Joshua 15

Chap. XV. Ver 1—63. Boundaries and divisions.—After some general survey of the land, Joshua proceeded to allot to Judah, Ephraim, and the half of Manasseh, their situations and inheritances, before they left Gilgal; and afterwards removing to Shiloh, a more extensive and accurate survey seems to have been made, and the other tribes had their portions assigned them by lot also. The inheritance which Judah actually possessed was large; for it was intended that this tribe should have the precedency, and it was the most numerous of all the tribes. But that which was at first allotted to them, contained half the southern part of Canaan, and was found too extensive: so that some deductions were afterwards made.

The relative situation of the tribes seems to have been decided by lot: but the proportion of land for each, to have been determined, in some measure, by the discretion of the persons appointed for that service.—“Bohan the son of Reuben,” was either one of Reuben’s sons, who died before Jacob left Canaan, and had been buried in the place here mentioned; or some eminent person that had lately died there. Several of the places spoken of must have been different from those called elsewhere by the same names. The portion, here marked out, was bounded, on the south, by the wilderness of Zin, and the southern coast of the salt sea; on the east by that sea, reaching to the place at which it receives the waters of Jordan; on the north, by a line drawn nearly parallel to Jerusalem, across from the northern extremity of the salt sea, to the south boundary of the Philistines and to the Mediterranean sea; which sea was its boundary, as far as the river of Egypt.

This transaction seems here introduced by anticipation, and it is recorded elsewhere. Caleb was doubtless desirous to excite the Israelites to obtain [possession] of their inheritance: but this proposal was also well calculated to secure the marriage of a daughter with a worthy man, who perhaps might have previously entertained an affection for her, and knew the value of an alliance with a person so eminent for faith and piety, as Caleb was. Probably, Debir was also promised as her dower.—Fathers, among the Israelites, (and indeed among all the ancients,) seem to have exercised a more absolute authority, in disposing of their daughters in marriage, than is customary among us; and these generally acquiesced in the choice made for them.

The case is the same in many countries at present. It seems the Canaanites had recovered the possession of Debir, after Joshua had taken it; but it was in this manner again taken out of their hands.—T’. Scott.