Joshua 10:41

And Joshua smote them, from Kadeshbarnea,.... Which lay to the south of the land of Canaan, Numbers 13:17; even unto Gaza, which lay to the southwest, and was one of the five principalities of the

And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon. All the country of Goshen - (cf.

Kadesh-barnea lay in the south of Canaan, . Gaza was in the south-west of Canaan. So he here signifies that Joshua did in this expedition subdue all those parts which lay south and west from Gilgal. Goshen; not that Goshen in Egypt, but another in Judah, 15:51.

(41) From Kadesh-barnea (on the south-east) even unto Gaza (on the west, now Ghazzeh in Philistia), and all the country of Goshen (from the south to Gibeon in a northerly direction). And all the country of Goshen.—This expression creates some difficulty. Goshen has been thought to be the town of that name mentioned in Joshua 15:51; but it is inconceivable that a single place of no importance in the mountains of Judah should give the name to an extensive district, which is manifestly intended here. If we knew the exact northern boundary of the land of Goshen assigned for a distinct residence to Joseph’s brethren in Egypt, it might help to clear up the meaning of this passage. That Goshen, at its Egyptian end, bordered upon the Delta is clear. But how far did Goshen extend towards the north? In 1 Chronicles 7:21-22, we find that Ephraim’s children in his lifetime made an incursion into Canaan as far as Gath. But this was during the time that Israel dwelt in the land of Goshen. Did they suppose that they were in the land of Goshen when they plundered the men of Gath? If Goshen (frontier) could be the general name for the border-land between Egypt and Palestine, we can understand that the borders might vary with the power of the Egyptian monarchy for the time being. The country of Goshen, unto Gibeon, seems to be described from south to north; Gibeon being intended as the northern boundary.

Verse 41. And all the country of Goshen] Calmet contends that this was the very same country in which the Hebrews dwelt before their departure from Egypt; and according to this hypothesis he has constructed his map, causing it to extend from the Nile, which was called the river of Egypt, along the frontiers of the land of Cush or Arabia. It however appears plain that there was a city named Goshen in the tribe of Judah, see Joshua 15:51; and this probably gave name to the adjacent country which may be that referred to above.

41. from Kadesh-barnea] i.e. from the wilderness in which Kadesh-barnea lay. This place, the scene of Miriam’s death, was the furthest point which the Israelites reached in their direct road to Canaan. From it also the spies were sent forth (Numbers 13:17; Numbers 13:26), and there also, on their return, the people broke out into murmuring, and upon this their penal term of wandering began (Numbers 14:20-33; Deuteronomy 2:14). even unto Gaza] In the Shephelah, and only about one hour from the Mediterranean Sea. This defines the limits of Joshua’s conquests on the west, Gaza being the last town in the S. W. of Palestine on the frontier towards Egypt. This town, properly Azzah, the name of which means “the strong,” appears even before the call of Abraham (Genesis 10:19), as a “border” city of the Canaanites. We shall find the territory of Gaza mentioned afterwards, as one which Joshua was not able to subdue (Joshua 11:22; Joshua 13:3), and though assigned to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:47), they did not obtain possession of it (Judges 1:18-19). all the country of Goshen] “Alle the lond of Josson,” Wyclif. This is not to be confounded with the province of Goshen (frontier) in Egypt. It was a district in the south of Judah, and probably derived its appellation from a town of that name, mentioned in company with Debir, Socoh, and others in the mountains of Judah (Joshua 15:48-51). even unto Gibeon] This marks the extent of the Conquest on the east.

From Kadesh-barnea unto Gaza - Numbers 13:26 This limits Joshua’s conquests on the west, as the other line, “all the country of Goshen unto Gibeon,” does on the east. Goshen Joshua 15:51 has not been identified.

41. [Kadesh-barnea was a most important station in the southern border of the Holy Land, the starting-point of the forty years’ wandering, the place where Miriam died, and whence the spies went out to explore the Land of Promise.