HIS BIRTHRIGHT WAS GIVEN ... - In particular, the right of the first-born to a double inheritance Deuteronomy 21:17 was conferred on Joseph, both by the expressed will of Jacob Genesis 48:22 and in the actual partition of Canaan Josh. 16–17. But though the birthright, as respecting its material priv... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SONS OF JOEL - The line of succession here given must be broken by one great gap or several smaller ones, since nine generations before Tiglath-pileser would carry us back no further than the reign of Rehoboam.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE INHABITED - i. e. Reuben. Eastward the Reubenites inhabited as far as the commencement of the great Syrian Desert, which extended all the way from the river Euphrates to their borders.... [ Continue Reading ]
The “Hagarites” or “Hagarenes” are generally regarded as descendants of Hagar, and a distinct branch of the Ishmaelites 1 Chronicles 27:30; Psalms 83:6. They appear to have been one of the most wealthy 1 Chronicles 5:21 and widely-spread tribes of the Syrian Desert, being found on the side of the Eu... [ Continue Reading ]
From this passage and from the subsequent account of the Manassites 1 Chronicles 5:23, the Gadites extended themselves to the north at the expense of their brethren, gradually occupying a considerable portion of the tract originally allotted to the “half tribe.”... [ Continue Reading ]
The writer refers here to two registrations, one made under the authority of Jeroboam II when he was king and Israel flourishing, the other made under the authority of Jotham, king of Judah, during the troublous time which followed on the great invasion of Tiglath-pileser. There is nothing surprisin... [ Continue Reading ]
Jetur no doubt gave his name to the important tribe of the Ituraeans who inhabited the region southwest of the Damascene plain, between Gaulonitis (Jaulan) and the Ledjah. This tribe was noted for its thievish habits, and was regarded as savage and warlike.... [ Continue Reading ]
“Baal-Hermon,” “Senir” Deuteronomy 3:9, and “Mount Hermon,” are here not so much three names of the one great snow-clad eminence in which the Anti-Lebanon terminates toward the south, as three parts of the mountain - perhaps the “three summits” in which it terminates.... [ Continue Reading ]
“Habor” here seems to be a city or a district, and not a river, as in marginal reference There is some reason to believe that districts among the Assyrians were occasionally named from streams. Hara is probably the same as “Haran” Genesis 11:31; 2 Kings 19:12; Ezekiel 27:23, being a softening down... [ Continue Reading ]