mh_parser/vol_split/6 - Joshua/Chapter 15.xml

<div2 id="Jos.xvi" n="xvi" next="Jos.xvii" prev="Jos.xv" progress="7.24%" title="Chapter XV">
<h2 id="Jos.xvi-p0.1">J O S H U A</h2>
<h3 id="Jos.xvi-p0.2">CHAP. XV.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Jos.xvi-p1">Though the land was not completely conquered, yet
being (as was said in the close of the foregoing chapter) as rest
from war for the present, and their armies all drawn out of the
field to a general rendezvous at Gilgal, there they began to divide
the land, though the work was afterwards perfected at Shiloh,
<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.18.1-Josh.18.10" parsed="|Josh|18|1|18|10" passage="Jos 18:1-10"><i>ch.</i> xviii. 1</scripRef>,
&amp;c. In this chapter we have the lot of the tribe of Judah,
which in this, as in other things, had the precedency. I. The
borders or bounds of the inheritance of Judah, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.16.1-Josh.16.12" parsed="|Josh|16|1|16|12" passage="Jos 16:1-12">ver. 1-12</scripRef>. II. The particular assignment
of Hebron and the country thereabout to Caleb and his family,
<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.16.13-Josh.16.19" parsed="|Josh|16|13|16|19" passage="Jos 16:13-19">ver. 13-19</scripRef>. III. The
names of the several cities that fell within Judah's lot, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.16.20-Josh.16.63" parsed="|Josh|16|20|16|63" passage="Jos 16:20-63">ver. 20-63</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Jos.xvi-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15" parsed="|Josh|15|0|0|0" passage="Jos 15" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Jos.xvi-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.1-Josh.15.12" parsed="|Josh|15|1|15|12" passage="Jos 15:1-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.15.1-Josh.15.12">
<h4 id="Jos.xvi-p1.7">The Lot of Judah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xvi-p1.8">b. c.</span> 1444.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.xvi-p2">1 <i>This</i> then was the lot of the tribe of
the children of Judah by their families; <i>even</i> to the border
of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward <i>was</i> the uttermost
part of the south coast.   2 And their south border was from
the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:
  3 And it went out to the south side to Maaleh-acrabbim, and
passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto
Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and
fetched a compass to Karkaa:   4 <i>From thence</i> it passed
toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings
out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.
  5 And the east border <i>was</i> the salt sea, <i>even</i>
unto the end of Jordan. And <i>their</i> border in the north
quarter <i>was</i> from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of
Jordan:   6 And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and passed
along by the north of Beth-arabah; and the border went up to the
stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:   7 And the border went up
toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking
toward Gilgal, that <i>is</i> before the going up to Adummim, which
<i>is</i> on the south side of the river: and the border passed
toward the waters of En-shemesh, and the goings out thereof were at
En-rogel:   8 And the border went up by the valley of the son
of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same <i>is</i>
Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that
<i>lieth</i> before the valley of Hinnom westward, which <i>is</i>
at the end of the valley of the giants northward:   9 And the
border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the
water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and
the border was drawn to Baalah, which <i>is</i> Kirjath-jearim:
  10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount
Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which
<i>is</i> Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to
Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah:   11 And the border
went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn
to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto
Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.  
12 And the west border <i>was</i> to the great sea, and the coast
<i>thereof.</i> This <i>is</i> the coast of the children of Judah
round about according to their families.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p3">Judah and Joseph were the two sons of Jacob
on whom Reuben's forfeited birth-right devolved. Judah had the
dominion entailed on him, and Joseph the double portion, and
therefore these two tribes were first seated, Judah in the southern
part of the land of Canaan and Joseph in the northern part, and on
them the other seven did attend, and had their respective lots as
appurtenances to these two; the lots of Benjamin, Simeon, and Dan,
were appendant to Judah, and those of Issachar and Zebulun,
Naphtali and Asher, to Joseph. These two were first set up to be
provided for, it should seem, before there was such an exact survey
of the land as we find afterwards, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.18.9" parsed="|Josh|18|9|0|0" passage="Jos 18:9"><i>ch.</i> xviii. 9</scripRef>. It is probable that the
most considerable parts of the northern and southern countries, and
those that lay nearest to Gilgal, and which the people were best
acquainted with, were first put into two portions, and the lot was
cast upon them between these two principal tribes, of the one of
which Joshua was, and of the other Caleb, who was the first
commissioner in this writ of partition; and, by the decision of
that lot, the southern country, of which we have an account in this
chapter, fell to Judah, and the northern, of which we have an
account in the two following chapters, to Joseph. And when this was
done there was a more equal dividend (either in quantity or
quality) of the remainder among the seven tribes. And this,
probably, was intended in that general rule which was given
concerning this partition (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Num.33.54" parsed="|Num|33|54|0|0" passage="Nu 33:54">Num.
xxxiii. 54</scripRef>), <i>to the more you shall give the more
inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less,</i> and
<i>every man's inheritance shall be where his lot falleth;</i> that
is, "You shall appoint two greater portions which shall be
determined by lot to those more numerous tribes of Judah and
Joseph, and then the rest shall be less portions to be allotted to
the less numerous tribes." The former was done in Gilgal, the
latter in Shiloh.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p4">In these verses, we have the borders of the
lot of Judah, which, as the rest, is said to be <i>by their
families,</i> that is, with an eye to the number of their families.
And it intimates that Joshua and Eleazar, and the rest of the
commissioners, when they had by lot given each tribe its portion,
did afterwards (it is probable by lot likewise) subdivide those
larger portions, and assign to each family its inheritance, and
then to each household, which would be better done by this supreme
authority, and be apt to give less disgust than if it had been left
to the inferior magistrates of each tribe to make that
distribution. The borders of this tribe are here largely fixed, yet
not unalterably, for a good deal of that which lies within these
bounds was afterwards assigned to the lots of Simeon and <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Dan.1" parsed="|Dan|1|0|0|0" passage="Dan. 1">Dan. 1</scripRef>.
The eastern border was all, and only, the Salt Sea, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.5" parsed="|Josh|15|5|0|0" passage="Jos 15:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. Every sea is salt, but
this was of an extraordinary and more than natural saltness, the
effects of that fire and brimstone with which Sodom and Gomorrah
were destroyed in Abraham's time, whose ruins lie buried in the
bottom of this dead water, which never either was moved itself or
had any living thing in it. 2. The southern border was that of the
land of Canaan in general, as will appear by comparing <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.1-Josh.15.4 Bible:Num.15.34 Bible:Num.3" parsed="|Josh|15|1|15|4;|Num|15|34|0|0;|Num|3|0|5|0" passage="Jos 15:1-4,Nu 34;3-5"><i>v.</i> 1-4 with Num. xxxiv.
3-5</scripRef>. So that this powerful and warlike tribe of Judah
guarded the frontiers of the whole land, on that side which lay
towards their old sworn enemies (though their two fathers were
twin-brethren), the Edomites. Our Lord therefore, who <i>sprang out
of Judah,</i> and whose <i>the kingdom is, shall judge the mount of
Esau,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:Obad.1.21" parsed="|Obad|1|21|0|0" passage="Ob 1:21">Obad. 21</scripRef>. 3. The
northern border divided it from the lot of Benjamin. In this,
mention is made of <i>the stone of Bohan</i> a Reubenite (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.6" parsed="|Josh|15|6|0|0" passage="Jos 15:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>), who probably was a
great commander of those forces of Reuben that came over Jordan,
and died in the camp at Gilgal, and was buried not far off under
this stone. The valley of Achor likewise lies upon this border
(<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.6" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.7" parsed="|Josh|15|7|0|0" passage="Jos 15:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>), to remind
the men of Judah of the trouble which Achan, one of their tribe,
gave to the congregation of Israel, that they might not be too much
lifted up with their services. This northern line touched closely
upon Jerusalem (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.7" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.8" parsed="|Josh|15|8|0|0" passage="Jos 15:8"><i>v.</i>
8</scripRef>), so closely as to include in the lot of this tribe
Mount Zion and Mount Moriah, though the greater part of the city
lay in the lot of Benjamin. 4. The west border went near to the
great sea at first (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p4.8" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.12" parsed="|Josh|15|12|0|0" passage="Jos 15:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>), but afterwards the lot of the tribe of Dan took off
a good part of Judah's lot on that side; for the lot was only to
determine between Judah and Joseph, which should have the north and
which the south, and not immovably to fix the border of either.
Judah's inheritance had its boundaries determined. Though it was a
powerful warlike tribe, and had a great interest in the other
tribes, yet they must not therefore be left to their own choice, to
enlarge their possessions at pleasure, but must live so as that
their neighbours might live by them. Those that are placed high yet
must not think to be <i>placed alone in the midst of the
earth.</i></p>
</div><scripCom id="Jos.xvi-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.13-Josh.15.19" parsed="|Josh|15|13|15|19" passage="Jos 15:13-19" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.15.13-Josh.15.19">
<h4 id="Jos.xvi-p4.10">Caleb's Inheritance. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xvi-p4.11">b. c.</span> 1444.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.xvi-p5">13 And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a
part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of
the <span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xvi-p5.1">Lord</span> to Joshua, <i>even</i> the
city of Arba the father of Anak, which <i>city is</i> Hebron.
  14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai,
and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.   15 And he went
up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before
<i>was</i> Kirjath-sepher.   16 And Caleb said, He that
smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my
daughter to wife.   17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the
brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to
wife.   18 And it came to pass, as she came <i>unto him,</i>
that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted
off <i>her</i> ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
  19 Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me
a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the
upper springs, and the nether springs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p6">The historian seems pleased with every
occasion to make mention of Caleb and to do him honour, because he
had honoured God in following him fully. Observe,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p7">I. The grant Joshua made him of the
mountain of Hebron for his inheritance is here repeated (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.13" parsed="|Josh|15|13|0|0" passage="Jos 15:13"><i>v.</i> 13</scripRef>), and it is said to be
given him. 1. <i>According to the commandment of the Lord to
Joshua.</i> Though Caleb, in his petition, had made out a very good
title to it by promise, yet, because God had ordered Joshua to
divide the land by lot, he would not in this one single instance,
no, not to gratify his old friend Caleb, do otherwise, without
orders from God, whose oracle, it is probable, he consulted upon
this occasion. In every doubtful case it is very desirable to know
the mind of God, and to see the way of our duty plain. 2. It is
said to be a part <i>among the children of Judah;</i> though it was
assigned him before the lot of that tribe came up, yet it proved,
God so directing the lot, to be in the heart of that tribe, which
was graciously ordered in kindness to him, that he might not be as
one separated from his brethren and surrounded by those of other
tribes.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p8">II. Caleb having obtained this grant, we
are told,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p9">1. How he signalized his own valour in the
conquest of Hebron (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.14" parsed="|Josh|15|14|0|0" passage="Jos 15:14"><i>v.</i>
14</scripRef>): <i>He drove thence the three sons of Anak,</i> he
and those that he engaged to assist him in this service. This is
mentioned here to show that the confidence he had expressed of
success in this affair, through the presence of God with him
(<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.14.12" parsed="|Josh|14|12|0|0" passage="Jos 14:12"><i>ch.</i> xiv. 12</scripRef>), did
not deceive him, but the event answered his expectation. It is not
said that he <i>slew these giants,</i> but he <i>drove them
thence,</i> which intimates that they retired upon his approach and
fled before him; the strength and stature of their bodies could not
keep up the courage of their minds, but with the countenances of
lions they had the hearts of trembling hares. Thus does God often
<i>cut off the spirit of princes</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.76.12" parsed="|Ps|76|12|0|0" passage="Ps 76:12">Ps. lxxvi. 12</scripRef>), <i>take away the heart of the
chief of the people</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Job.12.24" parsed="|Job|12|24|0|0" passage="Job 12:24">Job xii.
24</scripRef>), and so shame the confidence of the proud; and thus
if we resist the devil, that roaring lion, though he fall not, yet
he will flee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p10">2. How he encouraged the valour of those
about him in the conquest of Debir, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.15-Josh.15.19" parsed="|Josh|15|15|15|19" passage="Jos 15:15-19"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>, &amp;c. It seems, though
Joshua had once made himself master of Debir (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.10.39" parsed="|Josh|10|39|0|0" passage="Jos 10:39"><i>ch.</i> x. 39</scripRef>), yet the Canaanites had
regained the possession in the absence of the army, so that the
work had to be done a second time; and when Caleb had completed the
reduction of Hebron, which was for himself and his own family, to
show his zeal for the public good, as much as for his own private
interest, he pushes on his conquest to Debir, and will not lay down
his arms till he sees that city also effectually reduced, which lay
but ten miles southward from Hebron, though he had not any
particular concern in it, but the reducing of it would be to the
general advantage of his tribe. Let us learn hence not to seek and
mind our own things only, but to concern and engage ourselves for
the welfare of the community we are members of; we are not born for
ourselves, nor must we <i>live to ourselves.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p11">(1.) Notice is taken of the name of this
city. It had been called <i>Kirjath-sepher, the city of a book,</i>
and <i>Kirjath-sannah</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.49" parsed="|Josh|15|49|0|0" passage="Jos 15:49"><i>v.</i>
49</scripRef>), which some translate <i>the city of learning</i>
(so the LXX. <b><i>Polis grammaton</i></b>), whence some conjecture
that it had been a university among the Canaanites, like Athens in
Greece, in which their youth were educated; or perhaps the books of
their chronicles or records, or the antiquities of the nation, were
laid up there; and, it may be, this was it that made Caleb so
desirous to see Israel master of this city, that they might get
acquainted with the ancient learning of the Canaanites.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p12">(2.) The proffer that Caleb made of his
daughter, and a good portion with her, to any one that would
undertake to reduce that city, and to command the forces that
should be employed in that service, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.16" parsed="|Josh|15|16|0|0" passage="Jos 15:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Thus Saul promised a daughter
to him that would kill Goliath (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:1Sam.17.25" parsed="|1Sam|17|25|0|0" passage="1Sa 17:25">1
Sam. xvii. 25</scripRef>), neither of them intending to force his
daughter to marry such as she could not love, but both of them
presuming upon their daughters' obedience, and submission to their
fathers' will, though it might be contrary to their own humour or
inclination. Caleb's family was not long honourable and wealthy,
but religious; he that himself <i>followed the Lord fully</i> no
doubt taught his children to do so, and therefore it could not but
be a desirable match to any young gentleman. Caleb, in making the
proposal, aims, [1.] To do service to his country by the reducing
of that important place; and, [2.] To marry a daughter well, to a
man of learning, that would have a particular affection for <i>the
city of books,</i> and a man of war, that would be likely to serve
his country, and do worthily in his generation. Could he but marry
his child to a man of such a character, he would think her well
bestowed, whether the share in the lot of his tribe were more or
less.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p13">(3.) The place was bravely taken by
Othniel, a nephew of Caleb, whom probably Caleb had thoughts of
when he made the proffer, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.17" parsed="|Josh|15|17|0|0" passage="Jos 15:17"><i>v.</i>
17</scripRef>. This Othniel, who thus signalized himself when he
was young, had long after, in his advanced years, the honour to be
both a deliverer and a judge in Israel, the first single person
that presided in their affairs after Joshua's death. It is good for
those who are setting out in the world to begin betimes with that
which is great and good, that, excelling in service when they are
young, they may excel in honour when they grow old.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p14">(4.) Hereupon (all parties being agreed)
Othniel married his cousin-german Achsah, Caleb's daughter. It is
probable that he had a kindness for her before, which put him upon
this bold undertaking to obtain her. Love to his country, an
ambition of honour, and a desire to find favour with the princes of
his people, might not have engaged him in this great action, but
his affection for Achsah did. This made it intolerable to him to
think that any one should do more to win her favour than he would,
and so inspired him with this generous fire. Thus is love strong as
death, and jealousy cruel as the grave.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p15">(5.) Because the historian is now upon the
dividing of the land, he gives us an account of Achsah's portion,
which was in land, as more valuable because enjoyed by virtue of
the divine promise, though we may suppose the conquerors of Canaan,
who had had the spoil of so many rich cities, were full of money
too. [1.] Some land she obtained by Caleb's free grant, which was
allowed while she married within her own tribe and family, as
Zelophehad's daughters did. He <i>gave her a south land,</i>
<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.19" parsed="|Josh|15|19|0|0" passage="Jos 15:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. Land indeed,
but <i>a south land,</i> dry, and apt to be parched. [2.] She
obtained more upon her request; she would have had her husband to
ask for a field, probably some particular field, or champaign
ground, which belonged to Caleb's lot, and joined to that south
land which he had settled upon his daughter at marriage. She
thought her husband had the best interest in her father, who, no
doubt, was extremely pleased with his late glorious achievement,
but he thought it was more proper for her to ask, and she would be
more likely to prevail; accordingly she did, submitting to her
husband's judgment, though contrary to her own; and she managed the
undertaking with great address. <i>First,</i> She took the
opportunity when her father brought her home to the house of her
husband, when the satisfaction of having disposed of his daughter
so well would make him think nothing too much to do for her.
<i>Secondly,</i> She <i>lighted off her ass,</i> in token of
respect and reverence to her father, whom she would honour still,
as much as before her marriage. She <i>cried</i> or <i>sighed</i>
from off her ass, so the LXX. and the vulgar Latin read it; she
expressed some grief and concern, that she might give her father
occasion to ask her what she wanted. <i>Thirdly,</i> She calls it
<i>a blessing,</i> because it would add much to the comfort of her
settlement; and she was sure that, since she married not only with
her father's consent, but in obedience to his command, he would not
deny her his blessing. <i>Fourthly,</i> She asks only for the
<i>water,</i> without which the ground she had would be of little
use either for tillage or pasture, but she means the field in which
the springs of water were. The modesty and reasonableness of her
quest gave it a great advantage. Earth without water would be like
a tree without sap, or the body of an animal without blood;
therefore, when God <i>gathered the waters into one place,</i> he
wisely and graciously left some in every place, that the earth
might be enriched for the service of man. See <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.104.10-Ps.104.23" parsed="|Ps|104|10|104|23" passage="Ps 104:10-23">Ps. civ. 10</scripRef>, &amp;c. Well, Achsah gained
her point; her father gave her what she asked, and perhaps more,
for <i>he gave her the upper springs and the nether springs,</i>
two fields so called from the springs that were in them, as we
commonly distinguish between the higher field and the lower field.
Those who understand it but of one field, watered both with the
rain of heaven and the springs that issued out of the bowels of the
earth, give countenance to the allusion we commonly make to this,
when we pray for spiritual and heavenly blessings which relate to
our souls as blessings of the upper springs, and those which relate
to the body and the life that now is as blessings of the nether
springs.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p16">From this story we learn, 1. That it is no
breach of the tenth commandment moderately to desire those comforts
and conveniences of this life which we see attainable in a fair and
regular way. 2. That husbands and wives should mutually advise, and
jointly agree, about that which is for the common good of their
family; and much more should they concur in asking of their
heavenly Father the best blessings, those of the upper springs. 3.
That parents must never think that lost which is bestowed upon
their children for their real advantage, but must be free in giving
them portions as well as maintenance, especially when they are
dutiful. Caleb had sons (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.4.15" parsed="|1Chr|4|15|0|0" passage="1Ch 4:15">1 Chron. iv.
15</scripRef>), and yet gave thus liberally to his daughter. Those
parents forget themselves and their relation who grudge their
children what is convenient for them when they can conveniently
part with it.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Jos.xvi-p0.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.20-Josh.15.63" parsed="|Josh|15|20|15|63" passage="Jos 15:20-63" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Josh.15.20-Josh.15.63">
<h4 id="Jos.xvi-p16.3">The Lot of Judah. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Jos.xvi-p16.4">b. c.</span> 1444.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Jos.xvi-p17">20 This <i>is</i> the inheritance of the tribe
of the children of Judah according to their families.   21 And
the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward
the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
  22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,   23 And Kedesh,
and Hazor, and Ithnan,   24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
  25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, <i>and</i> Hezron,
which <i>is</i> Hazor,   26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
  27 And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet,   28
And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjoth-jah,   29 Baalah,
and Iim, and Azem,   30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
  31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,   32 And
Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities
<i>are</i> twenty and nine, with their villages:   33
<i>And</i> in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,  
34 And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam,   35 Jarmuth,
and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,   36 And Sharaim, and
Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their
villages:   37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad,   38
And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,   39 Lachish, and
Bozkath, and Eglon,   40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
  41 And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah;
sixteen cities with their villages:   42 Libnah, and Ether,
and Ashan,   43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,   44
And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their
villages:   45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages:  
46 From Ekron even unto the sea, all that <i>lay</i> near Ashdod,
with their villages:   47 Ashdod with her towns and her
villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of
Egypt, and the great sea, and the border <i>thereof:</i>   48
And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,   49 And
Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which <i>is</i> Debir,   50 And
Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,   51 And Goshen, and Holon, and
Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:   52 Arab, and
Dumah, and Eshean,   53 And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and
Aphekah,   54 And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba, which <i>is</i>
Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:   55 Maon,
Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,   56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam,
and Zanoah,   57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with
their villages:   58 Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor,   59
And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their
villages:   60 Kirjath-baal, which <i>is</i> Kirjath-jearim,
and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:   61 In the
wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah,   62 And
Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their
villages.   63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of
Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the
Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this
day.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p18">We have here a list of the several cities
that fell within the lot of the tribe of Judah, which are mentioned
by name, that they might know their own, and both keep it and keep
to it, and might neither through cowardice nor sloth lose the
possession of what was their own.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p19">I. The cities are here named, and numbered
in several classes, which they then could account for the reason of
better than we can now. Here are, 1. Some that are said to be the
uttermost cities <i>towards the coast of Edom,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.1" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.21-Josh.15.32" parsed="|Josh|15|21|15|32" passage="Jos 15:21-32"><i>v.</i> 21-32</scripRef>. Here are
thirty-eight named, and yet said to be <i>twenty-nine</i>
(<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.32" parsed="|Josh|15|32|0|0" passage="Jos 15:32"><i>v.</i> 32</scripRef>), because
nine of these were afterwards transferred to the lot of Simeon, and
are reckoned as belonging to that, as appears by comparing
<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.3" osisRef="Bible:Josh.19.2-Josh.19.9" parsed="|Josh|19|2|19|9" passage="Jos 19:2-9"><i>ch.</i> xix. 2</scripRef>,
&amp;c.; therefore those only are counted (though the rest are
named) which remained to Judah. 2. Others that are said to be <i>in
the valley</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.4" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.33" parsed="|Josh|15|33|0|0" passage="Jos 15:33"><i>v.</i>
33</scripRef>) are counted to be fourteen, yet fifteen are named;
but it is probable that Gederah and Gederathaim were either two
names or two parts of one and the same city. 3. Then sixteen are
named without any head of distinction, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.5" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.37-Josh.15.41" parsed="|Josh|15|37|15|41" passage="Jos 15:37-41"><i>v.</i> 37-41</scripRef>, and nine more, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.6" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.42-Josh.15.44" parsed="|Josh|15|42|15|44" passage="Jos 15:42-44"><i>v.</i> 42-44</scripRef>. 4. Then the
three Philistine-cities, Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.7" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.45-Josh.15.47" parsed="|Josh|15|45|15|47" passage="Jos 15:45-47"><i>v.</i> 45-47</scripRef>. 5. Cities <i>in
the mountains,</i> eleven in all (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.8" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.48-Josh.15.51" parsed="|Josh|15|48|15|51" passage="Jos 15:48-51"><i>v.</i> 48-51</scripRef>), nine more (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.9" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.52-Josh.15.54" parsed="|Josh|15|52|15|54" passage="Jos 15:52-54"><i>v.</i> 52-54</scripRef>), ten more
(<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.10" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.55-Josh.15.57" parsed="|Josh|15|55|15|57" passage="Jos 15:55-57"><i>v.</i> 55-57</scripRef>), six
more (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.11" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.58-Josh.15.59" parsed="|Josh|15|58|15|59" passage="Jos 15:58,59"><i>v.</i> 58,
59</scripRef>), then two (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p19.12" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.60" parsed="|Josh|15|60|0|0" passage="Jos 15:60"><i>v.</i>
60</scripRef>), and six in the wilderness, a part of the country
not so thick of inhabitants as some others were.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Jos.xvi-p20">II. Now here, 1. We do not find Bethlehem,
which was afterwards the city of David, and was ennobled by the
birth of our Lord Jesus in it. But that city, which at the best was
but <i>little among the thousands of Judah</i> (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.5.2" parsed="|Mic|5|2|0|0" passage="Mic 5:2">Mic. v. 2</scripRef>), except that it was thus dignified,
was now so little as not to be accounted one of the cities, but
perhaps was one of the villages not named. Christ came to give
honour to the places he was related to, not to receive honour from
them. 2. Jerusalem is said to continue in the hands of the
Jebusites (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.15.63" parsed="|Josh|15|63|0|0" passage="Jos 15:63"><i>v.</i> 63</scripRef>),
<i>for the children of Judah could not drive them out,</i> through
their sluggishness, stupidity, and unbelief. Had they attempted it
with vigour and resolution, we have reason to think God would not
have been wanting to them to give them success; but they could not
do it, because they would not. Jerusalem was afterwards to be the
holy city, the royal city, the city of the great King, the
brightest ornament of all the land of Israel. God has designed it
should be so. It may therefore be justly looked upon as a
punishment of their neglect to conquer other cities which God had
given them that they were so long kept out of this. 3. Among the
cities of Judah (in all 114) we meet with Libnah, which in Joram's
days revolted, and probably set up for a free independent state
(<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.3" osisRef="Bible:2Kgs.8.22" parsed="|2Kgs|8|22|0|0" passage="2Ki 8:22">2 Kings viii. 22</scripRef>), and
Lachish, where king Amaziah was slain (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.14.19" parsed="|1Kgs|14|19|0|0" passage="1Ki 14:19">1 Kings xiv. 19</scripRef>); it led the dance in
idolatry (<scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.5" osisRef="Bible:Mic.1.13" parsed="|Mic|1|13|0|0" passage="Mic 1:13">Mic. i. 13</scripRef>); it
was the <i>beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion.</i> Giloh,
Ahithophel's town, is here mentioned, and Tekoa, of which the
prophet Amos was, and near which Jehoshaphat obtained that glorious
victory, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.6" osisRef="Bible:2Chr.20.20-2Chr.20.30" parsed="|2Chr|20|20|20|30" passage="2Ch 20:20-30">2 Chron. xx.
20</scripRef>, &amp;c., and Maresha, where Asa was a conqueror.
Many of the cities of this tribe occur in the history of David's
troubles. Adullam, Ziph, Keilah, Maon, Engedi, Ziklag, here
reckoned in this tribe, were places near which David had most of
his haunts; for, though sometimes Saul drove him out from the
inheritance of the Lord, yet he kept as close to it as he could.
The wilderness of Judah he frequented much, and in it John Baptist
preached, and there the kingdom of heaven commenced, <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.7" osisRef="Bible:Matt.3.1" parsed="|Matt|3|1|0|0" passage="Mt 3:1">Matt. iii. 1</scripRef>. The riches of this
country no doubt answered Jacob's blessing of this tribe, that he
should <i>wash his garments in wine,</i> <scripRef id="Jos.xvi-p20.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.49.11" parsed="|Gen|49|11|0|0" passage="Ge 49:11">Gen. xlix. 11</scripRef>. And, in general, <i>Judah,
thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise,</i> not envy.</p>
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