_THE BOUNDARIES OF THE LAND NOT YET CONQUERED: THE COUNTRIES AND CITIES BEYOND JORDAN ASSIGNED TO THE TWO TRIBES OF REUBEN AND GAD, AND THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH, ARE SPECIFIED._ _Before Christ 1445._... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 1. _NOW JOSHUA WAS OLD AND STRICKEN IN YEARS_— By assigning to Joshua the same age with Caleb, it is easy to justify what the sacred historian says; for Caleb was now eighty-five years old, ch. Joshua 14:10. Joshua, however, is commonly made to be more, for reasons drawn from the chronology o... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 2. _THIS IS THE LAND THAT YET REMAINETH; ALL THE BORDERS OF THE PHILISTINES_— i.e. The country which they kept upon the sea-coast, to the south-west of the land of Canaan. See ch. Joshua 22:10. _AND ALL GESHURI_— This name was given to a city and region situate on the north-east of the Holy L... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 3. _FROM SIHOR, WHICH IS BEFORE EGYPT_— Here the sacred historian, intending, in a particular manner, to describe the extent of the country of the Philistines, fixes its northern limits at the river Sihor, which, it is generally thought, was only the Pelusiack branch of the Nile. See on Numbe... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 4. _FROM THE SOUTH, ALL THE LAND OF THE CANAANITES_— To the south of the country of the Philistines, on the sea-coast, lay the Canaanites, properly so called, who remained still unconquered. _Mearah,_ a city unknown, towards the north, but in the territory of Sidon, was in the same class. See... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 5. _AND THE LAND OF THE GIBLITES_— This people dwelt out of the land of Canaan; their capital, named Gebal, was seated to the east of Tyre and Sidon. Ezekiel 27:9. Psalms 83:7. The _Giblites_ are named among the workmen sent by king Hiram to Solomon. See 1 Kings 5:18 and the margins of our Bi... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 6. _ALL THE INHABITANTS OF THE HILL-COUNTRY—WILL I DRIVE OUT_— God promises to expel these nations; but, upon a condition implied, that the Israelites did not render themselves unworthy this favour by their disobedience: a condition which having never been fulfilled, there is no room to wonde... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 9-12. _FROM AROER,_ &C.— These four verses specify at large the territories on the east of Jordan already occupied by the fore-mentioned two tribes and a half. See Numbers 21:24; Numbers 21:35; Numbers 32:33; Numbers 32:42.Deuteronomy 3 and the six first verses of the foregoing chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 11. _AND THE BORDER OF THE—MAACHATHITES_— The Maachathites bordered upon the Geshurites on the north of the land of Canaan, toward mount Hermon. Maacha, their capital, which fell to the half tribe of Manasseh, is the same that Ptolemy calls _Epicaeros._ The Chaldee paraphrase calls it _Aphker... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 20. _BETH-PEOR,_ &C.— See Numbers 3:5. Deuteronomy 34 : and ch. Joshua 12:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 22. _BALAAM ALSO THE SON OF BEOR, THE SOOTH-SAYER, DID THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SLAY_— Why is mention here made of Balaam? Probably, as we must suppose, because he had advised Sihon and the Midianitish princes to engage in war against the children of Israel. At least it is very certain, that he... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 29-31. _AND MOSES GAVE INHERITANCE UNTO THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH_— It does not appear that the tribe of Manasseh had desired the settlements which Moses gave to the half tribe of it on the east of Jordan, Numbers 32:1. But as it was numerous, Numbers 26:34 and had evidently much cattle, Mos... [ Continue Reading ]
_VER._ 31. _HALF OF THE CHILDREN OF MACHIR, BY THEIR FAMILIES_— Jair had the honour to be included, though of the tribe of Judah, because he had contributed to the conquest of the country, Numbers 32:41.; and was moreover great grand-son, by the grand-mother's side, of Machir, who married Hezron, of... [ Continue Reading ]