Joshua 19

Our great Forerunner hath already taken possession for us; and as he assures us that “in his Father’s house there are many mansions,” he will doubtless prepare a place for us, where every thing will be provided conducive to our eternal happiness; we must not however sit down in indolence or inactivity; but like good soldiers, under the Captain of our salvation, march boldly forward; remembering the words of Joshua and of Caleb, ‘The land is an exceedingly good land; and if the Lord delight in us, then will he bring us into this good land, and give it us; a land which floweth with milk and honey.” (Numbers 14:7-8). Chap., XIX. Ver. 1—51. Simeon, Zebulun, &c.—If the true believer have entered into engagements which are likely to prove injurious to him, he will not retract, nor disappoint those who confide in him: but if he have obtained an undue advantage in any contract, he will recede from it without murmuring, in compliance with the requisitions of equity and kindness.

For “‘love seeketh not her own,” and “doth not behave unseemly.” They are most favoured in Providence, who are placed nearest to the sanctuary, and have most advantages, and the fewest hinderances, to the salvation of their souls; though they do not possess worldly influence or distinctions; and as far as we have the choice referred to us, we should always decide by this rule. But a Sovereign God dispenses his favours as he pleases; and one man hath his habitation assigned him in “the valley of vision,” and another his “in the very region of the shadow of death;” “according to the good pleasure of his will.”—Disinterestedness and an unassuming deportment shed a peculiar lustre upon eminent characters: and they who labour most to do good to others, will be indifferent about their own worldly interests, and willing to forego all things, rather than preclude themselves from the sweet pleasure of communicating felicity.

An inheritance in the Canaan above they must and do covet; but it will be soon enough to enter upon that, when they have done all the service to their brethren, of which they are capable; nor can any thing more effectually assure them of their title to it, than laying themselves out properly to bring others to desire, to seek, and to obtain possession of it. But Jesus hath far outdone all others, in this and in other respect. ‘Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich.” He would not enter upon his inheritance, till by his obedience unto death, he had secured the eternal inheritance for all his people! nor will he account his own glory completed, until every ransomed sinner is put in possession of his heavenly rest.— T’. Scott.

Notes on the verses

Chap. XIX. Ver. 1. The inheritance of Simeon fell within…. Judah —And was very contracted, which occasioned them to seek employment as teachers in other tribes, whereby the words of Jacob were fulfilled, Gen. xlix. Ver. 11. Lo the river, &c.—(‘The river Kishon, which empties itself into the Mediterranean near mount Carmel, in the vicinity of which Jokneam was situated.]—Bagster. Thus, who calls this town Dabaritta, or Dara- Ver. 12. Daberath.—{Josephus bitta, places it in the plain of Jezreel or Esdraelon, in the confines of Samaria, SS EEE and Galilee. It is probably the Dabira which Jerome places towards mount Tabor, in the district of Diocesarea; and the Debora or Dabowra, mentioned by travellers as a village at the foot of mount Tabor.]—Bagster.; Ver.

28. Kanah.—(This seems a different Cana from that in Lower Galilee; and to be that which is placed in some maps east of Tyre, between Libanus and Antilibanus, and south of the river Cassimer or Leitani.]—Bagster. Ver. 34. Judah upon Jordan.—As the country of Judah was not near Jordan, this hath greatly puzzled the commentators; but might there not at this time be a town or city named Judah? Ver. 41. Zorah.—[{Situated on the frontiers of Dan and Judah, ten miles north from Eleutheropolis, towards Nicopolis, according to Eusebius, not far from Caphar-Sorek.—Ir-shemesh.—Supposed by some to be the same as Beth-shemesh in the tribe of Judah; but this latter city is evidently distinguished from it by being assigned by the tribe of Judah to the Levites, (ch.

xxi. 16.) Ir-shemesh rendered Polis Sammaus by the LXX seems to be the same as Emmaus or Nicopolis, 22 miles south-east from Lydda, according to the Old Jerusalem Itinerary.]—Bagster. Ver. 43. Ekron,—|Ekron is placed by Eusebius between Ashdod and Jamnia eastward; and probably the ruined village of Tookrair, mentioned by Dr. Richardson, situated on the top of a hill, and which he says seems to have been a place of considerable consequence, occupies its site. |— Bagster, Ver. 47. The children of Dan.—This seems here inserted by way of anticipation, as the event did not occur till after the death of Joshua, and is related at length in the 18th chapter of Judges. aie