Joshua 15

Joshua 15:1

OF Zin] Not that (as it seemeth) into which the Israelites first entred when they came out of Egypt, but another, on the south of the lake Asphaltites; because in the Hebrew they are written with divers letters, the one with Tsade, the other with Sameh.

Joshua 15:2

salt sea] The lake of Sodom, sulphurous and bituminous.

Joshua 15:3

Maaleh-acrabbim] So called, from the scorpions and snakes which there abounded, Judg. 1. 36.

Joshua 15:4

the sea] 1: e. The Mediterranean sea.

Joshua 15:5

end of Jordan] Where it falleth into the salt sea.

Joshua 15:6

son of Reuben] The tribe of Reuben had no land on that side of Jordan; therefore it seemeth that place had its name from Bohan a Reubenite, for some memorable act done by him there.

Joshua 15:7

Gilgal] Called also Geliloth, Joshua 18:17.

Joshua 15:8

valley of the son of Hinnom] In which they sacrificed their children with inhumane torments to Molech, 2 Kin. 23. 10. Jer. 19. 2, 6. 2 Chron. 28. 3. And in the new testament, by a little change of the letters, it is called Gehenna, and taken for the torments of hell, Matthew 18:9. 23. 33.

Jebusite] Hierusalem was called Jebus, Judges 19:11. because it was the metropolis of the Jebusites, which they long possessed, 2 Samuel 5:6.

Joshua 15:10

mount Seir] Not that in Edom, but another of that name in the land of Judah.

Beth-shemesh] Not that situate in the tribe of Issachar, Joshua 19:22. but a city in the tribe of Judah, 2 Kings 14:11. yet given to the Levites, Joshua 21:16. 1 Samuel 6:12.

Joshua 15:11

the sea] 1: e. the Mediterranean sea.

Joshua 15:14

Caleb drve thence] This, as some think, was done after the death of Joshua, Judg. 1. 10. 20.

Joshua 15:15

he went up thence] This expedition is attributed to Caleb, because, though Joshua and the army performed it, Josh. 10. 37, 38. together with him, yet it was done chiefly for his sake, to whom Hebron was given, and atchieved chiefly by him, Othniel, and the rest of his allies and friends. Some think, that after it was conquered by Joshua, it was again repossessed by the Canaanites, and then afterwards recovered by Caleb: And others conceive, that Caleb himself properly conquered these cities; but by anticipation it is attributed to Joshua, because Caleb took them by his concession and authority.

Joshua 15:18

she came unto him] 1: e. To Othniel her husband.

and Caleb said] See this story more fully related, Judges 1:11.

moved him to ask] Obtained leave of him that she might ask of her father.

she lighted] That she might with more reverence speak unto her father. See Genesis 24:64. 1 Samuel 25:23.

Joshua 15:19

a blessing] 1: e. A gift or boon, with thy fathers blessing on it, Genesis 33:11.

a south land] A dry land, because high, and exposed to the scorching heat of the sun.

springs of water] 1: e. Other lands, with springs of water in them, that with watering them we may make them fruitfull.

Joshua 15:32

all the cities are twenty and nine] Thirty and six were named; but because some of them did belong to the tribe of Simeon, as appeareth Joshua 19:2. and some lay in common to both tribes, therefore he speaks here but of twenty and nine.

Joshua 15:36

Gederah, and Gederothaim] Both which names signifie one and the same city, as some conceive, and so here are but fourteen cities reckoned.

Joshua 15:55

Maon] From this city the wildernesse adjoyning had its name, in which David hid himself from Saul, 1 Samuel 23. 25.

Joshua 15:63

could not drive out] To wit, because God, for their idolatry and other sins, would not drive them out before them. See Judg. 20. 20, 21.

unto this day] 1: e. In which this history was written; for a part of that city was taken by Juda, Judges 1:8. and by David wholly conquered, 2 Samuel 5:6.