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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J O S H U A</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XVIII.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we
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have,
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I. The setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:1">ver. 1</A>.
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II. The stirring up of the seven tribes that were yet unsettled to look
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after their lot, and the putting of them in a method for it, by Joshua,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:2-7">ver. 2-7</A>.
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III. The distributing of the land into seven lots, by certain men
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employed for that purpose,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:8,9">ver. 8, 9</A>.
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IV. The determining of these seven portions to the seven tribes yet
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unprovided for by lot,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:10">ver. 10</A>.
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V. The particular lot of the tribe of Benjamin, the borders of it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:11-20">ver. 11-20</A>.
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And the cities contained in it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:21-28">ver. 21-28</A>.
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The other six tribes we shall find well provided for in the
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<A HREF="MHC06019.HTM">next chapter</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jos18_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Tabernacle at Shiloh.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1444.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>
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1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel
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assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the
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congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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In the midst of the story of the dividing of the land comes in this
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account of the setting up of the tabernacle, which had hitherto
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continued in its old place in the centre of their camp; but now that
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three of the four squadrons that used to surround it in the wilderness
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were broken and diminished, those of Judah, Ephraim, and Reuben, by the
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removal of those tribes to their respective possessions, and that of
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Dan only remained entire, it was time to think of removing the
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tabernacle itself into a city. Many a time the priests and Levites had
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taken it down, carried it, and set it up again in the wilderness,
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according to the directions given them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+4:5-33">Num. iv. 5</A>,
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&c.); but now they
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must do it for good and all, not one of the stakes thereof must any
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more be removed, nor any of the cords thereof broken,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+33:20">Isa. xxxiii. 20</A>.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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I. The place to which the tabernacle was removed, and in which it was
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set up. It was <I>Shiloh,</I> a city in the lot of Ephraim, but lying
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close upon the lot of Benjamin. Doubtless God himself did some way or
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other direct them to this place, for he had promised to <I>choose the
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place</I> where he would make <I>his name to dwell,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+12:11">Deut. xii. 11</A>.
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It is most probable God made known his mind in this matter by the
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judgment of Urim. This place was pitched upon,
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1. Because it was in the heart of the country, nearer the centre than
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Jerusalem was, and therefore the more convenient for the meeting of all
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Israel there from the several parts of the country; it had been in the
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midst of their camp in the wilderness, and therefore must now be in the
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midst of their nation, as that which sanctified the whole, and was
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<I>the glory in the midst of them.</I> See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+46:5">Ps. xlvi. 5</A>.
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2. Because it was in the lot of that tribe of which Joshua was, who was
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now their chief magistrate, and it would be both for his honour and
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convenience and for the advantage of the country to have it near him.
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The testimony of Israel and the thrones of judgment do well together,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+122:4,5">Ps. cxxii. 4, 5</A>.
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3. Some think there was an eye to the name of the place, <I>Shiloh</I>
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being the name by which the Messiah was known in dying Jacob's prophecy
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:10">Gen. xlix. 10</A>),
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which prophecy, no doubt, was well known among the Jews; the setting up
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of the tabernacle in Shiloh gave them a hint that in that Shiloh whom
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Jacob spoke of all the ordinances of this worldly sanctuary should have
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their accomplishment in a greater and more perfect tabernacle,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+9:1,11">Heb. ix. 1, 11</A>.
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And Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the place where the tabernacle was set up
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was therefore called <I>Shiloh,</I> because of the peaceableness of the
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land at this time; as afterwards in Salem was his temple, which also
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signifies <I>peaceable.</I></P>
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<P>
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II. The solemn manner of doing it: <I>The whole congregation assembled
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together</I> to attend the solemnity, to do honour to the ark of God,
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as the token of his presence, and to bid it welcome to its settlement.
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Every Israelite was interested in it, and therefore all testified their
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joy and satisfaction upon this occasion. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Sa+6:15">2 Sam. vi. 15</A>.
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It is probable those tribes that were yet encamped when the tabernacle
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was removed to Shiloh decamped from Gilgal and pitched about Shiloh,
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for every true Israelite will desire to fix where God's tabernacle
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fixed. Mention is made, on this occasion, of the land being subdued
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before them, to intimate that the country, hereabouts at least, being
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thoroughly reduced, they met with no opposition, nor were they
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apprehensive of any danger, but thought it time to make this grateful
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acknowledgment of God's goodness to them in the constant series of
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successes with which he had blessed them. It was a good presage of a
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comfortable settlement to themselves in Canaan, when their first care
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was to see the ark well settled as soon as they had a safe place ready
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to settle it in. Here the ark continued about 300 years, till the sins
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of Eli's house forfeited the ark, lost it and ruined Shiloh, and its
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ruins were long after made use of as warnings to Jerusalem. <I>Go, see
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what I did to Shiloh,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+7:12,Ps+78:60">Jer. vii. 12; Ps. lxxviii. 60</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Jos18_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Joshua Reproves the Unsettled Tribes.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1444.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>
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2 And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes,
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which had not yet received their inheritance.
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3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long <I>are</I>
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ye slack to go to possess the land, which the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of your
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fathers hath given you?
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4 Give out from among you three men for <I>each</I> tribe: and I
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will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and
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describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall
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come <I>again</I> to me.
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5 And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide
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in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide
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in their coasts on the north.
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6 Ye shall therefore describe the land <I>into</I> seven parts, and
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bring <I>the description</I> hither to me, that I may cast lots for
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you here before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> our God.
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7 But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>is</I> their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half
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the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond
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Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> gave
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them.
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8 And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them
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that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the
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land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast
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lots for you before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> in Shiloh.
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9 And the men went and passed through the land, and described
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it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came <I>again</I> to
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Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
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10 And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>: and
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there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel
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according to their divisions.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Here,
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I. Joshua reproves those tribes which were yet unsettled that they did
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not bestir themselves to gain a settlement in the land which God had
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given them. Seven tribes were yet unprovided for, though sure of an
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inheritance, yet uncertain where it should be, and it seems in no great
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care about it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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And with them Joshua reasons
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>):
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<I>How long are you slack?</I>
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1. They were too well pleased with their present condition, liked well
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enough to live in a body together, the more the merrier, and, like the
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Babel-builders, had no mind to be scattered abroad and break good
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company. The spoil of the cities they had taken served them to live
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plentifully upon for the present, and they banished the thoughts of
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time to come. Perhaps the tribes of Judah and Joseph, who had already
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received their inheritance in the countries next adjoining, were
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generous in entertaining their brethren who were yet unprovided for, so
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that they went from one good house to another among their friends, with
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which, instead of grudging that they were postponed, they were so well
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pleased that they cared not for going to houses of their own.
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2. They were slothful and dilatory. It may be they wished the thing
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done, but had not spirit to stir in it, or move towards the doing of
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it, though it was so much for their own advantage; like the sluggard,
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that <I>hides his hand in his bosom, and it grieves him to bring it to
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his mouth again.</I> The countries that remained to be divided lay at a
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distance, and some parts of them in the hands of the Canaanites. If
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they go to take possession of them, the cities must be rebuilt or
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repaired, they must drive their flocks and herds a great way, and carry
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their wives and children to strange places, and this will not be done
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without care and pains, and breaking through some hardships; thus <I>he
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that observes the wind shall not sow, and he that regards the clouds
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shall not reap,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+11:4">Eccl. xi. 4</A>.
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Note, Many are diverted from real duties, and debarred from real
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comforts, by seeming difficulties. God by his grace has given us a
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title to a good land, the heavenly Canaan, but we are <I>slack to take
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possession;</I> we enter not into that rest, as we might by faith, and
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hope, and holy joy; we live not in heaven, as we might by setting our
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affections on things above and having our conversation there. How long
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shall it be thus with us? How long shall we thus stand in our own
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light, and <I>forsake our own mercies</I> for lying vanities? Joshua
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was sensible of the inconveniences of this delay, that, while they
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neglected to take possession of the land that was conquered, the
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Canaanites were recovering strength and spirit, and fortifying
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themselves in the places that were yet in their hands, which would make
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the total expulsion of them the more difficult. They would lose their
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advantages by not following their blow; and therefore, <I>as an eagle
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stirreth up her nest,</I> so Joshua stirs them up to take possession of
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their lot. He is ready to do his part, if they will but do theirs.</P>
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<P>
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II. He puts them in a way to settle themselves.</P>
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<P>
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1. The land that remained must be surveyed, an account taken of the
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cities, and the territories belonging to them,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>.
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These must be divided into seven equal parts, as near as they could
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guess at their true value, which they must have an eye to, and not
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merely to the number of the cities and extent of the country. Judah is
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fixed on the south and Joseph on the north of Shiloh, to protect the
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tabernacle
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:5"><I>v.</I> 5</A>),
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and therefore they need not describe their country, but those countries
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only that were yet undisposed of. He gives a reason
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>)
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why they must divide it into seven parts only, because the Levites were
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to have no temporal estate (as we say), but their benefices only, which
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were entailed upon their families: <I>The priesthood of the Lord is
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their inheritance,</I> and a very honourable, comfortable, plentiful
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inheritance it was. Gad and Reuben, with half of the tribe of Manasseh,
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were already fixed, and needed not to have any further care taken of
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them. Now,
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(1.) The surveyors were three men out of each of the seven tribes that
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were to be provided for
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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one-and-twenty in all, who perhaps for greater expedition, because they
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had already lost time, divided themselves into three companies, one of
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each tribe in each company, and took each their district to survey. The
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matter was thus referred equally, that there might be neither any
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partiality used in making up the seven lots, nor any shadow of
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suspicion given, but all might be satisfied that they had right done
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them.
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(2.) The survey was accordingly made, and brought in to Joshua,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:8,9"><I>v.</I> 8, 9</A>.
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Josephus says it was seven months in the doing. And we must in it
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observe,
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[1.] The faith and courage of the persons employed: abundance of
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Canaanites remained in the land, and all raging against Israel, <I>as a
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bear robbed of her whelps;</I> the business of these surveyors would
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soon be known, and what could they expect but to be way-laid, and have
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their brains knocked out by the fierce observers? But in obedience to
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Joshua's command, and in dependence upon God's power, they thus put
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their lives in their hands to serve their country.
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[2.] The good providence of God in protecting them from the many deaths
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they were exposed to, and bringing them all safely again to the host at
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Shiloh. When we are in the way of our duty we are under the special
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protection of the Almighty.</P>
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<P>
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2. When it was surveyed, and reduced to seven lots, then Joshua would,
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by appeal to God, and direction from him, determine which of these lots
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should belong to each tribe
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>That I may cast lots for you here</I> at the tabernacle (because it
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was a sacred transaction) <I>before the Lord our God,</I> to whom each
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tribe must have an eye, with thankfulness for the conveniences and
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submission to the inconveniences of their allotment. What we have in
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the world we must acknowledge God's property in, and dispose of it as
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before him, with justice, and charity, and dependence upon Providence.
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The heavenly Canaan is described to us in a book, the book of the
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scriptures, and there are in it mansions and portions sufficient for
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all God's spiritual Israel. Christ is our Joshua that divides it to
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us. On him we must attend, and to him we must apply for an inheritance
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with the saints in light. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:2,3">John xvii. 2, 3</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Jos18_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_24"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_25"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_26"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_27"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos18_28"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Lot of Benjamin.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1444.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>
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11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up
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according to their families: and the coast of their lot came
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forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
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12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the
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border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went
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up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof
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were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
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13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side
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of Luz, which <I>is</I> Beth-el, southward; and the border descended to
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Ataroth-adar, near the hill that <I>lieth</I> on the south side of the
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nether Beth-horon.
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14 And the border was drawn <I>thence,</I> and compassed the corner
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of the sea southward, from the hill that <I>lieth</I> before Beth-horon
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southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjath-baal, which
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<I>is</I> Kirjath-jearim, a city of the children of Judah: this <I>was</I>
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the west quarter.
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15 And the south quarter <I>was</I> from the end of Kirjath-jearim,
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and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of
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waters of Nephtoah:
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16 And the border came down to the end of the mountain that
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<I>lieth</I> before the valley of the son of Hinnom, <I>and</I> which <I>is</I>
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in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the
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valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and
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descended to En-rogel,
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17 And was drawn from the north, and went forth to En-shemesh,
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and went forth toward Geliloth, which <I>is</I> over against the going
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up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of
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Reuben,
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18 And passed along toward the side over against Arabah
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northward, and went down unto Arabah:
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19 And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah
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northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay
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of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this <I>was</I> the south
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coast.
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20 And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This <I>was</I>
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the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts
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thereof round about, according to their families.
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21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin
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according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the
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valley of Keziz,
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22 And Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el,
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23 And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
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24 And Chephar-haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities
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with their villages:
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25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
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26 And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
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27 And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
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28 And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which <I>is</I> Jerusalem, Gibeath,
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<I>and</I> Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This <I>is</I> the
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inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their
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families.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here the lot of the tribe of Benjamin, which Providence cast
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next to Joseph on the one hand, because Benjamin was own and only
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brother to Joseph, and was little Benjamin
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+68:27">Ps. lxviii. 27</A>),
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that needed the protection of great Joseph, and yet had a better
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protector, for <I>the Lord shall cover him all the day long,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:12">Deut. xxxiii. 12</A>.
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And it was next to Judah on the other hand, that this tribe might
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hereafter unite with Judah in an adherence to the throne of David and
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the temple at Jerusalem. Here we have,
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1. The exact borders and limits of this tribe, which we need not be
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exact in the explication of. As it had Judah on the south and Joseph on
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the north, so it had Jordan on the east and Dan on the west. The
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western border is said to <I>compass the corner of the sea
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southward</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+18:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
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whereas no part of the lot of this tribe came near to the great sea.
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Bishop Patrick thinks the meaning is that it ran along in a parallel
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line to the great sea, though at a distance. Dr. Fuller suggests that
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since it is not called <I>the great sea,</I> but only <I>the sea,</I>
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which often signifies any lake or mere, it may be meant of the pool of
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|
Gibeon, which may be called <I>a corner</I> or <I>canton</I> of the
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sea; it is called the <I>great waters of Gibeon</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jer+41:12">Jer. xli. 12</A>),
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and it is compassed by the western border of this tribe.
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2. The particular cities in this tribe, not all, but the most
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|
considerable. Twenty-six are here named. Jericho is put first, though
|
|
dismantled, and forbidden to be rebuilt as a city with gates and walls,
|
|
because it might be built and inhabited as a country village, and so
|
|
was not useless to this tribe. Gilgal, where Israel first encamped when
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Saul was made king
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+11:15">1 Sam. xi. 15</A>),
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was in this tribe. It was afterwards a very profane place.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+9:15">Hos. ix. 15</A>,
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<I>All their wickedness is in Gilgal.</I> Beth-el was in this tribe, a
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|
famous place. Though Benjamin adhered to the house of David, yet
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|
Beth-el, it seems, was in the possession of the house of Joseph
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jdg+1:23-25">Judg. i. 23-25</A>),
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and there Jeroboam set up one of his calves. In this tribe was Gibeon,
|
|
where the altar was in the beginning of Solomon's time,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ch+1:3">2 Chron. i. 3</A>.
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Gibeah likewise, that infamous place where the Levite's concubine was
|
|
abused. Mizpeh, and near it Samuel's Ebenezer, and also Anathoth,
|
|
Jeremiah's city, were in this tribe, as was the northern part of
|
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Jerusalem. Paul was the honour of this tribe
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ro+11:1,Php+3:5">Rom. xi. 1; Phil. iii. 5</A>);
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but where his land lay we know not: he sought the better country.</P>
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