Commentary on Joshua, Commentary · Chapter 18
Chap. 18.
AND the whole Congregation of the children of Israel came together at Shiloh: for they set vp the Tabernacle of the Congregation there, after the lande was subiect vntounto them.
2 Nowe there remained among the children of Israel seuen tribes, to whome they had not diuided their inheritance.
3 Therefore Ioshue saide vntounto the children of Israel, Howe long are ye so slacke to enter and possesse the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath geuen you?
4 GiueGive from among you for euerie tribe three men, that I may send them, and that they may rise, and walke through the land, and distribute it according to their inheritance, and returne to me.
5 And that they may diuide it vntounto them into seuen partes, (Iudah shall abide in his coast at the South, and the house of Ioseph shall stand in their coastes at the North.)
6 Ye shall describe the land therefore into seuen partes, and shall bring them hither to me, and I will cast lottes for you here before the Lorde our God.
7 But the Leuites shall hauehave no part among you: for the Priesthoode of the Lord is their inheritance: also Gad and Ruben and halfe the tribe of Manasseh hauehave receiued their inheritance beyond Iordan Eastward, which Moses the seruant of the Lorde gaue them.
8 Then the men arose, and went their way: and Ioshue charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Departe, and goe through the land, and describe it, and returne to me, that I may here cast lottes for you before the Lorde in Shiloh.
9 So the men departed, and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seuen partes in a booke, and returned to Ioshue into the campe at Shiloh,
10 Then Ioshue cast lottes for them in Shiloh before the Lorde, and there Ioshue diuided the land vntounto the children of Israel, according to their portions.
1 And all the multitude, &c.) Here is reported that solemne assemblie, which was held at Silo, where consultation was had for casting of the rest of the lottes. For although they beganne to cast lottes of a godlie zeale, yet that action was interrupted: although the victorie ought to hauehave gone before the diuision, which depended vppon the onelyonly mouth of God. Wherefore they come together in Silo, to decree what was needfull to be done in time to come. And there is no doubt, but Iosue called this assemblie, that he might shake away from them their slouthfulnesse. For they vtter nothing of their owne accorde: but he beginneth to chide them, that they were slacke and slowe, to enter vppon the inheritaunce, which God him selfe had geuen them. For we may gather by his speach, that in the beginning they were full of cheerfulnesse: but there followed no perseuerance. And yet that obedience was adorned with the commendation of the holy Ghost, which soone after vanished away. And we must note, that the people is reprehended, not for that they were negligent in casting of lottes: but because they did not possesse the inheritance which was offered to them by God. And surely, as the casting of lottes was a signe of some faith, so that region, which fell to euerie one of them, was a sure and faithfull pledge of that possession, which afterward they should hauehave: for God did not trifle and plaie, when he assigned to euerie one their portion. The verbe RAPHAH, which I hauehave translated, To cease, doeth signifie also, To be feeble and weake. Therefore he accuseth them of shamefull slouthfulnesse, that when it was high time to chase away their enimies, by fingering & loytering, they hindered the effect of the benefi…e of God. For if they had bene content with their bare lot, and had embraced by faith that which fell vntounto them, doubtlesse they would hauehave bene prompt and readie to finish the warres: or rather as conquerours they would hauehave made haste vntounto the triumphe. Now it is said, that the Arke was placed in Silo, not only that their consultation might be the more holie and graue, being as it were in the sight of God: but because the place was quiet and safe from all forreigne violence and iniurie. For that of all other thinges was cheefly to be cared for, that it shoulde not bee lefte open vntounto the soudaine inuasions of the enimies. For although the hand of God was stretched out on euerie side to keepe off, and beate back the force of their enimies: yet God did so dwell amongest them, that he would hauehave them to be as it were his gard and keepers. But although a standing place for the Arke was then chosen, yet was it not a perpetuall house, but onelyonly an Inne for a time. For it was not in the will or election of the people, to appoint God a place where he should kepe residence: but that ought to hauehave bene looked for, which is often spoken of the Lawe, that he himselfe would appoint a place for the memorie of his name: which at the length was performed, when the mount Sion was chosen out for the Temple. For which cause it is said in the Psalme, Our feete shall stand in thy courtes O Hierusalem: by which wordes Psal. 1 22. 2.is signified, that the Arke vntill that time was but a ghest & straunger. But the ruine and ouerthrowe of Silo hath taught vsus at the length, that they which corrupt his benefices, shalbe protected by no excellence or dignitie against his vengeaunce. Untill the death of Helie, GOD suffered his holy name to be worshipped there: but 1. Sam. 4.when all religion was defiled with the vngodlinesse of the Priestes, and almost abolished through the vnthankfulnesse of the people, that place became notable vntounto the posteritie through the example of the fearfull punishment thereof. And therefore Ieremie willeth the Citizens of Hierusalem, which were lewdly proude of the Temple, to Iere. 7. 12.directe their eyes vntounto that example, Behold (saieth he) the cabernacle of God was in Silo, before it came to you: now ye see into how greate shame that auncient glorie is turned.
4 Deliuer three men, &c.) Caleb and Iosue had alredie searched out those coastes, and the people by inquirie had knowne many thinges: yet Iosue would hauehave that lande diuided as it were vppon the present viewe: and commandeth three spies to be chosen for euerie one of the seuen tribes, that in the mouth of two or three, euerie controuersie might be ended. But nothing seemeth to be lesse agreeable to reason, than to send one & twentie men, which should not only passe streight through the land of their enimies, but also should compasse about by many crooked turninges, that no corner shoulde bee hid from them, but that they should measure the length and bredth, and should also consider vnequall coastes. For euerie one, whome they should meete, might easily suspecte what men they were, and for what cause they were sent about this businesse. Finally, they could not returne againe freely, but through a thousand deathes: neither would they of a blinde and brutishe motion hauehave aduentured themselues in so great daunger, nor Iosue would hauehave bene authour vntounto them of so perilous a iorney: but because they had good experience, that those nations beeing astonished with feare from Heauen, desired nothing more than peace: for although they hated the children of Israel, yet beeing subdued with so many slaughters, they durst not stirre a finger against them: so the searchers or surueyers went forward, as it had bene into a peaceable countrie, either vnderunder pretext of merchandize, or else as harmelesse straungers. It may be also, that beeing diuided into seuerall companies, they made their iourney more secretly. Certeine it is, that they neuer could hauehave had such boldnesse and trust, but because they knew themselues to be vnderunder the shadowe of the wings of God, and therefore feared not those blinde and blockish nations. Hereuppon it is that their prompt and readie will is here commended: for except they had bene persuaded, that the handes of those nations were bound by God, that they could not touch them, they might hauehave had iust and honest occasion to hauehave refused the voyage.
9. So the men went, &c.) Here is not only commended their willing obedience, in which appeareth their singular vertue, but also the notable fauour of God, that he vouchsafed to geue such wonderful successe to the godly purpose of Iosue and the people. If they had crept through mines vnderunder the earth, they could scarse hauehave escaped innumerable dangers. Now when they marke the cities & their situations, the fields, the varietie of regions, & all the coastes, & without any euill aduenture returne happily againe, who would doubt, but that their life was preserued by the wonderfull power of God, among a thousand deathes? Therefore by way of Emphasis or augmentation to celebrate the grace of God, it is said, that they returned into the host: which is asmuch in effect, as that they were broght backe by the hand of God, that the people might more willingly fall to casting of their lots. For their minds would not yet hauehave ben well purged of werines, but that they sawe in this voayge the wonderfull grace of God, which promised vntounto them successe according to their desire. Therefore Iosue is said to hauehave diuided the land according to the portion of eueryevery one, as though he put them in quiet possession: but yet the effect depended vpō the presence of God, because it ought fice them, that the whole matter was gouerned by the authoritie of God, which neuer deceiueth his seruantes, no not when hee seemeth to plaie or trifle. But in what sense the Arke of couenant is called God, or his face, I hauehave expounded in many places beefore.
11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Beniamin came forth according to their families, and the coast of their lot lay betweene the children of Iudah, and the children of Ioseph.
12 And their coast on the Northside was from Iordan, and the border went vp to the side of Iericho, on the Northparte, and went vp through the mountaines Westward, and the endes thereof are in the wildernesse of Beth-auen:
13 And this border goeth along from thence to Luz, euen to the Southside of Luz (the same is Beth-el:) and this border descendeth to Attoth-addar, neere the mount, that lieth on the Southside of Beth-horon the nether.
14 So the border turneth, and compasseth the corner of the Sea Southward, from the mount that lieth before Beth-horon Southward: and the endes thereof are at Kiriath baal, (which is Kiriath-iearim,) a citie of the children of Iudah: this is the Westquarter.
15 And the Southquarter is from the end of Kiriath-iearim, and this border goeth out Westward, & commeth to the fountaine of waters of Nephtoah.
16 And this border descendeth at the end of the mountaine, that lieth before the vallie of Ben-hinnom, which is in the vallie of the Giantes Northward, and descendeth into the vallie of Hinnom by the side of Iebusi Southward, and goeth downe to Enrogel,
17 And compasseth from the North, and goeth forth to Enshemesh, and stretcheth to Geliloth, which is toward the going vp vntounto Adummim, and goeth downe to the stone of Bohan the sonne of Ruben,
18 So it goeth along to the side ouer against the plaine Northward, and goeth downe into the plaine.
19 After, this border goeth along to the side of Beth-hoglah Northward: and the ends thereof, that is, of the border, reache to the point of the salt Sea Northward, and to the end of Iordan Southward: this is the Southcoast.
20 Also Iordan is the border of it on the Eastside: this is the inheritance of the children of Beniamin by the coastes thereof, round about according to their families,
21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Beniamin, according to their families, are Iericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the vallie of Keziz,
22 And Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el,
23 And Auim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24 And Chephar, Ammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba: twelue cities with their villages.
25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Bee roth,
26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27 And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28 And Zela, Eleph, & Iebusi, (which is Hierusalem,) Gibeath, and Kiriath: fourteene cities with their villages: this is the inheritance of the children of Beniamin according to their families.
In the lot of Beniamin, there falleth out nothing greatly needfull to be noted, but that it being a litle tribe, is preferred before others. I confesse indeed, that in respect of the fewnesse of the people, it was shutte vp within narrowe borders, for it obteined but sixe and twentie cities: yet was this an honourable thing of it selfe, to receiue their inheritaunce before other more populous tribes. Adde herevnto, that by this meanes, they were made neighbours & borderers vponupon the sonnes of Ioseph, with whom they were next of kin. For they were placed in the middest, betweene Ephraim and Manasse on the one parte, and the tribe of Iuda on the other parte. This was also a singular honour, that among other cities Hierusalem also fell to their lot, so that afterward they might graunt it, as it were by licence, to the sonnes of Iuda, to be the seate of the kingdome. But seeing they obteined so quiet a dwelling place, it is meruell, they lead not a quiet life in all humanitie and gentlenesse, with their neighbors. But we remember the prophesie of Iacob, Beniamin is a rauening wolfe: In the morning he shall rauish the prey, Gen. 44. 27.& at euen he shall diuide the spoile. Wherefore it seemeth, that either they were too couetous & seditious by natur…, or else they were driuen by some necessitie, which at this day is vnknowne to vsus, to geue them selues to spoyling. As touching the citie Luz, the other name is added (This is Bethel,) because that name which was geuen to it by the Patriarch Iacob, was there receiued in vse and custome. Not farre off was Beth-auen, whose name because it was infamous and reprochfull, was translated to Bethel her selfe, after it was corrupted and defiled with vngodly superstitions. It is like that Kiriath-baal was called Kiriath-ieharim, that the name of the idol might be taken away, which had bene a spotte in true godlinesse, if it had remained. And surely, it had bene a foule and shamefull thing, that such a patrone as was enimie to the onelyonly GOD, should hauehave bene spoken of in the peoples mouth.