_A.M. 2559. B.C. 1445._ God informs Joshua what parts of the land were yet unconquered, and orders him to divide what was conquered, Joshua 13:1. A repetition of the division made by Moses, first, in general, Joshua 13:8; then in particular: the lot of Reuben, Joshua 13:15; of Gad, Joshua 13:24; of... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now Joshua was old_ To what age Joshua was advanced we cannot determine, because we do not know how old he was when the Israelites came out of Egypt. Some think he was three and forty at that time, and then he was fourscore and three when they came into Canaan. And now, it may be gathered from prob... [ Continue Reading ]
_This is the land that yet remaineth_ Unconquered by thee, and to be conquered by the Israelites, if they behave themselves aright. _All Geshuri_ A people in the north-east of Canaan, as the Philistines were on the south-west. _Which is counted to the Canaanite_ That is, which, though now possessed... [ Continue Reading ]
_From the south_ That is, from those southern parts of the sea- coast now possessed by the Philistines, all the more northern parts of the sea-coast being yet inhabited by the Canaanites, almost as far as Sidon. _The Amorites_ The Amorites were a very strong and numerous people, and we find them dis... [ Continue Reading ]
_Them will I drive out_ Whatever becomes of us, however we may be laid aside as broken vessels, God will do his work in his own time. I will do it _by my word;_ so the Chaldee here, as in many other places: by the eternal Word, the captain of my host. But the promise of driving them out from before... [ Continue Reading ]
_Now, therefore, divide this land_ Both that which was conquered and that which remained unconquered was to be divided, that every tribe might know what belonged to them by God's gift, and be encouraged to attempt the conquest of it when they were able; might be preserved from entering into any cove... [ Continue Reading ]
_With whom_ That is, with the other half of the tribe before mentioned. _Which Moses gave them_ By my command, and therefore do not thou disturb them in their possessions, but proceed to divide the other possessions to the rest. With this verse end the words of God to Joshua, begun Joshua 13:1; and... [ Continue Reading ]
_The city that is in the midst of the river_ Some interpreters render this clause, _The city in the midst of the valley;_ judging that, as Arnon was but a small brook, it could hardly have a city, or an island large enough for a city to be built on, in the midst of it. But certainly a city might be... [ Continue Reading ]
_To the tribe of Levi he_ Namely, Moses; _gave none inheritance_ That is, none in the land beyond Jordan, where yet a considerable part of the Levites were to have their settled abode. This is mentioned as the reason both why Moses gave all that land to the Reubenites, and Gadites, and Manassites, a... [ Continue Reading ]
_Moses gave_, &c. Having informed us in general what Moses gave to the two tribes and a half, the sacred historian proceeds to set down in particular what share each of them had in this country. _According to their families_ Dividing the inheritance into as many parts as they had families. But this... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the mount of the valley_ In the mount which overlooked the great plain before mentioned, or which bordered upon the valley, a mount which, it seems, was then famous among the Israelites; whether that where Moses was buried, which was near to Beth-peor, or some other.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Cities of the plain_ Opposed to the cities of the mountain or the valley. _All the kingdom of Sihon_ A great part of it; in which sense we read of all Judea, and all the region round about Jordan, Matthew 3:5; and all Galilee, Matthew 4:23. _Whom Moses smote_ Not in the same time or battle, as appe... [ Continue Reading ]
_Were slain by them_ This was recorded before, (Numbers 31:8,) and is here repeated, because the defeating of Balaam's purpose to curse Israel, and the turning that curse into a blessing, was such an instance of the power and goodness of God, as was fit to be had in everlasting rememberance.... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the cities of Gilead_ All the cities of eminence; all the cities properly so called, which lay in that part of Gilead; and thus what is here assured may well agree with Joshua 13:31, where half the country of Gilead is said to be given to the Manassites, for there is no mention of any cities be... [ Continue Reading ]
_Unto the half-tribe of Manasseh_ Not that they desired it, as Reuben and Gad did, (Numbers 32:1,) but partly as a recompense to Machir the Manassite, for his valiant acts against Og, and partly because the country was too large for the two tribes of Reuben and Gad.... [ Continue Reading ]
_All the towns of Jair_ Who, though of the tribe of Judah, by the father, (1 Chronicles 2:21,) yet is called the son of Manasseh, (Numbers 32:41,) because he married a daughter of Manasseh, and wholly associated himself with those valiant Manassites; and with their help took sixty cities or great to... [ Continue Reading ]
_Children of Machir_ Whom before he called the children of Manasseh, he now calls the children of Machir, because Machir was the most eminent, and, as it may seem, the only surviving son of Manasseh, Numbers 26:29; 1 Chronicles 7:14.... [ Continue Reading ]