View Joshua 19 in the note window.
The lot of Simeon, ver. 1 - 9.
Of Zebulon, ver. 10 - 16.
Of Issachar, vet 17 - 23.
Of Asher, ver. 24 - 31.
Of Naphtali, ver. 32 - 39.
Of Dan, ver. 40 - 48.
The inheritance assigned to Joshua and his family, ver. 49 - 51.
1: Within the inheritance of Judah - This was so ordered by God's
providence, partly to fulfil that threatning that he would divide and
scatter this tribe in Israel, (Ge 49:7), which was hereby done in
part, because they had no distinct lot, but were as inmates to Judah;
partly, because now upon the more exact survey of the land, it appeared,
that the part given to Judah did far exceed the proportion which they
needed, or which the other tribes could expect. And this was the least of
the tribes, (Nu 26:14), and therefore fittest to be put within another
tribe.
11: Toward the sea - The lot of this tribe was washed by the
midland sea on the west, and by the sea of Tiberias on the east,
answering Jacob's prophecy, Zebulun shall be an haven of ships;
trading ships on the great sea, and fishing ships on the sea of Galilee.
Before Jokneam - Supposed to be Kishon.
15: Beth - lehem - Not that where Christ was born, which was in
Judah, but another. Twelve cities - There are more numbered here, but
the rest either were not cities properly so called, or were not within this
tribe, but only bordering upon it, and belonging to other tribes.
18: Jezreel - The royal city, (1Ki 21:1).
This tribe, because it lay between Benjamin on the south, and
Zebulun on the north, is not here described by its borders, which
were the same with theirs; but by some of its cities.
26: Carmel west - ward - Or, Carmel by the sea, to distinguish it
from Carmel in the tribe of Judah. This was a place of eminent
fruitfulness, agreeable to the prophecy concerning Asher,(Ge 49:20).
27: Cubal - A city so called. Left hand - That is, on the north,
which, when men look towards the east, as is usual, is on their left hand.
28: Kenah - Namely, Kenah the greater, in the upper Galilee;
not Kenah the less, which was in the lower Galilee.
Zidon - Called great for its antiquity, and riches, and glory.
The city either was not given to the Israelites, or at least was never
possessed by them; not without a singular providence of God, that they might
not by the opportunity of so good a port, be engaged in much commerce with
other nations; from which, together with wealth, that great corrupter of
mankind, they might contract their errors and vices.
29: To Ramah - From the north southward. To Tyre - Exclusively,
for this city was no part of the land given them. But this was not the same
city we read of afterwards. For that was built on an island, this on the
continent. Probably into these strong holds Tyre and Sidon, many of
the Canaanites fled, when Joshua invaded them.
30: Twenty two cities - Here are more named, but some of them were
not within this tribe, but only bordering places.
33: Their coast - Their northern border drawn from west to east, as
appears, because when this coast is described and brought to its end,
the coast is said to turn from the east westward, ver.(34).
The out - goings - The end of that coast.
35: Cinnereth - Whence the lake of Cinnereth or Genesareth
received its name.
41: Of their inheritance - Which is here described only by its
cities, not its borders, which are in part the same with Judah's, and
their inheritance is in good part taken out of Judah's too large
portion; as appears from divers of the cities here mentioned, which are
also reckoned in Judah's portion.
47: Went up to fight - This was done after Joshua's death, and
seems to be here inserted, that all the chief places where the Danites
dwelt, tho' far distant, might be mentioned together; and to give an account
of this strange accident, why they removed from their appointed portion to
so remote a place; which may be this, that being much molested by their bad
neighbours, they thought fit to go to some place remote from them, which
also they were in a manner constrained to do, because otherwise they must
have taken some part of the portions of other tribes, whereas now going to
the very utmost northern point of the land, they took that which did not
belong to any other tribe.
49: The children of Israel - That is, they are said to give it,
because the whole land was given to Joshua, and Eleazar, and the
princes, as joint trustees, acting in the name, and for the good of the
people: so that even Joshua could take nothing without their gift.
50: The word of The Lord - As God had promised, or commanded;
either formerly, or at this time by Eleazar.
He built - That is, repaired and enlarged it, in which sense
Nebuchadnezzar is said to have built Babylon, (Da 4:30).
