Commentary on Joshua, Commentary · Chapter 15
Chap. 15.
THis then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Iudah by their families: euen to the border of Edom, and the wildernesse of Zin, Southward, on the Southcoast.
2 And their Southborder was the salt Sea coast, from the point that loketh Southward.
3 And it went out on the Southside toward Maaleth-akrabbim, and went along to Zin, and ascended vp on the Southside vntounto Kadesh-barnea, and went along to Hezron, and went vp to Adar, and fet a compasse to Karkaa.
4 From thence went it along to Azmon, and reached vntounto the riuer of Aegypt, and the end of that coast was on the Westside: this shalbe your Southcoast.
5 Also the East border shalbe the salt Sea, vntounto the end of Iordan: and the border on the North quarter, from the point of the Sea, and from the end of Iordan.
6 And this border goeth vp to Beth-hogla, and goeth along by the Northside of Beth-arabah: so the border from thence goeth vp to the stone of Bohan the sonne of Ruben:
7 Againe, this border goeth vp to Debir, from the vallie of Achor, and Northwarde, turning toward Gilgal, that lieth before the going vp to Adummim, which is on the Southside of the riuer: also this border goeth vp to the waters of Enshemesh, and endeth at En-rogel:
8 Then this border goeth vp to the vallie of the sonne of Hinnom, on the Southside of the Iebusites: the same is Hierusalem, also this border goeth vp to the top of the mountaine that lieth before the vallie of Hinnom Westward, which is by the end of the vallie of the Giantes Northward.
9 So this border compasseth from the top of the mountaine, vntounto the fountaine of the water of Nephtoah, and goeth out to the cities of mount Ephron: and this border draweth to Baalah, which is Kiriath-iearim.
10 Then this border compasseth from Baalah Westward, vntounto mount Seir, and goeth along vntounto the side of mount Iearim, which is Chesalon, on the Northside: so it commeth downe to Beth-shemesh, and goeth to Timnah.
11 Also this border goeth out vntounto the side of Ekron Northward: and this border draweth to Shi…ron, and goeth along to mount Baalah, and stretcheth vntounto Iabneel: and the ends of this coast are to the Sea.
12 And the West border is to the great Sea: so this border shalbe the bounds of the children of Iudah round about, according to their families.
13 And vntounto Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh did Ioshue giuegive a parte among the children of Iudah, as the Lorde commanded him, euen Kiriath-arbah of the father of Anak, which is Hebron.
1 And the lot, &c.) I hauehave shewed before, that in setting out the situation of the places, & searching out the reason of their names, I would not be curious, partly because I confesse, that I am not so exercised in the knowlege of Topographie or Chorographie, partly because of great laboure bestowed therein, small fruite would come to the readers. Yea, peraduenture the greatest parte of men should take paine without any profite. But to the purpose, we must note, that the lot of the tribe of Iuda, doeth not onelyonly fall in a high place, that the verie hight of the region might commend the dignitie of the kingdome that should be therein: but because the name of that tribe, doeth first come forth, as a foreshewing of the same matter. They beginne to diuide that which was alredie conquered by warre. The names of the tenne tribes are cast into a potte. Iuda is preferred before all the rest. Who seeth not, that he is lifted vp into the highest degree, that the prophesie of Iacob might be fulfilled? Now, within these boundes, which are here set downe, it is well knowen, that there were goodly pastures, noble and fruitefull vines. Thus, when the lot doeth answere to the prophesie of Iacob, it is manifest, that it fell not by chaunce: and that the holie Patriarch did pronounce that, which was deliuered to him by the spirit of God. They that are skilfull of the places, may with more pleasure and profite inquire more of them. But that the ruder sorte be not greeued to reade vnknowne names, let them thinke, that it is well worth their laboure, if they doe remember, that short summe which I hauehave touched, namely, that the tribe of Iuda is lifted vp on high, that it may be seene alofte aboue the rest, vntill the scepter doe arise from thence: and secondly, that a region fruitfull of vines and pastures is assigned to him: moreouer, that all the people might acknowledge, that his loe fell not by chaunce, which was foreshewed three hundred yeres before. Furthermore, of the large and manifold compasse of the places, the vnlearned sorte may easily gather, that it was a great prouince, which was assigned by lot to that one tribe. For, although some diminution happened afterward, yet they had alwaies the largest dominion. And we must remember, that which I said, that nothing else was declared by the lot, but that the border of the sonnes of Iuda ioyned vppon the land of Edom, and the sonnes of Sin, and that on the other side, they bordered vponupon the brooke of Egypt, and vppon the Midland sea: but they that were chosen to be diuiders, as their iudgement serued them, according to the multitude of men, did measure out how great their portion should be, & did not enlarge their boundes further: & the same reason they followed in the rest, as the neerenesse of the places required. Neither did the errour which they committed, any thing hinder, but that which they decreed remained stedfast. For as they were not ashamed in parte to retracte that portion, which they had made vnaduisedly: so on the other side, when the people did see, that they handled the matter, with all faithfulnesse and vpright dealing, they did willingly submit them selues to their decree: neither did a particular errour let a generall action from being confirmed & ratified. It shall not be amisse, in one worde to touch the citie of Iebus, which afterward was called Hierusalem. Although it was alreadie, by the secreat counsell of God, chosen to be his Sanctuarie, and the seate of the kingdome, which should be there: yet it was possessed of the enimies, vntill the time of Dauid. For in that they were so long depriued of that place, in which was grounded the holinesse, excellencie, and beautie of all the lande beside: therein appeared plainly the curse of God, to punish the slouthfulnesse of the people. For it was as much, as if the cheefe and principall ornament and dignitie of the land, were taken away from them. But on the other parte did shine the meruelious goodnesse of God, that the Iebusites, which after their time was prolonged, seemed to hauehave taken so deepe and sure roote in the land: yet for all that were rooted out, and pulled out of their place, when they thought least of it.
13 But to Caleb, &c.) If iudgement should be geuen, according to the present state, it seemeth to be a foolishe thing, that an imagined gift should be so often rehearsed, whereof Caleb receiued no benefite, so long as Iosue liued. But here is set foorth as well the trueth of God, as the faith of the holy man, which rested vponupon his promise. Therfore, although scornefull men at that time, would hauehave derided and scoffed, as well at the carefulnesse of Caleb, as at the vnprofitable liberalitie of Iosue, and the inhabitants of the same place, (if the report thereof had bene brought to them,) would hauehave proudly despised it, not without scoffes and tauntes: yet God at the length declareth in effect, the certeintie and constancie of his decree. As for Caleb, although he sawe, that he was kept off from hauing accesse vntounto the hill, yet he testified, that he was content with the onelyonly promise of God. like as this is a right triall of faith, not to be greeued to want the fruition of the things that are promised, vntill the due time come. Moreouer, this place and such like doe teach, that the Giantes, which are commonly called Enakim, were so called of Enak the authour of their stocke, and so it is a name of their kinred. But at what time he draue away the sonnes of Enak, we shall see soone after. In the meane time this place doeth teache vsus, that when Caleb alleadgeth the name of Moses, he vsed no deceipte, nor affirmed any thing vntruely, because it is nowe plainely aduouched, that Moses did so appoint it, by the commaundement of God.
14 And Caleb droue thence three sonnes of Anak, Sheshay, and Ahiman, and Talmaie, the sonnes of Anak.
15 And he went vp thence, to the inhabitantes of Debir: and the name of Debir before time was Kiriath-sepher
16 Then Caleb saide, He that smiteth Kiriath-sepher, and taketh it, euen to him will I geue Achsah my daughter to wife.
17 And Othniel, the sonne of Kanaz, the brother of Caleb tooke it: and hee gaue him Achsah his daughter vntounto wife.
18 And as she went in to him, shee moued him to aske of her father a feelde: and she lighted off her Asse, and Caleb saide vntounto her, What wilt thou?
19 Then shee answeared, Geue me a blessing: for thou hast geuen me the South countrie: geue mee also the springs of water. And hee gaue her the springes aboue, and the springes beneath.
20 This shalbe the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Iudah, according to their families.
21 And the vtmost cities of the tribe of the children of Iudah, toward the coastes of Edom Southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Iagur,
22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, Hezron (which is Hazor.)
26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah.
27 And Haza, Gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-pale…,
28 And Hasar-shual, and Beersheba, and Biziothiah,
29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
31 And Ziklag and Madmanna, and Sansannah,
32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all these cities are twentie and nine with their villages.
33 In the lowe countrie were Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah.
34 And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
35 Iarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteene cities with their villages.
37 Zenam, and Hadasha, and Migdalgad,
38 And Dileam, and Mizphe, and Ioktheel,
39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlishe,
41 And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah, sixteene cities with their villages,
42 Lebnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
43 And Iiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
44 And Keliah, and Aczib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages.
45 Ekron with her townes and her villages,
46 From Ekron, euen vntounto the Sea, all that lieth about Ashdod with their villages.
47 Ashdod with her townes and her villages: Azzah with her townes and her villages, vntounto the riuer of Aegypt, and the great Sea was their coast.
48 And in the mountaines were Shamer, and Iattir, and Socoth,
49 And Dannah, and Kiriath-sannath (which is Debir,)
50 And Anab, and Ashtemoth, and Anim,
51 And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloth. eleuen cities with their villages.
52 Arab, and Dumath, and Eshan,
53 And Ianum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah,
54 And Humtah, and Kiriath-arba (which is Hebron,) and Zior: nine cities with their villages.
55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Iuttah,
56 And Izreel, and Iokdeam, and Zanoah,
57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah, tenne cities with their villages.
58 Hashul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,
59 And Maarah, and Bethanoth, and Eltecon: sixe cities with their villages.
60 Kiriath-baal, which is Kiriath-iearim, and Rabbath: two cities with their villages.
61 In the wildernesse were Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah.
62 And Nibshan, and the citie of salt, and En-gedi: sixe cities with their villages:
63 Neuerthelesse, the Ieb usites, that were the inhabitantes of Hierusalem, could not the children of Iudah cast out, but the Iebusites dwell with the children of Iudah at Hierusalem vntounto this day.
Here is that declared, which was done after the death of Iosue, as appeareth by the booke of Iudges: but least the straungenesse shoulde breede a question, for that a fruitefull lande and full of springes was geuen in patrimonie to a woman, the writer of the booke thought good to enterlace that historie, whiche came to passe afterward, that nothing shoulde remaine doubtfull in the lotte of the tribe of Iuda. First it is saied, that Caleb, after he had taken Hebron, laied seege to Debir, or Kiriath Sepher, and promised to take him to his sonne in Lawe which first should enter into it. And it appeareth, that seeing hee prouoketh his souldiers to take the citie with so singular a rewarde, that it was a matter of no small hardnesse. Whereby is confirmed that, whiche wee sawe before, that a painfull peece of woorke was laied vppon him, when he was infeoffed with such a possession, as not without great daunger he could conquere. Therefore, to encourage his most valiaun… souldiers, he promiseth the mariage of his daughter in reward of his valiantnesse, whosoeuer should first scale the walles and enter the citie. Then it is added, that Othoniel, which was his brothers som…, obteined this reward by his vertue. But how it crepte into the vulgar translation, (The yonger brother of Caleb,) I knowe not: and surely, the errour can not be excused by any colour: therefore diuerse men vnskilfully trouble themselues, to search how Othoniel would take his Neece to wife, because such mariage was alredie forbiden by the Law. It is easie to proue, that he was not her Uncle, but her Uncles sonne. But here it is demanded, how Caleb was so bolde to promise his daughter, before he knew how her affection stoode. For although it be the du…tie of parentes, to geue foorth their daughters in marriage: yet they are not allowed suche Tyrannicall rule ouer them, that they may marrie them to what husbandes they list, without knowing their minde and affection to them. For when all contracts ought to be voluntarie in marriage, especially there ought to be libertie, that no man be constrained to binde his faith against his will. But Caleb was lead with a likelie reason, that he doubted not of the consent of his daughter: because she could not with shamefastnes refuse so honorable a condition, for such a husband was geuen her, as was not one of the base multitude, but one that excelled al the rest in praise of warlike vertue. Albei… it may be, that Caleb in the heate of the battell did promise vnaduisedly, that which was not in his authoritie altogether to performe: yet I thinke the couenant must be expounded according to common righ… which is, so that the good will of the maide were obteined. Surely, God heard the with of Caleb, while he offered him a sonne in Law, according to his heartes desire: for if he had had free choyce, there was no man, whom he would more hauehave wished.
18 And it came to passe when she came, &c.) Although we may well thinke, that Achsa was a maiden indued with excellent manners, and well brought vp, whose marriage was promised to the conquerer in place of a singular rewarde: yet here is bewrayed her vnlawfull desire, and couetous affection. She knew that women by the Lawe of God were excluded from the inheritaunce of landes: yet neuerthelesse Num. 27. 28the coueteth, and pricketh forward her husband with vniust expostulation. For so ambitious and couetous wiues cease not to trouble their husbandes, till they compell them to forget all shame, modestie, and equitie. For, although the couetousnesse of men also is vnsatiable: yet women are carried more headlong into that vice. Wherefore, all husbandes ought to take heede more diligently, that by their importunate counsells, they be not kindled to couetousnesse, as it were with bellowes. But greater disorder bewrayeth it selfe in her, when through the gentlenesse of her husband, and indulgence of her father, she waxeth bolder. For, not being content with the land that was geuen her, she requireth a grounde that is well watered. So, when one hath passed the measure of right & honestie, that vice is by and by accompanied with impudencie. But whereas her father denied her nothing, it is a signe that he loued her tenderly. But thereof it followeth not, but that the vngratious couetousnesse of lucre is worthie to be hated, which blindeth our mindes, and peruerteth our right iudgement. Where it is said, that Achsa allighted from her Asse, some referre it to crafte and dissimulation, as though she fe…l downe for greefe, and so her fall was a signe of swooning or failing of her heart, but it is more simple to think, that she fell downe at her fathers feete, the more humbly to entreate him. Howe so euer it was, the woman, by crafte and flatterie, procured to her selfe the right of other men, whereby the portions of her brethren were diminished.
20 This is the inheritaunce, &c.) Before he compassed the boundes of the children of Iuda: but now after an other manner is declared, how large and fruitfull a countrie befel… to them: in which also the great liberalitie of God towardes them is commended. There are numbered a hundred & thirtene cities, with their townes and villages: which number doeth testifie, not onelyonly the multitude of men: but also the fruitfulnesse of the lande. And yet there is no doubt, but that a new fruitfulnesse was geuen vntounto it, by the blessing of God. And yet in the verie nature of the land, it behoued the grace of God to shine, while he chose a countrie for his people, replenished with all abundance of good thinges. Now, if we looke to the men of the tribe, halfe that region would hauehave serued them abundantly for their habitation. For if eight hundred were diuided into euerie citie: the towns & villages remained for the rest of the multitude. And certeinly, soone after a portion was taken out, which was geuen to the tribe of Simeon. For so was fulfilled the dispersion, whereof Iacob did prophesie, that the posteritie of Simeon should be as a Gene. 49. 7.straunger in another mans ground. Therefore they were admitted as ghestes by the children of Iuda.
63 But the Iebusites, &c.) This maketh nothing for excuse of the people, neither is it set downe for that ende: for if they had endeuoured to the vttermost of their power, and had bene destitute of successe, the reproch had fallen vppon God him selfe, which had promised, that he would be their Capteine continually, till he had deliuered them the lande voide of their enimies, and that he would send hornettes, or waspes, which shoulde driue away the inhabitantes. Deut. 7. 20.Therefore, it was onelyonly through their owne slouthfulnesse and cowardlinesse, that they obteined not the cittie of Hierusalem. They could not therefore, because slouth would not let them, while through desire of quietnesse, they neglected the commaundement of God. A place worthie to be noted, that we may learne to bend all our force cheerefully, to accomplish that which God commaundeth: and to omitte no occasion, lest if we loyter, the gate be shut vp against vsus. If they had deferred it but a shorte time, they should not hauehave bene reprehended: but the negligence and dastardlinesse of so long time, did after a sorte reiect and driue backe the blessing of God.