Judges 2
PATftnd nlterhj destfdyed it. Some think this was the name both of a city and of a small region; but whereabouts it Yvas situated is not known. And the name of the city teas called Jlonnah.] Ffrom the utter destruction beforementioned. Some think this was the same place with that mentioned Numb. xxi. 2, 3. But there he speaks of more cities that wero laid waste; here but of one. Ver.‘IS. And Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askclon with the coast thereof and Ekron with the coast thereof] These three cities were in the land of the Philistines, upon the sea-coast; which the Israelites did not hold long, before the Philistines recovered them again. For the Israelites contenting themselves with taking these cities, without destroying the people (as they did in other places, and ought to have done here), and only making them tributaries, it was not hard for them to regain their liberty.
Judges 2:1
joLND an angel of the Lord. The Jews by an angel.here understand a prophet, who was sent by God as his messenger; which the word angel imports: and they commonly take it to have’been Phinehas, who was employed on this message. But I sec no reason to depart from the natural signification of the word, when there is no absurdity in it, and it is not usual to speak in this metaphorical stylo: for there can no instance be given, that I remember, of aprophet called an angel of the Lord; which I take to signify more than an angel, which appeared from heaven on this occasion; that is, the angel of the covenant. Came upfront Gilgal.] Angels are not commonly said to come up, but to come down; which is one reason, I suppose, why this angel hath been taken for a prophet. But if we consider whence he was seen to come, and why from’ Gilgal, this phrase will appear to be most proper; of which I shall give an account presently. To Bochim.] This was not the name of the place before, but was given it on this occasion, (ver. 5.) In all proba-. bility it was Shiloh; for there was no other place where all the people of Israel were wont to assemble, as they were now when this angel appeared to them, (ver. 4.) And said, I made you to go out of Egypt.] These words evidently shew, this Was not a created angel, but an uncreated; even that very person who appeared to Joshua hard by Jericho, Josh. v. 13, 14. which I have shewn there was God himself: for who but God could speak in this style, I made you to go out of Egypt? No prophet, nor any created angel, durst have been so bold; but would have prefaced to this speech in some such words as these, Thus saith the Lord, I have made you to go, &c. Supposing, then, this angel to be the same with him that then appeared, it was fit for him to appear now as coming from Gilgal, to put them in mind of that illustrious appearanco of God near that place, and the assurance he then gave them of his presence with them in the conquest of the land, and the solemn covenant they mado with him, by the renewing of circumcision in that place: which upbraided them with their base ingratitude to God, and their sloth in not endeavouring to expel the Canaanites.. Andhave brought you into the land which Istvare toyour fathers.] Of which he had given them possession. And 1 said, I will never break my covenant with you.] If they proved not false to him, he assured them they should always find him present with them, to make good his promises to them. This Joshua told them they knew very well, that not one good thing had failed which he promised; and bade them be confident he w r ould still continuo the same faithful God. (See Josh. xxi. 45. xxiii. 14.)
Judges 2:2
And ye shall make no league with the inhabitants of this land. Or rather, But ye shall make no league, &c* For this was the condition of the covenant on their paTt, Deut. vii. 2. and long before that, Exod. xxiii. 32. xxxiv. 12. and again more lately, Josh, xxiii. 12. Ye shall throw down their altars.] See Exod. xxxiv. 13. Deut. vii, 5. xii. 3. But ye have not obeyed my voice; tchy have you done this?] That is, you can give no account of yonr disobedience to such plain, and express, and repeated commands.
Judges 2:3
Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you. God, therefore, resolved to make good the threatenings pronounced in his covenant; as hitherto* he had performed his promise. (See Josh, xxiii. 13.) But they shall be thorns in your sides.] To vex and gall them, as Joshua there told them. And their gods shall be a snare unto you.] As Moses had foretold them, (Exod. xxiii. 33. xxxiv. 12.) For they were taken, by their conversation with idolaters, as beasts arc in’ a toil, and drawn to the worship of their gods, which was their ruin.’
Judges 2:4
And it came to pass, when the angel of the Lord §\ji ll^UU M £HAP. II r. UPON JUDGES. spake all these words unto all the children of Israel.]. By this it appears they were all met at some solemn festival, as they were bound to do three times every year (for otherwise it cannot be conceived what should occasion such an assembly of the whole congregation), and, consequently, the place where these words were spoken to them was Shiloh. That the people lift up their voice, and wept.] They made doleful lamentations; some, it is likely, when they reflected on their sin; others, when they thought of their danger.
Judges 2:5
And they called.the name of that place Bochim. Which signifies weepers. It is possible the place where the angel, or where they stood, was called by this name, in memory of this great goodness of God; which, for the present, mightily wrought upon their hearts, as appears by what follows. And they sacrificed there’ unto the Lord.] This shews it was the place of public worship where they now were; and offered upon this occasion whole burnt-offerings unto God, by way of supplication and prayer to him, with thanksgiving for his goodness in calling them to repentance. Some think, indeed, that they offered expiatory sacrifices to make atonement for their sin: but they would not have been called simply sacrifices, which commonly are meant of whole burnt-offerings, or peace-offerings, by which they acknowledged him to be the Lord, and promised to serve no other god. * -.. \ • >… r,
Judges 2:6
And when Joshua had let the people go. Or, Now when Joshua had broke up tJidt last great assembly which he lield before his death; (xxiv. 28.) so some expound it. But the next words seem to direct us rather to understand it of his dismission of them, after be had cast lots, and divided the land among them, (Josh. xix. 51. xxi. 43.) The children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land.] To take possession of that land which fell to their share, and settle themselves in it. And they went with a resolution, no doubt, to serve the Lord only; fts,jwc cannot but think, he exhorted them’ before they parted: for the lots were cast in Shiloh before the Lord, as we are often told in the book of Joshua, xviii. 6. 8. 10. xix. 51. From whence they going to take possession of their lot, it is reasonable to think he did not dismiss them without his blessing, and with a solemn charge to observe the laws of God, such as ho gave to the two tribes and half, (xxii. 5, &c.) And this is the reason why the author of this book repeats this out of the book of Joshua, to shew when their apostacy began, and how it camo about: for though they went to their possessions well-disposed, yet their love of the world, and study of their own private advantages, so increased, that they made them forget the public good, and take little care of their religion.
Judges 2:7
And tM people served the Lord all the days of Joshua. According to his exhortation, and their solemn promises, a little before he died, (Josh. xxiv. 14 — 1G, &c.) And all the days of the elders that out-lived Joshua.] Such as Eleazar, and the rest mentioned Jofch. xix. 51. who were men of great authority, as well as. piety; andoften, no doubt, admonished them of their duty, and put them in mind of their promises made to Joshua in Shcchem, where he made a covenant between God and them, and wrote it in the book of the law Of God, (xxiv. 25, 2G, &c.^ Who had seen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Israel.] Both among the. Egyptians, and in the wilderness, and in Canaan; which Joshua had represented to them as a motive to fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity, (Josh. xxiv. 5, 6, &c. 14, 15.) Of these things the elders, we may reasonably suppose, frequently reminded them, and thereby kept them steadfast in their religion. (Sec Josh. xxiv. 21.) For whatsoever bad inclinations they had in them, they were restrained, by the reverence they bare to these great men, from breaking loose from God while they lived…., j
Judges 2:8
And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, &c. After he had made that excellent speech to them beforementioned, and engaged them in a solemn covenant to be God’s people. (See Josh. xxiv. 29.) >,.
Judges 2:9
And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, &c. This is mentioned only to shew that they honoured him after his death, by attending his funeral, as they had done in his life. (See Josh, xxiv. 30.)
Judges 2:10
And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers. I suppose he means, not only all thos6 who had seen the works of God in Egypt and the wilderness, but those also who had seen Jordan dried up, the walls of Jericho fall down, and the sun stand still at Joshua’s word, and their enemies smitten down with hailstones, &c. Which had made such impressions on their hearts, that they generally continued in the service of God while they lived; and kept others in obedience to him;% I And there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord.] But the*, next generation did not regard the Lord, nor mind their religion; but only studied to settle themselves, on any terms, in their possessions, by making peace with the Canaanites, whom they should have driven out. " Nor yet the tvorks which he had done for Israel.] Which they did not keep in mind, as they ought to have done.; being wholly intent to their earthly concerns, in building houses, planting vineyards, and improving their lands. Unto which they were invited by the peace they enjoyed; by which men’s minds are wont to be corrupted; as the Greeks and Romans were in future ages. According to those known words of the Roman satirist: " Nunc patimur longae pacis mala"
Judges 2:11
And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. By this forgetfulncss of God and of his works, and by their familiarity with the people of Canaan, they soon learned to do as they did, and that openly and publicly, not fearing the dreadful sentence of God against such evil-doers, who were most odious to him, whatsoever excuses men make for them. So that phrase, in the sight of the Lord, may be interpreted. And served Baalim.] The gods of the nations whose land they possessed, who were called by this general name, which signifies lords. For among the heathen, as St. Paul observes, there were gods many, and lords many. In Hebrew ho would have said many Baalim, who were their deified groat men, as Mr. Mede hath shewn, (p. 77G. of his works.) For Baal (in Chaldee, Bel) the king of Babel next after Nimrod, was the first that was deified, and reputed a god after his death, from whence they called all other do- Microsoft ® [ciiai\ ir. mons by the name of Baalim; as from the first Roman emperor who was called Caesar, all that followed him were styled Caesars. Baalim, therefore, being the general name of the gods of Syria, Palestine, and the neighbouring countries, there were as many Baals as there, wero nations: for example, Baal of the Sidonians, and Baal of the Amorites, of the Moabites, and Ammonites, and the rest of the people thereabouts, who had their Baalim. (See also Selden, de Diis Syris, Syntagm. ii. cap. 1.)
Judges 2:12
And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and folloived other gods of the people that were round about them. By other gods may be meant the gods of the people of Canaan; which did not content them, but they worshipped also the gods of other neighbouring nations, none of which had bestowed any benefit upon them. This was a very high aggravation of their sin; that when all other nations made to themselves such gods as they thought had done them good, or could be helpful to them, they forsook the greatest Benefactor to their nation, who had made them a free people, and worshipped such gods as had done nothing for them, nor had been able to preserve those that worshipped them from destruction. And bowed themselves unto them.’] They did not only own,ihcm for gods, but publicly adored them. Andprovoked the Lord to anger.] Who had told them he was a jealous God, and could notbear any rival, (Exod.xx.;T, 2.) It is not easy to give an account what moved them to forsake their God after such wonderful things as he had dono for them, and their most solemn engagements to him. It is not unlikely that one. reason was, the unusual rites prescribed in his Divine service, much different from all other nations; and several laws that made them unlike all the rest of the world, who hated them upon this account. This they could not bear, desiring to be conformable to other people and to gain their friendship. For Hosea saith, viii. 12. they looked upon the great things of the law as a strange thing.
Judges 2:13
And they fotsook the Lord, and served Baal rand Ashtaroth. Especially they worshipped the sun, and the moon, or Venus; which some understand by Astarte. In the next chapter it is said they worshipped Baalim and, the groves, iii. 7. For in those groves several. goddesses, under the name of Ashtaroth, were worshipped, as Mr. Selden conjectures in his Syntag. ii. de Diis Syris, cap. 2. ^vhere he shews there wero many Astartes among the heathen, as “there were Baals; and therefore the Scripture speaks of them in the plural number (as the LXX; here doth, rate’ Aarapraio), because of the multitude of images representing Juno, or Venus, or Diana, which had the name of Ashtaroth, signifying (as some think) as much as Beatas, blessed.
Judges 2:14
And the anger qf the Lord was hot against Israel. Brake out in very dreadful effects vpon them. And he delivered them into the hands of the spoilers that spoiled them.] Carried away their cattle and their goods. Andhesold them into the hands of their enemies round about.] Who carried away their persons, as well as.their goods, and made them slaves. For that seems to be the.meaning of selling them, which is a phrase often used in this book, (iii. 8. iv.2.) and in other places, (Deut. xxxii. 30. Psal. xliv. 12, &c.) This was a just punishment of God upon them, that, as they served the gods of the people round about them, (ver. 12.) so they should be slaves to all those nations round about <3iem. So that they could not any longer stand before their ewe* mies.] Being so far from being able to make any further conquests, that they could not defend themselves.
Judges 2:15
Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the Lord xvas against them for evil. They had ill Success in all their affairs, whether private or public business. As the Lord had said, and as the Lord had sworn unto them.] See Deut. xxviii. xxx. 17, 18. xxxi. 16, 17. and many other places, i And they.were greatly distressed.] As soon as they slackened their endeavours to drive out the Canaanites, and made leagues with them (as we read in the foregoing part of this chapter), God began to withdraw himself from them, and would not drive out their enemies from before them, (ver. 3.) But when by this means they were ensnared to worship their gods; (as he foresaw they would, ver. 4.) then he gave them up into the hands of those enejnies, with whom they had made friendship, and suffered them to tyrannize over them, and use themeruelly.
Judges 2:16
Nevertheless, the Lord raised up judges, &c. Extraordinary rulers arid governors, whose authority, I take to have been chiefly in time of war; they being raised up (by a particular inspiration and excitation from God), as it here follows, to deliver them out of the hands of those that spoiled them. So that commonly, when they had wrought deliverance for the people, and their army was dismissed, they became private men again; as appeartfby the story of Jephthah, who would not undertake to lead them against the Ammonites, unless he might be their governor when the w T ar was done; (Judg. xi. 9.) and of Gideon, who refused to rule over them, when they offered the government to him, after the conquest of.the Midianites, (viii. 22, 23.) Their business, therefore,- principally was to preserve the people’s liberties, to restore them, together with God’s true religion; and to prescribe what was to be done in such’cases; being a kind of dictators, whose power continued as long as there was occasion for it..Yet it must be acknowledged, that some of them had an established authority for their, life over those whom they had rescued from slavery (not over the whole commonwealth of Israel, part of which was some time in peace, when another part was oppressed), and managed political matters, when they* were too hard for the ordinary judges to. divide them. (See Deut* xvii. 9.) Thus we* read that Deborah, a prophetess, judged Israel, and that the peoplo came to her for judgment, before she excited Barak to vindicate their liberties: but commonly they seem to have contented themselves with this, not minding judgment; as Samuel, the last of them, chiefly exercised his authority in matters of justice, 1 Sam: vii. 15, &e. where he is said in his house at Ramah to have judged Israel, and ended their controversies, and dono right to every man: and when, by reason of age, he could do this no longer, he committed it to his sons, (See Corn. Bertram, de Repub. Judaica, cap. 9. p. 109, &c).
Judges 2:17
And yet they would not hearken to their judges. Not constantly; but revolted again, (ver. 18, 19.) But they went a whoring after otlier gods, and bowed themselves unto them.] Worshipped them publicly; which CHAP. II.] UPON JUDGES. is commonly called going a whoring from God, who had espoused them to himself* They turned quickly out of the way.] As soon as the judge was dead, who had wrought deliverance for them; Which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the Lord.] In the days of Joshua, and the elders which survived him, (ver. 7.) But they did not so.] Whom the next generation would not imitate.
Judges 2:18
And when the Lord raised them up judges. This is the constant phrase wherein he speaks of these great men, whose spirit was stirred up by an extraordinary motion froin. God, to undertake things beyond the reach of human wisdom or power. Then the Lord was with the judge.] Endued him with heroical courage, and gave him wonderful success. Here “the Targum continues the same language, The Word of the Lord was the helper of the judge. (See chap. i. 19. 22.) And delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge.] As long as he ruled oyer them, and kept ihem in obedience to him. This signifies, that if they did not exercise their authority, yet the effects of it remained all’ the days of.their life.? For it repented the Lord because of their groanings, by reason of them that oppressed and vexed them.]‘He altered 4he course of his providence, when they not only sighed and.groaned under their oppressions, but cried unto him for help, and promised amendment, as we find they did, iii. 9. 15. vi. 7, 8, &c.
Judges 2:19
And the Lord was with Judah. The Targum hero uses the same language, which we find all along in the book of Joshua, when he speaks of God’s presence with him: (see Josh. xiv. 12.) And the Word of the Lord helped ihe house of Judah. And they drave out the inhabitants of the mountain.] God gave them such success wheresoever they went, that it ought to haVe encouraged them to go on with their enterprise; which they did not, as the following words tell us. This mountain, it is very likely,.was Mons Casius, which was near to Gafca. But-coidd not drivb out ilie inhabitants of the valley, 7>etause they had chariots of iron.] Here now the fountain of all the ensuing evils which befel the Israelites begins to be opened. In that, either through sloth, or covetousness, or distrust of God’s power, or more lenity than tho law of Closes allowed, they did not attempt those people that were stronger than ordinary; or, being unfaithful to God, failed in their attempt; or,, having some success, only brought them under tribute. And it is’most likely, they were so affrighted at the iron chariots (which were in use in the plain country, though not in the mountains), that’they were qui(e disheartened; and did not remember what God had promised them f ( ver. 2. of this chapter), and how undauntedly Joshua set upon those that came thus dreadfully appointed, (Josh. xi. 4.6.) Concerning these chariots, see Josh xvii. 16. 18- where I have observed they are frequently mentioned in profane authors* And see Dilherrus, torn. i. Disput. Academ. p. 129. And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, -they returned.] To their former idolatry. And corrupted themselves more than their fathers.] Who Jived in the former judge’s time, and had sorely smarted for this sin, till God, upon their repentance, sent them deliverance.’ %V. ; • * \ In following other gods, to serve them, and bow down to 4hem.] They either multiplied more strange gods, or devised’ still new rites of worship contrary to God’s law The common service they paid to every one* of them was building temples to their honour, setting up altars, planting groves, burning incense, and sacrificing beasts. They ceased not from tlieir evil doings.] In the Hebrew, Would not let fall their oiun inventions; but retained them, notwithstanding* all that God had done to bring them off from their idolatry. Nor from their stubborn way.] But obstinately persisted in their evil courses, as if nothing had been done to reclaim them.
Judges 2:20
And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said, and he expelled thence the three sons ofAnak. Thus ends the account of the wars of the tribe of Judah: which concludes with a repetition of what part in their country was given to Caleb; because he was their leader (as I have often said), and this was his reward, viz. the country about Hebron; the city itself belonging to the Levites. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel^ This highly incensed the Divine displeasure, and provoked him to punish them more grievously.. And he said, Because tlve people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, &c] By making leagues with the Canaanitcs, and not throwing down their altars, &cJ Arius Montanus very well observes, that this verse expresses what great reason there was for God’s being exceeding angry with them. First, because they had forsaken him, to whom they owed their being a nation. Secondly, because they had violated that covenant, which was not a new or obscure thing, but made long ago with their fathers, who, it was very well known, had reaped the benefit thereof. And, thirdly, because (as this verse concludes) they had not hearkened nnto w Gods voice; i. e+ though he had often admonished them, by his prophets, of their duty, and* chidden and threatened them; yet they would not mind what he said, but in a most rebellious manner gave themselves up to the.impieties of other nations;:
Judges 2:21
And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem. This tribe, and that of Judah, had an interest in Jerusalem: but though both of them joined together, they could not drive the Jebusites out of the south part of it, where they had a strong fortress upon Mount Sion. (See Josh. xv. (53.) Jv T ay,^of that part of the city which belonged to Judah, they.were not dispossessed till the forenamedexpedition. But the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Benjamin to this day.] That is, they kept possession of that fortress, from which they were not able to drive them; but they dwelt there in the days when Samuel wrote this book, being not expelled till the reign of David. And they seem also to have dwelt with tho Benjamites in that part of the city belonging to them; which though conquered, yet the inhabitants were not destroyed, but only brought under tribute. For this was very agreeable to the lazy and covetous humour which now began.to prevail in Israel. I also will not henceforth drive out any from be* fore them.] That is, not presently, of so soon as he intended, if they had pleased him. (See, ver; 23.) Of the nations which Joshua left when he died.] For God never intended. they should be all rooted out at. once/* as hath been often noted from Exo’d. xxiii. 29, 30. yet. their expulsion had been more speedy, if they had obeyed him, than now he, resolved it should be. Nor. could it well be otherwise; for, by being delivered into their enemies’ hands; to spoil and to enslave them, their increase was thereby hindered; so that they were not able.to people all the land so soon as they might have done if they had been obedient: for then God promised to multiply them exceedingly, (Deut. vii. 13, 14, &c.)
Judges 2:22
And the house of Joseph. viz. The tribe of Ephraim, (Josh. xvi. 1.) They also went tip against Beth-el.] They, following the example of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, endeavoured to enlarge their border by taking Beth-eh And tltt Lord was with them.] As the success demonstrated. The Targum hath it, (as before, ver. 19.) The Word of the Lord was their helper. That by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the Lord to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.] That it might appear, whether thejr would continue firm, as their fathers resolved, in the service of God, (Josh. xxiv. 16. 24.) or revolt” from him to serve other gods. * **,’, * *&.
Judges 2:23
And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth-eL. They proceeded very oautiously; sending spies (as we read in the next Verse) to view \he strength of the place, and to discover how it might be best approached. Noiv the ndme of the city before was Luz.] See Gen. xxviii. 19. Josh. xvi. 2., Tliertfore the Lord left these nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.] This was one reason they were not all cast out at once, by the victorious hand of Joshua; for if none of them had been left remaining, there would. have been.no temptation to worship their gods; which would have been all abolished with them. Another reason is given of this, in the place beforementioned, Exod. xxiii. 29, 30. and Deut. vii. 22.’. •*
And fhe spies saw a man come forth out of the city. Whom they apprehended, as he passed by the place where thej lay to make their observations, and get intelligence… And they said nnto him, Shew vs, we pray thee, the entrance into the city.] Where it may be most easily entered. For they did not inquire the way to the gate, which was common and plain enough^ but for the weakest part, where the walls were lowest, or most out of repair, or had the least guard. Or, they desired him, perhaps, to shew them some private way to get into it, which none knew but the inhabitants. And we will shew thee mercy.] As they spake civilly and gently to him when they apprehended him, so they make hira a promise of kind usago, when they got into the city, by sparing his life, and all belonging to him, as they did Rahab and her family: which, it is highly probable, he begged of them, being fallen into their hands; and it was not unlawful for them to grant, if he changed his religion, or left the country, as we find he afterward did. Ver* 25. And when he shewed them the entrance into the vity.] Notice, I suppose, was immediately sent to the army, which lay not far off. They smote the vity with the edge of the sword.] Came upon them on a sudden, and assaulted them where they least expected it; so that they found little resistance.. But they let go the man, and all his family.] Did them no harm; but gave them their liberty, as well as lives, to go whither they pleased. $
And the man went into the land of the Hittites.J A colony of this nation, I suppose, had planted themsolves heretofore in some of the neighbouring countries, Syria, or Arabia, or some of those that fled upon Joshua’s invading the land, settled themselves there. To whom this man thought good to go with his family, being, perhaps, of the same nation. And built a city.] Which is an argument, that the chil- ** & VJ/ CHAP. I.] UPON JUDGES. dren of Ephraim were so kind as to dismiss him and his family, with all their goods and estate. And called the name ofitLuz.] To preserve the. memory of the place from whence he came. The founders of cities are mentioned with honour by all authors; and this seems to be so intended. Which is the name thereof unto this day.] It kept this name to the time of the writing of this book, and long after. For it seems to be the same city mentioned by Josephus in Arabia (not far from Judea), which he calls Aovwa, (lib. xiv. Antiq. cap. 2.) AndBochartus observes, that this place had its name originally from the great plenty of almonds growing there; from whence also it may be Lusitania had its name, (lib. i. Canaan, cap. 35.)
Neither did Manasseh. He speaks of that part of this tribe which was seated on this side Jordan. Drive out the inhabitants of Beih-shean and her towns, &c] Hitherto several of the Israelites had shewed some valour, and expelled some of the Canaanites. But now he begins to shew how cowardly others of them were; for these do not seem to have attempted any thing against the places here mentioned, or any where else, Bethshean was a city not far from Jordan. See Josh. xvii. 11. where the rest of the cities here named in this verse are mentioned.;.. But the Canaanites would dwell in that land.] Not only in the cities, where they might have been straitened and kept under, but in the towns and villages, where they had the same liberties with the Israelites, and perhaps held some of the ground belonging to them. For so some think the word dwell signifies; that they enjoyed all the benefits that any others had. And this they demanded as. their right; which the Hebrew word jaal imporis; a settled resolution not to quit that land. (See Josh. xvii. 12.)
And it came to pass, when the Israelites were strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out. Herein they acted contrary to the law, whereby they were enjoined to destroy them, when they were able. And being strong enough to make them tributaries, they might, no doubt, have utterly expelled them out of the land. But they found more profit in making them pay tribute; and it cost them le^s pains to bring them into some subjection, than to destroy them. And this seems to be here noted, as the common fault of all the children of Israel, that, when they grew strong, they did not use their power to destroy or expel the Canaanites: but let them live quietly under them, upon payment of tribute. V “, - • ■
Neither did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer. See Josh. xvi. 10. It is very probable, they did not so much as exact a tribute from them (which is not here mentioned), but mq,de a covenant of friendship with them; which was still a higher crime, And this the next words seem tp import. But the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.] Which is a form of speech not used in the foregoing exceptions. And to dwell among a people, signifies a quiet settlement, with the enjoymejit of all their rights. As in 2 Kings iv. 13. when Elisha offered the Shunamite to do her any kindness at court, she expresses herself s^isfied with her condition, in these words, I dwell among my own people.
Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants ofKitron, nor the inhabitants ofNahalol. Which was the greater crime, because this last city was a
Neither did Asher drive out tfie inhabitants of Accho. A city near the Mediterranean Sea, called by Strabo and others Ace; and afterward Ptolemais,,as Eusebius saith, who observes, that the Asherites did not drive out the y A\o<pv\ovg from hence. Procopius saith the same. Nor the inhabitants ofSidon.] Which every one knows was another great city upon the same sea. Nor ofAhlah, nor ofAchzib.] We find no mention of the former of these elsewhere; but the latter is in Josh. xix. 29. and was called in aftertimes Ecdippa, as Eusebius relates. Nor Helbath, nor Aphik, nor of Rehob.] The two latter of these we read of in Josh. xix. 28. 30. but nothing of the former, unless it be the same with Helkath, mentioned there, ver 25. •,. K
But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants ofthe land; for they did not drive them out. They seem to have entered into a league of friendship with the Canaanites; so that they were mixed with them as if they had been the same nation, which was most strictly forbidden by the law of Moses: for they did not so much as make them tributaries; but the Asherites seem to have submitted to the basest condition of, all the other tribes: for it is not said, as of the other tribes, that the people dwelt among the Asherites; but that the Asherites dwelt among them. As if the Canaanites remained still the lords of that country, and the Asherites were only permitted to live among them.:, /..
Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth-anath. Both, these cities are mentioned as in the lot of Naphtali, Josh. xix. 38., But they dwelt among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land.] Imitating the Asherites, in letting the old inhabitants live promiscuously with them; or rather contenting themselves with the liberty to live quietly among the Canaanites… Nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh and Bethanath became tributaries to them.’] In this they were more valiant than tho Asherites, that they brought these two cities under contribution, and made them acknowledge them for their lords.
And the Anwrites forced the children of Dan into the mountain. The condition of the Danites was the worst of all the tribes: for they could neither expel the old inhabitants of their country, nor make them tributaries, nor so niuch as possess it together with them; but the Amoritcs distressed them sorely, by penning them up in the cities that were in the mountainous parts of their country, not suffering them to dwell below in the plain,