Joshua 19

jamites were disposed of into these great cities, and the territories belonging to them; in which, it is probable, there were lesser cities, not here named. For we find two cities of the priests in this tribe which are not among those here set down, viz. Anathoth and Almon, (xxi. 18.) CHAR XIX. r Vcr. 1. JjlND the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon.] Both the LXX. and the Vulgar leave out the latter part of these words, as if they were superfluous; and only say, the second lot came forth to Simeon: But I suppose the words following in the Hebrew are intended to shew, that though their inheritance was within that of the tribe of Judah (as the next word tells us), yet those cities w^re not all that were given to this tribe, but they had another share by lot that fell to them: and God disposed it so, that the very next lotto Benjamin came up for them; Simeon being the eldest son of Jacob that was unprovided. According to their families.’] Which was divided by Eleazar, Joshua, and the princes, among their several families. And their inlieritance was within the inheritance of the tribe of Judah J] So we well translate it; for though the word in the Hebrew be betoch (in the midst) of the inheritance of Judah; yet it signifies no more than within. For the lot of Simeon did not lie in the very heart (as we speak), but in the skirts, of the country of Judah: from whose northern and western border some part was cut off, and given to the Simeonites; for the reason mentioned ver. 9. given, but so that if it appeared there was not sufficient for the rest of their brethren, and they had more than enough; that error should be corrected by taking something from thcui and giving it to. another tribe, as it was’ now in this new allotment., liarthere were more besides these, as appears from xxi. 32. where Hammoth-doT and Kartan are numbered among the Levitical cities in this tribe, which are not mentioned here.

Joshua 19:2

And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, and Sheba. Or rather, Beer-sheba, which is Sheba: for they were one and the same place; sometimes called at length Beer-sheba, and sometimes contracted into Sheba: nothing being more common than to cut off the beginning of the names of towns and places, as Bochartus hath shewn in many instances, in his Phalcg. lib ii. cap. 24. which he repeats in his Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. ii. cap. 15. And certainly it is so here; for otherwise it would not have been said, (ver. G.) there were thirteen cities in all, but fourteen; for there are so many if Sheba be distinct from Beer-sheba. Which was the last city in the south belonging to the land of Israel. From whence the common saying,/rom Dan to Beer-sheba, to express the whole length of the country; from Dan in the north to Beer-sheba in the south. AndMoladahl] This is mentioned before, in the account wc had of the lot of Judah, (xv. 2G.)

Joshua 19:3

And Hazar-shual. A place where there was abundance of foxes. And Balah.] The same that is mentioned in the south of Judah, (xv. 20.) And Azem.] It signifies, in Hebrew, great strength. We read of it no where else but in this place, and 1 Chron. iv. 29. where it is called Ezem.

Joshua 19:4

And El-tolad. Called there Tofad; the first syllable being cut off, as I said ver. 2. it often is. AndBethuL] Called there Bethuel. Which some will have to be the same with Bethulia, where Judith dwelt; because she was of the tribe of Simeon. But that h*a mistake; for this was in the south of Judah, and that a city in Galilee. And Ilormah.] Which is mentioned in the same place, YOL. II. 1 Chron. iv. 30. and was one of the cities to whom David sent part of the spoil he took from the Amalekites, (1 Sam. xxx. 30.) Vcr. 5. And Ziklag.] A neighbouring -city, as appears • from both the forementioned places. And Beth-mar caboth, and Hazar-susah.] It is a very probable conjecture of Bochartus, that these were two of the cities where Solomon kept his chariots and horses, (1 Kings x. 2G.) For the former of these signifies the house of chariots; and the other, the village of horses. For it is called Hazar-susim, in the plural number, 1 Chron. iv.Ul. (See Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. 2. cap. 9.) Ver. G. And Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen.] They seem to be the same cities, called in aftertimes Beth-birei/ and Shaaraim, (1 Chron. iv. 31.) Thirteen cities and their villages.] See ver. 1.

Joshua 19:7

Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan. One of these towns is otherwise called in 1 Chron. iv.32. viz. Etam, not Ether; and a fifth is added. Which shews all the cities and towns belonging to Simeon are not hero mentioned, no more than all those belonging to Benjamin; as I observed on vcr. 28. of the foregoing chapter. Ashan also is thought by Bochart (in the place beforcnamed) to be the same with Chor- Ashan in 1 Sam. xxx. 30. by cutting off the first syllable. Four cities and their villages.^ Which are mentioned separate from the rest; either because they were in another part of the country, or because they were not properly cities, but only chatserim (large villages), as they are expressly called 1 Chron. iv. 32. that is, towns which were without walls. Here, indeed, they are called cities; but that must be understood largely, to make it agree with the Chronicles, for towns of more than ordinaiy bigness.

Joshua 19:8

And all the villages that were round about these cities. Here the word chatserim (villages) is opposed to cities; and signifies all the towns, great und small, that Jay about all the cities beforementioned. To Baalath-beer Ramath.~] This is’the name but of one city, called simply Baal in 1 Chron. iv. 83. and is that city in the tribe of Judah, mentioned xv. ver. 24. or ver. 2 ( X As far as which city the bounds of the tribe of Simeon reached. Some think this is the city which Solomon built, f. e. repaired, and made larger and stronger, (1 Kings ix. 18.) On the south.] This doth not relate to the situation of the city beforementioned; but of the inheritance of this.tribe, which was on the south of Judah! Ver. f>. Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance. of Simeon.] For which reason the bounds of this tribe on all sides are not described as of the foregoing; because that was sufficiently done in the description of the possession of Judah; out of which the inheritance of this tribe was taken. For the part of the children of Judah was too much for them.’] They who were sent to make a new survey of the whole land, found that the former surveyors had not measured it exactly; but left one division too big in proportion to the rest, which fell to the tribe of Judah: who had now, therefore, a large slice cut from them, because they had too much, and others too little. Therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.] Within that lot, which was at first given to the tribe of Judah: yet not absolutely

Joshua 19:10

And the third lot came up for Zebulun, according to their families. lie was not the next brother; for Issachar was born before him. But he is mentioned before Issachar, both in the blessing of Jacob, Gen. xlix. 13. and of Moses, Dcut. xxxiii. 18. And the border of their inheritance teas ta Sarid,] No more is said of this place by Eusebius, but that it was ogiov ZafiovXujv, the bound or limit of Zebutun; and St. Jerome saith the same. And, by what follows, it seems to have been the sonth-west border. Tins is (lie, inheritance of the children of Zebulun, according ta their families,- thesecities with their villages.] That is, these were the bounds of it; but-all the cities belonging to it are not here set down: for wo read of hvo > Kartah and Dimnah, (xxr. 34, 35.) Which are not here named. And, indeed, twelve cities do not seem sufficient for sixty thousand men-; (Numb. xxvi. 27.) therefore they were only^the principal; and all> perhaps; thUfc the measurers of the land had noted in their book.

Joshua 19:11

And their border went up towards the sea.) That i$, the Mediterranean, which was in the west; And Maratah, and reacheth to Dabbasheth,. These were.cities in the western borders, as appears by the following words. And reacheth to the river that is before Jokneam.] See

Joshua 19:12

And turned from Sarid eastward, towards the su7i-rising. This is a description of the south border; which went from Sarid in the west unto Jordan in the east. Unto the border of Chisloih-Tabor.] A city near Mount.Tabor in the tribe of Issachar, ver..18. For as, on the ivest, th,e Zebulunites were contiguous to the tribe of Manasseh; so, towards the east, they were tothe tribe of Issachar. And then goeth out to Daberath.] A. city also in tho tribe of Issachar, (xxi. 28.) And goeth up to Japhia.] It is uncertain where this city was, though some think it to be the strong city which Josephus calls Japha, (lib. ii. de Bello Jud*. cap. 25.) and places it in Galilee near Jotapata;

Joshua 19:13

And from thence jiasseth on along ow the east to,Gittat. i~HephcrJ\ This seems to be a; description of the eastern border. We read of the, land of Hepher, 1 Kings jv. 10. which was near the sea of Galilee.. There this city was, in which Jonah, the prophet was born, (2 Kings xiv. 25.) And Ittah-kazin.] This city, it. is. likely, was upon the same sea of Galilee, called Gennesaret; which.the Vulgar calls Thacasin. And goeth out to Remmon-methoar, to Neah.]< Here the je^istcrn border ended (for that is meant by the phrase goeth’ oyt), at the sea of. Gennesaret. So. Josephus expressly affirms^ (See Gen. xlix. 13-)

Joshua 19:14

And the border compasseth it onthe north side to Hannathon. Here begins: thq description of the northern bordqr; which, from the last-named place, went in. a bending line towards Hannathon; a city, it, is supposed; in.this tribe. And the out-goings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-cLX Jlere the northern border ended. But we know no more of this valley of Jiphthah-el, than that it was in the tribe of Ashcr, in the confines of this tribe, (ver. 27.)

Joshua 19:15

And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shi/nron, and Jdalqh, and Beth-lehem. It is^not certain whether these cities belonged to Zebulun, or are set down as places upon which this tribe bordered. Of the two first I can give no account; buttve read of Sliimton as a principal city,\VbicB had a king in it dOhquefed by Josliurt. (See xii. 20.) And Idalah is mentioned by St. Jeron^ (de locis Hebraicis 1,) and called Jadela; as if it were compounded of jdd (which signifies a plaqd, Deut. xxv. 12.) and ela (d goddess), being the place where Venus was worshipped, as Bochartus conjectures, lib. i. Canaan, cap. 3. As for Beth-lehem, we are not to take it for the place where our Saviour was born; which is called Bethlehem-Judah, to distinguish it from this, which was far from it. Twelve cities with their villages.] Here are more cities than twelve; therefore some of them arc mentioned only as the boundaries of this country. There is no doubt but those mentioned ver. 13. were in this tribe; and mtiny think thosefive here mentioned in this were so also.* Jokneam likewise belonged to it*, but which were the rest to make up the number twelve cannotbe determined.* *

Joshua 19:17

And the fourth lot came out fof Issachar, for the children of Issachar, according to their families. Thus far there is some kind of order observed in thfcse lots: Issachar being brother to Zebulun by the same mother. m

Joshua 19:18

And their border was towards Jezr€el. This was one of the royal seats of thekings of Israel in* aftertimes, (L.Kings xxi. 1.) which Eusebius and. St Jerome place in the tribe of Manasseb; but ought to be accountedbclonging to this tribe, as the next place is agreed to be. There was another in the tribe of Judah, (xv. 5G.)< * And Ghesulloth.] Mentioned ver. 12. whichboth the foTementioned authors place in the tribe of Issachar, under the name of Acheseloth. And Shunem.] Where that noble lady livedwho entertained Elisba ather house, (2 Kings iv. 8. 12.) And whfcre Abishag, the wife of. David,in« histoid age, was»born, (1 Kings i. 3.)

Joshua 19:19

Haphraim^ and*Shihon, aridAnaharath. He doth not describe the borders on all sides of this tribe; but only sets down some principal cities; for it lying between Manasseh and Zebulun, the situation of it was sufficiently known. And they do but guess, who say these six cities named in the foregoing verso and in this were in the southern border.

Joshua 19:20

AndRabbith, and Kishion, and Abez. These three cities, and the two next that follow, ver. 21. they will have to constitute the western border.

Joshua 19:21

And Remeth and En~ga7inim. Here, as I said, they imagine the western border ended. En-haddah, and-Beth-ptizZez.] These two, arid the three next, ver. 22. they will have to be the northern border. Ver: 22. And the coast reacheth to Tabor.] That is, this northern border; for Mount Tabor ^ f as in the north; and this city was hird by it, and received its name from the mount, or gave its name to it. And ShaJiazimah, and Beth-shcniesh.] Here ended the, CHAP. XIX.] UPON JOSHUA. northern border. There was another Beth-shcmesh in the, tribe of Naphtali, (ver. 38.), and another in the tribe of Judah, (xxi. 16.) And the out-goings of their border tvere at, Jordan.’] This, makes it probable the former account of its other borders is not true; because it leaves no city for the eastern border near Jordan, nor any for the middle of the country. Sixteen cities tuith their villages.] This shews that Tabot was a city; otherwise there would be. but fifteen…

Joshua 19:23

This is the inheritance, of the tribe of the children of Issachar, according to their families, the cities and vih lages. These were their principal cities; but it is likely there were other*: for we r$ad of two not here mentioned, xxi. 28, 29. Dabareh and, Jarmuth; yet there, are those, who think Jarmuth is but another namq for k Remeth, hem* mentioned ver. 21. which to me doth not seem probable.. And Hebmn.] Called ElbonhyAhc LXX. and by the Vulgox:Abran; to distinguish it> I suppose; frOnithat Hebron. in the landof Judah. AndiRehob.] There were two cities o£ this name in this* tribe. (See ver. 3(h) One of them. was a. Levitical city;* (xxi. 31.) and the Canaanites kept possession eitherof* that or the, other; (Judg. i. 31.) And Hammon.] There was a Levitical city of this namc^ in the tribeof Naphtali, (1 Chron. vi. 76.) called Hammothdor in xxi. 32..of this book. And Kanah.] There, were two cities of this name; one in* the upper Galilee, which was Kanah the greater; and the other in the, lower Galilee, called Kanah the less. Hespeaks here of the greater,.which was nearto Sidon. The lesser w T as.that wherein. our Saviour turned water into’ wine, and of which Nathanael and the Syrophoenician woman were. Even unto great Sidon.] See before concerning this city, xi.8.

Joshua 19:24

And the fifth lot came, out for the tribe of the children of Asher, according to their families.’) No reason, can be given for this order; unless it be, that God was, pleased to place this tribe, being descended from the handmaid of Leah, not far from Zebulun, one of Leah’s sons. As for Gad, the elder brother of Asher, he was provided for before, on the other side of Jordan.

Joshua 19:25

And their border teas Helkatfr, and, Hali, and. Beten, and Achshaph. We kno^v no more of the three first of these cities than their names. But the last of them was very considerable; mention being made of the king of Achshaph, xi. 1. xii. 20. The first of them. also we find was a Levitical city, (xxi. 31.) called Hukok, in 1 Chron. vi. 75. It appears, likewise, by the mention of Carmel in the; next verse, unto which this bofder reached, that these cities lay in the west near the Mediterranean Sea.

Joshua 19:26

And Alammalech y and Amad, and Mishael, and reacheth to Carmel westward. Or, by the sea, not far from Ptolemais; to distinguish it from the other Carmel, in the tribe of Judah, near Hebron. (See xy. 55.) Here the great prophet Elijah sometimes dwelt, and confuted the Baalites by a stupendous miracle. But we are as ignorant of the three cities mentioned in this verse, as wo are of the other in the foregoing. And to Shihor-libnath.] Whether this was a city (some fancy Ptolemais), or a promontory, or a muddy river (for. there are those, different opinions about it), I cannot; determine.

Joshua 19:27

And turneth towards the sun-rising. It turned* from the sea towards the east; and so northward, bending towards the west again. For there are no borders or sides of this tribe described: bat from the, south part of the sea it turned eastward, and then northward, in the form of a bow, towards the north part of,the same sea, where Zidonwas, (ver. 28.) To Beth-Dagg7i.] There was a place x>f this, name mentioned before in the tribe of Judah, xv. 41. where itvis thought there was a famous. temple Of Dagon, the god.of the Philistines. A And reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley Jiphtliah-eL] And so touched upon.the north border of the tribe.of Ze^ bulun; in whichthe valley of Jiphthah-el lay. (See ver. 14.) Towards the north side of Beth-emek, andNeiel] Where these were, is not known. Only Eusebius and St. Jerome say, Bcth-cmck lay in a valley,, or low place in this tribe^ ag the word seems, to import. And, goeth out to Cabul on the left hand.] On the north side (called the left hand) of this city, which lay in the tribe of Asher, this border ended. Some have been so frivolous as from hence to argue, that this book was written long after Joshua’s time; because the land of Cabul (X Kings ix. 13.) was not known till the days of Solomon,, when Hiram gave this name to the land, which.Solomonpresented him withal. As if there were no difference between the land and the city of Cabul: when one of them was a little region,, containing twenty towns, and the other a small place in the confines of Ptolemais; bothof themin the tribe of Asher; They areplainly distinguishedby- Josephus, who. calls-one. of them-y^v XafiaXwv, theland of Cabul; and. the other Kwii\v,ihe villageof Cab\il)as Huetius hath observed, propos. iv. Demonstr. Evang. p. 186.

Joshua 19:29

And then the coast turneth to RamahJ. Another city on the northern part of the Mediterranean Sea. * And to the strong city.Tyre.] This translation is questionable: for we never, read one word of the city Tyro (unless it be here) until thedays of David; though we often read of Sidon in thc;books of Moses; even in the prophecy of Jacob. And, as Bochartas ^observes, Homer himsclfy who speaks frequently of Sidon and’the Sidonians, never* names Tyre, (lib. iv, Phaleg. cap. 35.) Therefore, it -is highly probable, some other place is meant by Tzor (as our margin notes the word is in the Hebrew), which was a fenced city; as we render the word here translated strong, (ver. 35.) And there were several cities, perhaps, called by this name-of Tzor orTyrc, besides that famous one in future times; particularly Palajtyras; as much as tosay Old Tyre. And it is no improbable conjecture of Campcgius Vitringa, that into these two places, Sidon and Tzor, many of the people of Canaan fled, to secure themselves when Joshua invaded them: for Tzor signifies not only a rock, but any strong fortified place; from whence it is pos sible the Latin word turris, and then our English tower, is derived. Certain it is, that these two were famous cities, ivlo%oi \afiirpdl, as Strabo calls them, lib. xvi. where he saith they were so anciently, and not only in his time; insomuch, that it was uncertain which was the metropolis of the Phoenicians. But it is certain he speaks of the New Tyre, which was built in an island; but the old one was on the continent. (Sec his Observations Sacrae; lib. i. cap.l.^j Microsoft® [CHAP. XIX. And the coast turneth to Ilosah.] Declined a little towards a city of this name. And the out-goings of it are at the sea, from the coast of Ackzib.] It ended at the country which belonged to Achzib; for so hebel (which we here translate coast) signifies. In proper speaking it signifies a cord, whereby ground was measured; and thence was used to signify the portion of ground itself, which was measured by that cord or line. Thus we read of Hebel Argob, the region of Argob, Deut. iii. 13. and Hebel Hajam, the region of the sea, Zeph. ii. 5. Achzib, according to St. Jerome, is that place, which, by Pliny and others, was called in aftertimes Ecdippa. Vcr. 30, Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob.] It is probable these were three cities in the heart of tho country of Ashcr.. Twenty-two cities with their villages.] There are more than this number here mentioned, though we. do not reckon Carmel nor Jiphthah-el, one of which w T as a mountain, the other a valley. Therefore some of them were only the boundaries of this tribe, but did not belong to their possession..

Joshua 19:31

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children ofAsher, according to their families, these cities with their villages. That is, these were the most eminent cities, though it be probable there were some other. For we read of one called Abdon, xxi. 30. not here mentioned. Vcr. 32. And the sixth lot catne out for the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali, according to their families.] Here the younger son of Bilhah, the handmaid of Rachel, is preferred before the elder, w r ho was Dan, (Gen. xxx. G. 8.) as Zebnlun was before Issachar. Such was the method of Divine Providence in that nation, to shew them that they ought not to’value themselves too highly, as they were prone to do, upon their external privileges*

Joshua 19:33

And their coast was from IIeleph,from Alton to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum. He doth not say what coast this was; but by what follows, it appears to be the northern border where these cities were situated, near Lebanon and Sidon, and the rest of the northern part of Asher’s country: for Naphtali comprehended the upper Galilee. And the out-goings thereof were at Jordan.] This border ended at this river; and at the very fountain of it, which was at the foot of Libanus..Vcr. 34. And then the coast turneth westward to Aznoih- Tabor, andgoeth out from thence to Hulckok.] The southern border began at the former of these cities; and ended at the latter. And reacheth to Zebulun on the south side.] Touched on the confines of the tribe of Zebulun; so that the north side of Zebulun was the south side of Naphtali. And reacheth to Asher on tlte icest side.] This is a short account of their western border, which went as far as to the borders of the tribe ofAsher. And toJudahupon Jordan towards the sun-rising.] It was not near Judah, there being several tribes between them. Therefore the meaning is, this tribe had communication ■with that of Judah by the river Jordan. So the word upon in our translation must be interpreted (though there be no preposition at all in the Hebrew before Jordan), which river afforded them convenience of carrying merchandises to Judah, or bringing them from thence. And thus some think the prophecy of Moses was fulfilled, (Deut. xxxiih 23.) Possess thou the west and tlyz south. Which doth not signify that they had any land in the south; but that they trafficked with it, by the means of Jordan.

Joshua 19:35

And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Cinnereth. These were northern cities, it appears by that mentioned in the midst, Hammath, or Hamath, which was the utmost bounds of the land of Israel northward. (Sco Numb. xiii. 21. xxxiv. 8. 1 Kings viii. G5.) It seems to have had its name from the youngest son of Canaan, who, it is likely, built it, as his eldest son did Sidon, (Gen. x. 18.) It continued a famous city a long time; for in the days of David, we read how the king of it cunningly made his peaco with him by a great present, (2 Sam. viii. 9, &c.) Rakkath,] Which follows that, is, in the opinion of some of the Jews, the same with Tiberias. So the author of the book De Cippis Hebraicis, set forth by Hottinger. Whence the Talmudists, as he observes, say, Rakath is Zipporia; which was called Rakath, because it was seated upon the bank of a river. It was also called Mcesia, and at last Tiberias; though other Jewish authors make Rakkath different from that city. Cinnereth.] A place upon this sea of Tiberias; in which there were fine gardens, and a kind of paradise. Whence it was called Genescr; as much as to say, the gardens of princes (Gannoth-Sarim). And it had tho name of Cinnereth, from its sweetness and pleasures, as the Jews say; (Cod. Megill.) " Kinnereth is Ginser. And why is it called Cinnereth? because its fruits are as sweet to the taste, as the sound of a harp is to the ear." (See Hottinger in his annot. on the forenamed book, p. 36.) As for the two first cities, Ziddim and Zer, I can say nothing of them. Ver. 3G. And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor.] We may guess where these cities were by the last of them, Hazor, to which they were neighbours. (See concerning it, xi. 1.)

Joshua 19:37

And Kedesh, and Edrei, ami En-liazor. The first of these was a Levitical city, (xxi. 32.) in which that famous captain, Barak, was born, Judg. iv. 6. where it is called Kedesh-Naphtali, to distinguish it from those of that name in other tribes. Of the other two cities we know nothing.

Joshua 19:38

And Iron, and Migdal-el, and Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh. Every one knows there was another Beth-shemesh in the tribe of Judah; and that this city and Beth-anath the children of Naphtali could not conquer, (Judg. i. 33.) But we know no more of them, nor of the rest; save only that Eusebius says, there was a large village, called Magdal-el, between Dora and Ptolemais.. Nineteen cities with their villages.] Six of which were fenced cities,. certainly belonging to this tribe; and there are as many more mentioned as make up twenty-three. Some of which therefore must be accounted as bordering cities; or only large villages, and not properly cities.

Joshua 19:39

This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali, according to their families, the cities and their villages. This must be understood (as in the account of the forementioned tribes). of the principal cities; for

Joshua 19:40

And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan, according to their families. They were the only remaining tribe that was to be. provided for.

Joshua 19:41

And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh. He doth not describe their.lot by its borders; but mentions the cities that were in it. * Some of which at first were given to Judah; out of whose share, it being too large, some cities were taken for the Danites, as others were for the Simeonites. And it is certain the two first of these fell to Judah, in the first division of the land, (xv. 33.) Both very eminent places, for the birth, and burial, and mighty motions of Samson: for at Zorah he was born, (Judg. xiii. 2.) between Zorah and Eshtaol he was buried,, (Judg. xvi. tdt.) and here the Spirit of God began to move him, at certain times, (xiii. 25.) It is probable, also, that Ir-shemesh was in the tribe of Judah at the first; it being of the same signification with Bethshemesh: for one signifies the city of the sun; the other, the house, or place of the sun. •

Joshua 19:42

AndShaalabbin. Which the Amorites kept in their possession, Judg. i. 35. where, by a small change of letters, it is called Shaalbim; and in some copies of the LXX. translated lv $ kol al aXdweKeg, and in others h GcXaj3tv. And in our present LXX, both these are retained. For. a fox in the Arabian language is called thalab, and in the Phoenician (which is half Arabic) saalab; as Bochartus observes in his Hierozoicon, par. i. lib. iii. cap, 13. and in his Canaan, lib. i. cap. 34. p. (>84. AndAjalon.] Another city which the Amorites kept from them, as we find in the same place, Judg. i. 35. And was one of the Levitical cities, (xxi. 23.) and that famous place mentioned x. 13. And Jethlah.] We know no more of it than that it was a city in this tribe.

Joshua 19:43

And Eton, and Thimnathath, and Ekron. It is certain that the last of these three cities was at first given to Judah, (x v. 45.) But Thimnathath was not the same with Timnath in the same tribe, (xv. 10. 57.) but quite different from it; as Gibeath, I observed in the foregoing chapter, was from Geba. For Samson wentdown to this city Timnath, (Judg. xiv. 5.) which shews it was in a valley; whereas Judah went up to Timnath to shear his sheep, (Gen. xxxviii; 11. 13.) which shews it was upon a hill. Concerning Elon I can say nothing, unless it be the same with Holon in the tribe of Judah, (xv. 51.) Ver. 44- And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, andBaulath.] Some think that the first of these is the same with that city in the tribe of Judah, called El-tekon, xv. 59. and the last the same with that called there Baalah, ver. 29. As for Gibbethon, the Danites seem not to have got possession of it,’ or to have lost it again; for it was in the hands of the Philistines. after the days of David, (1 Kings xv. 27. xvi. 15.) and yet appointed one of the Levitical cities, (Josh. xvi. 21.23.)

Joshua 19:45

And Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon. Where Jehud was I find not; but BapamX is mentioned by Eusebius as a village near Azotus (or Ashdod), and St. Jerome saith in his time was called Bernea. Which may incline us to his opinion, that Geth-rimmon was no other than the city of Gath, so often mentioned in Scripture as ono of the principal cities of the Philistines. It is reckoned among the Levitical cities xxi. 24. as Gibbethon was ver. 44. though in the hands of the Philistines. Ver. 4G. And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon.] It is not certain where these places were, but very likely near to the place next mentioned. With the border before Japho.] This place was afterward called Joppa, being the principal port-town in all Judea - (mentioned by Pompon. Mela, Strabo, and Pliny), and continues so to this day, retaining the name of Japha, which in Hebrew signifies fair or beautiful. It is not certain that it was a part of the tribe of Dan, though Eusebius calls it a sea-town of the lot of Dan; for these words may signify no more, but that their portion comprehended theborder which lay before this place.

Joshua 19:47

And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them. These words, too little, are not in the Hebrew, where there is nothing answering to them. But the words run thus, the coast of the children of Dan went out from them; that is, they were dispossessed of itin some parts by their powerful neighbours, the Amorites, who forced them into the mountains, and would not let them dwell in the valley, (Judg. i. 34.) This put them to such straits, that they were constrained to enlarge their border some other way, which they did by the means following. I shall only further note, that this is no strange phrase; for in the year of jubilee lands are said to go out, when they returned to their first owners, from the present possessors, t (Lev. xxv. 28. 30, 31. 33.) Tlierefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem.’] A city not far from Jordan, called Laish, in the book of Judges, before it was taken by the Danites. In aftertimes, when it fell into the hands of the Romans, it was called Paneas; and made the metropolis of Itureaand Trachonitis.‘And from Philip, also, son of Herod the Great, who very much enlarged and adorned it, it was balled Caesarea Philippi, in honour of Tiberius Caesar. And took it, and smote it tvitli the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein.] Were not disturbed in their possession. And called Leshem-Dan, after the name of Dan their father.] Thus conquerors were wont to change the names of places which they subdued. This was done after Joshua’s death; and is.related more largely in the book of Judges, chap, xviii. where there is an account of the whole expedition. From whence some argue this book was not written by Joshua; whereas no moro can be inferred from it than this, that, in aftertimes, Ezra, or some other, thought good to put in this verse here, to complete the account of the Danites 5 possessions. But any one may see, as Iluctius observes, that if this verse were taken away, all that is said of this tribe coheres perfectly; and there is no breach at all ill the context of the foregoing with the following verse after this. Which is an argument, that this short account of their taking Leshem were not the words of the writer of this book, but inserted afterward by some other person. For if they were taken away, this relation of the Danites’ lot would be more like the account of the lot of all the rest. Verl 48. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities tvith their villages.J The number of them is not set down, as in*