Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, Joshua · Chapter 19 – Chapter 20
CHAP. XIX.
Verſ. 1. ANd their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.] That is, the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon; the reaſon whereof is given verſ. 9. Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon; for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them, therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them. It ſeems that they that were ſent to ſearch the land not yet divided, that they might part it into ſeven lots for the ſeven remaining tribes, chap. 18.4. found that the portion which Joſhua, and Eleazar and the other Commiſſioners for the dividing of the land, had formerly at Gilgal aſſigned to the tribe of Judah was farre too large, conſidering what they now found left for the other tribes upon this ſecond review, and therefore agreed unanimouſly with thoſe ſaid Commiſſioners for the dividing of the land, that a whole portion for one of the tribes that had not yet their inheritance ſhould be taken off that which was formerly given to duplicate page duplicate page Judah, and ſo ſhould make one of the lots for the ſeven tribes (beſides ſome other cities which they took alſo from Judah to be as part of another lot, as is ſhown afterwards, verſe 40.41.) and no doubt the children of Judah acknowledged the equitie thereof, and were well contented with it: and ſo when they came to draw the lots of the ſeven remaining tribes, in the ſecond place, next after Benjamins, came out this lot, which was wholly taken out of Judahs portion, for the tribe of Simeon. And thus by the providence of God; firſt, there being one tribe to be ſeated within that portion formerly given to Judah, the lot fell upon this tribe, which was feweſt in number of all the tribes, as we may ſee by the account that was taken of them at the laſt numbring of the people, Num. 26.14. and ſecondly, this tribe of Simeon having their portion aſſigned them within the portion of Iudah, and ſo being as it were intermingled with them, nor having an inheritance apart by themſelves, that was now fulfilled which Jacob long ſince propheſied of them, Gen. 49.7. I will divide them in Jacob, and ſcatter them in Iſrael: concerning which, ſee what is noted there.
Verſ. 2. And they had in their inheritance Beer-ſheba, &c.] The bounds of this tribes portion is not deſcribed, as are the bounds of moſt of the other tribes, onelyonly the chief cities and towns are named that were in their lot, and that becauſe their inheritance was within the inheritance of Judah, whoſe bounds are formerly deſcribed chap. 15. As for Beerſheba and Sheba that are firſt here mentioned they are but the longer and ſhorter names of one and the ſame city; for it is ſaid verſ. 6. that in this firſt catalogue there are thirteen cities, and there are fourteen if Beerſheba and Sheba be counted two ſeverall cities, and beſides 1. Chron. 4.28. where theſe cities of the Simeonites are again reckoned up, there is mention made of Beerſheba onelyonly.
Verſ. 3. And Hazar-ſhual, and Balah, and Azem, &c.] Called Ezem, 1. Chron. 4.29. as the following Eltolad is called alſo Tolad; and Bethul, Bethuel.
Verſ. 5. And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazor-ſuſah, &c.] Which is called 1. Chron. 4.31. Hazar-ſuſim; as alſo in the following verſe Bethlebaoth is called, chap. 15.32. Lebaoth, and in the 1. Chron. 4.31. Bethbirei: and Sharuhen ſeems to be the ſame that is called Shauraim.
Verſ. 7. Ain, Remmon, and Ether, &c.] Or Etam, 1. Chron. 4.32. this with the reſt here mentioned are there called villages, and therefore are here ſeverally reckoned by themſelves.
Verſ. 9. For the part of the children of Judah was too much for them, &c.] See the note above, verſ. 1.
Verſ. 10. And the border of their inheritance was Sarid, &c.] This Sarid was the Southweſt corner of Zebuluns portion, from whence it is ſaid that it went Weſt-ward to Maralah, and ſo to Dabbaſheth which ſtood by the ſea, from whence it went Northward by the ſea coaſt as farre as the river near Iokneam. And thus having the midland ſea on the Weſt, and the ſea of Galilee on the Eaſt, that was truly accompliſhed which Jacob ſaid concerning this tribe, Gen. 49.13. Zebulun ſhall dwell at the haven of the ſea, and he ſhall be for a haven of ſhips: and Moſes alſo, Deut. 33.18. And of Zebulun he ſaid, Rejoyce Zebulun in thy going out, &c.
Verſ. 12. And turned from Sarid eastward toward the ſunne riſing, &c.] As before the weſtern border was drawn from Sarid, verſ 10. ſo here the ſouth border begins alſo at Sarid, and ſo is carried on eaſtward as farre as Japhia.
Verſ. 13. And from thence paſſeth on along on the eaſt to Gittah-Hepher, &c.] That is, from Japhia a city in the ſouth-eaſt corner of Zebuluns portion, the border turns northward along by the ſea of Galilee, and within a while goeth up into the land as farre as Remmon and Neah, where is the going out of the utmoſt reach of the eaſtern border.
Verſ. 14. And the border compaſſeth it on the north ſide to Hannathon, &c.] This is the north border which fetcheth a compaſſe, and ſo ends in the valley of Jiphthah-el.
Verſ. 15. And Idalah and Bethlehem.] This was not that Bethlehem where Chriſt was afterward born; for that was in the tribe of Judah, this in the tribe of Zebulun.
Twelve cities with their villages.] There are more then twelve mentioned in the foregoing verſes; but it ſeems ſome of them were border towns that ſtood in the other tribes, that had their lots next to Zebuluns, and but twelve of them onelyonly were belonging to the tribe of Zebulun.
Verſ. 18. And their border was toward Jezreel, &c.] Becauſe Iſſachars portion lay between Benjamins and Zebuluns, whoſe borders have been already deſcribed (and ſo conſequently Iſſachars alſo) therefore the line of their borders is not here deſcribed as in the other tribes, but onelyonly the principal towns and cities are named, firſt, thoſe that ſtood in the ſouth border, verſ. 18, 19. ſecondly, thoſe in the weſt, verſ. 20. and thirdly, thoſe in the north, ver. 21, 22. Now this portion ſet apart for Iſſachar being in a fat and fruitfull ſoil, that was fulfilled which Jacob foretold, Gen. 49.14. And he ſaw that reſt was good, and the land that it was pleaſant, and bowed his ſhoulders to bear, and became a ſervant unto tribute: and Moſes, Deut. 32.18.
Verſ. 24. And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Aſher, &c. Even here alſo the hand of God is ſtill obſervable in his ordering the lots. Hitherto the lots had come out onelyonly for thoſe tribes that were deſcended of Jacobs two wives Leah and Rachel, and the tribe of Gad, who was the eldeſt of Jacobs ſonnes by Zilpah Leahs handmaid, had already received their inheritance without Jordan, upon ſpeciall ſuit made unto Moſes, & ſo now the next lot came out for the tribe of Aſher, who was alſo the ſonne of Zilpah, the handmaid of Leah Jacobs firſt wife, and therefore preferred before the two tribes of Dan and Naphtali, that were deſcended of Bilhah the handmaid of Rachel, his ſecond wife.
Verſ. 25. And their border was Helkath, &c.] The cities that are firſt here mentioned ſtood on the northweſt border, which is drawn all along the coaſt of the midland ſea, as far as to mount Carmel weſtward, that is, to the weſt ſide of mount Carmel and Shihor-libnah; and ſo here the line turneth eaſtward, verſ. 27. and makes the ſouth bounds of this tribes portion, and then fetcheth a compaſſe northward again, like to the bending of a bow, till it comes to Zidon on the north end of the ſea coaſt, & then turneth ſouthward again as far as Tyre, &c. Now by the mention that is here made of mount Carmel in the lot of this tribe, we may ſee how the propheſie of Jacob concerning this tribe was folly accompliſhed, Gen. 49.20. Out of Aſher his bread ſhall be fat, and he ſhall yield royall dainties: for mount Carmel and the land about it was a fruitfull ſoil, and had many mines in it, Iſa. 39.9. Sharon is like a wilderneſſe, and Baſhan and Carmel ſhake off their fruits: and Iſa. 35.2. It ſhall bloſſome abundantly, and rejoyce even with joy and ſinging; the glory of Lebanon ſhall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon. See alſo, Deut. 33.24, 25. And of Aſher he ſaid, Let Aſher be bleſſed with children, let him be acceptable to his brethren, and let him dip his foot in oyl. Thy ſhoes ſhall be iron and braſſe, and as thy dayes ſo ſhall thy ſtrength be.
Verſ. 27. And goeth out to Cabul on the left hand.] See the note upon verſ. 30.
Verſ. 29. And the out-goings thereof are at the ſea, from the coast to Achzib,] That is, all the coaſt from the ſea even unto Achzib.
Verſ: 30. Ʋmmah alſo and Aphek, and Rehob; twenty and two cities with their villages.] That is, Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob were cities of note in the portion of Aſher, though not before mentioned in deſcribing the borders of their lot. So that in all the cities here named belonging to the tribe of Aſher are twenty and two. Indeed he that reckons all the names of places before mentioned ſhall find them to be twenty and three; but to this it is anſwered by ſome, that Cabul mentioned verſ. 27. was not a city, but a part of the countrey which Solomon gave unto Hiram, and becauſe of the cenſure which was then by him paſſed upon it, was called Cabul, 1. Kings 9.13. And he ſaid, What cities are theſe which thou hast given me my brother? and he called them the land of Cabul unto this day. And again others ſay, that ſome one of the bordering cities before named belonged not to Aſher, but to ſome of the neighbouring tribes.
Verſ. 33. And their coast was from Heleph, &c.] This is the eaſt border of the tribe of Naphtali, beginning at theſe towns which ſtood ſomewhat more northerly then the fountains of Jordan; and ſo Iordan, even as farre as the lake of Genezereth, was the utmoſt ſouthernly end of the eaſtern border. Thus Naphtalies land lay along by the banks of Iordan in a large extent, and ſo Iacobs propheſie was fulfilled, Gen. 49.21. Naphtali is a hind let looſe: and that of Moſes, Deut. 33.23. And of Naphtali he ſaid, O Naphtali ſatisfied with favour, and full with the bleſſings of the Lord, poſſeſſe thou the weſt and the ſouth.
Verſ. 34. Then the coaſt turneth weſtward to Aznoth-tabor &c.] Here now the ſouth border of this tribes portion is deſcribed, to wit, that it turned from Iordan weſtward; firſt to Aznoth-tabor, and thence to Hukkok and ſo went on till it came to have, as it follows in the next words. Zebulun on the ſouth ſide, and Aſher on the weſt ſide. And indeed, this laſt clauſe ſeems to have reference to that propheſie of Moſes, before mentioned, concerning this tribe, Deut. 33.23. Poſſeſſe thou the west and the ſouth: for however it is noted before upon that place (as the opinion of ſome Expoſitours) that thereby might be ſignified, that the lot of their inheritance ſhould be in the ſouthweſt part of the land, yet it being ſo evident here that this tribe had their inheritance in the utmoſt northeaſt part of the land, the meaning of that clauſe, poſſeſſe thou the weſt and the ſouth, muſt needs be this, that however this tribes lot was to be ſeated in the furtheſt northeaſt corner of the kingdome, yet it ſhould reach forth ſo far both weſtward and ſouthward, that they ſhould enjoy all the benefits both of the weſtern and ſouthern parts, and the rather by their commerce with thoſe other tribes upon whom they bordered.
And reacheth to Zebulun on the ſouthſide, and unto Aſher on the weſtſide, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the ſun-riſing.] It may ſeem ſtrange that this tribe ſhould be ſaid to border upon Iudah: but either the river of Iordan belonged peculiarly to Iudah, as a royalty given them of God above all the other tribes, in regard whereof Naphtali is ſaid to border upon Iudah in Iordan; or elſe this is added, to imply the convenient ſituation of this tribes portion, by reaſon it lay along by the banks of Iordan in a large extent. For by this means though this tribe were ſeated in the uttermoſt north part of the kingdome, yet they might by the river have commerce with the other tribes as farre as Iudah, between whom and Naphtali many other tribes were ſeated; and ſo being the utmoſt north tribe, might in that ſenſe be ſaid to border upon Iudah, who were ſeated in the utmoſt ſouth parts of the kingdome.
Verſ. 35. And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer and Hammath, Rakkath, and Cinnereth.] Hammath was a city ſtanding in the utmoſt north-end of Canaan, whence the length of the land is ordinarily deſcribed to be from the entrance of Hamath to the river of Egypt, 1. Kings 8.65. See Num. 13.22. and Cinnereth was a city in the eaſtern parts; whence the lake, ſo often mentioned in Scripture, was called the lake of Genezereth.
Verſ. 38. Nineteen cities with their villages.] For ſome of them mentioned before in drawing the border of their lot ſtood happely in the portion of the bordering tribes.
Verſ. 40. And the ſeventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan.] Though this tribes lot was not wholly taken out of that which was given to Judah, as Simeons was, yet that a part of it was, is manifeſt by ſome of the cities mentioned here, that chap. 15. are numbered amongſt thoſe that were at firſt in Judahs portion; it was compaſſed with the ſea; and the borders of the other tribes formerly deſcribed, and ſo the borders of this tribe are here omitted.
Verſ. 41. And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eſhtaol, &c.] In this Zorah Samſon was born, Judges 13.2. and between Zorah and Eſhtaol he was buried.
Verſ. 43. And Elon, and Timnathah, &c.] Whence Samſon took a wife, Judges 14.1.
Verſ. 47. Therefore the children of Dan went up to fight againſt Leſhem, &c.] Or Laiſh. The ſtory we have Judges 18. This then happened after Joſhuas death, but here it is mentioned, leſt it ſhould ſeem ſtrange how the Danites came to inhabite the north parts of the land, when their lot fell to them in the ſouth parts, even cloſe by Judahs portion; the reaſon was, becauſe being not able to drive out the Philiſtines out of their land, they were ſtreightned for room, & ſo went out and took Laiſh, a city that was in Naphtalies lot, though then in the Zidonians poſſeſſion, and tranſplanted a Colony thither, calling it Dan from their father Dan, the ſonne of Jacob: it ſtood almoſt in the furtheſt north part of the land, Judges 20.1. The congregation was gathered together as one wan from Dan to Beerſheba.
Verſ. 50. According to the word of the Lord they gave him the citie he asked, even Timnath-ſerah in mount Ephraim, &c.] To wit, the word of the Lord which he ſpake to Moſes, not onelyonly concerning Caleb, but concerning Joſhua (for why indeed ſhould he be left out?) ſee Ioſh. 14.7. to wit, that he ſhould chuſe a peculiar portion to himſelf where he would: yet it may be meant alſo of ſome direction given him by Eleazar the prieſt upon his inquiry of God for him. However herein, firſt, was the modeſty of Ioſhua remarkable, that he was content to ſtay till all the tribes had their portion ere there was any motion made of that which by way of ſpeciall Prerogative was to be conferred upon him: ſecondly, That he was content to receive what God had promiſed him, as by way of gift from the people, he asked, and they gave him the city he asked: thirdly, That whereas he might have choſen the faireſt and goodlieſt city in all their tribes, he choſe his ſeat in a mountainous countrey, nothing ſo pleaſant and delightfull as many other places were, yea, and it ſeems a city that was ruinated, ſo that he was fain to build it ere he dwelt in it, for ſo it follows in the next words, and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
CHAP. XX.
Verſ. 2. APpoint out for you cities of refuge, &c.] Concerning theſe cities of refuge, ſee the notes, Numb. 35.6. and 24, &c.
Verſ. 6. And he ſhall dwell in that city, untill he ſtand before the congregation for judgement, and untill the death of the high prieſt, &c.] That is, untill he be fetched thence to the place where the fact was done, that it may be there tryed whether it were done wittingly or unwittingly (ſo long he was to abide there however) or untill the death of the high Prieſt, if it were found that he did it unwittingly; for then he was to be ſent back to the city of refuge and to be kept there till the high prieſt dyed. Concerning the myſticall reaſon of the man-ſlayers ſtaying in the city of refuge till the death of the high prieſt, ſee the note upon Num. 35.25. But to this ſome alſo do adde a literall reaſon, to wit, that hereby was implyed how hainous a fault it was to ſhed the bloud of a man, and how diſpleaſing to God, in that the man that was but unwittingly defiled with the ſhedding of bloud muſt be thus ſhut up, leſt he ſhould happen to come into the ſight of him, who did as it were repreſent Gods perſon amongſt them, to wit, the high prieſt, nor could be ſuffered to ſtirre from thence till he was dead.
Verſ. 8. And on the other ſide Jordan by Jericho eastward, they aſſigned Bezer, &c.] That is, they confirmed and ratified theſe to be cities of refuge without Jordan, which Moſes himſelf had formerly choſen and ſet apart for that uſe. See Deut. 4.41, 42, 43.