Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, Joshua · Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
Verſ. 1. THis then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families, even to the border of Edom, &c.] In this chapter the narration of the dividing the land within Jordan by lot is continued, which was broken off in the foregoing chapter, to ſhew, how Caleb demanded that Hebron and the adjacent mountain might be reſerved to him, as his by an extraordinary promiſe which God had long ſince made to him. That the lots were onelyonly to decide in what part of the countrey each tribe ſhould be planted, and that afterwards the quantitie of the land which each tribe ſhould have was ſet out by Joſhua, Eleazar, and the heads of the tribes, choſen to be the men that ſhould divide the land, is noted before upon the ſecond verſe of the foregoing chapter, as likewiſe, Num. 26.55. What manner of lottery they uſed in this buſineſſe is no where expreſſed. The common opinion of the Hebrew writers is, that there were two pots, or other veſſels, ſet before the Tabernacle, the one having the names of the tribes, that were to have their portion of the land aſſigned, the other juſt ſo many lots, in each of which ſuch and ſuch a part of the land was deſcribed, and that ſome man appointed to that ſervice, happely Eleazar the high prieſt, drew out of one pot one of the tribes, and then out of the other pot one of the lots there, and ſo then that tribe had their portion aſſigned them in that part of the land deſcribed and ſet forth in that lot; and ſo accordingly with the reſt. And indeed though this be not expreſſed thus any where in the Scripture, yet the phraſe that is often uſed in the following chapters, that ſuch a lot came out & ſuch a lot came up, may ſeem covertly to imply ſo much, as chap. 19. v. 1.10, 17, &c. Some indeed hold that there was but one pot wherein there was ſo many lots as there were tribes that were to have their inheritance in the land within Jordan, each lot having a ſeverall portion of land deſcribed and ſet out therein, and that there was a lot drawn for each tribe in their ſeverall order, as firſt there was a lot drawn for the tribe of Judah, as is here ſaid, becauſe that tribe had the chief Prerogative of the firſt-born conferred upon them in ſtead of Reuben; and ſecondly there was lots drawn for the two tribes of Ephraim and Manaſſeh that were deſcended of Joſeph, chap. 16.1. and that becauſe they had alſo ſome part of the dignity of Reubens primogeniture or birthright of the firſt-born conferred upon them; and ſo ſucceſſively in the reſt. But I ſee not how this can ſo well ſtand with the expreſſions which the Scripture uſeth concerning the lots: for thoſe phraſes which are uſed chap. 19. The ſecond lot came forth to Simeon, verſe 1. and the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun, verſ. 10. and the fourth lot came out to Iſſachar, verſe 17, &c. do methinks very probably intimate, that it was not by appointment but by lot alſo, that ſuch a tribe had the firſt lot, and ſuch a tribe the ſecond, &c. even as the lots wherein their names were written came firſt to hand; and ſurely herein the hand of God in ordering the lots was the more evident and wonderfull; as for inſtance, That Judahs lot ſhould come out firſt, and then that his lot ſhould fall in the richeſt and beſt part of the kingdome, how apparently were the people herein taught to take notice of the purpoſe of God in exalting this tribe above the reſt. As for the dividing of the land in ſeverall lots it may be queſtioned, whether there were not now at the firſt certain men ſent out to view the land, that they might the better know how to divide it into ſo many ſeverall lots, as they did afterward when after the work had been given over for a time they ſet upon it again, chap. 18.4, 5. Give out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will ſend them, and they ſhall riſe and go through the land, and deſcribe it according to the inheritance of them, and they ſhall come again to me, & they ſhall divide it into ſeven parts, &c. But becauſe this is ſo fully expreſſed there and no mention is made of any ſuch thing here, therefore we may rather think that now at firſt they went not ſo exactly to work, but onelyonly ſet out to each lot a portion of land as well as they could gueſſe according to that knowledge they had got of the land by ſeverall inrodes they had made into it, till upon the three firſt lots that were drawn the people began to ſuſpect that Judahs lot being ſo large, there would not be a proportionable ſhare left for the other tribes, and ſo before they would ſet upon the work again, there were certain men ſent out purpoſely to make a more full diſcovery of the land, that they might the more equally ſet out to each lot a ſeverall ſhare. But however, here we have the lot of Judah (which by the ſingular providence of God came out firſt) deſcribed by the ſeverall bounds thereof, as it was in the firſt diviſion of the lots, This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families, even to the border of Edom; and the laſt clauſe, even to the border of Edom, is added to ſhew that the deſcription here given us of the bounds of Judahs portion ſhall begin at the eaſt end of the ſouth coaſt, which was towards the wilderneſſe of Edom: As for the ſouth coaſt which is here largely deſcribed in the foure firſt verſes of the chapter, what is to be noted therein you may ſee. Num. 34.3, 4, 5, &c.
Verſ. 5. And the eaſt border was the ſalt ſea; even unto the end of Jordan.] That is, their border on the eaſt ſide was from the place where their ſouth border was drawn, verſ 1. to wit, the wilderneſſe of Zin all along the ſalt ſea, that is, the lake of Sodome, even unto the place where the river Jordan runnes into this lake.
And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the ſea, at the uppermoſt part of Jordan.] That is, their border on the north ſide (which divided the tribe of Judah from the tribe of Benjamin) went from the bay of the dead ſea where the river Jordan ran into it, and ſo went up to Beth-hogla, and then paſſed along on the North of Betharabah, leaving Betharabah on the South in the lot of Judah, verſe 61. Indeed, chap. 18.22. this city is reckoned amongſt Benjamins cities; But this is becauſe it ſtood on the confines of Judah and Benjamin, and ſo is reckoned as many others are to both tribes.
Verſ. 6. And the border went up to the ſtone of Bohan the ſonne of Reuben.] That is, Bohan the Reubenite. In remembrance of ſome remarkable paſſage that concerned this man, was this ſtone ſet up and called the ſtone of Bohan.
Verſ. 7. The border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor.] This is not that Debir taken by Othniel, verſe 17. for that was near Hebron and not ſo cloſe upon Judahs border.
And ſo north-ward looking towards Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the ſouth-ſide of the river.] That is, and ſo from Debir it turned northward at that place where Gilgal is, called Geliloth, chap. 18.17. right againſt Adummim, which is on the ſouth-ſide of the river Kidron, ſo that he who ſhould carry the line ſhould have Gilgal before him north-ward, and Adummim behind him on the ſouth-ſide of the river.
Verſ. 8. And the border went up by the valley of the ſonne of Hinnom unto the ſouth-ſide of the Jebuſite, the ſame is Jeruſalem.] That is, it went from Enrogel, or the fullers fountain (which was not farre from Jeruſalem; for Adonijah and his conſpiratours being at Enrogel heard the ſound of the trumpets, and the ſhouting of the people when Solomon was anointed king at Jeruſalem, 1. Kings 1.9, 49.) by the valley of the ſonne of Hinnom, unto the ſouth-ſide of the city Jebus, which was afterwards called Jeruſalem; not the fort of Sion, for that was more ſouth-ward in Judahs portion, but the city it ſelf which by that means was ſhut out of Judahs lot and left in the portion of Benjamin, ſee the following note upon verſe 63.
Verſ. 9. And the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim.] Called Kirjath-baal, verſe 60. and chap. 18.14.
Verſ. 10. And the border compaſſed from Baalah weſt-ward unto mount Seir, &c.] That is, having before fetched a compaſſe north-ward, it now turned weſt-ward unto mount Seir, which was not that in the land of Idumea, but another of that name.
Verſ. 12. And the weſt-border was to the great ſea and the coast thereof.] See chap. 13.23.
Verſ. 14. And Caleb drove thence the three ſonnes of Anak, &c.] That is, from the mountains about Hebron. See the note upon chap. 11.21.
Verſ. 15. He came up thence to the inhabitants of Debir, &c.] There was a Debir taken before by Joſhua chap. 10.38, 39. but that which Joſhua took, I conceive, was not this which lay ſo near to Hebron which Caleb now took, but that mentioned above, verſ. 7. in the borders of Judah, and much nearer to Jordan, whence it is happely that Joſhua is ſaid to have taken that in his return towards Gilgal, chap. 10.38. and that here this city is expreſſely ſaid to be that city which was formerly called Kirjath-ſepher, to diſtinguiſh it from Debir taken by Joſhua.
Verſ. 16. He that ſmiteth Kirjath-ſepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achſah my daughter to wife.] That is, I will give my conſent that he ſhall have my daughter: we cannot hence inferre that he might lawfully force upon his daughter what husband he pleaſed, for this he ſpeaks as taking it for granted that his daughter would be guided by him.
Verſ. 17. And Othniel the ſonne of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb took it.] This was that Othniel which was afterwards the judge of Iſrael, Judg. 3.9. And when the children of Iſrael cryed unto the Lord, the Lord rayſed up a deliverer to the children of Iſrael, who delivered them, even Othniel the ſonne of Kenaz, Calebs younger brother: and happely for this exploit he became firſt famous amongſt the Iſraelites, and we may well think that this ſtory is here inſerted chiefly for his ſake; by brother here may be meant kinſman, and ſo be referred to Othniel, that he was the brother, that is, the near kinſman of Caleb; but becauſe of that word (younger) added, Judg. 1.13. Othniel the ſonne of Kenaz Calebs younger brother: and ſo again Judg. 3.9. I conceive this word brother is to be referred to Kenaz, that he was the father of Othniel, and the brother of Caleb: for though Caleb was the ſonne or grandchild of Kenaz, and thence called a Kenezite, chap. 14.16. yet he might have a Kenaz to his brother too.
Verſ. 18. And it came to paſſe, as ſhe came unto him, that ſhe moved him to ask of her father a field, &c.] This following paſſage concerning the enlarging of Achſahs dowry, by a portion of land which her father gave her, may well be added, to ſhew how Caleb prized Othniel becauſe of this his taking Debir, It came to paſſe, ſaith the text, as ſhe came unto him, that is, as ſhe was going from her fathers to her husbands family, ſhe moved him to ask of her father a field, that is, taking the opportunity of her being now to leave her father (for then the affections of fathers are wont to be moved towards their daughters) ſhe perſwaded her husband to ask a field of her father, to wit, over and above that which he had already given her, as an encreaſe of her dowry: For Caleb had ſonnes, 1. Chron. 4.15. and in this caſe it is clear, they might not give away any part of their inheritance from their ſonnes to their daughters, Numb. 27.8, 9. If a man die and have no ſonne, then ye ſhall cauſe his inheritance to paſſe unto his daughter. And if he have no daughter, then ye ſhall give his inheritance unto his brethren: and therefore we muſt know that the land which Caleb had already given his daughter, and which ſhe further now deſired of him, was to be given her onelyonly as a dowry for term of life, or till the yeare of Jubile. Being it ſeems not content with that portion of land, which her father had already given her, verſ. 19. ſhe moved her husband to ask, or (for ſo alſo the words may be underſtood) ſhe moved her husband that ſhe might ask another field, to wit, as an enlargement of her dowry.
And ſhe lighted off her aſſe: and Caleb ſaid unto her, What wouldest thou?] We may two ſeverall wayes underſtand this which is here ſaid concerning Achſah Calebs daughter, that ſhe lighted off her aſſe: for either the meaning may be, that when they had ſet her upon an aſſe, that ſhe might ride home with her husband Othniel to his houſe, ſhe ſlipped down again, as in diſcontent and ſeeming to be unwilling to go with her husband, to wit, becauſe her husband had not as ſhe had moved him deſired of her father an enlargement of her dowry, and ſo thereupon her father demanded of her, what wouldeſt thou? as perceiving that ſhe was diſcontented, and deſirous to know what it was that troubled her: Or elſe, that having deſired her husband, as they were riding away from her fathers houſe, to make ſute to her father for another field to be added to what he had already given her, when ſhe perceived that he was loth to do it, or perſwaded her rather to undertake it her ſelf, ſhe lighted off her aſſe, as addreſſing her ſelf to make her requeſt to her father, which her father perceiving, demanded of her preſently what ſhe would have.
Verſ. 19. Who anſwered, Give me a bleſſing; for thou hast given me a ſouth land, give me alſo ſprings of water.] To intimate, that the portion of land which he had given her was dry and not well watered, ſhe calls it a ſouth land, to wit, either becauſe the ſouthern parts of Iudahs portion were dry and barren, and hence ſuch lands were called ſouth lands; or elſe, becauſe the ſouthern parts of Calebs portion in particular were ſuch. And hereupon ſhe deſires him to give her alſo ſprings of water, thereby intending either merely ſome ſprings of water, which might be conveyed into the ſouth land to make it fruitfull, or elſe ſome portion of land that was well watered.
And he gave her the upper ſprings and the nether ſprings.] That is, ſome higher grounds that were well watered, and ſome lower; or which tends much to one, he gave her ſome ſprings or watered grounds on each ſide the land he had formerly given her for a dowry, both above it, and below it.
Verſ. 21. And the uttermoſt cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom ſouthward, were Kabzeel, &c.] It is called Iekabzeel, Neh. 11.25.
Verſ. 32. All their cities are twenty nine, with their villages.] There are indeed eight and thirty cities or towns named in the foregoing verſes, and therefore for the clearing of this ſome hold, that becauſe nine of theſe were afterwards aſſigned to the tribe of Simeon, therefore it is ſaid here, that all the cities of Iudah in thoſe parts were nine and twenty. But the better anſwer I conceive is, that nine and twenty of them onelyonly were walled cities, the other were the moſt famous towns and villages in thoſe parts. And here in this firſt catalogue of Iudahs cities in the Southern parts, the moſt noted towns are expreſſed by name, as well as the walled cities, that in the following catalogues we may conceive the ſame, to wit, that there were many towns of note beſides the cities there mentioned, though they be not expreſſed by name as here they are.
Verſ. 36. Fourteen cities with their villages.] There are fifteen named in the foregoing verſes, either therefore one of them was no citie, but ſome noted town, or rather it may be very probably conceived that Gederah and Gederothaim were but one citie: and therefore ſome reade it (as it is in the margin of our bibles) Gederah or Gederothaim.
Verſ. 62. And Nibſhan and the citie of ſalt.] This citie might have its name, The citie of ſalt, from the ſalt pits that were there, and the abundance of ſalt that was dayly made by the inhabitants of the citie.
Verſ. 63. As for the Jebuſites the inhabitants of Jeruſalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out.] It is a queſtion much argued amongſt writers, whether Jeruſalem ſtood in Judahs or in Benjamins portion. By many places of Scripture it ſeems evident that it was in Benjamins portion. For in the 18. chapter of this book verſ. 28. it is reckoned amongſt the cities that were in Benjamins lot, and we ſee that Moſes did before his death propheſie concerning Benjamin, that the Temple which was in Jeruſalem ſhould be built in Benjamins portion, for that is the drift of thoſe words, Deut. 33.12. And of Benjamin he ſaid, The beloved of the Lord ſhall dwell in ſafety by him, and the Lord ſhall cover him all the day long, and he ſhall dwell between his ſhoulders; yea and Jer. 6.1. the inhabitants of Jeruſalem are expreſſely called the children of Benjamin, O ye children of Benjamin, gather your ſelves to flee out of the midst of Jeruſalem, and Judg. 1.21. the ſame that is here ſaid of the children of Judah is likewiſe there ſaid of the children of Benjamin, The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebuſites the inhabitants of Jeruſalem; but the Jebuſites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jeruſalem unto this day. But now again by other places of Scripture it ſeems as evident that Jeruſalem was in Judahs portion. For firſt, mention is here made of it as one of Judahs cities, The Jebuſites dwell with the children of Judah at Jeruſalem unto this day: and ſecondly, Jeruſalem is ſaid to have been taken by the children of Judah, Judg. 1.8. and thirdly, it is reckoned as the great priviledge of the children of Judah, that the Lord in his Temple dwelt amongſt them, Pſal. 78.67, 68, 69. Moreover he refuſed the Tabernacle of Joſeph, and choſe not the tribe of Ephraim, but choſe the tribe of Judah, the mount Sion which he loved, and he built his Sanctuary like high places, &c. but the truth herein is, that Jeruſalem ſtood in the border of theſe two tribes, and ſo was part in Judahs, and part in Benjamins portion, and therefore the places of Scripture before cited do not any way contradict one another, the fort of Sion and ſome of the ſouth skirts of the city were in Judahs portion, but the greateſt part of the city in Benjamins, and therefore it may well be that when they went about to expell the Jebuſites that dwelt there, both Iudah and Benjamin joyned their forces together, as Judah and Simeon did in a like caſe, Judg. 1.3. And Judah ſaid unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight aganst the Canaanites, and I likewiſe will go with thee into thy lot. As for that which is here ſaid concerning Jeruſalem, to wit, that the children of Judah could not drive out the Jebuſites thence (and the like we ſee is ſaid concerning the children of Benjamin, Judg. 1.21.) we muſt know that the Iebuſites continued in Ieruſalem unto Davids time. Indeed Adoni-zedek the king of Jeruſalem was ſlain by Ioſhua chap. 10.23, 26. (for he was one of thoſe five kings that made warre againſt Gibeon) though we find no mention there of his taking Ieruſalem; yea, and it is expreſſely ſaid, Iudg. 1.8. that afterwards the children of Iudah took the city of Jeruſalem and burnt it with fire, that is, ſome part of it. Well, but yet the fort of Sion, which was the chief ſtrength of Ieruſalem, was not at that time taken by them; for that the Iebuſites held till David took it, 2. Sam. 5, 6, 7. yea and it ſeems that afterward the Iebuſites did alſo by the help of this fort recover the city again, at leaſt ſo farre, that they forced the Iſraelites to let the Iebuſites dwell there amongſt them, as it is ſaid here. For in the dayes of the Iudges we ſee that Iebus, that is, Ieruſalem was ſtill inhabited by the Iebuſites, Iudg. 19.12. We will not turn aſide hither into the city of a ſtranger, that is not of the children of Iſrael (ſaith the Levite there concerning Iebus) we will paſſe over to Gibea. But however we muſt not think, that this which is ſaid here, that the children of Judah could not drive them out, is added by way of excuſing them; no, but rather to their ſhame and reproch; for though the fort of Sion was a place of great ſtrength, ſo that when David ſet himſelf down with his army before it, the Iebuſites ſcorned him, & bragged that their lame and blind and impotent people, ſhould defend it againſt him, 2. Sam. 5.6. Yet God would certainly have driven them out according to his promiſe, had they not been wanting to themſelves. But they grew ſlothfull and faint hearted, and by theſe and other their ſinnes, provoked the Lord to withdraw himſelf from them, and ſo then indeed they could not drive out the inhabitants, but were glad to purchaſe peace upon any tearms; according to that Iudg. 2.20, 21. And the anger of the Lord was hot againſt Iſrael, and he ſaid, Becauſe this people hath tranſgreſſed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkned to my voice; I alſo will not hence forth drive out any from before them, of the nations which Joſhua left when he died, &c.