred the sons of Joseph to the others. God therefore assumed the Levites to himself as a peculiar inheritance, and in their stead substituted one of the two families of Joseph....

1-5 The Israelites must occupy the new conquests. Canaan would have been subdued in vain, if it had not been inhabited. Yet every man might not go and settle where he pleased. God shall choose our inheritance for us. Let us survey our heritage of present mercy, our prospect for the land of promise, eternal in the heavens. Is God any respecter of persons? Is it not better that our place, as to earthly good or sorrow, should be determined by the infinite wisdom of our heavenly Father, than by our own ignorance? Should not those for whom the great mystery of godliness was exhibited, those whose redemption was purchased by Jesus Christ, thankfully refer their earthly concerns to his appointment?...

Verse Joshua 14:4. _THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH WERE TWO TRIBES_] This was ascertained by the prophetic declaration of their grandfather Jacob, Genesis 48:5-1; and as _Levi_ was taken out of the tribes for the service of the sanctuary, one of these sons of Joseph came in his place, and Joseph was treated as the first-born of Jacob, in the place of Reuben, who forfeited his right of primogeniture. _WITH THEIR SUBURBS FOR THEIR CATTLE_] For the meaning of this passage the reader is referred to _Clarke's note on "_Numbers 35:6_"_....

EXPOSITION JOSHUA 14:1 TRIBES. The word here for "tribes," in connection with the word "fathers," is the one which implies genealogical descent (see note on Joshua 13:29). ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, AND THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS OF THE TRIBES. A picture of national unity; the head of the Church, representing the religious aspect of the community; the head of the State, representing its civil aspect; the heads of the tribes, to signify the general assent of the body politic. A work so begun was likely to be satisfactorily carried out. And accordingly the distribution of the land, recognised as carried out according to the will of God, displayed no partiality, and excited no jealousies....

FOR THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH WERE TWO TRIBES, MANASSEH AND EPHRAIM,.... For the birthright being forfeited by Reuben, was given to Joseph, who had the double portion, the privilege of the firstborn; by which means the number of the twelve tribes was kept up in the division of the land, though that of Levi had no share in it; and which is also a reason why they had none, that Joseph's two sons might be reckoned two tribes: THEREFORE THEY GAVE NO PART UNTO THE LEVITES IN THE LAND; to make way for the sons of Joseph to have the double portion: SAVE CITIES TO DWELL [IN]; and that only, for they might not sell them, as other Israelites could theirs: WITH THEIR SUBURBS, FOR THEIR CATTLE, AND FOR THEIR SUBSTANCE; the Targum is, "for all their beasts, and for their cattle;'' that is, for convenient places to put them into, and for pasturage for, them; which Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret of...

2. CALEB'S REQUEST AND INHERITANCE CHAPTER 14 _ 1. The inheritance by lot (Joshua 14:1)_ 2. Caleb's request (Joshua 14:6) Judah's portion comes first, and as they draw near to Joshua to receive their inheritance by lot (See Proverbs 16:33 and Acts 1:26) at Gilgal (note the recurrence of this place and its significance), Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, steps to the front. It was not forwardness or love of the preeminence which led him to do this, but the burning zeal in that old, yet youthful soul. He comes to claim the inheritance, which forty-five years ago Moses had promised unto him. Caleb was eighty-five years old

JOSHUA 14-19. THE DIVISION OF THE LAND ON THE W. OF JORDAN. Joshua 14:1 is P's introduction to the division of the land by lot, but instead of going on at once with his account of the inheritance of Judah the editor inserts (Joshua 14:6) a Deuteronomic account of Caleb's claim to Hebron in accordance with the promise given him by Moses in Nu. After this we get in Joshua 15:1, P's account of the boundaries of Judah. But before giving the names of the various cities of Judah, the editor inserted another account (Joshua 15:13) of Caleb's conquests from a source older than the Deuteronomic section just mentioned in...

_For the children of Joseph_ There would have been only eight tribes and a half left, but the two sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, had been adopted by Jacob as his sons (Genesis 48:5), and were reckoned as tribes, and therefore there were still nine tribes and a half to receive their inheritance. _therefore they gave_ Rather, AND THEY GAVE. The repetition of these statements respecting the Levites is not due "to the redundancy of the Semitic style," but is intended to shew the reader that the instructions left by Moses (Numbers 18:20; Numbers 35:2) had been literally and exactly fulfilled. _with their suburbs_ i. e. pasture-ground within the precincts of the cities, or certain districts round t

_The Plan for Dividing the Land Joshua 14:1-5_ And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them. 2 By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe. 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them. 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. 5 As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did and they divided the land. _1._