The inheritance of Simeon was taken out of the portion of Judah, which
proved on experience to be larger than the numbers of that tribe
required. The Simeonite territory is described by its towns, of which
fourteen were in the Negeb, and four others Joshua 19:7 partly in the
Negeb and partly in “the... [ Continue Reading ]
Sarid, not yet identified, was evidently a leading topographical point
on the south frontier of Zebulun. The boundary passed westward until
it touched the Kishon, near “Tell Kaimon” (Joshua 12:22 note), and
thence, turned northward, leaving Carmel, which belonged to Asher, on
its west. The territory... [ Continue Reading ]
Gittah (or Gath)- hepher, the birthplace of the prophet Jonah 2 Kings
14:25, is probably the modern village of El-Meshhad, where the tomb of
the prophet is still shown, a short way from Nazareth, on the road to
Tiberias.
REMMON-METHOAR TO NEAH - Read “and goeth out to Remmon, which
reacheth to Neah... [ Continue Reading ]
Hannathon, more properly Channathon, has been supposed by some to be
the Cana of Galilee of the New Testament, and Jiphthah-el is probably
the present “Jefat”; the “Jotapata” of Roman times, which was
so long and valiantly defended by Josephus against the legions of
Vespasian. The “Valley” is the “W... [ Continue Reading ]
TWELVE CITIES - Only five have been mentioned, and the names in the
verses preceding are apparently not names of Zebulonite cities, but
merely of points in or near the boundary line. It would therefore
appear that seven names have disappeared from the text, and perhaps
also the definition of the wes... [ Continue Reading ]
Jezreel and its famous and fertile plain are the choicest part of the
inheritance of Issachar Joshua 17:16.
SHUNEM - Here the Philistines pitched before the battle of Gilboa 1
Samuel 28:4. The place is also known as the home of Abishag 1 Kings
1:3, and in connection with Elisha 2 Kings 4:8; 2 Kings... [ Continue Reading ]
EN-GANNIM - i. e. “fountain of gardens;” also a Levitical city
Joshua 21:29, and called Ahem 1 Chronicles 6:73, the modern
“Jenin,” a place on the main road from Jerusalem to Nazareth, just
where it enters the plain of Jezreel. Many of the places enumerated in
these verses are not known. Tabor Joshu... [ Continue Reading ]
Helkath, a Levitical town Joshua 21:31, is probably Yerka, a village
about seven or eight miles north-west of Acre, in a Wady of the same
name. Alammelech was in the “Wady Melik,” which joins the Kishon
from the northeast, not far from the sea.
SHIHOR-LIBNATH - i. e. “black-white.” The two words are... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses refer to the northern portion of the territory of Asher,
on the Phoenician frontier. Some names may have dropped out of the
text, the number Joshua 19:30 not tallying with the catalogue. Ramah
still retains its ancient name, and lies about twelve miles southeast
of Tyre. Achzib is the m... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM ALLON TO ZAANANNIM - Render “from the oak forest at
Zaanannim.” From Judges 4:11 it appears that this oak or oak-forest
was near Kedesh.
ADAMI, NEKEB - Render “Adami of the Pass.” Possibly the ancient
“Deir el Ahmar” (“red cloister”), which derives its name from
the color of the soil in the ne... [ Continue Reading ]
AZNOTH-TABOR - This place (“ears of Tabor”) was no doubt in the
neighborhood of Mount Tabor - probably on the eastern slope; and
Hukkok on the western slope.
TO JUDAH UPON JORDAN - i. e. to the “Havoth-jair” Numbers 32:41,
which were on the opposite side of Jordan. Jair, from whom these towns
or vil... [ Continue Reading ]
The number of the fortified cities of Naphtali is remarkable, though
it does not tally with the catalogue. It was no doubt good policy to
protect the northern frontier by a belt of fortresses, as the south
was protected by the fenced cities of Judah. Hammath, a Levitical city
(compare Joshua 21:32;... [ Continue Reading ]
Japho (the modern Jaffa, or Yafa), elsewhere (see the margin) called
Joppa, is often mentioned in the history of the Maccabees and was, as
it still is, the leading port of access to Jerusalem both for pilgrims
and for merchandise. It is a very ancient town.... [ Continue Reading ]
The words “too little” are an insertion of the King James Version
Render rather, “the border of the children of Dan was extended.”
The Hebrew appears to mean “the children of Dan enlarged their
border because they had not room enough.”
The reason of this was that the Danites, a numerous tribe (Numb... [ Continue Reading ]
Nothing is said of any express command of God respecting the
inheritance of Joshua. But as such special portion appears to have
been promised to Caleb at the time when he and Joshua alone out of the
twelve spies remained faithful Joshua 14:6, it is probable that a like
promise was made to Joshua. Th... [ Continue Reading ]