Commentary on Joshua, Commentary · Chapter 19
Chap. 19.
AND the second lot came out to Simeon, euen for the tribe of the children of Simeon, according to their families: and their inheritance was in the middest of the inheritance of the children of Iudah.
2 Nowe they had in their inheritance, Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah.
3 And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem,
4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5 And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah,
6 And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuben: thirteene cities with their villages.
7 Ain, Emmon, and Ether, and Ashan, foure cities with their villages,
8 And all the villages that were round about these cities, vntounto Baalath-beer, and Ramath Southward: this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9 Out of the portion of the children of Iudah came the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the parte of the children of Iudah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance.
Next followeth the tribe of Simeon, not so much for honours sake, as for a note of reproch. Iacob had pronounced of Simeon and Leui, I will disperse them & scatter them. In deede the penaltie Gen. 49. 7.of Leui was not onelyonly mitigated, but also turned into an excellent dignitie: because his posteritie were placed as it were in a watchtowre, to keepe the people in their duetie of godlinesse and religion. But, as touching Simeon, that certeine cities were geuen to his posteritie within the borders of Iuda, this was a manifest dispersion, whereof Iacob had prophesied. Although they were not cast a sunder into places farre distant, yet were they but as tenantes, and dispersed when they dwelled within the soyle of an other tribe. Therefore, for that slaughter which they committed with no lesse vnfaithfulnesse, than crueltie, they were separated into diuers lodgings. By this meanes the offence of their father was cast into the bosome of his sonnes, and that sentence which God deliuered to his seruant, he did execute indeede. Also the trueth of the lotte was clerely approued. But whereas a portion is taken away from the tribe of Iuda, we se againe, that although the ouerseers of the diuision, determined most wisely to keepe equitie: yet they were deceiued with an errour, which they were not ashamed to correct as soone as it was found out. And it is no absurditie, that although they were ruled by the spirit of God, yet they were deceiued in some parte: because God sometimes withdraweth from his seruantes the spirit of iudgement, and suffereth them to doe one thing or other, like men, that they should not triumph too much in their exceeding great wisedome. Adde herevnto, that the people were iustly punished for their negligence and carelesse hastinesse: because they should from the beginning hauehave better discussed, what right belonged to euerie one, which thing they neglected. A large dominion was vnskilfully assigned without discretion vntounto the tribe of Iudah, whereof equitie constrained them afterward to appoint some part for other tribes. Howbeit, it had ben better, that their certeine limits had bene set downe at the first, than afterward to hauehave some part taken away with their griefe. Moreouer, euerie one presumed with vaine hope, that they shoulde hauehave large & wide possessions, as though the land had stretched forth it self without end.
9 Of the portion of the sonnes of Iuda, &c.) Yet the moderation and indifferencie of the tribe of Iuda is worthie of praise, which doeth not striue, nor alledge that it is against right, that any thing should be taken away from them, of the portion that was once assigned vntounto them. For they might hauehave pretended the name of God, by whose authoritie they had obteined that seate. But because it is decreed by the common iudgement of all men, that more was geuen them than they might possesse without the losse & iniurie of other men, they doe immediately cease from all pretence of striuing. And surely they should hauehave falsly and vniustly boasted of the name of God: for that, although the lotte proceeded from him, as concerning the region and quarter: yet in the largenesse thereof there fell out an errour, because their boundes were enlarged by the iudgement of men, more than they ought to hauehave beene. Therefore that which they acknowledge, was geue… a…isse to them, with the losse of other men, they doe willingly forgoe, and gently enterteine their brethren, which otherwise should hauehave wanted an inheritance, yea they are content to parte with them that whiche they thought without controuersie to hauehave bene their owne already.
10 Also the third lot arose for the children of Zebulun, according to their families: and the coastes of their inheritance came to Sarid,
11 And their border goeth vp Westward, euen to Maralah, and reacheth to Dabasheh, and meeteth with the riuer that lieth before Iokneam,
12 And turneth from Sarid Eastward toward the Sunne rising vntounto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and goeth out to Daberath, and ascendeth to Iaphia,
13 And from thence goeth along Eastward toward the Sunne rising to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth forth to Rimmon, and turneth to Neah,
14 And this border compasseth it on the Northside to Hannathon, and the endes thereof are in the vallie of Iipthtahel.
15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-lehem, twelue cities with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun, according to their families: that is, these cities and their villages.
17 The fourth lot came out to Issachar, euen for the children of Issachar, according to their families.
18 And their coast was Izreelah, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19 And Ephraim, and Shion, and Anaharah,
20 And Harrabith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21 And Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah, and Bethpazzez.
22 And this coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh, and the endes of their coast reache to Iordan: sixteene cities with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar, according to their families, that is, the cities, and their villages.
24 Also the fifte lotte came out for the tribe of the children of Asher, according to their families.
25 And their coast was Heleath, and Halie, and Beten, and Achshah,
26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal, and came to Carmel Westwarde, and to Shihor-libnah,
27 And turneth toward the Sunne rising to Beth-dagon, and commeth to Zebulun, and to the vallie of Iptah-el, toward the Northside of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out on the left side of Cabul,
28 And to Ebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, vntounto great Zidon.
29 Then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong citie of Zor, and his border turneth to Hosah, and the endes thereof are at the Sea, from Hebel to Aczib,
30 Vmmah also, and Aphek, and Rehob, two and twentie cities with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher, according to their families, that is, these cities and their villages.
10 And the third lotte, &c.) In the lotte of Zabulon appeareth the plaine trueth of the prophesie of Iacob, which foreshewed, that they should dwell about the Sea coast. The olde man, the vanished Gen. 49. 13.man, whiche coulde not set his foote in his owne ground, did assigne the region by the Sea coast to the posteritie of his sonne Zabulon. What seemeth more ridiculous? But nowe, when the lotte assigneth to them the region by the Sea side, there could not be required a more cleere approbation of that sentence: as if God had twise thundered out of heauen. Therefore the tribe of Zabulon obteineth not the Sea coast by their owne choyce, nor by the appointment of men: but the region adioyning to the Sea, was by God himselfe adiudged to be their inheritance. So that, although men erred, yet the light always shined in the darkenesse. Iacob proceedeth further, and maketh a notable difference beetweene Zabulon and Isachar: namely, that the former tribe shoulde Gen. 49. 5. 14. 15.trauell to and fro with merchandize: the other shoulde sitte quietly and leade their liues in their tentes. Therefore it is like, that the Sea coast, where Zabulon dwelled, was full of hauens, and apte for manifolde trafique. But the sonnes of Isachar conteyning themselues in the profites & fruites of their lands, liued of their labour and tillage. They that are thought to be skilfull in those regions, affirme that the land of the tribe of Aser, was a great corne countrie, which answeareth with greate consent and agreement vntounto the prophesie of Iacob. That so small a number of cities is Gen. 44. 20.here expressed, we may gather againe, that there were many ruinous places, which came not in accompt, but after the people were well setled, many goodly cities were built on them, with which the land was garnished, as it is manifest out of other places. And surely it appeareth, that the sum of the diuision is breefly touched, & so, many things are omitted, which it is lawful to search out, so it be not with curiositie that is without profit. Surely they which hauehave here but twentie or seuenteene cities rehearsed, had a larger dominion. Therefore here is onelyonly rehearsed, the abridgement of the diuision, such as is like to be taken out of the shorte billes of the messengers which were written in hast.
32 The sixt lot came out to the children of Napthalie, euen to the children of Napthalie, according to their families.
33 And their coast was from Heleph, & from Allon, in Zaanannim, and Adaminekeb, and Iabneel, euen to Lakum, and the endes thereof are at Iordan.
34 So this coast turneth Westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hucdock, and reacheth to Zebulun on the Southside, and goeth to Asher on the Westside, and to Iudah by Iordan toward the Sunne rising.
35 And the strong cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Cinnerith,
36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor,
38 And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, & Beth-anah, and Bethshemesh, nineteene cities with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Napthalie, according to their families: that is, the cities and their villages.
40 The seuenth lotte came out for the tribe of the children of Dan, according to their families.
41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh,
42 And Shaalabim, and Aiialon, and Ithlah,
43 And Elon, and Themnathah, and Ekron,
44 And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalah,
45 And Iehud, and Bene-berak, and Gathrimmon,
46 And Me-iarkon, and Rakkon, with the border that lieth before Iapho.
47 But the coastes of the children of Dan fell out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went vp to fight against Leshem, and tooke it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan, according to their families: that is, these cities and their villages.
49 When they had made an end of diuiding the land by the coastes thereof, then the children of Israel gaue an inheritance vntounto Ioshue the sonne of Nun among them.
50 According to the worde of the Lorde they gaue him the citie which he asked, euen Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim: & he builte the citie and dwelt therein.
51 These are the heritages which Eleazar the Priest, and Ioshue the sonne of Nun, and the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, diuided by lot in Shiloh before the Lorde at the dore of the tabernacle of the congregation: so they made an end of diuiding the countrie.
Now he intreateth of the lotte of Nepthalie, which seemeth to agree with the natures and manners of that tribe. For Iacob had testified, that they should be gentle, & vse faire speech to their neighboures. After this manner it seemeth, that of the one parte they ioyned vppon the children of Iuda, and in other partes were compass…d about with the defence of their brethren. Surely, when it is said, that the tribe of Dan tooke Lesen by assault, there seemeth to be a secret comparison: because the children of Nepthalie did not thrust into their inheritance by force of armes: but kept themselues quietly in a peaceable prouince, and so vnderunder the fidelitie, and as it were the protection of the tribe of Iuda, they were safe and at rest. But where it is saide, that the children of Dan challenged by force of armes the possession of the citie Lesen, which was assigned them by God, it happened after the death of Iosue. But here is breefly, and by the way enterlaced, that historie, which is set foorth more at large in the booke of Iudges: for their valiantnesse was worthie of praise, so to embrace the right graunted to them by God, that trusting in him they went foorth manfully to chase away their enimies.
49 When they had made an end, &c.) Now at the length here is rehearsed the thankfulnesse of the people towarde Iosue. A…hough there ought to be an equall partition of the land of Chanaan among the posteritie of Abraham: yet Iosue, through the excellencie of his vertues, deserued some honourable reward aboue the rest. Neither could any man complaine, that one man was enriched by the losse of many: for first by his long staying shineth foorth the modestie of the holie man, that he prouideth not for his priuate wealth, before the publike state was well set in order. For where shall you finde a man, which after he hath declared one or two tokens of his manhood, will not streight way make ha…te to be partaker of the prey: But Iosue did not so, which thinketh not of him selfe, vntill all the lande be diuided. Also in the verie reward it selfe, which he obteined, the same temperaunce and frugalitie is seene. He desireth a citie to be graunted to him and his familie, which was indeed but a …eape of stones: for either it was destroyed and defaced with ruines, or else there was no citie at all builded there. But the coniecture may be likelie, that to the intent his reward might be without enuie, he required some such plot, as was not verie wealthie. If any man thinke it an absurditie, that he bestowed not his labour freely, let him consider, that he obeyed the calling of God most liberally and freely, and that he did not take so great trauell, to indure so many dangers and troubles, with the affection of an hireling. But when he had executed his office willingly, he was not to refuse a monument of the grace of God, vnlesse with peruerse & froward contempt, he would hauehave ouerwhelmed his glorie. For that prerogatiue, which was offered vntounto him, was nothing else but a plaine testimonie of that heuenlie power, which was shewed forth by his hand. Neither can any ambition be here noted: because he desireth nothing for him selfe, nor rashely thrusteth in his couetous appetite: but requireth to hauehave that honour, which God had alredie bestowed vppon him, to be confirmed by the consent of the people. Yea, if he had held his peace, he had geuen a signe of slouthfulnes, rather than of modestie. Where as it is rehearsed in the end of the Chapter, that Iosue and Eleazer made an end of distributing the lande, it perteineth to a perpetuall Lawe of determination of their boundes, that the children of Israel should stirre or moue nothing, to weaken or deface that vnchaungeable decree of God.