22 And the coast H1366 reacheth H6293 to Tabor, H8396 and Shahazimah, H7831 and Bethshemesh; H1053 and the outgoings H8444 of their border H1366 were at Jordan: H3383 sixteen H8337 H6240 cities H5892 with their villages. H2691
And see, H7200 if it goeth up H5927 by the way H1870 of his own coast H1366 to Bethshemesh, H1053 then he hath done H6213 us this great H1419 evil: H7451 but if not, then we shall know H3045 that it is not his hand H3027 that smote H5060 us: it was a chance H4745 that happened to us. H1961 And the men H582 did so; H6213 and took H3947 two H8147 milch H5763 kine, H6510 and tied H631 them to the cart, H5699 and shut up H3607 their calves H1121 at home: H1004 And they laid H7760 the ark H727 of the LORD H3068 upon the cart, H5699 and the coffer H712 with the mice H5909 of gold H2091 and the images H6754 of their emerods. H2914 And the kine H6510 took the straight H3474 way H1870 to the way H1870 of Bethshemesh, H1053 and went along H1980 the highway, H4546 H259 lowing H1600 as they went, H1980 and turned not aside H5493 to the right hand H3225 or to the left; H8040 and the lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 went H1980 after H310 them unto the border H1366 of Bethshemesh. H1053 And they of Bethshemesh H1053 were reaping H7114 their wheat H2406 harvest H7105 in the valley: H6010 and they lifted up H5375 their eyes, H5869 and saw H7200 the ark, H727 and rejoiced H8055 to see H7200 it. And the cart H5699 came H935 into the field H7704 of Joshua, H3091 a Bethshemite, H1030 and stood H5975 there, where there was a great H1419 stone: H68 and they clave H1234 the wood H6086 of the cart, H5699 and offered H5927 the kine H6510 a burnt offering H5930 unto the LORD. H3068 And the Levites H3881 took down H3381 the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 and the coffer H712 that was with it, wherein the jewels H3627 of gold H2091 were, and put H7760 them on the great H1419 stone: H68 and the men H582 of Bethshemesh H1053 offered H5927 burnt offerings H5930 and sacrificed H2076 sacrifices H2077 the same day H3117 unto the LORD. H3068 And when the five H2568 lords H5633 of the Philistines H6430 had seen H7200 it, they returned H7725 to Ekron H6138 the same day. H3117 And these are the golden H2091 emerods H2914 which the Philistines H6430 returned H7725 for a trespass offering H817 unto the LORD; H3068 for Ashdod H795 one, H259 for Gaza H5804 one, H259 for Askelon H831 one, H259 for Gath H1661 one, H259 for Ekron H6138 one; H259 And the golden H2091 mice, H5909 according to the number H4557 of all the cities H5892 of the Philistines H6430 belonging to the five H2568 lords, H5633 both of fenced H4013 cities, H5892 and of country H6521 villages, H3724 even unto the great H1419 stone of Abel, H59 whereon they set down H3240 the ark H727 of the LORD: H3068 which stone remaineth unto this day H3117 in the field H7704 of Joshua, H3091 the Bethshemite. H1030 And he smote H5221 the men H376 of Bethshemesh, H1053 because they had looked H7200 into the ark H727 of the LORD, H3068 even he smote H5221 of the people H5971 fifty H2572 thousand H505 and threescore and ten H7657 men: H582 and the people H5971 lamented, H56 because the LORD H3068 had smitten H5221 many of the people H5971 with a great H1419 slaughter. H4347
But Amaziah H558 would not hear. H8085 Therefore Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Israel H3478 went up; H5927 and he and Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah H3063 looked H7200 one another in the face H6440 at Bethshemesh, H1053 which belongeth to Judah. H3063 And Judah H3063 was put to the worse H5062 before H6440 Israel; H3478 and they fled H5127 every man H376 to their tents. H168 And Jehoash H3060 king H4428 of Israel H3478 took H8610 Amaziah H558 king H4428 of Judah, H3063 the son H1121 of Jehoash H3060 the son H1121 of Ahaziah, H274 at Bethshemesh, H1053 and came H935 to Jerusalem, H3389 and brake down H6555 the wall H2346 of Jerusalem H3389 from the gate H8179 of Ephraim H669 unto the corner H6438 gate, H8179 four H702 hundred H3967 cubits. H520
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 19
Commentary on Joshua 19 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 19
Jos 19:1-9. The Lot of Simeon.
1. the second lot came forth to Simeon—The next lot that was drawn at Shiloh, gave the tribe of Simeon his inheritance within the territory, which had been assigned to that of Judah. The knowledge of Canaan possessed by the Israelites, when the division of the land commenced, was but very general, being derived from the rapid sweep they had made over it during the course of conquest; and it was on the ground of that rough survey alone that the distribution proceeded, by which Judah received an inheritance. Time showed that this territory was too large (Jos 19:9), either for their numbers, however great, to occupy and their arms to defend, or too large in proportion to the allotments of the other tribes. Justice therefore required (what kind and brotherly feeling readily dictated) a modification of their possession; and a part of it was appropriated to Simeon. By thus establishing it within the original domain of another tribe, the prophecy of Jacob in regard to Simeon was fulfilled (Ge 49:7); for from its boundaries being not traced, there is reason to conclude that its people were divided and dispersed among those of Judah; and though one group of its cities named (Jos 19:2-6), gives the idea of a compact district, as it is usually represented by map makers, the other group (Jos 19:7, 8) were situated, two in the south, and two elsewhere, with tracts of the country around them.
Jos 19:10-16. Of Zebulun.
10-14. the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun—The boundaries of the possession assigned to them extended from the Lake of Chinnereth (Sea of Galilee) on the east, to the Mediterranean on the west. Although they do not seem at first to have touched on the western shore—a part of Manasseh running north into Asher (Jos 17:10)—they afterwards did, according to the prediction of Moses (De 33:19). The extent from north to south cannot be very exactly traced; the sites of many of the places through which the boundary line is drawn being unknown. Some of the cities were of note.
Jos 19:17-23. Of Issachar.
17-20. the fourth lot came out to Issachar—Instead of describing the boundaries of this tribe, the inspired historian gives a list of its principal cities. These cities are all in the eastern part of the plain of Esdraelon.
Jos 19:24-31. Of Asher.
24-31. the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher—The western boundary is traced from north to south through the cities mentioned; the site of them, however, is unknown.
26. to Carmel … and to Shihor-libnath—that is, the "black" or "muddy river"; probably the Nahr Belka, below Dor (Tantoura); for that town belonged to Asher (Jos 17:10). Thence the boundary line turned eastward to Beth-dagon, a town at the junction of Zebulun and Naphtali, and ran northwards as far as Cabul, with other towns, among which is mentioned (Jos 19:28) "great Zidon," so called on account of its being even then the flourishing metropolis of the Phœnicians. Though included in the inheritance of Asher, this town was never possessed by them (Jud 1:31).
29. and then the coast turneth to Ramah—now El-Hamra, which stood where the Leontes (Litany) ends its southern course and flows westward.
and to the strong city Tyre—The original city appears to have stood on the mainland, and was well-fortified. From Tyre the boundary ran to Hosah, an inland town; and then, passing the unconquered district of Achzib (Jud 1:31), terminated at the seacoast.
Jos 19:32-39. Of Naphtali.
32-39. the sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali—Although the cities mentioned have not been discovered, it is evident, from Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh, that is, on the northwest of Lake Merom (Jud 4:11), that the boundary described (Jos 19:34) ran from the southwest towards the northeast, up to the sources of the Jordan.
34. Aznoth-tabor—on the east of Tabor towards the Jordan, for the border ran thence to Hukkok, touching upon that of Zebulun; and as the territory of Zebulun did not extend as far as the Jordan, Aznoth-tabor and Hukkok must have been border towns on the line which separated Naphtali from Issachar.
to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising—The sixty cities, Havoth-jair, which were on the eastern side of the Jordan, opposite Naphtali, were reckoned as belonging to Judah, because Jair, their possessor, was a descendant of Judah (1Ch 2:4-22) [Keil].
Jos 19:40-48. Of Dan.
40-46. the seventh lot came out for the tribe … Dan—It lay on the west of Benjamin and consisted of portions surrendered by Judah and Ephraim. Its boundaries are not stated, as they were easily distinguishable from the relative position of Dan to the three adjoining tribes.
47. the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem—The Danites, finding their inheritance too small, decided to enlarge its boundaries by the sword; and, having conquered Leshem (Laish), they planted a colony there, calling the new settlement by the name of Dan (see on Jud 18:7).
Jos 19:49-51. The Children of Israel Give an Inheritance to Joshua.
50. According to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked—It was most proper that the great leader should receive an inheritance suited to his dignity, and as a reward for his public services. But the gift was not left to the spontaneous feelings of a grateful people. It was conferred "according to the word of the Lord"—probably an unrecorded promise, similar to what had been made to Caleb (Jos 14:9).
Timnath-serah—or Heres, on Mount Gaash (Jud 2:9). Joshua founded it, and was afterwards buried there (Jos 24:30).
51. These are the inheritances—This verse is the formal close of the section which narrates the history of the land distribution; and to stamp it with due importance, the names of the commissioners are repeated, as well as the spot where so memorable a transaction took place.