CHAPTER XV _The lot of the tribe of Judah described_, 1. _Their south border_, 2-4. _Their east border_, 5-11. _Their west border_, 12. _Caleb's conquest_, 13-15. _Promises his daughter to the person who should take_ _Kirjath-sepher_, 16. _Othniel his kinsman renders himself master of it, an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:2. _FROM THE BAY THAT LOOKETH SOUTHWARD_] These were the southern limits of the tribe of Judah, which commenced at the extremity of the lake Asphaltites or Dead Sea, and terminated at _Sihor_ or the river of Egypt, and Mediterranean Sea; though some think it extended to the _Nile_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:3. _MAALEH-ACRABBIM_] The ascent of the Mount of Scorpions, probably so called from the multitude of those animals found in that place. _KADESH-BARNEA_] This place was called _Enmishpat_, Genesis 14:7. It was on the edge of the wilderness of Paran, and about twenty-four miles from H... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:4. _TOWARD AZMON_] This was the last city they possessed toward Egypt. _THE RIVER OF EGYPT_] The most eastern branch of the river Nile. Joshua 13:3. But there is much reason to doubt whether any branch of the Nile be meant, and whether the promised land extended to that river. On th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:5. _THE EAST BORDER WAS THE SALT SEA_] The Salt Sea is the same as the Dead Sea, lake Asphaltites, c. And here it is intimated that the eastern border of the tribe of Judah extended along the Dead Sea, from its lowest extremity to the _end of_ _Jordan_, i.e., to the place where Jorda... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:6. _BETH-HOGLA_] A place between Jericho and the Dead Sea, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:21, though here serving as a frontier to the tribe of Judah. _STONE OF BOHAN_] This must have been some remarkable place, probably like the _stone of Jacob_, which afterwards bec... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:7. _THE VALLEY OF ACHOR_] Debir mentioned in this verse is unknown. The _valley of Achor_ had its name from the punishment of _Achan_. See the account, Joshua 7:24, c. _EN-SHEMESH_] The _fountain of the sun_ it was eastward of Jerusalem, on the confines of Judah and Benjamin.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:8. _THE VALLEY OF THE SON OF HINNOM_] Who Hinnom was is not known, nor why this was called _his_ valley. It was situated on the east of Jerusalem; and is often mentioned in Scripture. The image of the idol Molech appears to have been set up there; and there the idolatrous Israelites... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:9. _BAALAH, WHICH_ IS _KIRJATH-JEARIM_] This place was rendered famous in Scripture, in consequence of its being the residence of the ark, for twenty years after it was sent back by the Philistines; see 1 Samuel 5:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:10. _BETH-SHEMESH_] The _house_ or _temple of the sun_. It is evident that the _sun_ was an object of adoration among the Canaanites; and hence _fountains, hills_, c., were dedicated to him. _Beth-shemesh_ is remarkable for the slaughter of its inhabitants, in consequence of their pr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:12. _THE GREAT SEA_] The Mediterranean.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:13. _AND UNTO CALEB - HE GAVE A PART_] Joshua 14:14, c.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:14. _THE THREE SONS OF ANAK_] Joshua 14:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:15. _KIRJATH-SEPHER._] The _city of the book_. Why so named is uncertain. It was also called _Debir_, and _Kirjath-sannah_. See Joshua 15:49.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:16. _WILL I GIVE ACHSAH MY DAUGHTER_] In ancient times fathers assumed an absolute right over their children, especially in disposing of them in marriage; and it was customary for a _king_ or _great man_ to promise his daughter in marriage to him who should take a city, kill an enemy... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:18. _AS SHE CAME_] As she was now departing from the house of her father to go to that of her husband. _SHE MOVED HIM_] Othniel, to _ask of her father a field_, one on which she had set her heart, as contiguous to the patrimony already granted. _SHE LIGHTED OFF HER ASS_] ותצנח _vat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:19. _GIVE ME A BLESSING_] Do me an act of kindness. Grant me a particular request. _THOU HAST GIVEN ME A SOUTH LAND_] Which was probably dry, or very ill, watered. _GIVE ME ALSO SPRINGS OF WATER._] Let me have some fields in which there are _brooks_ or _wells_ already digged. _THE... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:24. _ZIPH_] There were two cities of this name in the tribe of Judah, that mentioned here, and another Joshua 15:55. One of these two is noted for the refuge of David when persecuted by Saul; and the attempts made by its inhabitants to deliver him into the hands of his persecutor. Se... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 28. _BEER-SHEBA_] A city, famous in the book of Genesis as the residence of the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, Genesis 22:19; Genesis 28:10; Genesis 46:1. Genesis 21:31, Genesis 21:31. It lay on the way between Canaan and Egypt, about forty miles from Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _HORMAH_] A place rendered famous by the defeat of the Hebrews by the Canaanites. See Numbers 14:45, Deuteronomy 1:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _ZIKLAG_] The Philistines seem to have kept possession of this city till the time of David, who received it from Achish, king of Gath, 1 Samuel 27:6; after which time it remained in the possession of the kings of Judah.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _ALL THE CITIES ARE TWENTY AND NINE, WITH THEIR_ _VILLAGES_] But on a careful examination we shall find _thirty-eight_; but it is supposed that nine of these are excepted; viz., _Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual, Baalah, Azem, Hormah, Ziklag,_ _Ain_, and _Rimmon_, which were afterwards given... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _ESHTAOL, AND ZOREAH_] Here Samson was buried, it being the burial-place of his fathers; see Judges 16:31. These places though first given to Judah, afterwards fell to the lot of Dan, Joshua 19:41.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _JARMUTH_] Joshua 10:3, Joshua 10:3. _ADULLAM_] Joshua 12:15, Joshua 12:15. _SOCOH_] It was near this place that David fought with and slew Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 17:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _GEDERAH_] Joshua 12:13. _FOURTEEN CITIES_] Well reckoned, we shall find _fifteen_ cities here; but probably Gederah and Gederothaim (Joshua 15:36) are the same. Joshua 15:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _LACHISH - AND EGLON_] Joshua 10:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 41. _BETH-DAGON_] The _house_ or _temple of Dagon_. This is a well known idol of the Philistines, and probably the place mentioned here was in some part of their territories; but the situation at present is unknown.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 42. _LIBNAH_] Joshua 10:29. _ETHER_] From Joshua 19:7 we learn that this city was afterwards given to the tribe of _Simeon_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 44. _KEILAH_] This town was near Hebron, and is said to have been the burying-place of the prophet Habakkuk. David obliged the Philistines to raise the siege of it; (see 1 Samuel 23:1;) but finding that its inhabitants had purposed to deliver him into the hands of Saul, who was coming in pursu... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 46. _EKRON_] One of the five Philistine lordships; Joshua 13:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 47. _ASHDOD_] Called also _Azotus_, Acts 8:40. _UNTO THE RIVER OF EGYPT_] The _Pelusiac_ branch of the Nile, or _Sihor_. But see on Joshua 15:4. _THE GREAT SEA_] The Mediterranean.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 48. _SOCOH_] See a town of this name, Joshua 15:35.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 49. _KIRJATH-SANNAH_] Joshua 15:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 51. _GOSHEN_] Joshua 10:41, Joshua 10:41. _GILOH_] The country of the traitor _Ahithophel_, 2 Samuel 15:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 53. _BETH-TAPPUAH_] The _house of the apple_ or _citron tree_. Probably a place where these grew in great abundance and perfection. _APHEKAH_] Joshua 12:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 54. _KIRJATH-ARBA_] Joshua 14:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 55. _MAON_] In a desert to which this town gave name, David took refuge for a considerable time from the persecution of Saul; and in this place Nabal the Carmelite had great possessions. See 1 Samuel 23:24-9; 1 Samuel 25:2. _CARMEL_] Not the celebrated _mount_ of that name, but a village, the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 57. _TIMNAH_] A frontier town of the Philistines; it was in this place that Samson got his wife, see Judges 14:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 58. _GEDOR_] Joshua 12:13. In this place the Alexandrian MS. of the Septuagint and the Codex Vaticanus add the eleven following towns: _Theca, and Ephratha_, (that is, Bethlehem,) _and Phagor, and Etan, and Kulon, and Tatam, and Thebes, and Karam,_ _and Galam, and Thether, and Manocho; eleven... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:60. _KIRJATH-BAAL_] The same as _Baalah_. Joshua 15:9.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:62. _THE CITY OF SALT_] Or of _Melach_. This city was somewhere in the vicinity of the lake _Asphaltites_, the waters of which are the _saltest_ perhaps in the world. The whole country abounds with _salt_: Genesis 19:25. Some suppose that it is the same as Zoar, the place to which Lo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 15:63. _THE JEBUSITES DWELL - AT JERUSALEM UNTO THIS DAY._] The whole history of Jerusalem, previously to the time of David, is encumbered with many difficulties. Sometimes it is attributed to _Judah_, sometimes to _Benjamin_, and it is probable that, being on the frontiers of both tho... [ Continue Reading ]