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Joshua 18, 19
a. Setting up of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Description of the Land yet to be divided
Jos_18:1-10
Jos_18:11-28
á . Its boundaries
Jos_18:11-20
15And the south quarter [side] was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on [toward] the west, and went out to the well [fountain] of the waters of Nephtoah. 16And the border came [went] down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley [ravine] of the son of Hinnom, and [omit: and] which is in the valley of the giants [Rephaim] on the north, and descended to the valley [ravine] of Hinnom, to the side [prop.: shoulder] of Jebusi on the south [De Wette: on the south side of the Jebusite; Fay: on the side of the Jebusite toward the south], and descended to En-rogel, 17and was drawn from [on] the north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, 18And passed along toward the side [shoulder] over against [ îåּì ] [the] Arabah [Jordan-valley] northward and went down unto [the] Arabah: 19And the border passed along to the side [shoulder] of Beth-hoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border [it, the border] were at the north bay [tongue] of the salt sea, at the south end of [the] Jordan. This was the south coast [border].
20And [the] Jordan was the border of it [bordered it], on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children [sons] of Benjamin, by the coasts [borders] thereof round about, according to their families.
â
Jos_18:21-28
Jos_19:1-9
Jos_19:10-16
Jos_19:17-23
Jos_19:24-31
Jos_19:32-39
Jos_19:40-48
Jos_19:49-50
Jos_19:51
Jos_19:1-9
Jos_19:10-16
Jos_19:17-23
Jos_19:24-31
Jos_19:32-39
Jos_19:40-48
Jos_19:49-50
Jos_19:51
a. Jos_18:1-10. Erection of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. Description of the Land yet to be divided. The whole congregation comes together at Shiloh, where they set up the tent of the congregation (tabernacle). The land is completely subdued, but seven tribes still remain, which have not yet received any possession, since the most powerful tribe of Judah, Ephraim, and the half tribe of Manasseh (to say nothing of the tribes east of the Jordan, previously spoken of), had first obtained their portion (Jos_18:1-2). Joshua reproaches them for their listlessness, and, in order to discharge the remaining duty as impartially as possible, perhaps also bearing in mind the complaint of the sons of Joseph (Jos_17:14-18), he provides that twenty-one men, three from each of the seven tribes, shall first “describe” the land (Jos_18:3-7). This is done (Jos_18:8-9), and now Joshua casts lots and distributes the still remaining territory (Jos_18:10). Eleazar is not mentioned here, while in Jos_14:1-2 [also 19:51] he and the patriarchs of the tribes are introduced with Joshua.
Jos_18:1. And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel assembled together at Shiloh. “The congregation of the sons of Israel,” here as Exo_16:1-2; Exo_16:9; more briefly, “congregation of Israel,” Exo_12:3, or merely “the congregation,” Lev_4:15. The same is the “congregation of Jehovah” ( òãä from éָòַã , for éְòַãָä , by aphæresis, Gesen.). It is called also ÷ְäַì éִùִׂøָàì ( ÷ָäָì , convocation, from ÷ָäַì , to call together, in Kal not used while Hiphil is found Num_8:9; Num_10:7; Num_20:8; and Niphal, Num_16:3, and in this passage, Gesen.), Deu_31:30; ÷ִäַì éְäåָֹä , Num_16:3; Num_20:4, or simply äַ÷ָּäָì , Lev_4:13, precisely like äָòֵãָä . Shiloh ( ùִׂìäֹ or ùִׁéìֹä , 1Ki_2:27, or ùִׁéìåֹ , Jdg_21:21, ùִׁìåֹ , Jdg_21:19, shortened from ùִׁéìåֹï , from ùָׁìָç , to rest, “a place of rest”), in Joseph. Ant. v. 1, 20, 21. Óéëïῦí (hence pointing back to the form ùִׁéìåֹï , from which ùִׁéìåֹðִé , 1K. 11:29; 12:15; Neh_11:5, with which Gesen. very aptly compares âּìäֹ and âִּìáֹé , Jos_15:51; 2Sa_15:12), now Seilun, first correctly made out in modern times by Robinson (iii. 84 ff.) from its position, which is accurately given Jdg_21:19. Eusebius and Jerome already give the distances from Neapolis (Onom. art. “Selo”) incorrectly; “the knights of the cross, also, found Silo at Neby Samwil, where the monks and pilgrims continued, with little variation, to seek the place until the middle of the sixteenth century.” About this time there appears in Bonifacius (De Perenni Cultu) a more correct view concerning the sites of the holy places, but it was soon lost (Rob. iii. 89). Among the ruins, to which one ascends by a gentle slope, whose fertile soil, when Furrer visited Shiloh, was covered with wheat fields (p. 225), there are still found (Rob. l. c.) many large stones, and some fragments of columns which indicate the site of an ancient town. The tabernacle stood here from Joshua to Samuel (Jos_18:1; 1Sa_4:3). Afterward Shiloh was rejected by God (Psa_78:60-68; 1Sa_3:4; Jer_7:12; Jer_7:14; Jer_26:6), and at a very early period utterly destroyed; for Jerome says: “Silo tabernaculum et arca Domini fuit, vix altaris fundamenta monstrantur” (von Raumer, p. 221; Rob. l. c.). Josephus (Ant. v. 1, 19) assumes that Joshua brought the tabernacle ( ôὴí ἱåñὰí óêçíÞí ) to Shiloh, because the place by its beauty seemed to him appropriate, until an opportunity should be offered them to build a temple (’ Éçóïῦò ἱóôᾶ ôὴí ἱåñὰí óêçíὴí êáôὰ Óéëïῦí ðüëéí , ἐðéôÞäåéïí ãὰñ ἐäüêåé ôὸ ÷ùñßïí äéÜ ôὸ êÜëëïò , ἕùò ἂí ïἰêïäïìåῖí íáὸí áὐôïῖò ôὰ ðñÜãìáôá ðáñÝó÷ç ). The site in the midst of the land was very suitable and also very beautiful, so that Josephus may at bottom have very nearly hit the truth. How Gen_49:10 is to he explained does not concern us here. See Lange, Com. on Gen., in l., on the various interpretations of this difficult passage. Finally, let it be noticed that Shiloh lies eight and a half hours north of Jerusalem, and nearly five hours south of Shechem (Furrer, p. 413).
And set up the tabernacle of the congregation there; and the land was subdued before them. As regards the àֹäֶìÎîåֹòֵã , Luther’s translation Stiftshütte, i.e. tent of the covenant, is, as Gesen. remarks, the Greek óêçíὴ ôïῦ ìáñôõñßïõ , Lat. tabernaculum testimonii, according to a derivation from òåּã , testari; cf. îִùְׁëַּï äָòֵãåִú , tent of the law, Num_9:15. It is more probable that, with Gesen. and after him most of the moderns, îéֹòֵã is to be derived not from òåּã but from éָòã (Niph. ðåֹòã ), and accordingly we translate tent of the congregation, place where the òֵãָä meets. If the national sanctuary is called also îִùּׁëַּïÎäָòֵãåּú (Num_9:15), or àֹçֶìäָòֵãøּú (Num_9:15; Num_18:2), the two names agree well with each other, in so far as the tent where the congregation met was, at the same time, the tent in whose most holy recess the law was preserved within the àֲøåֹï äָòֵãåּú (Exo_25:22). Concerning the construction and interior arrangement of the tabernacle, comp. Winer (ii. 529 ff.) as well as Riggenbach. The land was subdued ( ðִëְáְּùָׁä from ëָּáַùׁ , prop. to tread under the feet; in the same sense as here, Gen_1:28; Jer_34:16, and with the addition ìַòֲáָãִéí , 2Ch_28:10; Jer_34:11; Neh_5:6; the Niphal, Num_32:22-29, Gesen.) before them. Because the land was subdued it might be divided.
Jos_18:3-10. The mission of the twenty-one men for the description of the land is now related. Knobel refers this section to the Jehovist, and to the second of his documents; on which compare the Introduction. But when Knobel (p. 451) further supposes it improbable that such an occupation of the land would take place under Joshua, and maintains that the taking up the land and people must have been effected at a later period, say in the time of Jdg_1:19-34 f., or Jdg_4:2 ff, we may urge, against this totally unsupported suggestion, that the time of Joshua, when the Canaanites were filled with terror and distress through the strange conqueror (Jos_2:9-11), and had lost all confidence in themselves, was much better suited for the perilous accomplishment of such a result than the following age, in which the Israelites did indeed gain victories but were then immediately enslaved again (Jdg_2:14-23; Jdg_3:8; Jdg_3:13-14; Jdg_6:1, etc.). Besides, a man of the circumspection of Joshua would, surely if any leader of the people, conceive the idea of occupying the land before he went forward hap-hazard to the division of it. For, although he acted under the divine command, he assuredly did not act without human consideration which was not at all excluded thereby. That Joshua, as Josephus (Ant. v. 1, 21) of his own invention relates, sent with these men some skilled in the art of mensuration (’ Éçóïῦò .… ἄíäñáò ôïὺò ἐêìåôñçóïìÝíïõò ôὴí ÷þñáí áὐôῶí ἐîÝðåìøå , ðáñÜäïõò áὐôïῖò ôéíáò ãåùìåôñßáò ἐðéóôÞìïíáò ), our text is altogether ignorant. Josephus may, indeed, as Keil also (in loc.) observes, have rightly judged when he makes the men attentive to the quality of the soil of Palestine, and assumes that the several inheritances were rather estimated than measured ( êáὶ äéὰ ôïῦôï ,—on account of the diverse quality of the soil— ôéìçôïὺò ìᾶëëïí ἣ ìåôñçôïὺò ôïῦò êëÞñïõò äåῖí ὑðÝëáâå , ðïëëïí ̀ ò ἑíὸò ðëÝèñïõ êἄ ̣ í ÷éëßùí ἀíôáîὶïõ ãåíïìÝíïõ (Ant. v. 1, 21).
Jos_18:3. A reproof to the remaining seven tribes who doubtless could not yet effectually resolve to give up their previous nomadic life, and accustom themselves to settled abodes, especially when these would in great part have yet to be conquered.
Jos_18:4. Joshua will not longer tolerate this lethargy, and therefore demands of each tribe to choose three men whom he will send out, and these shall rise ( åְéָ÷ֻîåּ ) and go through the land and describe it according to their possession. There were accordingly 7 X 3 = 21 men, and not merely ten as Josephus reports, reckoning one to each tribe (Ant. v. 1, 20), but in all ten (v. 1–21), because three surveyors were included in the total number. In the description was included particularly, according to Jos_18:9, an accurate designation of the cities, while at the same time situation and soil might be more particularly taken into account. ìôִּé ðַçֲìָúָí , i.e. “with reference to its being taken in possession by the seven tribes” (Knobel).
Jos_18:5. More minute statement of the errand of the men sent out, Jos_18:4. They should divide the remaining land into seven parts, yet Judah should remain on his border in the south, and the house of Joseph in the north on his border, that is to say, no change should be made in the possessions of these tribes. With them it should remain as it was.
Jos_18:6. When they had described the land thus into seven parts, they should bring the same, i.e. the list as Bunsen for distinctness translates, to Joshua at Shiloh (Jos_18:4), and then would he cast the lots before Jehovah their God. This last should be done at a consecrated place before God’s face, that it might stand fast inviolably.
Jos_18:7. Reason why there should be only seven parts. First,the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of Jehovah is their possession. Essentially the same reason for the lack of a possession as is given, Jos_13:14; Jos_13:33; yet here instead of “the sacrifices of Jehovah, 13:14, or simply ‘Jehovah God of Israel,’ 13:33, we have ‘the priesthood of Jehovah,’ “as Num_16:10; Exo_29:9; Exo_40:15; Num_3:10; Num_18:1-7; Num_25:13 “(Knobel). Second,Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their possession beyond the Jordan on the east, etc.
Jos_18:8. At the departure of the men Joshua repeats his command.
Jos_18:9. They go and describe the land according to the cities into seven parts in a book,i.e. they describe it and divide it with special reference to the cities found therein, into seven parts. Rosenmüller, incorrectly: “ ìֶòøִéí , per urbes, i.e. additis etiam et adscriptis urbibus, quœ in quaque regione erant;” the cities rather give the proper ground of division. How long a time the messengers spent in this service we are not informed. Josephus makes up a story of seven months (Ant. v. 1, 1: Ïἱ äὲ ἄíäñåò ïἱ ðåì ́ èÝòôåò µ… ðåäéïäóýóåíô µ ôò ôå êáὶ ôéìçóÜìåíïé ôὴí ãῆí , ἐí ἑâäüìῳ ìçíὶ ðáñῆóáí ðñὸò áõôὸí åἰò Óéëïῦí ðüëéí , ἔíèá ôὴí óêçíὴí ἑóôÜêåéóáí ). The Jewish historian appears to have been led to the seven months by the seven parts into which the land was divided. The statement is “of no value” (Bunsen), and is “of no more consequence than the assertion of the Rabbins that the division at Shiloh was made seven years after that at Gilgal” (Keil).
Jos_18:10. After they have returned Joshua casts lots and effects the division. On ëִּîַäìְ÷ֹúָí , comp. Jos_11:23; Jos_12:7.
b. Jos_18:11-28. The Territory of the Tribe of Benjamin. First are given á . its boundaries, Jos_18:11-20, then â . its cities, Jos_18:21-28. It was in general mountainous, in part very desert, but in part also, as in the neighborhood of Jericho and Jerusalem (Joseph. Ant. v. 1, 21; Bell. Jud. iv. 8, 3), a well cultivated, fruitful land. The land of Benjamin now makes the impression of solitude and desolation, as if the breath of death rested upon it (Furrer, p. 218–327 [Stanley, S. & P. has an instructive chapter on the Heights and Passes of Benjamin]).
a. Jos_18:11-20. Its Boundaries, Jos_18:11. The territory of Benjamin lay, according to this verse, between the sons of Judah on the south, and the sons of Joseph on the north.
Jos_18:12. The border which is here drawn is the north border, on the north side. It went out from the Jordan, and ascended, north of Jericho, on to the mountains westward,i.e. ascended north of Jericho, on the mountain lying west (and northwest) of this city, and already familiar (Jos_16:1). Its goings out were at the wilderness of Beth-aven. In Jos_7:2, Beth-aven is clearly distinguished, as lying east of Beth-el, from this latter city which itself is often called by the prophets áֵּéúÎàָåֶï (Idol-house, Amo_4:5; Hos_4:15; Hos_5:8; Hos_10:5; Hos_10:8). Since Michmash again, according to 1Sa_13:5, lay east of Beth-aven, this place must have been situated between Beth-el and Michmash. Kiepert has introduced Beth-aven on his map somewhat to the northeast of Michmash, whose immediate surroundings, contrasted with the bare and rocky heights to the east and north, might be called green and fertile (Furrer, p. 217). “The bare and rocky heights” to the east and north of Michmash are no other than those of Beth-aven.
Jos_18:13. And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz (which is Beth-el) southward. Here the difficulty which we met in Jos_16:2 from the distinction between Beth-el and Luz falls away, since it is said that the border between Benjamin and Ephraim went over out of the wilderness of Beth-aven toward Luz, that is Beth-el, and more particularly on the south side of Luz, thus excluding Beth-el from the cities of Benjamin, while yet, in Jos_18:22, it belongs to them. In this way contradiction would arise which Knobel seeks to obviate, thus: “The author does not say that the border went merely to the south side of Beth-el; it went to the south side of the ridge ( ëֶּúֶó ) of Beth-el, i.e. toward Bethel.” Beth-el ( áֵּéúÎàֵì , Gen_28:11-19; Gen_31:13, earlier ìåּæ = almond-tree), familiar through all the history of Israel, from the patriarchs to the Maccabees (1Ma_9:50), and even later (Joseph. Bell. Jud. iv. 9, 9), now a seat of the worship of God, again a place of idolatry, lies on the right of the road from Jerusalem toward Shechem (von Raumer, p. 178), is now called Beitin (Robinson, p. 225 ff.), and was first recognized by the Missionary Nicolayson in 1836 (von Raumer, p. 174). Ruins cover three or four acres, and there are interesting remains of a great reservoir which Furrer saw (p. 221). Beitin lies 1,767 feet high, three and three-quarters or four hours from Jerusalem (von Raumer, p. 179; Furrer, p. 413). From this position of Beth-el we may understand how the border went down ( éָøַã ) from thence toward Ataroth-addar, which is identical with the place of the same name, Jos_16:2, but different from the Ataroth, Jos_16:7. “Robinson found an Atara about six miles south, and a second one about four miles north of Gophna. The southern one appears to be the same as Ataroth-addar, past which ran the north border of Benjamin from Beth-el toward lower Beth-horon, Jos_16:2-3; Jos_16:5; Jos_18:13-14.” So von Raumer, (p. 175), with whom Knobel agrees, while Robinson himself, according to the passage cited by Knobel (ii. 315), holds that this southern Atara cannot be Ataroth-addar, because it lies too far within the territory of Benjamin. He has been followed by Kiepert, Van de Velde, and Menke on their maps. Von Raumer, also has only marked this northern Ataroth, and entirely omitted the southern one which, according to his view and that of Knobel, should be = Ataroth-addar. We, like Keil (on Jos_16:2), adopt the view of Robinson.
From Beth-el the border went thus northwestwardly toward Ataroth-addar, and thence on toward the southwest, upon (De Wette: on; Bunsen: over) the mountain that lieth on the south side of the nether Beth-horon. This is the north border of Benjamin, which, as far as lower Beth-horon, coincides with the south border of Ephraim. Beth-horon ( áֵּéúÎúֹøåֹï = house of the hollow) mentioned, Jos_10:11, in the history of the battle of Gibeon, and in Jos_16:3-5, as here, as a border city between Benjamin and Ephraim, a city of Levites, Jos_21:22, fortified by Solomon, 1Ki_9:17; 2Ch_8:5), spoken of in the Maccabæan wars (1Ma_3:15-24; 1Ma_7:39 ff; 1Ma_9:50), and in the history of the wars of the Jews (Joseph. Bell. Jud. ii. 19, 18). There was, as appears from Jos_16:3; Jos_16:5; 1Ki_9:17; 1Ch_7:24; 2Ch_8:5, as well as from the passage before us, an upper and a lower Beth-horon. Both places are still recognized. The upper is now called Beit ur el-Forka, the lower Beit ur et-Tahta. The latter place stands on the top of a low ridge (Robinson, iii. 58 f.) and is separated from the upper Beth-horon by a wady. Robinson and his companion passed through this, and then began to ascend the long and steep pass. “The ascent is very rocky and rough; but the rock has been cut away in many places and the path formed into steps; showing that this is an ancient road..… The pass between the two places was called both the ascent ( îַòֲìָä ) and descent ( îåֹøָã ) of Beth-horon, Jos_10:10-11 (Gr.: ἀíÜâáóéò êáὶ êáôÜâáóéò âáéèùñῶí , 1Ma_3:15-24).” (Robinson, 58–60). Remains of ancient walls are found in both places as well as in the pass between them (3:58). Furrer (p. 14) found the hill on which stands the village of lower Beth-horon, partly covered with olive trees. The barley fields in the low ground were mingled with patches full of dark green beans. He also describes the pass as “rocky, steep, and extremely laborious.” Seldom does a trader drive his camels through it (contrast Israel’s hope, Isa_60:5-6; Isa_60:9). The land on almost all sides is burnt up like a desert, through which no one passes (Furrer, p. 15).
Jos_18:14. At this point, namely, at the mountain south of Lower Beth-horon, the boundary line of Benjamin bends southwardly toward Kirjath-baal, or Kirjath-jearim, separating this territory from that of Dan on the west; while the border of Ephraim runs out in a northwest direction past Gezer to the sea. Of this west border of Benjamin, of which we now read for the first time, it is said: and the border was drawn ( åúָàַø , as Jos_15:11, and often) and bent around toward the west side southward from the mountain that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim), a city of the children of Judah. This was the west side. ôְּàַúÎָí = sea-side [side toward the sea]. ôֵּàָä is properly “mouth” = to ôֶּä , from ôָּàָä (cogn. with ôָּòָä , ôָּúָä ) to blow; then, like Lat. ora (from os), “side,” which is turned to any quarter of the heavens. As here ôְּàַúÎéָí , so Jos_18:15 we have ôּ ' ðֶâְáָּä , and Exo_26:20, ô× öָôåֹï [comp. Jos_18:12 of this chap.]. Kirjath-baal: see Jos_15:60.
Jos_18:15-19. South Border. This coincides entirely with the north border of Judah, Jos_15:5-9. “ éָîָä merely indicates that the south border started from the west and ran toward the east.’ That Kirjath-baal (Kirjath-jearim) belonged to the cities of Judah and not to those of Benjamin, is plainly apparent from Jos_15:60. The border, therefore, on Kiepert’s Map requires correction; Menke has drawn it right.
Jos_18:20. The east border consists of the Jordan.
â . Jos_18:21-28 . Cities of the Tribe of Benjamin. They fall into two groups of twelve and fourteen cities, the former lying in the east, the latter in the west. Jericho, Jos_2:1, and often. Beth-hoglah, Jos_15:6. Emek (vale of) keziz. There is a Wady el-Kaziz east of Jerusalem (Van de Velde, Mem. p. 328, apud Knobel).
Jos_18:22. Beth-arabah, Jos_15:6, now Kaffr Hajla. Zemaraim, probably a place of ruins. Sumrah, northeast of the Wady el-Kaziz, near the road from Jerusalem to Jericho, opposite the Khan Hadschur. See Van de Velde’s Map. Bethel, Jos_18:13.
Jos_18:23. Avim. Since Avim ( äָòַåִּéí ) here follows directly after Beth-el, while Ai ( òé ) which stood near Beth-el (Jos_7:2; Jos_12:9), and to the east of it, is not mentioned, it is natural with Knobel to regard Avim as identical with Ai, which is called also Aiah (Neh_13:11) and Aiath (Isa_10:23). The signification of all these names is essentially the same: ruins, heaps, stone-heaps, Mic_1:6 (see Gesen.). Where Ai lay is not accurately made out. Van de Velde, following Finn, supposes, as may be seen from his map, that it was the same as Tel el-Hadshar (Stone-hill), thirty-five minutes east of Beth-el (ii. 251–255, and Mem. p. 282, apud von Raumer, p. 169). Robinson (ii. 119, 312 f.) sought it twice, but after all his investigation only reached the conclusion that the most probable site of Ai is the place of ruins exactly south of Deir Dirvan, one hour distant from Beth-el. The direction would be south-east. Knobel on the passage before us has not kept the two views sufficiently distinct. Furrer also visited the region, but undertook no further researches. He too speaks of “many stones” existing there (p. 219). [Tristram, 168 f. confidently agrees with Robinson’s view.] The tent of Abraham once stood here between Beth-el and Ai (Gen_12:8; Gen_13:3). The history of the conquest of Ai has been treated above, ch. viii. Hitzig (ubi sup. pp. 99, 100) disputes the existence of a city of Ai altogether, and proposes the view that Ai signifies in Turkish “moon,” and can therefore have been the Scythian, perhaps Amoritish name for Jericho as Dibon was the Hebraized Dirvan Council (??). After the Exile, Benjamites dwelt there again (Neh_11:31; Neh_7:32; Ezr_2:28), so that the city had been rebuilt.
Parah, a place of ruins, Fara, west of Jericho on Van de Velde’s Map. Ophrah, in Saul’s time attacked by the Philistines (1Sa_13:17), perhaps, as Robinson (ii. 124) conjectures, the modern Taiyibeh. Von Raumer (p. 216, n., 235 c) suggests that Ophrah may be the same as Ephraim or Ephron (Joh_11:54).
Jos_18:24. Chephar-haamonai, Ophni, mentioned only here, and hitherto undiscovered. Gaba ( âֵáַò = âִáְòָä ) “height,” “hill.” This Gaba is according to Jos_18:28 distinct from Gibeath or Gibeah, with which further 1Sa_13:2-3; Isa_10:29 are to be compared. Now since between Anathoth and Michmash (see Kiepert’s Map) there is a place called Jeba, the question has arisen whether this Jeba was Gaba or Gibeah. Robinson (ii. 114, 316) was at first inclined to regard Jeba as = Gibeah, the Gibeah of Saul, but afterward became satisfied (comp. Bibl. Sac., Aug. 1844, p. 598) that Gibeah of Saul was rather, as Gross suspected, to be looked for on the hill Tuleil el-Fuleh (“hill of beans,” Rob. p. 317), where von Raumer also, and Van de Velde, and Kiepert place it, while our Gaba, as the similarity of the name renders probable, has been preserved in the Jeba just spoken of. Knobel on the contrary identifies Gaba and Gibeah of Saul in accordance with Robinson’s earlier view, and proposes a variety of conjectures in regard to Gibeath of Jos_18:28. For the distinctness of Gaba and Gibeah of Saul, Isa_10:29 is, we may remark in conclusion, decisive, a passage whose vividness of description Furrer (who likewise regards the two places as clearly different, pp. 212, 213, compared with 215, 216), was constrained on the spot to admire (pp. 216, 217). To this eastern division belong also the two cities of priests, Anathoth and Almon, Jos_21:18, of which more hereafter.
Jos_18:25-28. “The fourteen west Benjamite cities.”
Jos_18:25. Gibeon, âִּáòֹï , properly the same name again as âּáְòú , âִּáְòָä , âֶּáַò quite familiar to us from the narrative, in this book, of the wiles of its inhabitants (Joshua 9.) and from the battle at Gibeon (Jos_10:1-15); later (Jos_21:17) a Levite city as well as Geba. It is the modern el-Jib lying on an oblong hill or ridge of limestone rock, which rises above a very fertile and well cultivated plain (Robinson, ii. 135 ff.). Of the fertile plain Furrer also (p. 16) makes mention. He found the hill on which el-Jib is situated well cultivated in terraces. Vines, figs, and olives flourish on the eastern slope, while on the north the Tel falls off somewhat abruptly (Furrer, pp. 16, 17). Historical associations with days subsequent to Joshua attach to this place where stood the Tabernacle under David and Solomon (1Ki_3:5 ff.; 1Ch_16:39; 1Ch_21:29; 2Ch_1:3; 2Sa_20:9). To Gibeon belonged Chephirah (Jos_18:26), Beeroth (Jos_18:25), Kirjath-jearim (Jos_15:9-60; Jos_18:14).
Ramah ( øָîָä = height, a frequently occurring name of places, on which compare Gesen.), not to be confounded with the Ramah of Samuel or Ramathaim (von Raumer, p. 217, No. 148); near Gibeah (Jdg_19:13; Hos_5:8), noted in the contests with Syria (1Ki_15:17; 2Ch_16:1) and Assyria (Isa_10:29); the place where Jeremiah was set free (Jer_40:1, compared with 31:15); inhabited again after the exile (Ezr_2:26; Neh_7:30; Neh_11:33); now er-Ram (Robinson, ii. 315); a wretched village north of Gibeah, on a hill (Furrer, p. 214). Furrer discovered here remains of Roman milestones, and supposes that a Roman road ran from Gibeah, Rama, Geba down toward the narrow pass of Michmash (p. 215).
Beeroth mentioned, Jos_9:17, as belonging to Gibeon, or allied with Gibeon; home of the murderers of Ish-bosheth (2Sa_4:2), and of Joab’s Armor-bearer (2Sa_23:37), likewise rebuilt after the exile (Neh_7:29). Robinson (ii. 132) regards the present Bireh as Beeroth, a village with old foundations, remains of a Gothic church, and about seven hundred Mohammedan inhabitants. With him agree Keil and Knobel, while von Raumer disputes the view of Robinson as contradicting the statements of Jerome (p. 197, n. 187). But compare, for a defense of Robinson, Keil on Jos_9:17.
Jos_18:26. Mizpeh, not the same as the Mizpeh in the lowland, Jos_15:38; already in the time of the Judges a place of assembling for Israel (Jdg_20:1; Jdg_21:1); but specially celebrated on account of Samuel (1Sa_7:5-15; 1Sa_10:17); after the fall of Judah, the seat of the Chaldæan governor Gedaliah (2Ki_25:23; 2Ki_25:25; Jer_40:6 ff; Jer_41:1 ff.); now the Nebi Samwil, i.e. prophet Samuel, five hundred feet above the level of the plain, 2,484 feet above the sea (von Raumer, after Symonds, p. 213), with a very rich and extensive prospect (Robinson, ii. 143, 144). Here they would have it that Samuel was buried under the half-decayed mosque on the mountain. Thus Nebi Samwil would be = the Rama of Samuel. Robinson has, however, among others, shown that this is not so, but that Mizpeh is probably to be sought here. He is followed by Keil, Knobel, Tobler, Van de Velde, Kiepert, Furrer (p. 212). The last named writer from the Scopus near Jerusalem perceived Nebi Samwil in the northwest, “the high watch-tower of the land of Benjamin.”
Chephirah, like Beeroth belonging to Gibeon (Jos_9:17; Ezr_2:25); the present place of ruins Kefir on the mountain east of Ajalon (Jalo). See Robinson (Later Bibl. Res. p. 146). The name is related to ëֶּôָø