Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Joshua · Chapter 19 – Chapter 20
CHAP. XIX.
THE second lot here is shewed to have been of the children of Simeon, and V. 1, 2, 3, 4, &c.this was within the lot of Iudah, which had too much. Thus the prophesie of Iacob was verified, I will sealter them in Iacob and divide them in Israel Calvin. Gen 49. 7.Wherefore it was not without a singular providence, that the first dividers were suffered to erre so farre as to make the part of Judah so much more, then would suffice for them, and the desire of doing according to equity, appeared in the Princes set over the division, in that they so readily yeelded to correct this errour being manifested, and of the men of Judah, that they withstood it not, having already the possession, but readily yeelded a part to their Brethren, necessity requiring it, for so much as the Land remaining would not otherwise have sufficed for the rest of the Tribes. The Rabbins Rabbins.say, that the men of Judah tooke it ill, that Simeon had so many of their Cities, and therefore in Davids time they were againe expelled, which they gather from 1 Chron. 4. 31. where it is said, they dwelt in these Cities, till Davids time. But it is not said that then they were driven out, neither would it have stood with Davids piety herein to have gone against Gods decree. Whereas their inheritance is said to be within the inheritance of Judah, the vulgar Latine hath it in the midst of the inheritance. But it was rather in their confines, for Beershebah here first named was furthest south, for which cause when the length of the land is set forth by the extreme parts, it is commonly said, from Dan to Beershebah. Beershebah and Shebah, which may seem to be two, V. 2.are but one City, named by both these names, otherwise they were not 13 only, as they are summed v. 6. but 14. Wherefore 1 Chron. 4. 28. when the Cities of the Simeonites are counted over again, Beershebah onelyonly is named. Of these Cities of the Simeonites, there are two numerations. First, of 13. to v. 6. Secondly, V. 7.of foure, v. 7. Which are thus distinguished from the other, because those had wals, but these not, as may be gathered from 1 Chron. 4. 32. where V. 8. V. 10.they are called foreign villages. And all this lot is said to have lyen south. The third lot was of Zabulun, who came of the same Mother Leah, with Issachar, and was the yonger brother, yet here he is placed in his possession before him. Of this Tribe Jacob had said before, that hee should dwell at the haven Gen. …9. 13.of the Sea, and towards Sidon, and accordingly here it is said, their border went up towards the Sea, v. 11. and reached to the river, which is before Jokneam. Which is thought to be towards the border of the Sidonians, and the Rivers Masius.name is by Geographers, called Pagis or Belus, having sand, of which glasse was made. But this lot could not goe close up to the Sea, but neare it, because part of Asher lay betweene, but it is held to have extended to the Sea of Gennesareth. For the Cities of this Tribe, they are summed up 12, but it V. 15.is hard to determine which they were, because 16 or 17 are named, out of which the rest must be cast, as to which this lot reached onelyonly, but included them not.
The fourth lot was of Issachar, whose Cities are said to be 16, but no discription V. 17, 18.of this lot is made by the quarters of the World, happily because it lay betweene Zabulun and Manasseh. Iezreel the first City here named is by Adricomius placed in Manasseh, because Ch. 17. 16. it is mentioned in describing Adricomius.that lot, but as was there shewed, it is not spoken as lying therein, but onelyonly very neare it. In Jezreel the Kings of Israel afterwards dwelt sometime, 1 King. 21. 1. Although in Samaria was their chiefe seat. Thabor here ascribed to Issacha…, is said to be in Zabulun, 1 Chron. 6. 77. wherefore it seemeth to have been betweene them both; one Tribe holding one part, and another the other part. Bethshemesh is also ascribed to Judah, Ch. 21. 16. but it was another City of the same name. The Cities here named seemed not to be all, that fell to Issachar, for Dabereth, and Jaramoth are also ascribed to Issachar Ch. 21. 18. and Avem; 1 Chron. 6. 73. But Jaramoth is supposed by some to be the same with Ramoth; and Avem-Engannim.
The fift lot was of Asher, consisting of 22 Cities, this lot lay furthest northward V. 24.of all others to the sea; and southward extended to Manasseh, as was touched, Ch. 17. 10. It is described first by the west which way it reached to V. 26.Carmel, and to Sihor-Libnah, this Carmel was a mountain by the Sea, and not the City Carmel before ascribed to Judah of which mention is made 1 Sam. 25. 2. Nabal had possessions there. Sihor-Libnah, the Septuagint call Sihor & Lab…n…h, and some contend that they were two Cities; because Sihor signifieth black, and Libnah white. Many hold it to be one City, otherwise called Ptolemais. Secondly, this lot is described by the east, and turneth towards V. 27.the Sun rising to Bethdagon, that is, the house of Dagon, the idoll of the Philistims, which had the name from a fish; it had the face of a young man, but downward it was like a Fish. Thirdly, by the north, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jephtahel towards the north, &c. Of Jephtahel see before, v. 14. Here also Chabul on the left hand setteth forth the north.
Hamon here mentioned to Asher is said to belong to Nephtali, 1 Chron. 6. 76. V. 28.and Rahab, v 75. but they were other Cities of the same name. Kana, was Kana the great in Asher, for there was another Kana in Zebulun, called the lesser, where Christ turned water into wine. For the number of 22 Cities, it is to be thought that they were not all which Issachar had, for Abdon is also ascribed V. 30.to Issachar. Ch. 21. 30.
The sixth lot was of Nephtali, and here the measure beginneth againe eastward V. 32, 33.at Iordan, and then it proceedeth westward, and southward. On the east were five Cities, Heleph, Allon, Adami-Nek…h, Iabneel, and Lakum: So Masius, Magallianus, and Adricomius. But Bonfrerius will have them to lye in the north, and to reach to Iordan on the east; because their goings out are said to be at Iordan, and the north should otherwise alone bee left undescribed. 2. It proceedeth to the west and south, Zebulun lying on the south, and Asher on the V. 34. V. 38.west, and Iudah. Their Cities were 19, but all the names in this description are 23; but some either were no Cities, but other places of note, or else foure of them were but Villages.
The seventh Lot was of Dan, described only by his Cities, wherof some are famous; V. 40. Judg. 18. 2 V. 41, 43.as, Zorah & Eshtaol, where Samson lived, and Timnathah, from whence Samson took a wise of the Philistims, & Ekron held by the Philistims being one of their five Lordships, which foure were within the lot of Judah, but taken out for the Danites. Gath-rimmon also, if hereby Gath be meant, as Masius thinketh, was another V. 45.Lordship of the Philistims. Lastly, Iapho, since called Ioppe, is a Sea town of great note to this day, for here they arrive, that travaile from hence to the holy Land, so that this lot lay neare the Sea, and was much disquieted by the Philistims, their neare neighbours, who held much of their Land from them.
And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them; therefore they went V. 47.to fight against Leshem, &c. The words here are thus rendred in the Vulgar Latine, & ipso fine concluditur, this being referred to Iapho before spoken of. But Hebr. it is, The coast of the children of Dan went out from them; that is, saith Masius, they going out and conquering further then this their lot, as Masius. Vatablus.is immediately shewed. Ʋatablus, a part of the lot assigned to them was held from them; therefore they went out and fought against Leshem. And this is rather to be approved.
Leshem, saith Lyra, according to the Hebrews, was the same with Laish, Judg. Lyra.18. where the taking of it, and the new naming of it Dan, is set forth, but here it is spoken of by anticipation, as that of Calebs taking Hebron before, Ch. 15.
Joshua, after all these divisions ended, hath Timnath-Serah in mount Ephraim V. 50.given to him, as he desired; and this is said to have been done according to the Word of the Lord. But it is no where expressed that the Lord made any such order; onelyonly whereas Caleb said before, Chap. 15. Thou knowest what the Lord said to Moses concerning mee and thee in Kadesh-barnea; it may be gathered, that as Hebron was appointed then to Caleb, so it was promised, that Joshua for his constant cleaving to the Lord, should choose him a possession.
And herein the modesty of Joshua appeared, that hee distributed possessions to all the people, before that he demanded a possession for himselfe, when as hee was the Prince over all: wherein, he may be an example to other Princes and Rulers, to intend more the welfare of the people under them, then their owne private benefit; and he did notably typifie our Iesus, who neglected himselfe to inrich us with possessions in the Kingdome of Heaven. Timnath-Serah is also called Timnath-Cher…s. Iud…. 2. 9. the first is by some rendred the image of superfluity, by some, the image of corruption: The second, the image of the Sunne; Ierome saith, that Paula admired, that Ioshua, who distributed to all Hieron. Epitaph Paulae.their possessions, chose unto himselfe so rough and mountainous a place; wherby it seemeth, that he was not led by covetousnesse in this his choice, but contented himselfe to have a City in any place amongst those of his Tribe, and that not ready built, but in the ruines, for hee built a City here. This City was but six miles from Ierusalem, and was not that Timnath before mentioned in Dan, H. B. Patriarchs travailes.as some have erroneously held, saying, that it was that Timnath from whence Samson took a wife.
Here is the Epilogue of all the divisions, which is added, the more to ratifie V. 51.them, as being made by Eleazar and Ioshua, &c. before the Lord in Shiloh, that there might never more bee any contention amongst the Tribes about their bounds.
CHAP. XX.
HEre Ioshua is commanded to put in execution what was before ordained, V. 1, 2, 3, 4.Numb. 35 and Deut. 19. viz. to separate three Cities of Refuge on this side Iordan; as three had been before separated on the other side, which are named, Deut. 4. 41. Calvin gathereth from hence, because Ioshua was called upon by the Calvin.Lord, and so stimulated to doe this, before hee did it, that there was a faulty remisnesse in him about so necessary a duty for the keeping of the land from the pollution of bloud. But I thinke rather, that Ioshua who did all things at the word of the Lord, stayed onelyonly till God should appoint the time, and then hee did it with all readinesse, which was rather to bee commended then taxed in him. Moreover, it is here againe briefly repeated, who should have the benefit of fleeing to these Cities, and in what manner: all which hath been already more largely set forth and treated upon, Numb. 35. and Deut. 19. so that I shall not need to adde any more here, either for exposition, or collections, morall or mysticall, because the Reader may find these things abundantly performed there.
The three Cities appointed on this side Jordan, were, Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, Sechem in mount Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba, that is Hebron, in Judah. V. 7.The first in the north, and the last in the south part of the Land, and the middle City between them both, that in what part soever blood should be shed unawares, the manslayer might have a City of Refuge not farre off to flee unto: thus graciously the Lord provided for the protection of the unwitting offender, although in the case of bloudshed, which otherwise hee so much abhorred. Of Calebs goodnesse in yeelding his Hebron to bee one, I have already spoken upon, Chap. 18. 6, 7.