Joshua 15
DOYLYChap. XVII. ver. 1. — for he was the firstborn of Joseph.] The Hebrew particle, translated for, may be translated though; then the meaning is plain, that the lot of Manasseh came up after that of Ephraim, not before it, though he was the firstborn of Joseph, for Jacob had preferred Ephraim before him, Gen. xlviii. 19, 20. The other half of the tribe of Manasseh, the descendants of Machir, Manasseh’s eldest son, had received their portion beforehand, on the eastern side of Jordan, because Machir “was a man of war.” Bp. Patrick, Pyle.
Joshua 15:5
- — there fell ten portions to Manasseh.] It appears that the lot was divided into six parts, according to the six sons of Manasseh, mentioned at verse 2; and one of these parts, that assigned to Hepher, was again divided into five parts for the five daughters mentioned at verse 3. Thus, on the whole, there were ten portions. Dr. Wells.
Joshua 15:9
- And the separate cities] That is, cities which were possessed by the Ephraimites, although they lay in the portion of Manasseh; on which account they are here called separate cities. Dr. Wells.
Joshua 15:10
- And they drove not out &c.] See notes on Judg. i. The conquest of Gezer, mentioned at Judg. i. 29, seems to be repeated from this place. As it is here said that “the Canaanites serve under tribute unto this day,”
Joshua 15:12
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— This is the coast of the children of Judah] Thus their lot was bounded on all sides, in the first draught of it: but being afterwards found too large, it was contracted into a narrower compass, that more room might be made for the tribe of Simeon, who had part of this lot given to them; and other places were taken out of it for the tribes of Benjamin and Dan, as will appear at Josh. lix. 1, 9, &c. Bp. Patrick.
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— could not drive out the inhabitants &c.] They could not drive them out, through want of faith in God, and of zeal to perform His commands. Here the fountain of all the evils which afterwards befell the Israelites, begins to be opened, in that, either through sloth or covetousness, or distrust of God’s power, they did not attempt to drive out those people that were stronger than ordinary; or, through want of faith in God, failed in the attempt. Bp. Patrick.
Joshua 15:13
- — they put the Canaanites to tribute:] Herein they grievously offended against the Divine command; see Deut. xx. 16, 17; by which they were peremptorily commanded to destroy the Canaanites when they were able. In thus putting them to tribute, they were pro-
bably influenced by motives of indolence and gain. Bp. Patrick. This early degree of sloth and worldly mindedness, afterwards displayed in other instances, Judg. i. 28, laid the foundation of all the ensuing calamities which befell the people. Pyle.
Joshua 15:14
- — Why hast thou given me but one lot &c.] The children of Joseph, that is, the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, complain to Joshua of the narrowness of their allotment, which was increased by the Canaanites still retaining so large a portion of it. Joshua, though a descendant himself of Joseph, remained perfectly impartial; and told them, they must enlarge the country by their valour, by driving out their enemies from the woody and mountainous parts, and thus making them habitable for themselves. Pyle.
It appears that the children of Joseph, consisting of a tribe and a half, and in all respects a flourishing people, had only one lot or portion assigned to them in the division; whereas, according to the rate at which the lands were assigned to the other tribes, they ought to have had one portion and a half. Shuckford.
Joshua 15:18
- — she lighted off her ass;] This was done in reverence to her father. The alighting of those that ride is considered in the East as an expression of deep respect.
Joshua 15:32
- — all the cities are twenty and nine.] No less than thirty-eight places have been mentioned. The difference is explained, either by supposing that twenty-nine only of the places mentioned could be called cities; or that, of the thirty-eight here mentioned as first given to Judah, nine were afterwards given to Simeon, Josh. xix. 2, 3; and so are considered in the general amount, as belonging to that tribe.
Joshua 15:36
- — fourteen cities] Fifteen have been mentioned: the two last are probably names of the same place, Gederah, or Gederothaim, as the margin gives it.
The borders of the sons of Joseph. CHAP. XV, XVI, XVII. The lot of Manasseh. Before CHRIST 1444. jearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:
Joshua 15:63
- — the Jebusites dwell] The Jebusites (descended from Jebus, the son of Canaan) possessed the town of Jerusalem till after the death of Joshua, Judg. i. 6; and the castle till the reign of David. Bp. Patrick.
Chap. XVI. ver. 1. — the children of Joseph] That is, the whole tribe of Ephraim, and that half of the tribe of Manasseh, which had not been provided for, east of Jordan. Dr. Wells.