Joshua 14

Guar. XIV. Ver. 1—15. The land distributed by lot, and Mount Hebron given to Caleb.—“Though God had sufficiently pointed out by the predictions of Jacob and Moses what portions he designed for each tribe; yet we readily discern an admirable proof of his wisdom, in the orders he gave to decide them by lot. By this means, the false interpretations which might have been given to the words of Jacob and Moses were prevented; and by striking at the root of whatever might occasion jealousies and disputes among the tribes, he evidently secured the honesty of those appointed to distribute the conquered lands of Canaan. Besides, the success of this method gave a fresh proof of the divinity of the Jewish religion, and the truth of its oracles.

Each tribe finding itself placed by lot exactly in the spot where Jacob and Moses foretold, it was evident that Providence had equally directed both the predictions and that lot; and it would be the greatest insolence and stupidity not to acknowledge the inspiration of God in the words of Jacob and Moses;—the direction of his hand in the lot, and his providence in the event.” —Bagster. * The portion (says the learned Massius) fell to each tribe just as Jacob had predicted two hundred and fifty years before, in the last moments of his life, and Moses immediately before his death: for to the tribe of Judah fell a country abounding with vineyards and pastures: to Zebulun an Issachar sea-coasts: in that of Asher was plenty of oil, wheat, and metals: that of Benjamin near to the temple, was, in a manner, “between the shoulders”

of the Deity. Ephraim and Manasseh were distinguished with a territory extended from the west to the south of the tribe of Judah. Since, therefore, the lot so well corresponded to these predictions, would it not be insolence and stupidity in the highest degree, not to acknowledge the inspiration of God in the words of Jacob and Moses; the direction of his hand in the lot, and his providence in the event?” The application of Caleb for his inheritance, as related in this chapter, is very interesting. His name (as we have before remarked) signifies all-heart; and in respect, both to character and constitution he was what we familiarly call hearty,—open, candid, generous, zealous, faithful, in short, all heart.

And as was his character, so also was his constitution: for he says at the advanced age of fourscore and five, ‘I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; [that is, to search out the promised land, forty-five years before.] As my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.” This he says, in applying for Mount Hebron as an inheritance; for though Joshua had destroyed both the city and its inhabitants, it appears that it had been repossessed by the Anakims, a gigantic race, with whom he would now have to contend: but with the same faith and courage as on a former occasion he cries out, “If so be the Lord will be with me then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.” (Compare (Numbers 13:30); xiv. 7, 8.) Such a sentiment demands not only our admiration but adoption: opposed as the Christian is by spiritual enemies, temptations without, and corruptions within, he may boldly encourage himself in God, and declare, “If so be the Lord will be with me, then shall I be able to conquer and to triumph.” And as Joshua, the typical Saviour, not only gave Caleb a title to Mount Hebron, but his blessing with it; so will Jesus our Lord admit us to the heavenly country, with “Come, ye blessed of my Father.”

Notes on the verses

Chap. XIV. Ver. 5. They divided the land.—The work was begun some time before, at Gilgal, and was finished some time after, at Shiloh. It must have required a considerable time, to make all the geographical arrangements that were necessary for this purpose. Last Ver. 12. Give me this mountain, &c.—Some translate the words, ** Though the Anakims be there, and the cities (namely, of the Anakims) strong and great; (yet) if the Lord be with me,” &c. This implies that the Anakims had repaired or rebuilt the walls, &c. but we must not confound their fortifications with those of modern times, since the invention of artillery.—Dr. Wall. Ver. 15. Kirjath-arba, (i. e. the city of Arba) which (or who) was a great man, &c.

And the land had rest from war.—That is, there were no more general wars; the inhabitants of Canaan, collectively, could make no longer any head, their confederacy being broken; and the land being divided, each tribe had to expel the inhabitants from their own territory.—Dr. Clarke. Chap. XV. Ver. 1. Then was the lot.—The geography of the sacred writings presents many difficulties, occasioned by the changes which Canaan has undergone, especially for the last 2000 years. Many of the ancient towns and villages have had their names so totally changed that their former appellations are no longer discernible—several lie buried under their own ruins, and others have been so long destroyed, that not a vestige of them remains.

On these accounts it is very difficult to ascertain the precise situation of many places mentioned in these chapters; but this cannot affect the truth of the narrative. Some of the principal cities in the universe, as Babylon and Troy are not only reduced to ruins, but so completely blotted out of the map of the world, that their situation cannot be ascertained. This circumstance cannot invalidate the history of the ancient world, in which they made such a conspicuous figure; nor can the authenticity of the sacred writers be impaired because several places no longer exist. |—Bagster. * 2 Ver. 3. Maaleh-acrabbim.—Margin, ‘‘The going up to Acrabbim;” i. e. the mount of scorpions, where these noxious creatures probably abounded.— Adar.—[Probably the same as Hazar-addar, (Numbers 34:4). Supposed to be the Coracea of Ptolemy, in Arabia Petrea. Eusebius places a castle, called Carcaria, at the distance of a day’s journey from Petra. }—Bagster. Ver. 4, The river of Egypt.—See note on (Joshua 13:3), Ver. 6. Beth-hogla.—Beth, is a house, or temple, and most of those places, thus called, probably contained idol, erie — Fula the la mentioned by Jerome is the same as “the threshing-floor of Atad,” ((Genesis 1:10).) situated 3 miles from Jericho, and two from Jordan; and belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, though serving as a frontier to the tribe of Judah. ]—Bagster. Ver. 8, Valley of the son of Hinnom.—Who this was, is utterly but from this name came Gehenna: by becoming the scene

hi rites of Molech, this valley became a figure of hell itself. See (Matthew 5:22, 29) &c. Ver. 16. Will I give Achsah.—Compare (1 Samuel 17:25). Ver. 19. A south land.—Probably dry and parched in the valleys; a double blessing in that springs.—Springs in the hills are The gift of Hebron to Caleb, is a repetition of what is mentioned (Joshua 14:13-15), for the sake of adding, that he drove out the sons of Anak, as he had anticipated: other circumstances here mentioned, are repeated in the first chapter of Judges.—* Caleb had his inheritance assigned him in a different way from the other Israelites; and his case being thus singular, his daughter, when married to a near relation, was allowed to inherit, though he had sons.”

(Numbers 27:1-11). Ver. 31. Ziklag.—‘The Philistines seem to have kept possession of this city till the time of David, who received it from Achish, king of Gath, 1 Sam. mel after which, it remained in possession of the kings of Judah.”—Dr. Ver. 32. Twenty and nine.—Thirty-eight are here enumerated, but nine of them are afterwards allotted to Simeon. See ch. xix. 1—9. Upper and nether Ver. 36. Fourteen cities.—Fifteen are named, but it is supposed that Gederah and Gederothaim were united. Ver. 62. City of salt—Or of Melach, near the Dead sea, where all the land is deeply impregnated with salt. Supposed to be the same as Zoar.— Enedi.—(En-gedi, or Hazazon-Tamah, was situated, according to Eusebius, in the desert west of the Dead sea.

Josephus says it was 300 stadia from Jerusalem, and not far from the lake Asphaltites; and consequently it could not have been far from Jericho and the mouth of the Jordan. It was celebrated for the abundance of its palm-trees. |—Bagster. Ver. 63. The Jebusites dwell at Jerusalem to this day.—The stronghold of Sion was not taken till David’s time. (2 Samuel 5:7).