J
O S H U A
CHAP. XIX.
In
the description of the lots of Judah and Benjamin we have an account both of
the borders that surrounded them and of the cities contained in them. In that
of Ephraim and Manasseh we have the borders, but not the cities; in this
chapter Simeon and Dan are described by their cities only, and not their
borders, because they lay very much within Judah, especially the former; the
rest have both their borders described and their cities names, especially
frontiers. Here is, I. The lot of Simeon, ver. 1-9. II. Of Zebulun, ver.
10-16. III. Of Issachar, ver. 17-23. IV. Of Asher, ver. 24-31. V. Of Naphtali,
ver. 32-39. VI. Of Dan, ver. 40-48. Lastly, The inheritance assigned to Joshua
himself and his own family, ver. 49-51.
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The
Lot of Simeon.
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B.
C. 1444.
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1 And the second lot came
forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according
to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the
children of Judah. 2 And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba,
or Sheba, and Moladah, 3 And Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem,
4 And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah, 5 And Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth,
and Hazar-susah, 6 And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities
and their villages: 7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four
cities and their villages: 8 And all the villages that were
round about these cities to Baalath-beer, Ramath of the south. This is
the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their
families. 9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was
the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of
Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their
inheritance within the inheritance of them.
Simeon's lot was drawn after Judah's, Joseph's, and Benjamin's, because Jacob
had put that tribe under disgrace; yet it is put before the two younger sons
of Leah and the three sons of the handmaids. Not one person of note, neither
judge nor prophet, was of this tribe, that we know of.
I. The situation of their lot was within that of Judah (v. 1) and was
taken from it, v. 9. It seems, those that first surveyed the land
thought it larger than it was, and that it would have held out to give every
tribe in proportion as large a share as they had carved out for Judah; but,
upon a more strict enquiry, it was found that it would not reach (v.
9): The part of the children of Judah was too much for them, more than
they needed, and more, as it proved, than fell to their share. Yet God did not
by the lot lessen it, but left it to their prudence and care afterwards to
discover and rectify the mistake, which when they did, 1. The men of Judah did
not oppose the taking away of the cities again, which by the first
distribution fell within their border, when they were convinced that they had
more than their proportion. In all such cases errors must be excepted and a
review admitted if there be occasion. Though, in strictness, what fell to
their lot was their right against all the world, yet they would not insist
upon it when it appeared that another tribe would want what they had to spare.
Note, We must look on the things of others, and not on our own only. The
abundance of some must supply the wants of others, that there may be somewhat
of an equality, for which there may be equity where there is not law. 2. That
which was thus taken off from Judah to be put into a new lot Providence
directed to the tribe of Simeon, that Jacob's prophecy concerning this tribe
might be fulfilled, I will divide them in Jacob. The cities of Simeon
were scattered in Judah, with which tribe they were surrounded, except on that
side towards the sea. This brought them into a confederacy with the tribe of
Judah (Judg. i. 3), and afterwards was a happy occasion of the adherence of
many of this tribe to the house of David, at the time of the revolt of the ten
tribes to Jeroboam. 2 Chron. xv. 9, out of Simeon they fell to Asa in
abundance. It is good being in a good neighbourhood.
II. The cities within their lot are here named. Beersheba, or Sheba, for these
names seem to refer to the same place, is put first. Ziklag, which we read of
in David's story, is one of them. What course they took to enlarge their
borders and make room for themselves we find 1 Chron. iv. 39, &c.
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The
Lot of Zebulun.
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B.
C. 1444.
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10 And the third lot came
up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of
their inheritance was unto Sarid: 11 And their border went up
toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the
river that is before Jokneam; 12 And turned from Sarid
eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then
goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, 13 And from thence
passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out
to Remmon-methoar to Neah; 14 And the border compasseth it on the
north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of
Jiphthah-el: 15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah,
and Beth-lehem: twelve cities with their villages. 16 This is
the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these
cities with their villages.
This is the lot of Zebulun, who, though born of Leah after Issachar, yet was
blessed by Jacob and Moses before him; and therefore it was so ordered that
his lot was drawn before that of Issachar, north of which it lay and south of
Asher. 1. The lot of this tribe was washed by the great sea on the west, and
by the sea of Tiberias on the east, answering Jacob's prophecy (Gen. xlix.
13), Zebulun shall be a haven of ships, trading ships on the great sea
and fishing ships on the sea of Galilee. 2. Though there were some places in
this tribe which were made famous in the Old Testament, especially Mount
Carmel, on which the famous trial was between God and Baal in Elijah's
time, yet it was made much more illustrious in the New Testament; for within
the lot of this tribe was Nazareth, where our blessed Saviour spent so much of
his time on earth, and from which he was called Jesus of Nazareth, and Mount
Tabor on which he was transfigured, and that coast of the sea of Galilee
on which Christ preached so many sermons and wrought so many miracles.
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The
Lot of Issachar.
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B.
C. 1444.
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17 And the fourth
lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their
families. 18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth,
and Shunem, 19 And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath,
20 And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 21 And Remeth, and En-gannim,
and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez; 22 And the coast reacheth to
Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh; and the outgoings of their border
were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. 23 This is
the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their
families, the cities and their villages.
The lot of Issachar ran from Jordan in the east to the great sea in the west,
Manasseh on the south, and Zebulun on the north. A numerous tribe, Num. xxvi.
25. Tola, one of the judges, was of this tribe, Judg. x. 1. So was Baasha, one
of the kings of Israel, 1 Kings xv. 27. The most considerable places in this
tribe were, 1. Jezreel, in which was Ahab's palace, and near it Naboth's
vineyard. 2. Shunem, where lived that good Shunamite that entertained Elisha.
3. The river Kishon, on the banks of which, in this tribe, Sisera was beaten
by Deborah and Barak. 4. The mountains of Gilboa, on which Saul and Jonathan
were slain, which were not far from Endor, where Saul consulted the witch. 5.
The valley of Megiddo, where Josiah was slain near Hadad-rimmon, 2 Kings xxiii.
29; Zech. xii. 11.
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The
Lot of Asher.
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B.
C. 1444.
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24 And the fifth lot came
out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26 And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and
to Shihor-libnath; 27 And turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon,
and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north
side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28 And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29 And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre;
and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from
the coast to Achzib: 30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty
and two cities with their villages. 31 This is the
inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families,
these cities with their villages.
The lot of Asher lay upon the coast of the great sea. We read not of any
famous person of this tribe but Anna the prophetess, who was a constant
resident in the temple at the time of our Saviour's birth, Luke ii. 36. Nor
were there many famous places in this tribe. Aphek (mentioned v. 30)
was the place near which Benhadad was beaten by Ahad, 1 Kings xx. 30. But
close adjoining to this tribe were the celebrated sea-port towns of Tyre and
Sidon, which we read so much of. Tyre is called here that strong city (v.
29), but Bishop Patrick thinks it was not the same Tyre that we read of
afterwards, for that was built on an island; this old strong city was on the
continent. And it is conjectured by some that into these two strong-holds,
Sidon and Tzor, or Tyre, many of the people of Canaan fled and took shelter
when Joshua invaded them.
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The
Lot of Naphtali.
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B.
C. 1444.
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32 The sixth lot came out
to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali
according to their families. 33 And their coast was from Heleph,
from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the
outgoings thereof were at Jordan: 34 And then the coast
turneth westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and
reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side,
and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising. 35 And the fenced
cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36 And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, 37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and
En-hazor, 38 And Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and
Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. 39 This is
the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their
families, the cities and their villages.
Naphtali lay furthest north of all the tribes, bordering on Mount Libanus. The
city of Leshem, or Liash, lay on the utmost edge of it to the north, and
therefore when the Danites had made themselves masters of it, and called it Dan,
the length of Canaan from north to south was reckoned from Dan to Beersheba.
It had Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah upon Jordan,
probably a city of that name, and so distinguished from the tribe of Judah on
the east. It was in the lot of this tribe, near the waters of Merom, that
Joshua fought and routed Jabin, ch. xi. 1. &c. In this tribe stood
Capernaum and Bethsaida, on the north end of the sea of Tiberias, in which
Christ did so many mighty works; and the mountain (as is supposed) on which
Christ preached, Matt. v. 1.
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The
Lot of Dan.
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B.
C. 1444.
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40 And the seventh
lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their
families. 41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and
Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh, 42 And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and
Jethlah, 43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, 44
And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, 45 And Jehud, and
Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon, 46 And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with
the border before Japho. 47 And the coast of the children of Dan
went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to
fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword,
and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of
Dan their father. 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe
of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their
villages.
Dan, though commander of one of the four squadrons of the camp of Israel, in
the wilderness, that which brought up the rear, yet was last provided for in
Canaan, and his lot fell in the southern part of Canaan, between Judah on the
east and the land of the Philistines on the west, Ephraim on the north and
Simeon on the south. Providence ordered this numerous and powerful tribe into
a post of danger, as best able to deal with those vexatious neighbours the
Philistines, and so it was found in Samson. Here is an account, 1. Of what
fell to this tribe by lot, Zorah, and Eshtaol, and the camp of Dan
thereabouts, of which we read in the story of Samson. And near there was the
valley of Eshcol, whence the spies brought the famous bunch of grapes. Japho,
or Joppa was in this lot. 2. Of what they got by their own industry and
valour, which is mentioned here (v. 47), but related at large, Judg.
xviii. 7, &c.
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The
Inheritance of Joshua.
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B.
C. 1444.
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49 When they had made an
end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of
Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: 50
According to the word of the LORD
they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount
Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein. 51 These are
the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the
heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an
inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD,
at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of
dividing the country.
Before this account of the dividing of the land is solemnly closed up, in the
last verse, which intimates that the thing was done to the satisfaction of
all, here is an account of the particular inheritance assigned to Joshua. 1.
He was last served, though the eldest and greatest man of all Israel, and who,
having commanded in the conquest of Canaan, might have demanded the first
settlement in it for himself and his family. But he would make it to appear
that in all he did he sought the good of his country, and not any private
interest of his own. He was content to be unfixed till he saw them all
settled; and herein is a great example to all in public places to prefer the
common welfare before their particular satisfaction. Let the public be first
served. 2. He had his lot according to the word of the Lord. It is
probable that, when God by Moses told Caleb what inheritance he should have (ch.
xiv. 9), he gave the like promise to Joshua, which he had an eye to in making
his election: this made his portion doubly pleasant, that he had it, not as
the rest by common providence, but by special promise. 3. He chose it in Mount
Ephraim, which belonged to his own tribe, with which he thereby put himself in
common, when he might by prerogative have chosen his inheritance in some other
tribe, as suppose that of Judah, and thereby have distinguished himself from
them. Let no man's preferment or honour make him ashamed of his family or
country, or estrange him from it. The tabernacle was set up in the lot of
Ephraim, and Joshua would forecast not to be far from that. 4. The children
of Israel are said to give it to him (v. 49), which bespeaks
his humility, that he would not take it to himself without the people's
consent and approbation, as if he would thereby own himself, though major
singulis--greater than any one, yet minor universis--less than the
whole assemblage, and would hold even the estate of his family, under God,
by the grant of the people. 5. It was a city that must be built before it was
fit to be dwelt in. While others dwelt in houses which they built not, Joshua
must erect for himself (that he might be a pattern of industry and contentment
with mean things) such buildings as he could hastily run up, without curiosity
or magnificence. Our Lord Jesus thus came and dwelt among us, not in pomp but
poverty, providing rest for us, yet himself not having where to lay his head. Even
Christ pleased not himself.
Contents
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Next
Section
