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Division of West Palestine among the Nine and a Half Tribes remaining. Appointment of the Cities of Refuge, and the Cities of the Levites
Joshua 15-21
1. Territory of the Tribe of Judah
Joshua 15
a. Its Boundaries
Jos_15:1-12
5And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of the Jordan: and their [the] border in the north quarter was from the bay [tongue] of the sea, at the uttermost part [the end] of the Jordan: 6And 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: 7And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward looking [and turned northward] toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river [water-course]: and the border passed toward the waters of En-shemesh [Sun-spring], and the goings out thereof were at En-rogel [Fullers-spring]: 8 And the border went up by [into] 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 [Rephaim] northward: 9And the border was drawn from the top of the hill [mountain] 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: 10And the border compassed [took a compass] from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim (which is Chesalon) on the north side [Fay, more exactly: to the side northward of Har-jearim, that is Chesalon], and went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah: 11And 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.
12And the west [prop. sea] border was to [or at] the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast [border] of the children of Judah round about, according to their families.
Jos_15:13-20. Comp. Jos_14:6-15; Jdg_1:10-15
Jos_15:21-63
á . Cities in the South
Jos_15:21-32
â
Jos_15:33-47
37Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad, 38And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Jok, 39theel, Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, 40And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, 41And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with [and] their villages:
42 43 44Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with [and] their villages:
45Ekron, with [and] her towns [Heb. daughters], and her villages: 46From Ekron even unto the sea [or, and westward], all that lay near [by the side of] 47Ashdod, with [and] their villages: Ashdod with [omit: with] her towns and her villages; Gaza, with her towns [daughters] and her villages, unto the river [water-course] of Egypt, and the great sea and the border thereof.
ã
Jos_15:48-60
52 53Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah, 54And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba (which is Hebron) and Zior; nine cities with [and] their villages:
55Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah, 56And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, 57Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with [and] their villages. 58Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor, 59And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with [and] their villages:
60Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim) and Rabbah; two cities with [and] their villages.
ä
Jos_15:61-63
63As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children [sons] of Judah could not drive them out; but the Jebusites dwell with the children [sons] of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
a. Jos_15:1-12. Its Boundaries, Jos_15:1. And there was the lot of the tribe of the sons of Judah, according to their families: toward ( àֶì not òì ) the border of Edom, (toward) the wilderness of Zin, southward, in ( îִï as Gen_2:8; Gen_11:2) the extreme south;i.e. the territory of the tribe of Judah embraced the most southern part of the land, so that, as Keil rightly supposes, it touched Edom in the east and in the south had the wilderness of Zin as its border. The position of this wilderness is determined, from Num_20:1; Num_27:14; Num_33:36, by that of Kadesh-barnea concerning which we have already spoken, on Jos_14:6. According to this view, the wilderness of Zin also must be sought in the Arabah, and according to Num_13:26, should have formd the northern part of the wilderness of Paran. Cf. the Articles Zin and Paran in Winer, ii. 135 and 192 [and in the Dict. of the Bible].—The general account of the position of the land of Judah is followed (Jos_15:2-12) by the more particular description of the boundaries; and first, the south border is drawn (Jos_15:2-4) so as to coincide in general with Num_34:3-5.
Jos_15:2. Its starting-point is the end of the Salt sea, more exactly still, the tongue which turns southward. “This tongue is the south (more accurately southernmost) part of the Dead Sea, below the promontory which stretches far into the sea west of Kerah (Robinson, ii. 231–234), and extending quite to the southern point at the so-called salt-mountain, and salt-morass from which the border of Judah began” (Keil). The Salt-mountain (Kaschm Usdum), and salt-swamp are accurately given on Kiepert’s Map.
From this point the border runs in a tolerably direct course toward the south, as we learn from Jos_15:3 which says: It went out toward the south side of the ascent of Acrabbim. On Acrabbim comp. Jos_11:17. If the mountain Acrabbim is the same as the Bald mountain, mentioned Jos_11:17; Jos_12:7, as a south boundary, this height (Knobel: ascent) of Acrabbim would be a pass in this Bald mountain. Knobel who rejects the identity of the Bald and Acrabbim mountains, believes that the latter was the steep pass es-Sufah, S. W. of the Dead Sea, which view is indicated by Menke on his map, while Kiepert’s sketch supports our opinion. From this south-side of the hill of Acrabbim, the border goes over toward Zin, i.e. perhaps a definite place (Keil) or mountain (Knobel) in the wilderness of Zin and deriving its name therefrom. Thence it went up to the side of Kadesh-barnea, and passed along to Hezron,…. and went out at the water-course of Egypt, and the goings out of the border were at the sea. In other words: The border went constantly southward to Kadesh-barnea (Num_34:3). South of Kadesh it turned toward the west, since it came out finally at the torrent of Egypt (comp. Jos_13:3) and at the sea. Hezron (Jos_15:25 with the addition “that is Hazor”) Adar, Karkaa, Azmon, are to us unknown places. The torrent of Egypt was spoken of Jos_13:3. The sea is evidently the Mediterranean sea. Ruins of considerable cities are still met with in these regions then allotted to the tribe of Judah (Robinson, i. 290, 318; ii. 591 f.).
Jos_15:4. This shall be your south border. The jussive is to be explained, as Masius and Keil observe, by reference to Num_32:2.
Next, in Jos_15:5 a, the east border is given: the salt sea in all its extent from south to north, to the end of the Jordan,i.e. to its embouchure at the Dead Sea.
Jos_15:5 b–11. North Border. This went forth from the northern tongue of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan, and is given a second time, Jos_18:15-19, as the south line of Benjamin.
Jos_15:6. It went up toward Beth-hogla, a boundary point between Judah and Benjamin, belonging to the latter, perhaps the same as the threshing floor of Atad and Abel-mizraim (mourning of the Egyptians) Gen_1:10, between Jericho and the Jordan, discovered again by Robinson, ii. 268 in Ain Hadschla, (cf. von Raumer, p. 177). From Beth-Hogla it passed on northwardly to Beth-Arabah, which is ascribed now to Judah (Jos_15:61), now to Benjamin (Jos_18:22), and lay (Jos_15:61) in the wilderness at the north end of the Dead Sea; and went up to the stone of Bohan, the son of Reuben. This stone of Bohan “must from the òָìָä and éָøã , Jos_18:17, have lain nearer the mountain, that is, more to the west or southwest” (Knobel). Keil seeks it on the same grounds “nearer the mountain,” and declines any more exact determination. Further conjectures see in Knobel, p. 415.
Jos_15:7. From the stone of Bohan it went up toward Debir which lay in the vicinity of Gilgal, to be distinguished evidently from the Canaanitish royal city conquered by Joshua near Hebron (Jos_10:29; Jos_10:38; Jos_12:13; Jos_15:15; Jos_15:49; Jos_21:5; 1 Chron. 7:58),—from the valley of Achor, Jos_7:26. Now it turned northward toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the water-course. Keil supposes this Gilgal not to be the place of encampment mentioned Jos_4:19, because here “its position is determined with reference to another place than Jericho.” This reason would have force only if “the other place,” the ascent of Adummim, could not be shown to have been in the same region. But so long ago as the time of Jerome, he observes that the ascent of Adummim (now Galaat el Demm) (Ritter, xv. 493 [Gage’s transl. iii. 10], Tobler, Denkwürdigkeiten, p. 698), lay on the road from Jerusalem: “est autem confinium tribus Judœ et Benjamini, descendentibus ab Ælia ubi et castellum militum situm est, ob auxilia viatorum.” He has in mind, as we may suppose, since from the context Luk_10:30 flits before him, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. But Gilgal lay near Jericho, according to Jos_4:19 being itself not a city but a larger circuit, whence, Jos_18:17, we read of âìéìå ̇ ú . The watercourse is the Wady Kelt, south of Riha. Further particulars see in Knobel, pp. 416, 417. With this view von Raumer also agrees, comp. pp. 198 with 169.
The border now goes to the Sun-spring as in Jos_18:17. “That is the present Ain el-Hodh, or Apostles’ Spring, three-quarters of an hour northeast of Jerusalem, the only spring on the road to Jericho. Seetzen, ii. p. 273, Tobler, Topographie, etc., ii. p. 398 ff.” (Knobel). From the Sun-spring it went (see the side map to Map iii. in Menke) in a southwest direction (conversely Jos_18:7) to the Fullers’ Spring ( òéð øâì , Spies’ Spring would be òֵéð îøַâֵּì , cf. Gen_13:9 ff.; Jos_6:22). This spring is mentioned again, 2Sa_17:17; 1Ki_1:9. It is the present deep and copious Well of Job (von Raumer, p. 307), or of Nehemiah, on the south side of Jerusalem, where the valleys of Kidron and Hinnom unite (Robinson, i. 354–491; Tobler, ii. p. 50 ff.)” (Knobel). Furrer (p. 57) says concerning it: “Somewhat south of the gardens (p. 56) which spread themselves in the moderately broad valley formed by the junction of the ravines of Hinnom and Kidron together with the Tyropœon, we come to an old well, called En Rogel in the O. T., at the present time, Job’s Well. Although it is more than one hundred feet deep [Robinson, one hundred and fifty feet], it overflows, upon a long continuance of rainy weather, which is regarded in Jerusalem as a joyful occurrence, indicating a good year. The over flow meanwhile lasts but a short time. I struck the water at a depth of twenty-eight feet…… The scenery about the fountain is very attractive. The hills rise high on the east and west. To the north one sees the spurs of Zion and Moriah, but little of the city walls. Southward the eye follows the course of the valley to its turn toward the southeast. There a declivity of the mountain with its olive trees and beautiful green fields formed a very pleasing back-ground.”
Jos_15:8. From En-rogel the border went up into the valley of the son of Hinnom, on the south side of the Jebusite, that is Jerusalem. The direction accordingly runs southwest on the south side of Jerusalem, where the valley mentioned lies. It is noted also, Jos_18:16; Neh_11:30, as a border between Judah and Benjamin. It was the place where, after Ahaz, the horrible sacrifice of children was offered (2Ki_23:10; 2Ch_28:3; 2Ch_33:6; Jer_7:31; Jer_19:2; Jer_19:6; Jer_32:35). The man from whom it derived its name is as little known as Bohan the son of Reuben (Jos_15:6). On account of the offerings to Moloch, the valley became “a symbol of Hell, the name of which, ãåÝííá (Chald. ðְּçִðָּí , in which íðֹּçִÎéâֵּ is perceptibly audible) is thence derived, cf. Mat_5:22, åἰò ôὴí ãÝåííáí ôï ͂ õ ðõñüò . Hitzig and Böttcher (apud Winer, i. 492) dispute the common view that the valley was named after a person, Hinnom, and take çִðֹּí as an appellative = moaning, wailing; certainly a very appropriate designation of the scene of the sacrifice of so many innocent victims. This hypothesis falls in well with Kethib, 2Ki_23:10, ðּé áðé ç× .— éְáåּñִé “for the complete expression òִéø äָéáåּñִé , Jdg_19:11. Jerusalem is in the same connection, called also åְáåּí , Jdg_19:11; 1Ch_11:4” (Knobel). All in the time before David. So Bethel was earlier called Luz (Gen_28:19), Bethlehem Ephrath, Gen_35:16; Mic_5:1. Out of the valley of Hinnom the border now ascended to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of giants northward. The mountain on which the border went up lies according to this statement west of the vale of Hinnom and at the north end of the vale of Rephaim. This vale of Rephaim is one which extends in a southwest direction from Jerusalem to Mar Elias, one hour long, a half hour wide, fertile (Isa_17:5), and still well cultivated, a valley-plain ( òֶîֶ÷ ) not properly a vale ( òֵé , áּ÷ְòָä ) “spacious enough to serve as a camp for an army (2Sa_5:18; 2Sa_5:22; 2Sa_23:13; 1Ch_11:5),” named after the old gigantic race of Canaanites, the Rephaim, from whom sprang Og king of Bashan (Jos_12:4). “It is bounded on the north by a slight rock-ridge, which constitutes the border of the valley of Hinnom, Winer, ii. 332; Robinson, i. 324; Tobler, ii. 401 ff.) That is the mountain which is here meant.
Jos_15:9. From the summit of this mountain, the line was drawn ( úָּàø , related to úּåּø , to go around, from which úּàַø , outline, form, shape of the body, 1Sa_28:14) to the fountain of the water of Nephtoah. This fountain of the water of Nephtoah, i.e. Liftah, one hour northwest of Jerusalem, irrigates a strip of smiling gardens, and its excellent water is carried also to Jerusalem (Dieterici, Reisebilder, ii. p. 221 f.; Tobler, ii. 258 ff. apud Knobel) Valentiner, p. 95, observes: “Liftah numbers its fighting men by hundreds, and provides Jerusalem, among other things, with water from its copious fountain. From its position it is doubtless to be regarded as the fountain of Nephtoah, from which the dividing line between Judah and Benjamin ran on to the cities of Mount Ephron. This latter must not be confounded with Ephraim, which lay further north, Jos_15:9; Jos_18:15.” From this fountain it ran as Valentiner, with reference to our passage, correctly states, up to the cities of Mount Ephron, and was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim This mount Ephron is not elsewhere mentioned. It was certainly between Liftah and Kureyet el-Enab, therefore probably the prominent ridge, on which stand the places Soba, Kartal, Kulonieh, etc., and near which the road from Jerusalem to Joppa runs, Robinson, ii. 328 ff.” (Knobel). Baala, that is, Kirjath-jearim, one of the cities marked in Jos_9:17; Jos_18:25-26; Ezr_2:25; Neh_7:29, as belonging to Gibeon, “now Kureyet el-Enab, three hours northwest of Jerusalem, see Jos_15:60,” (Knobel). The border still followed constantly a northwest course.
Jos_15:10. Now, however, it took a compass (bent around, ðָñַáּ ) from Baala westward unto mount Seir. This mount Seir must not be mistaken for the Edomite mountain (Gen_32:3; Num_24:18; Deu_2:4-5; Deu_2:29; Jos_24:4); rather the mountain range is intended which runs in a southwest direction as far as the Wady Surar. The name has perhaps been preserved in Sairah, Robinson, ii. 363” (Winer, ii. 443). Cf. also Robinson, Later Bibl. Res., p. 155, who gives the height of the ridge as one thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea.
Passed along to the side of mount Jearim (which is Chesalon) towards the north. Chesalon, probably, now Kesla (Robinson, ii. 363, more definitely, Later Bibl. Res. p. 154), was called also Har-jearim = mountain of forests, as Baala or Kirjath-jearim, = city of forests, or forest-town. The region appears therefore to have been earlier thickly covered with woods. Thence the border went down to Beth-shemesh, and passed on to Timnah. Beth-shemesh = house of the sun, here under this name as a border town of Judah; Jos_19:41, called Ir-shemesh and counted as a border town of Dan; according to Jos_21:9; Jos_21:16; 1 Chron. 7:59, a city of the priests, known especially from the narrative concerning the ark of the covenant, 1Sa_6:9-20. Robinson (3:17–20) found, “to the west of the village Ain Schems, on the plateau of a low swell or mound, between the Surar on the north and a smaller Wady on the south, the manifest traces of an ancient site. Here are the vestiges of a former extensive city consisting of many foundations, and the remains of ancient walls of hewn stone…… Both the name and the position of this spot seem to indicate the site of the ancient Beth-shemesh of the Old Testament,” comp. Later Bibl. Res., p. 153; also, Furrer, p. 187–211, especially 198–201. Timnah, or Timnatha (Jos_19:43) belonging to Dan, now Tibneh, west of Beth-shemesh (Furrer, p. 200), the home of Samson (Jdg_14:1-4). In the vineyards of Timnah, without anything in his hand he killed the lion (Jdg_14:5-6).
Jos_15:11. Now the boundary, following a northwest course, went out unto the side of Ekron northward,i.e. to a point lying in the vicinity of Ekron north of this Philistine city. Then it was drawn to Shicron (Socreir, Sugheir; Knobel, p. 419), and passed along to mount Baala. This mount Baala is probably, as Keil and Knobel also suppose, “the short line of hills running almost parallel with the coast, which Robinson observed west of Ekron (Akir), iii. 22, 23. From this mount Baala the border went out unto Jabneel, and then to the sea, where its goings out were. Jabneel or Jabneh (2Ch_26:6, éáְðֶä ), destroyed by Uzziah, the Jamnia so often mentioned in the books of Maccabees (1Ma_4:15; 1Ma_5:58; 1Ma_10:69; 1Ma_15:40; 2Ma_12:9). After the destruction of Jerusalem, there was here a high school of the Jews and a Sanhedrim (Reland, p. 823, after the Talmud; apud von Raumer, p. 204). It is now Jebna, “a large village on an insignificant hill west of Akir (Knobel, after Tobler, Dritte Wanderung, p. 20 f.; Wittmann’s Reisen, ii. p. 7). Another Jabneel, which is mentioned Jos_19:33, lay on Lebanon.
Jos_15:12. Gives the West Border.The great sea,i.e., the Mediterranean. The borders thereof ( äַðְּáåּì ), is to be explained as in Jos_13:23; Jos_13:27, cf. also Num_34:6.
b. Jos_15:13-20 (comp. Jos_14:6-15; Jdg_1:10-15). Caleb’s Possession. His daughter Achsah. Conclusion to a. Nothing is said here as in the episode, Jos_14:6-15, of any demand of Caleb, but simply Jos_15:13 that Joshua gave Hebron to Caleb, according to the command of God. On the other hand we have here, in almost literal agreement with the account in Jdg_1:10-15, the story of Achsah, whom Caleb gave as a reward for the conquest of Debir, which is not alluded to in Joshua 14.
Jos_15:13. It is stated that Joshua, according to the command of Jehovah ( àֶì ôִּé éé , here and Jos_17:3, with which Gesenius compares Psa_5:1; Psa_80:1, àֶìÎäַðְּçִéìåֹú , and also 1Sa_26:4, àֶìÎðָëåֹï ), gave Caleb his portion ( çֵìֶ÷ ) among the children of Judah. This command must have been communicated to Joshua then, as they were dividing the land (Knobel). A complete account of the facts is wanting, for Jos_14:9, which Keil would apply here, speaks not of a command of God to Joshua but of an oath of Moses to Caleb, cf. further the explanation of Jos_14:9. Hebron is here called Kirjath-arba as in Jos_15:54; Jos_20:7; Jos_21:11; Gen_23:2; Gen_35:27 (Knobel).
Jos_15:14-19. The history of Achsah, the daughter of Caleb, is introduced with the remark that Caleb drove out of Hebron the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants ( éְìéִãֵé ) of Anak.
Jos_15:15. Thence he proceeded against the inhabitants of Debir. According to Jos_11:21, Joshua had conquered and devoted Debir. On the position of this city see on Jos_11:21. Debir before was Kirjath-sepher. Jos_15:49, the same city is called ÷ִøְéַúÎñַðָּä . On this diversity of names cf. Keil on Jos_10:38. The there quoted explanation of Bochart (Can. ii. 17) on ñַðָּä : “Id Phœnicibus idem fuit quod Arabibus Sunna, lex, doctrina, jus canonicum,” suits better to ÷ִøéַúÎñֵôֶø than if, as Gesenius supposes, ñַðְñַðָּä=ñַðָּä , ramus palmœ, and ÷ִøéַúÎñַðּä therefore = palm city.
Jos_15:16. Caleb, like Saul, 1Sa_17:25, promises his daughter Achsah as a wife to whomsoever would conquer the city, which was found difficult to take. òֵëֶñ=òëñְäָ signifies properly foot-chains, cf. Isa_3:18.
Jos_15:17. And Othniel, son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it. So we translate, according to the view of the Masoretes, with Keil, Bunsen, and Winer (ii. 185) who appeal to Jdg_1:13; Jdg_3:9. Omitting the comma after Kenaz, and making “the brother” in apposition with Kenaz (Kenaz the brother) is grammatically allowable, but is not the most obvious, cf. Jdg_1:13 (Bunsen). Vulg. frater; LXX. ἀäåëöïῦ . Othniel ( òְָúְðéàֵì = lion of God) was, according to Jdg_3:9, the first Judge of Israel, who delivered his people from the tyranny of the Mesopotamian King Chushan-rishathaim. On the allowableness of his marriage, see Michaelis, Ehegesetze Mosis, § 82, Laws of Moses, § 117.
Jos_15:18. Achsah had not gone with the rest into the war, but had remained with her father probably in Hebron. As now she came to Debir to become Othniel’s wife, She moved him ( åַúְñִéúֵäåּ from ñåּú or ñִéú not used in Kal, perhaps “to be excited,” then in Hiphil, “to incite;” so here and Jdg_1:14; 2Ch_18:2; in particular, “to tempt to something wrong,” Deu_13:7; Isa_36:8; Jer_38:22, and often) to ask of her father a field (Jdg_1:14 more definitely the field which belonged to Debir), and lighted off ( åַúִּöִðַç from the rare öָðַç cognate with öָðַö , Jdg_1:14; Jdg_4:21 = to sink down, to go under; LXX: êáé ἐâüçóåí ἐê ôï ͂ õ ὄíïõ ; Vulg.: “suspiravitque ut sedebat in asino.” This translation of the LXX. followed by the Vulg., raises the conjecture that the LXX., instead of the unusual åַúִּöְðַç , read åַúִּöòַ÷ ) from the ass. “Whether Othniel followed her is not said. She herself proceeded further, and on approaching her father she sprang from the ass and humbled herself before him (Knobel). So did Rebecca also at her first meeting with Isaac (Gen_24:64). Caleb perceived that she had something unusual to present to him, and asked: What is to thee?What wouldest thou? or what dost thou wish?
Jos_15:19. And she said: Give me a blessing, áְּøָëָä , i.e., as in Gen_33:11, a gift, a present, as Gen_33:10, îִðְúָä is used instead of it. This gift should consist in springs of water, since Caleb had given her toward the south country ( ðֶâֶá , comp. Jos_10:40). It is to be noted, first, that here Debir is reckoned as belonging to the Negeb, while the city in Jos_15:49 is counted to the mountain; probably, as Knobel suggests, because the region was like the Negeb. Besides, the Negeb begins, at least, in that section. Secondly, îַéּí âֻּìּåֹú occurs only here and Jdg_1:15, and is explained either “water springs” (Bunsen: Wasserstrudel, whirlpool or eddy), as Gesenius and Keil prefer, or, according to Bertheau and Knobel, who quote Zec_4:2-3; Ecc_12:6; 1Ki_7:41, “water-holders,” inclosed fountains, which âַּì , Son_4:12, should also mean. We venture not to decide, but certainly hold the translation “water springs” in a poetically colored passage, to be finer than the transfer of “water-holders.” Neither can we exactly approve Bunsen’s “Wasserstrudel.” Thirdly, we notice that Achsah names the springs instead of the fields which were watered by them, in order doubtless “to express the direct antithesis to the ðֶâֶá :” perhaps also from feminine shrewdness and cunning, that she might not directly bring out her proper wish. That gardens and fields in Palestine are even to the present day watered from springs and cisterns is well known, cf. what was said above on Jos_15:7, also Son_2:6; Robinson, i. 541; ii. 285; iii. 95.
And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs. Caleb responds to the wish of his daughter, and gives her higher and lower springs, that is, higher and lower fields watered by springs. How large this possession was cannot be determined. Finally let us remark, in passing, that Handel, in his Oratorio of Joshua, brings forward Othniel and Achsah as chief personages.
Jos_15:20 Belongs as a conclusion to Jos_15:1-12. Its position shows that Jos_15:13-19 were inserted. So also Keil: “the 20th verse contains the subscription or conclusion to the first division of our chapter, with which the description of the bounds of the inheritance of Judah closes.”
c. List of the Cities of the Tribe of Judah. From Jos_15:21 on follow the names of the cities of the tribe of Judah, and a. the cities in the south country (Jos_15:21-32); â . the cities in the lowland (Jos_15:33-47); ã . the cities on the mountain (Jos_15:48-60); ä . the cities in the wilderness (Jos_15:61-62). The whole is concluded with a notice (Jos_15:63) concerning the Jebusites.
a. Jos_15:21-32. Cities in the South Country. Jos_15:21, îִ÷ְöֶä , at the extremity or end; îִï , as in Jos_15:1. In the south-country, îִðֶּâֶá ; cf. Jos_10:40. The enumeration begins within the Negeb at the east, as Jos_15:2 ff. in giving the boundaries. First we have nine cities named and connected by the copula, which Luther in his translation omits, while the LXX. and Vulg. have it. Kabzeel or Jekabzeel ( éְ÷ַáְöְàֵì Neh_11:25 = which God gathers) was the birth-place of Benaiah one of David’s heroes, 2Sa_23:30. Eder, Jagur, not to be made out.
Jos_15:22. Kinah, “Perhaps the place of the Kenites who settled in the territory of Arad, Num_10:32” (Knobel).
Dimona = Dibon, Neh_11:25. “Probably the ruins ed-Dheib, northeast of Arad (Van de Velde, Mem. 252),” Knobel.
Adah. = Sudeid (Rob. ii. 474). The country here is hilly and cut up by small ravines, but without steep declivities, and sparsely covered with a thin and now dried up growth of grass. (Rob. l. c.)
Jos_15:23. Kedesh, Hazor, Kadesh-barnea and Hezron (Jos_15:3), Ithnan—unknown.
Jos_15:24. A second group of five cities follows, a pentapolis. Ziph, perhaps = Kuseifeh (Rob. ii. 191, 195), southwest of Arad. Another Ziph lies on the mountain, Jos_15:55.—Telem we, after the example of Kimchi, with von Raumer (p. 222) and Knobel, regard = èְìָàִéí , where Saul mustered his army before he moved against the Amalekites (1Sa_15:4). The position, in the Negeb, suits this view. When Keil (Com. on Josh, in h. 1.) objects to this assumption that the words èֶìֶí (oppression) and èְìָàִéí (young lambs), came from two quite different roots; it is a sufficient answer to say, with Gesenius, that one of the names may be altered (perhaps by corrupt pronunciation), which is easily possible with names of places. Supposing this, it is more probable that èֶìֶí is derived from the longer èְìָàéí than the reverse.
Bealoth = Bealoth-beer, Ramath-negeb, Ramoth-negeb (Jos_19:8), on the road toward Hebron, marked on Menke’s map.
Jos_15:25. Hazor-hadata, ç×çֶãָúָּä = New Hazor, since çָãָùׁçַãַú ). Perhaps Hudhairah (Rob. App. p. 114).
Kerioth-hezron, which is Hazor. Against the Masoretes, but with the LXX. and Syr., we join ÷ְøִ åֹú and çֶöְøåֹï in one name, as Reland, Maurer, Keil, and Knobel have done. In favor of this the analogy of Kirjath-arba (Jos_15:13) and Kirjath-jearim (Jos_15:9) adduced by Maurer, is of decisive weight. “Possibly the place Kuryatein north of Arad (Rob. ii. 472),” (Knobel).
Jos_15:26. Third group, consisting again, like the first, of nine cities,—Amam, unknown.
Shema, a place of the Simeonites; Jos_19:2 associated with Beer-shaba and Moladah; ùֶׁáַö , probably the same name, as áּ and î are often interchanged.
Moladah, according to Jos_19:2 likewise a place belonging to Simeon, now Milh (Rob. ii. pp. 619, 621). “Moladah was at a later period inhabited by the sons of Judah who returned from the exile (Neh_11:25-26). Probably identical with Malatha, an Idumean fortress (Joseph. Ant. xviii. 6, 2); often named in the Onom.” (von Raumer, p. 214). It lies on the road to Hebron, northwest of Baalath-beer. Robinson found here two wells about forty feet in depth, and walled around with good mason-work, one of them seven and a half feet, and the other five feet in diameter. The water appeared to be not good, but the Arabs of the Tiyahah watered their animals here as did the Kudeirât at Beer-sheba (Rob. l. c. note). On the plain lying near the wells to the south, the stones of a ruined town, or large village, are scattered over a space of nearly half a mile square, all unhewn. These wells and ruins in all probability mark the site of Moladah of the O. T., the Malatha of the Greeks and Romans (Rob. ubi sup.). On the etymological difficulty in deriving Milh from Moladah or Malatha, cf. the foot-note, p. 621.
Jos_15:27. Hazor-gadah, Heshmon, Beth-palat, unknown.
Jos_15:28. Hazor-shual ( çַöø ùׁåּòַì = Fox-yard; [Gesen. village of Jackals], cf. the Lex. under çöø for other like compounds), a place of the Simeonites, Jos_19:3; 1Ch_4:28, inhabited, like Moladah and Shema, after the exile, by men of Judah, Neh_11:27. Possibly Th’aly (Rob. iii. App. 114).
Beer-sheba, áְּàø ùֶׁáַò , i.e. “well of seven, meaning the seven lambs which Abraham sacrificed when he made a covenant with Abimelech (Gen_21:28-32).” So von Raumer, p. 176. Others, e.g. Ges., explain, with reference to Gen_26:30, by puteus jurisjurandi, well of the oath, making ùׁáåּòָä = ùֶׁáַö . Hitzig again (ubi sup. p. 26) in another way; “if the wilderness between Pelusium and Gaza extends for the distance of seven days’ journey, Beershaba (properly, Bir sib) signifies “well of the seven day camel” (which has borne the seven days’ thirst)—in the Arabic; and Arabs carry (Gen_37:25) into Egypt, on the backs of camels, the costly productions of Gilead.” Lange (Com. on Gen_21:28 ff.) would not press the antithesis between “seven-well” and “oath-well.” “The form designates it as the seven wells, but the seven designates it as in fact the well of the oath.” In this view ùׁáö is taken as = seven, but at the same time it commemorates that ðִùִׁáַּò , to swear, means primarily to “seven one’s self” “to confirm by seven.” Cf. Herod. iii. 8, according to whom seven things were chosen among the Arabians for the confirmation of an oath. Beer-sheba is very often mentioned in the history of the patriarchs (Gen_21:14; Gen_21:28-33; Gen_22:19; Gen_26:23; Gen_28:10; Gen_46:1). According to the passage before us it belonged to Judah; from Jos_19:2, 1Ch_4:28, it was ascribed also to Simeon. It is often named in the formula “from Dan to Beersheba” (Jdg_20:1; 2Sa_17:11; 2Ch_30:5). At present it is called Bir es-seba, on the north side of the Wady es-Seba, close on its banks, where two wells now bear this name (Robinson, i. 300–303). These two wells lie at some distance from each other, are round and walled up in a very firm and permanent manner, and furnish clear and excellent water in great abundance. The ruins on some low hills north of the well probably indicate the existence there formerly of a small and straggling city (Robinson, ubi sup.). Euseb.: êþìç ìåãßóôç . Hieron.: vicus grandis.
Bizjothah—undeterminable.
Jos_15:29. The names of 13 places are added, which lay to the west and southwest. Baala = Deir el-Belah (Robinson, iii. App. p. 118), some hours southwest of Gaza on the north border of the Negeb with a great forest of palm trees, and remnants of marble pillars (Ritter, 16. 41, 42 [Gage’s Trans. i.30, 31]). The considerable plantation of date-palms at this place is remarkable from the fact that here alone in Palestine the dates still ripen; here, therefore, we pass the north limit of date culture (Ritter l.c.).
Ijim, “or òַéִּéí , as we may judge from, ̓ Áõåßì in the LXX. Cod. Alex., is passed over in the enumeration of Simeonite cities Jos_19:1 ff. and may have been not of much importance” (Knobel). The site cannot now be determined.
Ezem also belonging, like Baala, to the Simeonites (Jos_19:3) = Abdeh, a place of very considerable ruins on a ridge of rocks, and once strong, òֶöֶí = firmness, strength (Knobel).
Jos_15:30. Eltolad, later given likewise to Simeon, Jos_19:4. In 1Ch_4:29 it is called merely Tholad (Keil). This also remains undiscovered.
Chesil, ëְּñִéì . According to Job_9:9; Job_38:31; Amo_5:8, ëּ× is a constellation in the heavens, probably Orion. Since the place is named Jos_19:4; 1Ch_4:30; ëְּúåּì and ëְּúåּàֵì , since further 1Sa_30:27, “the same place is manifestly” called áֵּéúÎàֵì , it must have been the seat of a sanctuary as Knobel rightly conjectures. May not, as the name indicates, that very constellation of Orion (Chesil) have been worshipped here, especially as Jerome reports (Vit. Hilar, ep. 25, ap. Robinson, i. p. 298) that the inhabitants had worshipped Venus and the Morning Star? True, the morning star is mentioned and not Orion, but Jerome hardly had so exact information. At all events, worship of the stars then existed, and that is the main thing. Probably Chesil is = Elusa, where in pre-Islamite times a sanctuary of Arabic tribes existed (comp. Tuch, Zeitschrift der deutsch-morgenl. Ges., iii. p. 194 f. ap. Knobel). Elusa lies five and a half hours south of Beer-sheba (comp. Robinson, i. pp. 296–298). Horma “or Zephat, now Sepata, two and a half hours southwest of Chalaza; see Num_14:45” (Knobel).
Jos_15:31. Ziklag, later belonging to Simeon, Jos_19:5; 1 Chr. 5:30. Familiar from the history of David (1Sa_27:6; 1Sa_30:1; 2Sa_1:1; 2Sa_4:10; 1Ch_13:1). Perhaps Tel el-Hasy, northeast of Gaza (von Raumer, p. 225), from which one has an extensive view, westward to the sea, in the east toward the mountains of Hebron, northward to mount Ephraim, and southward to the plains of Egypt (Ritter, xvi. 133 [Gage, iii. 246, 247]). Knobel seeks Ziklag to the southwest of Milh, where a place, Gasludh, lies on the road to Abdeh (Robinson, ii. 621), some hours east of Sepata. The etymology of Ziklag ( öִ÷ְìַð , öִé÷ְìַâ ) is doubtful; perhaps, as Gesen. supposes, from öִé ÷ְìַ÷ , wilderness of destruction.
Madmanna = Minyay or Minnieh, south of Gaza (Robinson, iii. 287 f.), on the route of the pilgrims during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries.
Sansanna—unknown. The name signifies “palm-branch.” Instead of Madmanna and Sansanna, elsewhere Beth-markaboth (“Wagon-house,” Knobel, Keil) and Hazar-suza or Susim (“Horse-yard,” Knobel; “Horse-village,” Keil) are mentioned (Jos_19:3) as cities of the Simeonites. Are they possibly stations of wagons and horses, as Knobel conjectures?
Jos_15:32. Lebaoth or Beth-lebaoth, belonging to the Simeonites, Jos_19:6; in 1Ch_4:31, the name of the place is Beth Birei. Perhaps Lebhem, eight hours south of Gaza.
Shilhim, called, Jos_19:6, Saruhen ( ùָׁøåּäֵï ), a place of the Simeonites, 1Ch_4:31 = el-Scheriat, about midway between Gaza and Beer-sheba; a scene of ruins (Van de Velde, Narrative, ii. p. 144, and Mem. p. 113, apud Knobel).
Ain, Rimmon, in Jos_19:7; 1Ch_4:32; Neh_11:29, treated as one place. Rimmon is discovered in the ruins Um er-Rumamim, about three hours north of Beer-sheba. Only about thirty minutes south of it is the well el-Khulweilifeh, with remains of buildings (Robinson, iii. 8), on the road from Hebron to Gaza. Compare, further, Knobel on this verse.
All the cities twenty-nine and their villages. There are not twenty-nine but thirty-six, namely, (1) group first, 9; (2) group second, 5; (3) group third, 9; (4) group fourth, 13 = 36. So indeed the Syriac reads. Since, however, all the other ancient versions have twenty-nine, the Syriac probably gives a “critical correction.” The matter is capable of the simple explanation that the original ancient list had only twenty-nine cities, but later, as even Keil concedes, “a supplementary hand added still others without altering the sum total to correspond.”
â . Jos_15:33-47. Cities in the Lowland. Jos_15:33. In the lowland. See Jos_10:40. It only needs to be remarked here that the foot-hills ( àַùֵׁãåֹú ) mentioned Jos_10:40; Jos_11:16 are here reckoned in with the lowland. They are designated also as the land of Goshen, as was explained, Jos_10:40, (Jos_11:16), and form the east border of the Shephelah of Judah. The places mentioned by the author are arranged in three groups. The first of these (Jos_15:33-36) lies in the northeast part of the lowland.
Eshtaol and Zorea mentioned in reverse order, Jos_19:41; Jdg_13:25; Jdg_16:31. Here ascribed to Judah, there to Dan. Eshtaol is the present Um-Eschteiyeh (Robinson, ii. 342). Zorea was Samson’s home (Jdg_13:2), visited in modern times by Robinson (Later Bibl. Res. p. 153), Tobler (Dritte Wanderung, p. 150) and Furrer (p. 200). The prospect from the summit of Zorea is, according to Robinson’s statement, beautiful and very extensive, especially toward Beth-shemesh. The well, the fields, the mountains, the women who bore water, all transported the travellers back into the earliest times, when in all probability the mother of Samson in the same manner came to the well, and laboriously carried her water-jar home. Between Zoreah and Eshtaol Samson was buried in his father Manoah’s tomb (Jdg_16:31.)
Ashna, unknown. Knobel would read àַùְׁåָä after ̓́ Áóóá of the LXX. Cod. Vat.
Jos_15:34. Sanoah, now Sanna, not far from Zorea (Robinson, ii. 343) to the southeast. “The other, Zanoah, on the mountain, Jos_15:56, has not yet been discovered by modern explorers” (Keil).
En-gannim, Tappuah, unknown. Enam, mentioned Gen_38:14; Gen_38:21; perhaps Beth-anan, Tobler, p. 137 (Knobel).
Jos_15:35. Jarmuth, a Canaanitish capital (Jos_12:11, comp. Jos_10:3-27). Since éַøְîåּú , as Knobel observes = øָîָä , øֶîֶú , Jos_19:21, and therefore, judging from the meaning of these words, lay upon a height, the modern Jarmuk (Robinson, ii. 344), which stands on a hill, and exhibits cisterns and remains of buildings of high antiquity, may be regarded as ancient Jarmuth.
Adullam. Probably Deir Dubban, two hours north of Beit Jibrin, where are great and remarkable caves, fully described by Robinson (ii. 353 f.). He does not decide whether they are natural or artificial. The circumstance that they are very regularly hewn out leads us to conclude that they are of artificial origin, which, however, may well have been in part natural, since the mountain of Judah is cavernous. [Robinson seems to indicate no doubt at all of the purely artificial character of the caves, only questioning whether the “pits” through which they are entered “are natural or artificial.” Their object also was to him quite a puzzle.—Tr.]
Socho, and Azeka, lay near Ephes-dammim (Damun), 1Sa_17:1. Azeka has been already mentioned (Jos_10:10 f.) Goliath’s battle with David took place between Azeka and Socho (1Sa_17:1 ff.). Socho, now Shuweikeh, but not to be confounded with Socho on the mountain (Jos_15:48), which is also called Shuweikeh, lies about seventeen miles southwest of Jerusalem on the Wady Sumt, whose beautiful vale Robinson (ii. 349 f.) regards as the terebinth-vale (“valley of Elah”), celebrated for the combat between David and the giant (von Raumer, p. 222).
Jos_15:36. Sharaim, “according to 1Sa_17:52, westward of Socho and Azeka = Tel Sakarieh and Kefr Sakarieh” (Knobel). The dual form of the name indicates two villages out of which the ancient Sharaim may have already grown, and properly signifies “two doors.” Adithaim, unknown; a dual form again.
Gedera, äַâְּãֵøָä with the article, properly, “the wall.” In Jos_12:13 the king of âֶּãֶø (walled place) is mentioned. Probably the same place. Whether Gederoth also (Jos_15:41) is the same, as Knobel would have it, is to me doubtful. Different towns might naturally be called simply walled places. We may compare frequent elements of modern names, Burg, Ville, House, etc. Another related name is âְּãåֹø , Jos_15:58.
Gederothaim is omitted by the LXX. If we follow them, as Winer (ii. 471) and Knobel do, we make out only fourteen cities according to the sum total given, otherwise fifteen, as above thirty-six instead of twenty-nine.
Jos_15:37-41. Second Group. It includes sixteen cities, lying “south” and “west” of the first, Jos_15:37. Zenan, probably indentical with Zaanan (Mic_1:11); perhaps Chirbet es-Senat.
Hadashah. “The smallest place in Judah, with only fifty dwellings (Mischn. Erubin, pp. 5, 6”), Knobel. Not identical with Adasa, north of Jerusalem. Von Raumer has entirely omitted the little place.
Migdal-gad = Tel Iedeideh, after which the Wady Iedeideh is named (Tobler, p. 124 f.)
Jos_15:38. Dilean, perhaps Beit Dula (Tobler, p. 150). Mizpeh. We have already found a land of Mizpeh on Hermon, Jos_11:3-8, where the name was explained and its frequent occurrence noticed. The most celebrated place of the name is yet to be mentioned, Jos_18:26. The one before us is possibly the present Tel es-Safieh (Robinson, ii. 363) on a low hill, “but lying sufficiently above the surrounding country to be seen at the distance of some hours in every direction;” called in the Middle Ages Alba specula or Alba custodia [Blanchegarde], a castle, in the vicinity of which some romantic adventures of Richard Cœur de Lion are reported to have taken place. These are enumerated by Robinson (ubi sup. p. 366).
Joktheel, perhaps Keitulaneh (Robinson, iii. App. 126), where are ruins.
Jos_15:39. Lachish, according to Jos_10:3 ff.; Jos_12:11, a Canaanitish capital, later, like many of these cities, fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch_11:9). Here Amaziah died (2Ki_14:19). Sennacherib besieged Lachish, and moved from hence to Libnah (Isa_36:2; Isa_37:8). Nebuchadnezzar also contended against the royal city of chariots (Mic_1:13), which had become a beginning of sin to the daughter of Zion, doubtless through temptation to idolatry (Jer_34:7). The position is questionable. Robinson (ii. p. 388) decided against Um Lakis, which suits as far as the name is concerned, partly because the trifling remains give no indication of a once fortified and strong city, and partly because the position does not agree with what is known of the ancient city. He is followed by Knobel, who thinks he has recognized Lachish in Zukkarijeh, two and a half hours southwe