J
O S H U A
CHAP. XV.
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, ch.
xviii. 1, &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, ver. 1-12. II. The
particular assignment of
Hebron and the country
thereabout to Caleb and his family, ver. 13-19. III. The names of the several
cities that fell within
Judah's lot, ver. 20-63.
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The
Lot
of
Judah
.
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B.
C. 1444.
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1 This then was
the lot of the tribe of the children of
Judah
by their families; even
to the border of
Edom
the wilderness of Zin southward
was 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 From thence 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 was
the salt sea, even unto the end of
Jordan
. And their border in the
north quarter was 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 is
before the going up to Adummim, which is 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 is
Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth
before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is 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 is
Kirjath-jearim: 10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward
unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is
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 was to the great sea, and
the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of
Judah
round about according to their
families.
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, ch.
xviii. 9. 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 (Num. xxxiii. 54), to
the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give
the less, and every man's inheritance shall be where his lot falleth;
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
.
In these
verses, we have the borders of the lot of
Judah,
which, as the rest, is said to be by their families, 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 Dan. 1. The eastern
border was all, and only, the
Salt
Sea,
v. 5. 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 v. 1-4 with Num. xxxiv. 3-5. 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 sprang out of
Judah, and whose the kingdom is, shall judge the mount of Esau,
Obad. 21. 3. The northern border divided it from the lot of Benjamin. In this,
mention is made of the stone of Bohan a Reubenite (v. 6), 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 (v. 7), 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 (v. 8), 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 (v. 12), 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 placed alone in the midst of
the earth.
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Caleb's
Inheritance.
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B.
C. 1444.
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13 And unto Caleb the son
of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of
Judah, according to the
commandment of the LORD
to Joshua, even the city of
Arba
the father of Anak, which city
is
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 was 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 unto him, that
she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her
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.
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,
I. The grant Joshua made him of the
mountain
of
Hebron
for his inheritance is here
repeated (v. 13), and it is said to be given him. 1. According to
the commandment of the Lord to Joshua. 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 among the children of Judah;
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.
II. Caleb having obtained this grant, we are told,
1. How he signalized his own valour in the conquest of
Hebron
(v. 14): He drove
thence the three sons of Anak, 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 (ch.
xiv. 12), did not deceive him, but the event answered his expectation. It is
not said that he slew these giants, but he drove them thence,
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 cut off the spirit of princes (Ps. lxxvi.
12), take away the heart of the chief of the people (Job xii. 24), 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.
2. How he encouraged the valour of those about him in the conquest of Debir, v.
15, &c. It seems, though Joshua had once made himself master of Debir (ch.
x. 39), 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 live to ourselves.
(1.) Notice is taken of the name of this city. It had been called Kirjath-sepher,
the city of a book, and Kirjath-sannah (v. 49), which some
translate the city of learning (so the LXX. PoliV
grammatwn), 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.
(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, v. 16. Thus Saul promised a
daughter to him that would kill Goliath (1 Sam. xvii. 25), 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 followed the Lord fully 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 the city of books,
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.
(3.) The place was bravely taken by Othniel, a nephew of Caleb, whom probably
Caleb had thoughts of when he made the proffer, v. 17. 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.
(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.
(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 gave her a south land, v. 19. Land indeed, but a
south land, 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. First, 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. Secondly, She lighted
off her ass, in token of respect and reverence to her father, whom she
would honour still, as much as before her marriage. She cried or sighed
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. Thirdly, She calls it a blessing, 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. Fourthly, She asks only for the water,
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 gathered the waters into one place,
he wisely and graciously left some in every place, that the earth might be
enriched for the service of man. See Ps. civ. 10, &c. Well, Achsah gained
her point; her father gave her what she asked, and perhaps more, for he
gave her the upper springs and the nether springs, 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.
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 (1 Chron. iv. 15), 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.
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The
Lot
of
Judah.
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B.
C. 1444.
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20 This is 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, and Hezron, which is 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 are twenty and nine, with their villages: 33 And
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 lay 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 thereof:
48 And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, 49 And
Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is 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 is 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 is 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.
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.
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 towards the coast of
Edom
,
v. 21-32. Here are thirty-eight named, and yet said to be twenty-nine
(v. 32), because nine of these were afterwards transferred to the lot
of Simeon, and are reckoned as belonging to that, as appears by comparing ch.
xix. 2, &c.; therefore those only are counted (though the rest are named)
which remained to
Judah
. 2. Others that are said to be in
the valley (v. 33) 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, v. 37-41, and nine more, v. 42-44. 4. Then
the three Philistine-cities, Ekron,
Ashdod
, and
Gaza
, v. 45-47. 5. Cities in
the mountains, eleven in all (v. 48-51), nine more (v.
52-54), ten more (v. 55-57), six more (v. 58, 59), then two (v.
60), and six in the wilderness, a part of the country not so thick of
inhabitants as some others were.
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 little
among the thousands of Judah (Mic. v. 2), 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 (v. 63), for the children of
Judah
could not drive them out,
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 (2
Kings viii. 22), and Lachish, where king Amaziah was slain (1 Kings xiv. 19);
it led the dance in idolatry (Mic. i. 13); it was the beginning of sin to
the daughter of Zion. Giloh, Ahithophel's town, is here mentioned, and
Tekoa, of which the prophet Amos was, and near which Jehoshaphat obtained that
glorious victory, 2 Chron. xx. 20, &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, Matt. iii.
1. The riches of this country no doubt answered Jacob's blessing of this
tribe, that he should wash his garments in wine, Gen. xlix. 11. And, in
general,
Judah, thou art he whom thy
brethren shall praise,
not envy.
Contents
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Next
Section
