Joshua 15

Joshua 15:1-12

The division of the land proceeds; the tribe of Judah has the precedence, 1. The borders of their inheritance, ver. 1—12. 2. The particular assignment of Hebron and the country thereabouts to Caleb and his family, ver. 13—19. 3. The names of the several cities that fell within Judah’s lot, ver. 21—63.

1. THIS then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families, were to the border of Edom; the wilderness of Zin southward, was the uttermost part of the south-coast. 2. And their south-border was from the thune of the falcels, from the bay that looked southward. 3. And it went out to the south-side to 1 Maaleh-acrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and attended up on the south-side unto Kadefs-barnea: and passed along to Hezon, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compact to Karkas. 4. From thence it passed toward Azaron, and went out unto the river of Egypt, and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south-coast. 5. And the east-pp border

border was the falt-fea, even unto the end of Jordan: and their border in the north-quarrel was from the bay of the sea, at the uttermoth part of Jordan. 6. And the border went up to Beth-hogla, and paffed along by the north of Beth-arabah, and the border went up to the flone of Bohan the son of Reuben. 7. And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward looking towards Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south-side of the river: and the border paffed towards the waters of En-fhemeh, and the goings out thereof were at En-magel. 8. And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom, unto the south-side of the Jebuite, the fame is Jerufalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain, that said before the valley of Hinnom, wellward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward. 9. And the border was drawn from the top of the hill, unto the fountain of the water of Nephmah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron, and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-learim. 10. And the border compaffed from Baalah wellward unto mount Seir, and paffed along unto the side of mount Jearim (which is Chefalon) on the north-side, and went down to Beth-fhemeh, and paffed on to Timnah. 11. And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and paffed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jah-heel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea. 12. And the well-border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof: this is the coast of the children of Judah, round about, according to their families.

Judah and Josiph being the most diffinguished, have the first lots call for them in Gilgal, the one at the northern, the other at the southern border; and afterwards in Shiloh the other tribes had their inheritance by lot between them. Judah had all the south, and each family, as well as each tribe, was settled in their particular inheritance, by these divinely-appointed commissioners, from whose decision there could be no reason to appeal. The boundaries are fixed from the southern point of the sea of Sodom, to the Mediterranean, on which frontier lay the land of Edom; the eastern coast extended the whole length of the salt-fea, to the fountains of Jordan: the northern border lay along the lot of Benjamin, including mount Zion and Morish, which became a part of Jerusalem, as afterwards enlarged; and in it notice is taken of the flone of Bohan, either a sepulchral monument, or railed to perpetuate the remembrance of some gallant action performed by this brave Reubenite; and of the valley of Achor, where a rebellious son of Judah was floated: the western border ran down to the Mediterranean sea and its coasts. In such a observed, however, that afterwards Simeon had a part of this western coast allotted him; and Dan and Benjamin, who were dependent to Judah, possessed also some cities included in their boundaries. Nos. (1.) It is good to have certain limits fixed, to prevent disputes. (2.) They who have the largest portion to possess, have the largest frontiers to defend: which our advantages and disadvantages are balanced, God’s distributions will not be found so unequal, as at first sight they may appear.

13. ¶ 2 And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh, he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which say is Hebron. 14. And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Shefhai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. 15. And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-Jepher. 16. ¶ And Caleb said, “Ile that sinister Kirjath-Jepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achish my daughter to wife. 17. And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb took it: and he gave him Achish his daughter to wife. 18. And it came to pals, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What would I then? 19. Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south-land, give me also springs of water: and he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

Joshua 15:13-19

Caleb’s portion, though allowed him according to his claim, falls providentially in the midst of the lot of his brethren of the tribe of Judah. And as he must possess it by the sword, we have it for his honour reported, that he conquers

the first from the sons of Anak. They seem to have fled at his approach, because they felt resistance was vain: the inhabitants of Debir only stood on the defensive; formerly called Kirjath-Jepher, the City of Books, as if it had been famous as a place of literature. Though this city had been taken, chap. 2. 30. Yet being deferred, the Cananatim, it seems, returned and repaired the fortifications. To animate his troops therefore for the attack, he promises his daughter Achish in marriage to the person who should take the city. Othniel, his brother’s son, hizes the glad occasion; to gain the object of his love, he flies to the attack, and signalizes his valour in the capture of the city: an early prelage of his future advancement as judge in Israel. Nos. They who in age would be respected, must spend their youth in deeds of honour and virtue. Caleb immediately fulfils his promise, and Othniel is made happy in his beloved Achish. Nos. Among the first of human blessings, is the union of their hands in marriage, whose hearts were before united in faithful love. With his wife, Othniel received an inheritance in land: Achish deforming the situation, as a south land, which being exposed to the sun, would be parched, moved her husband to ask for another field, in which were springs of water; but Othniel suggesting probably that she was more likely to obtain it, in token of respect to her father, she alighted, and asked the blessing or favour of him, to below upon her the springs of water in the upper field: but in this he exceeded her expectations, for he gave her both the upper and nether springs. Nos. (1.) When parents marry their children, they are in duty bound liberally to supply them with what they need, and themselves can well spare. (2.) Husband and wife have but one interest, and should have one purse as well as one heart. (3.) We may without danger of sin, desire the comfort and consciousness of life, and use any lawful means to procure them. (4.) If an earthly father is so kind, shall we not experience greater favours from our father in heaven, when we pray unto him? (5.) They who have the nether springs of earthly blessings, and the upper springs of Divine grace bestowed on them, have abundant reason to be satisfied and thankful for their lot.

20. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. 21. And the uttermoth cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward, were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur. 22. And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah. 23. And Kefarh, and Hazor, and Ishman, 24. Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth. 25. And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hearon, which is Hazor, 26. Amam, and Sherna, and Moladah. 27. And Hazar-gaddah, and Hefshmon, and Beth-paket. 28. And Hazar-thual, and Beer-fheba, and Biziothah. 29. Baalah, and Sim, and Azem. 30. And Eliolad, and Chefil, and Honnah. 31. And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Nansannah. 32. And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages. 33. And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Afhnah. 34. And Zanosh, and Engamin, Tappuah, and Enan. 35. Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah. 36. And Sharsim, and Adithaim, and Gederah. 37. And Gederotham: fourteen cities with their villages. 38. Zenan, and Hadathah, and Migdal-gad. 39. And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel. 40. And Jubtah, and Mokzath, and Egdon. 41. And Cabbon, and Lahmas, and Kithifh. 42. And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Namnah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities with their villages. 43. Libnah, and Ether, and Afhan. 44. And Jiphtah, and Afhnah, and Nezib. 45. And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities with their villages. 46. Ekron with her towns, and her villages. 47. From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Afhdod, with their villages. 48. Afhdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof. 49. ¶ And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh. 50. And Dannah, and Kirjath-tannah, which is Debir. 51. And Anah, and Eshtemoh, and Anim. 52. And Gofhen, and Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities with their villages. 53. Arah, and Dumah, and Ethean. 54. And 5 Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah. 55. And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba (which is Hebron) and Zior: nine cities with their villages. 56. Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah. 57. And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanosh. 58. And Cain, Gilbeah, and Timnah: ten cities with their villages. 59. Halhat, Beth-sur, and Godor. 60. And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eitekon: six cities with their villages. 61. Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim) and Rabbah: two cities with their villages. 62. ¶ In the wilderness.

Beth

Beth-arahah, Middin, and Secacah, 62. And Nihshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi: fix cities with their villages. 63. As for the Jebushes the inhabitants of Je-rufalem, the children of Judah could not drive them but: but the Jebushes dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

Joshua 15:20-63

In Judah’s lot alone lay an hundred and fourteen cities. The names of some of the divisions are more than the sum total, probably because the unwalled towns, though above villages, are not reckoned among the cities. No mention is made of Bethlehem; though to distinguished in after-times; it seems not to be yet built, or to be among the villages. Some also of these cities they never published, both were those belonging to the Philifines: and Jerusalem itself yet was in the hands of the Jebushes: through them, or weariness of the war, or doubtful of their ability to take so impregnable a fortress as it was judged, they suffered them to remain among them till the reign of David. Note, Sixth and unbelief are dangerous enemies in our Christian warfare; how much more could we have done for God and our souls, had we a heart to trust him, and zeal to serve him.