Joshua 15

Jos 15:1 This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.

This then was the lot of the tribe of sons of Judah - The inheritance of the tribe of Judah is described first by its general boundaries on all four sides Jos_15:1-12; then reference is again made, for the sake of completeness, to the special inheritance of Caleb which lay within these boundaries Jos_15:13-20; and lastly a list of the towns is given Josh. 15:21-63.

By their families - It is supposed that the family divisions were not determined by lot. These were left to the prudence and judgment of Joshua, Eleazar, and the ten princes, who appointed to each family a district in proportion to its number, etc., the general division being that alone which was determined by the lot. Other commentators say that it seems that not only the land was divided to the tribes by lot, but that the portion of land which belonged to each tribe was divided in the same way to the several families and households belonging thereunto;

To the border of Edom - The tribe of Judah occupied the most southerly part of the land of Canaan. Its limits extended from the extremity of the Dead Sea southward, along Idumea, possibly by the desert of Sin, and proceeding from east to west to the Mediterranean Sea, and the most eastern branch of the river Nile, or to what is called the river of Egypt. Joshua is particular in giving the limits of this tribe, as being the first, the most numerous, most important; that which was to furnish the kings of Judea; that in which pure religion was to be preserved, and that from which the Messiah was to spring.

Jos 15:2 And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:

The southern boundary - This was also the southern boundary of the land of Israel generally, and coincided with the southern boundary of Canaan as described in Num_34:3-5. It went out “from the end of the salt sea, namely, from the tongue which turneth to the south,” i.e., from the southern point of the Dead Sea, which is now a salt marsh.

From the bay that looketh southward - These were the southern limits of the tribe of Judah, which commenced at the extremity of the Dead Sea, and terminated at Sihor or the river of Egypt, and Mediterranean Sea; though some think it extended to the Nile.

from the shore of the salt sea - called the Dead Sea.

Jos 15:3 And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:

Maaleh-acrabbim - The ascent of the Mount of Scorpions, probably so called from the multitude of those animals found in that place.

Kadesh-barnea - This place was called Enmishpat, Gen_14:7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and struck all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites who lived in Hazazon-tamar. It was on the edge of the wilderness of Paran, and about twenty-four miles from Hebron. Here Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, died; and here Moses and Aaron rebelled against the Lord; hence the place was called Meribah-Kadesh, or the contention of Kadesh.

and passed along to Zin, and ascended upon the south side unto Kadeshbarnea - which perfectly agrees with the southern border of the land, as described in Num_34:4 And your border shall turn from the south to the ascent of Akrabbim and pass on to Zin. And its limit shall be from the south to Kadesh-barnea, and shall go on to Hazar-addar, and pass on to Azmon.

and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar - which two places being near to one another, as is very likely, are put together, as if one place, and called Hazaraddar, Num_34:4; and mention is made of Hezron, which is Hazor, but not of Adar Jos_15:25 and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth-Hezron, which is Hazor.

Maalehacrabbim - or, the going up to Acrabbim, "the ascent of scorpions"; a pass in the "bald mountain"

Jos 15:4 From thence it passed toward Azmon, 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.

Toward Azmon - This was the last city they possessed toward Egypt, said to be a city in the desert, to the south of Judah, dividing Egypt, and the lot of the tribe of Judah, leading to the sea:

The river of Egypt – One commentary says this is likely the most eastern branch of the river Nile. But there is much reason to doubt whether any branch of the Nile be meant, and whether the promised land extended to that river.

and the outgoings of that coast were at the sea - the Mediterranean sea

Jos 15:5 And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:

The eastern boundary was the salt sea to the end of the Jordan - the Dead Sea, in all its length up to the point where the Jordan entered it. And here it is intimated that the eastern border of the tribe of Judah extended along the Dead Sea, from its lowest extremity to the end of Jordan, i.e., to the place where Jordan falls into this sea.

Jos 15:6 And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:

The stone of Bohan - This must have been some remarkable place, probably like the stone of Jacob, which afterwards became Bethel; but where it was situated is uncertain. This stone perhaps commemorated some deed of valor belonging to the wars of Joshua. The stone was erected on the slope of a hill, no doubt one of the range which hounds the Jordan valley on the west. But its exact site is wholly uncertain.

Beth-hogla - A place between Jericho and the Dead Sea, belonging to the tribe of Benjamin, though here serving as a frontier to the tribe of Judah, Jos_18:21 And the cities of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,

and passed along by the north of Betharabah - another city belonged to Benjamin, Jos_18:22. Meaning “the house," or "place of solitude," in the desert of Judah (Jos_15:61).

and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben - by whom, or on whose account, it was placed, either as a sepulchral stone, he being buried there, or in memory of some famous exploit done by him there, he being one of those of the tribe of Reuben, that came with Joshua to assist in the war against the Canaanites; or it was set for a sign of the border, it being the boundary between Judah and Benjamin, Jos_18:17 And it was drawn from the north and went out to En-shemesh, and went out toward Geliloth, which is across from the ascent of Adummim, and went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

Jos 15:7 And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:

The going up to Adummim - the ascent or pass of Adummim on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Its name signifies “red”. Some commentators say this road is the scene of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Luk_10:30 And answering, Jesus said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among robbers, who stripped him of his clothing and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

En-shemesh - “fountain of the sun;” but of it we have no account what and where it was. It might be so called, because dedicated to the sun by the idolatrous Canaanites, or because of the sun's influence on the waters of it. It may be what was called “the Fountain of the Apostles,” about two miles from Jerusalem, and the only well on the road to Jericho. It was eastward of Jerusalem, on the confines of Judah and Benjamin.

En-rogel - “fountain of the fullers” near the walls of Jerusalem. It was here that Jonathan and Ahimaaz concealed themselves after the rebellion of Absalom, in order to procure tidings for David, and here Adonijah gave a feast to his adherents preparatory to making an attempt on the. It is probably the modern “Fountain of the Virgin,” the only real spring near Jerusalem, from which the Pool of Siloam is supplied. Supposed to be the same as the fountain of Siloam, east of Jerusalem, at the foot of mount Zion. 2Sa_17:17; 1Ki_1:9. Others identify it, less probably, with the “Well of Job,” situated where the valleys of Kedron and Hinnom unite.

Enrogel - which signifies "the fountain of the fuller"; so the Targum renders it, and probably was a fountain where fullers cleansed their clothes; and was called Rogel, as Jarchi and Kimchi say, because they used to tread them with their feet when they washed them. This was a place near Jerusalem, as appears from 1Ki_1:9 And Adonijah killed sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the Stone of Serpents, which is by En-rogel, and called all his brothers, the king's sons, and all the men of Judah, the king's servants; near to which perhaps was the fuller's monument, at the corner tower of Jerusalem, Josephus speaks of, as there was also a place not far from it called the fuller's field, Isa_7:3 Then the LORD said to Isaiah, Go out now to meet Ahaz, you and Shear-jashub your son, at the end of the conduit of the upper pool in the highway of the Fuller's Field; according to Bunting, it had its name from travelers washing their feet here.

The valley of Achor - where Achan was put to death, and had its name from thence; which, according to Jarchi, lay between the stone of Bohan and Debir. The valley of Achor had its name from the punishment of Achan. See the account, Jos_7:24.

And the border went up towards Debir - This was neither the Debir in the tribe of Gad, on the other side Jordan, Jos_13:26; nor that in the tribe of Judah near Hebron, Jos_15:15; but a third city of that name, and according to one commentary, was not far from Jericho. Others say that Debir mentioned in this verse is unknown.

and so northward, looking towards Gilgal - not the place where Israel were encamped when this lot was made, but it seems to be the same that is called Geliloth, Jos_18:17 And it was drawn from the north and went out to En-shemesh, and went out toward Geliloth, which is across from the ascent of Adummim, and went down to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.

Jos 15:8 And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:

The valley of the son of Hinnom – Who Hinnom was is not known, nor why this was called his valley. It was situated on the east of Jerusalem; and is often mentioned in Scripture. The image of the idol Molech appears to have been set up there; and there the idolatrous Israelites caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire in honor of that demon, 2Ki_23:10 And he defiled Topheth, in the valley of the sons of Hinnom, so that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech. It was also called Tophet, see Jer_7:32 So, behold, the days come, says the LORD, that it shall no more be called Tophet, nor the valley of the son of Hinnom, but the Valley of Slaughter. For they shall bury in Tophet, until there is no place. When King Josiah removed the image of this idol from this valley, it appears to have been held in such universal execration, that it became the general receptacle of all the filth and impurities which were carried out of Jerusalem; and it is supposed that continual fires were there kept up, to consume those impurities and prevent infection. From the Hebrew words gei ben Hinnom, the valley of the son of Hinnom, and by contraction gei Hinnom, the valley of Hinnom, came the Gehenna of the New Testament, called also the Gehenna of fire, which is the emblem of hell, or the place of the damned.

Mat_5:22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be liable to the judgment. And whoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be liable to the sanhedrin; but whoever shall say, Fool! shall be liable to be thrown into the fire of hell.

Mat_5:29-30 And if your right eye offends you, pluck it out and throw it from you. For it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be thrown into hell. And if your right hand offends you, cut it off and throw it from you. For it is profitable for you that one of your members should perish, and not that your whole body should be thrown into hell.

Mat_10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. But rather fear Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Mat_18:9 And if your eye offends you, pluck it out and throw it from you. It is better for you to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the hell of fire.

the valley of the son of Hinnom - The valley of Ben-hinnom, or Ben-hinnom (the son or sons of Hinnom), on the south side of Mount Zion, a place which was notorious from the time of Ahaz as the seat of the worship of Moloch (2Ki_23:10; 2Ch_28:3; 2Ch_33:6; Jer_7:31, etc.), is supposed there, but of whom nothing further is known.

The valley of the son of Hinnom – It was in this ravine, more particularly at Tophet in the more wild and precipitous part of it toward the east, that the later kings of Judah offered the sacrifices of children to Moloch (2Ch_28:3; 2Ch_33:6, etc.). After these places had been defiled by Josiah, Tophet and the whole valley of Hinnom were held in abomination by the Jews, and the name of the latter was used to denote the place of eternal torment Mat_5:22. The Greek term Gehenna is in fact formed from the Hebrew gay' hînnôm, “valley of Hinnom.” Hinnom is regarded either as the name of some ancient hero, or as an appellative ( “groaning” or “moaning”), bestowed on the spot because of the cries of the victims here offered to Moloch, and of the drums with which those cries were drowned.

the Valley of the Giants northward - The plain of Rephaim in 2Sa_5:18, 2Sa_5:22; 2Sa_23:13, probably named after the gigantic race of Rephaim, and mentioned several times in 2 Sam. as a battle-field, is on the west of Jerusalem, and is separated from the edge of the valley of Ben-hinnom by a small ridge of rock. It runs southwards to Mar Elias, is an hour long, half an hour broad, and was very fertile (Isa_17:5). It is bounded on the north by the mountain ridge already mentioned, which curves westwards on the left side of the road to Jaffa. This mountain ridge, or one of the peaks, is “the mountain on the west of the valley of Hinnom,” at the northern end of the plain referred to.

The valley of the giants - Rather “the plain of Rephaim.” This plain, named after an ancient and gigantic tribe of the land Gen_14:5, lies southwestward of Jerusalem, and is terminated by a slight rocky ridge forming the brow of the valley of Hinnom. The valley is fertile Isa_17:5 and broad, and has been on more than one occasion the camping ground for armies operating against Jerusalem 2Sa_5:18, 2Sa_5:22; 2Sa_23:13.

The same is Jerusalem - This city was formerly called Jebus; a part of it was in the tribe of Benjamin; Zion, called its citadel, was in the tribe of Judah. It may seem hence, that Jerusalem properly, or at least principally, belonged to Benjamin; and yet it is ascribed to Judah also; either because a part of the city was allotted to Judah; or because the Benjamites desired the help and conjunction of this powerful tribe of Judah, for the getting and keeping of this most important place. And when the Benjamites had in vain attempted to drive out the Jebusites, this work was at last done by the tribe of Judah, who therefore had an interest in it by the right of war; as Ziglag which belonged to the tribe of Simeon, being gotten from the Philistines by David, was joined by him to his tribe of Judah, 1Sa_27:6.

Jos 15:9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:

Mount Ephron - conjecturally connected with the city Ephrain 2Ch_13:19 And Abijah pursued Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with its villages, and Jeshanah with its villages, and Ephron with its villages or Ophrah Jos_18:23.

Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim - This place was rendered famous in Scripture, in consequence of its being the residence of the ark, for twenty years after it was sent back by the Philistines; 1 Samuel 5:1-7:2.

And the border was drawn from the top of the hill – Possibly Mount Moriah.

unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah - according to the Jewish writers, is the same with the fountain of Etam, from whence a stream flowed to the dipping room in the water gate of the temple, where the high priest for the first time dipped himself on the day of atonement.

Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim - called Kirjathbaal, or the city of Baal, Jos_15:60 Kirjath-baal; it is Kirjath-jearim; and Rabbah; two cities and their villages; where it is probable there was a temple of Baal; and when it came into the hands of the Israelites, they changed its name to Kirjathjearim, or the city of the woods, because of the great number of trees which grew about it; for which reason it might have been pitched upon by the Heathens for their idolatrous service; it was one of the cities of the Gibeonites, Jos_9:17 And the sons of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim; it is also called Baalah in 1Ch_13:6 And David and all Israel went up to Baalah, to Kirjath-jearim of Judah, to bring up from there the ark of Jehovah God, He who dwells between the cherubs, whose name is called on it; and Baale of Judah, 2Sa_6:2 And David arose and went with all the people with him from beyond Baale of Judah, to bring up the ark of God from there, which is called by the Name, the Name of the LORD of hosts who dwells above the cherubs.

Jos 15:10 And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:

Mount Seir - not the well-known range of Edom. The name ( “shaggy mountain”) is applicable to any rugged or well-wooded hill. Here it probably denotes the range which runs southwestward from Kirjath-jearim to the Wady Surar. Mount Jearim, “woody mountain,” is through its other name, Chesalon, identified with the modern “Kesla”.

Beth-shemesh - “house of the sun,” called “Ir-shemesh” or “city of the sun” (Jos_19:41), a place assigned to Dan, and one of the cities which fell by lot to the Levites Jos_21:16. Beth-shemesh was the first place at which the ark rested after its return from the hands of the Philistines 1Sa_6:12 And the cows took the straight way to the way of Beth-shemesh, going along the highway, lowing as they went. And they did not turn aside to the right or to the left. It was the residence of one of Solomon’s purveyors 1Ki_4:9, and was the spot where at a later date Amaziah was defeated and slain by Jehoash (2Ki_14:11).

Beth-shemesh - The house or temple of the sun. It is evident that the sun was an object of adoration among the Canaanites; and hence fountains, hills, etc., were dedicated to him. Beth-shemesh is remarkable for the slaughter of its inhabitants, in consequence of their prying curiously, if not impiously, into the ark of the Lord, when sent back by the Philistines. 1Sa_6:19 And He struck the men of Beth-shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He even struck seventy among the people, including fifty chief men. And the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.

Timnah - called also Timnath, and Timnathah, belonged likewise to Dan, and is to be distinguished from other places of like name Gen_38:12; Jos_24:30. Timnah ( “portion”) was evidently, like Gilgal, Ramah, Kirjath, and several other towns, of frequent use in Canaanite topography. Features in the stories about Samson.

Jos 15:11 And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.

Jabneel - It is called Jabneh in 2Ch_26:6, where Uzziah is recorded to have taken it from the Philistines and destroyed its fortifications. The town is repeatedly mentioned by Josephus under the name of Jamnia. After the destruction of Jerusalem it was, for a long time, the seat of the Sanhedrin, and was a famous school of Jewish learning. Its ruins, which are still considerable, stand on the brink of the “Wady Rubin”. It is called Yebna today.

And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward - Which was one of the principalities of the Philistines; and which, though it fell to the lot of Judah, Jos_15:45, was not possessed by them:

and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to Mount Baalah - of which places we have no account elsewhere:

Jos 15:12 And the west 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.

The great sea - The Mediterranean.

this is the coast of the children of Judah - some part of it was afterwards given to Simeon, and some particular cities of it were given to Dan and Benjamin: it was bounded on the west by the tribes of Simeon and Dan towards the Mediterranean sea, and by the tribe of Benjamin on the north, and by the wilderness of Paran on the south, and by the dead sea and Jordan on the east.

Jos 15:13 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 city is Hebron.

according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua - This account is inserted before the cities in the lot of the tribe of Judah were enumerated, to show what was to be excepted from them, and which had been given to Caleb previous to the lot: The words “according to the command of Jehovah to Joshua” are to be explained from Jos_14:9-12 And Moses swore on that day, saying, Surely the land on which your feet have trodden shall be your inheritance, and your sons' forever because you have fully followed the LORD my God. And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive these forty-five years as He said, even since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. And now, lo, I am eighty-five years old today. As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in. And now give me this mountain of which the LORD spoke on that day. For you heard in that day how the giants were there, and that the cities were great and fortified. If the LORD will be with me, then I will be able to drive them out, as the LORD said, according to which Jehovah had promised, in the hearing of Joshua, to give Caleb possession of the mountains of Hebron, even when they were at Kadesh (Jos_14:12). Deu_1:36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see it, and to him I will give the land that he has trodden upon, and to his sons, because he has fully followed the LORD;

City of Arba - Or, Kirjath - arba. Not the city, which was the Levites, but the territory of it, Jos_21:13 And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron and its open lands as a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah and its open lands,

The account of the conquest of the inheritance, which Caleb asked for and received before the lots were cast for the land (Jos_14:6-15), by the extermination of the Anakites from Hebron, and the capture of the fortified town of Debir, is repeated with very slight differences in Jdg_1:10-15, in the enumeration of the different conflicts in which the separate tribes engaged after the death of Joshua, in order to secure actual possession of the inheritance which had fallen to them by lot, and is neither copied from our book by the author of the book of Judges, nor taken from Judges by the author of Joshua; but both of them have drawn it from one common source, upon which the accounts of the conquest of Canaan contained in the book of Joshua are generally founded. This exploit is recorded to the honor of Caleb, as the success of it was the reward of his trust in God.

The father of Anak - the tribe father of the family of Anakites in Hebron, from whom this town received the name of Kirjath-arba; see at Num_13:22 And they went up by the south and came to Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheshai, and Talmai, the sons of Anak were . (Now Hebron was built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.) and Gen_23:2 And Sarah died in Kirjath-arba; the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan. And Abraham came to mourn for Sarah, and to weep for her.

Jos 15:14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

the three sons of Anak - families of the Anakites, whom the spies that were sent out from Kadesh had already found there (Num_13:22). Instead of Caleb, we find the sons of Judah (Judaeans) generally mentioned in Jdg_1:10 as the persons who drove out the Anakites, according to the plan of the history in that book, to describe the conflicts in which the several tribes engaged with the Canaanites. But the one does not preclude the other. Caleb did not take Hebron as an individual, but as the head of a family of Judaeans, and with their assistance.

Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak - the very same giants Caleb saw at Hebron, when he was sent a spy into the land, Num_13:22; for these may as well be supposed to have lived to this time as himself, unless it can be thought that they were the sons of those men, called by their fathers' names; and though they were driven out when Joshua took Hebron, yet while he was engaged in making other conquests, or however before he died, they regained the possession of that city, and of the parts adjacent to it, from whence Caleb, with the help of his tribe, expelled them, conquered, and slew them, Jdg_1:10.

Jos 15:15 And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.

Debir - From Hebron Caleb went against the Inhabitants of Debir, to the south of Hebron. This town must have been very strong and hard to conquer; for Caleb offered a prize to the conqueror, promising to give his daughter Achzah for a wife to any one that should take it, just as Saul afterwards promised to give his daughter to the conqueror of Goliath (1Sa_17:25; 1Sa_18:17).

Debir - The name Debir belonged to two other places; namely,, that named in Jos_15:7, between Jerusalem and Jericho, and the Gadite town mentioned in Jos_13:26. The Debir here meant appears to have been situated in the mountain district south of Hebron. It was one of the towns afterward assigned to the Levites. Its other name Jos_15:49, “Kirjath-sannah”, “city of palm branches,” or “city of law, or sacred learning,” no less than the two given in the text, would indicate that Debir was an ancient seat of Canaanite learning, for Debir probably is equivalent to “oracle,” and Kirjath-sepher means “city of books.” This plurality of names marks the importance of the town, as the inducement held out in Jos_15:16, by Caleb, to secure its capture (compare 1Sa_17:25; 1Sa_18:17), points to its strength.

and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher - or "the city of books"; either a place of literature, a sort of an academy, or where was a public library; the Targum calls it Kirjatharche, or the city of the archives, in which were laid up the public records of the Canaanites; the same is called Kirjathsannah for the like reason; This clause seems to be added to distinguish this from the other Debir subdued by Joshua, Jos_10:38-39 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it. And he took it, and its king, and all its cities. And they struck them with the edge of the sword, and destroyed every soul in it. He left none remaining. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to its king, as he had done also to Libnah, and to its king.

Jos 15:16 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

Will I give Achsah my daughter - In ancient times fathers assumed an absolute right over their children, especially in disposing of them in marriage; and it was customary for a king or great man to promise his daughter in marriage to him who should take a city, kill an enemy, etc. So Saul promised his daughter in marriage to him who should kill Goliath, 1Sa_17:25 And the men of Israel said, Have you seen this man that has come up? Surely he has come up to defy Israel. And it shall be, the king will enrich the man who kills him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel; and Caleb offers his on this occasion to him who should take Kirjath-sepher.

to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife - to be married into the family of the chief prince of the tribe of Judah was a very great honor, as well as no doubt a very large dowry might be expected, and was given with her, and very probably the city of Debir was promised that should be taken. This Achsah seems to be a daughter of Caleb by a concubine, 1Ch_2:48-49 Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber, and Tirhanah. She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea. And Caleb's daughter was Achsah.

He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher--This offer was made as an incentive to youthful bravery; and the prize was won by Othniel, Caleb's younger brother Jdg_1:13 And Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz, took it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife. This was a divine impulse, that Othniel's valor might be more manifest, and so the way prepared for his future government of the people, Jdg_3:9 And when the sons of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the sons of Israel, who delivered them, Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz. This was the occasion of drawing out the latent energies of him who was destined to be the first judge in Israel.

Jos 15:17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb - The relation of Othniel to Caleb is a little intricate, and, as it is understood, occasions objections to the marriage of Caleb's daughter to him; it seems, at first sight, that he was Caleb's own brother, a younger brother, and so uncle to his daughter, and such marriages were forbidden, Lev_18:14 You shall not uncover the nakedness of your father's brother. You shall not approach his wife. She is your aunt. Jarchi thinks he was the brother of Caleb by his mother's side; Kimchi, both by father and mother's side; but not to observe, that besides the word "brother" sometimes signifies only a kinsman, or near relation, and not precisely a brother; it is not Othniel that is called the brother of Caleb, but Kenaz, who was the father of Othniel; so that Caleb was Othniel's uncle, and Achsah and Othniel were brothers' children, or first cousins, between whom marriage was allowed of:

Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb - "Caleb's brother" may have been his blood brother or a member of the same clan or tribe. The Hebrew word 'ah can mean "brother," "relative," or "ally." Judges 1:13 and 3:9 seem to favor the idea of blood brother, for Othniel is called "Caleb's younger brother."

Jos 15:18 And it came to pass, 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 wouldest thou?

A field - Jdg_1:14 And it happened when she came, she moved him to ask for a field from her father. And she dismounted from the ass. And Caleb said to her, What do you desire? “The field,” the well-known field asked by Achsah and given by Caleb as a “blessing,” which when the Book of Judges was written had become historical. The “field” in question was doubtless in the neighborhood of Debir, and was especially valuable because of its copious springs.

As she came - As she was now departing from the house of her father to go to that of her husband. To her husband, being conducted from her father's house to his.

She lighted off her ass - she hastily, suddenly alighted, as if she had forgotten something, or was about to return to her father’s house. Which being perceived by her father, he said, What wouldest thou? What is the matter? What dost thou want? Achsah’s dismounting was a sign of reverence. That she might address herself to her father in an humble posture, and as a suppliant, which he understood by her gesture.

Jos 15:19 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.

A south land - This term (“negeb”) which is often equivalent to a proper name Jos_15:21, importing the well-defined district which formed the south of the promised land, seems here used in its more general sense Psa_126:4, for a dry or barren land.

for thou hast given me a south land - a dry land, as the Jewish writers generally interpret this word, otherwise all the land belonging to the tribe of Judah was south land, and Caleb could give her no other; but Debir, as Hebron was, was in the hill country, was mountainous and so dry, and wanted watering:

Springs of water - The Hebrew words gûllâh mayîm are found only here and in the parallel passage, Jdg_1:15. Hence, some take it as a proper name, “Gulloth-maim,” which like Beth-horon Jos_16:3, Jos_16:5, was applied to two distinct but adjoining places - distinguished as “the upper” and “the lower.” The tract in question was likely a mountain slope which had springs both on its higher and lower ground. He gave her even more than she requested; he gave her a district among the mountains and another in the plains well situated and well watered.

give me a blessing - By which she meant not a paternal benediction, or that he would wish and pray for a blessing on her; nor food, or a maintenance, but rather an inheritance or possession, or a gift, a present, or something over and above what he had already given her; or an addition to her portion: the word is sometimes used for a fish pool, as well as a blessing, and so glances at what she had in view, pools of water, or a well watered land

Jos 15:20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.

This is the inheritance - The general description of which is given in the preceding part of the chapter, as the particular cities belonging to it are enumerated in the following part; the account of the gift of Hebron to Caleb, and the taking of Debir by Othniel, with the request of Achsah, and the grant of it, are inserted between them, and stand as it were in a parenthesis. Jos_15:20 contains the closing formula to verses 1-19, to the description of the territory of Judah by its boundaries.

Here is a list of the cities of Judah - But we do not here find Bethlehem, afterwards the city of David, and ennobled by the birth of our Lord Jesus in it. That city, which, at the best, was but little among the thousands of Judah, except that it was thus honored, was now so little as not to be accounted one of the cities. Mic_5:2 And you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you being least among the thousands of Judah, out of you He shall come forth to Me, to become Ruler in Israel, He whose goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity.

Jos 15:21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,

And the furthest cities of the tribe - List of the towns of the tribe of Judah. These are arranged in four divisions, according to the natural features of the district; namely,, those of the Negeb or south country Jos_15:21-32; of “the valley,” or “the plain” (“Shephelah”, Jos_15:33-47); of “the mountains” Jos_15:48-60; and of “the wilderness” Jos_15:61-62. Many of the identifications are still conjectural only.

toward the coast of Edom southward - it begins about the dead sea, and goes on in that part of the land of Canaan which bordered on Idumea, and so proceeds on westward towards Gaza, and the Mediterranean sea: the cities in this part of the tribe

toward the coast of Edom southward - The Negeb was for the most part rocky and arid, and cannot have been at any time very thickly populated.

Kabzeel - called Jekabzeel, Neh_11:25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived at Kirjath-arba, and in its villages, and at Dibon, and in its villages, and at Jekabzeel, and its villages; the native place of Benaiah, one of David's mighty men 2Sa_23:20 And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada from Kabzeel, a son of a mighty man, great in deeds. He killed two lion-like men of Moab. He went down also and killed a lion in the middle of a pit in time of snow, who was famous as a slayer of lions. The Negeb was a principal haunt of these beasts.

Eder and Jagur - of which we have no mention elsewhere.

Jos 15:22 And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,

Kinah - Of this city we read of nowhere else.

Dimonah - probably the same as Dibon Neh_11:25 And for the villages, with their fields, some of the sons of Judah lived at Kirjath-arba, and in its villages, and at Dibon, and in its villages, and at Jekabzeel, and its villages; possibly the ruins of el Dheib, on the south side of the wady of the same name, to the north-east of Arad, although Robinson writes the name Ehdeib. Jerom observes, that a place elsewhere was indifferently called in his time Dibon and Dimon.

Adadah - the last of these cities is unknown.

Jos 15:23 And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,

Kedesh - The first of these cities seems to be Kadeshbarnea (although one modern commentator says it is not that city), which was to the south of the land, and on the borders of Edom, from whence the spies were sent, Num_32:8. Jos_15:3; Jos_12:22; Num_33:37; Deu_1:19

Hazor - another city from that which is mentioned, Jos_11:1; and was in the tribe of Naphtali: might then be Hezron, in the neighborhood of Kadesh-barnea (Jos_15:3).

Ithnan - is unknown. The Septuagint refers to Hazar-Ithnan, regarding these two as one city.

Jos 15:24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,

Telem - may be the Telaim of 1Sa_15:4, where Saul mustered his army for the expedition against the Amalekites.

Bealoth - is probably the “Baalath-beer - Ramath of the south” Jos_19:8, which is called Baal simply in 1Ch_4:33, and which was also called Ramath-negeb (Jos_19:8) and Ramoth-negeb (1Sa_30:27). It was one of the towns afterward assigned to the Simeonites.

Ziph - There were two cities of this name in the tribe of Judah, that mentioned here, and another Jos_15:55. One of these two is noted for the refuge of David when persecuted by Saul; and the attempts made by its inhabitants to deliver him into the hands of his persecutor. See 1Sa_23:14-24.

Jos 15:25 And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,

And Hezron which is Hazor - According to the Targum, two cities only are here meant, which reads, "and Hazorhadattah, and Keriothhezron, which is Hazor"; and this reading seems to be right; there were three Hazors in this tribe, one in Jos_15:23, and two more here, which are distinguished; the first is called Hazorhadattah, or new Hazor; of which Jerom says, there is a village at this day called Asor, in the borders of Ashkelon, to the east of it, which fell to the lot of the tribe of Judah; the Scripture makes mention of it, calling: it new Asor, to distinguish it from the old; and Keriothhezron is the same with Hezron, Jos_15:3; and had also the name of Hezron. From this place Judas Iscariot is thought to have his name, being Ishceriot, a man of Keriot.

And Hezron which is Hazor - In this verse are the names of two towns only, not of four. Two places bearing the common topographical appellation, Hazor (“enclosure”) are here mentioned and distinguished as “Hazor Hadattah” and “Kerioth-Hezron,” otherwise termed Hazor, Kerioth, prefixed to a name, bespeaks military occupation, as Hazor points to pastoral pursuits. The place would therefore seem to be an ancient pastoral settlement which had been fortified by the Anakims, and called accordingly Kerioth; to which name the men of Judah, after they had captured it, added that of Hezron, in honor of one of their leading ancestors (compare Gen_46:12; Rth_4:18). Kerioth was the home of Judas the traitor, if the ordinary derivation of Iscariot (man of Kerioth) be accepted: Mat_10:4.

Jos 15:26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,

Moladah - it is also spoken of in 1Ch_4:28 And they lived at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual, and seems to be the same with Malathi or Malatis, about twenty miles from Hebron. Like Hazar-shual it occurs Jos_19:2-3 And they had in their inheritance Beer-sheba, or Sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual, and Balah, and Azem, as a town belonging to Simeon, and Neh_11:26-27 and at Jeshua, and at Moladah, and at Beth-phelet, and at Hazar-shual, and at Beer-sheba, and in its villages, as a place occupied by Jews after the captivity.

Amam - Of Amam we read nowhere else:

Shema - mentioned among the towns of the Simeonites between Beersheba and Moladah, and is thought by some to be the same with Sheba, given afterwards to the tribe of Simeon, as was also Moladah, mentioned with it, Jos_19:2,

Jos 15:27 And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,

Beth-palet - mentioned in Neh_11:26, where it is called Bethphelet, by the side of Molada, as still inhabited by Judaeans.

Heshmon - is met with nowhere else:

Jos 15:28 And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,

Hazor-shual – “fox-court”, which was assigned to the Simeonites (Jos_19:3) and still inhabited after the captivity (Neh_11:27). It seems to have its name from an haunt of foxes

Beersheba - A city, famous in the book of Genesis as the residence of the patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, (Gen_21:14., Gen_22:19; Gen_28:10; Gen_46:1 Jos_22:19, etc.), and is frequently mentioned afterwards as the southern boundary of the land of Israel (Jdg_20:1; 2Sa_17:11, etc.), was also given up to the Simeonites (Jos_19:2), and still inhabited after the captivity (Neh_11:27). It lay on the way between Canaan and Egypt, about forty miles from Jerusalem.

Bizjothjah - is unknown. Instead of Bizjothjah, the Septuagint inserts the words villages and hamlets, Joshua 15:28 and Cholaseola, and Beersabee; and their villages, and their hamlets (Septuagint).

Jos 15:29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,

Baalah - which was assigned to the Simeonites, is called Balah in Jos_19:3, and Bilhah in 1Ch_4:29. though according to the Jerusalem Talmud (i) it is the same with Baalah, given to the tribe of Dan, Jos_19:44; and was one of those places whose houses were in Judah and their fields in Dan:

Iim - or Ivvim, according to theSeptuagint. No mention is made elsewhere of this town.

Azem - which was also given up to the Simeonites (Jos_19:3; 1Ch_4:29); it is the same with Ezem, 1Ch_4:29,

Jos 15:30 And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,

Eltolad - which was given to the Simeonites (Jos_19:4), and is called Tolad in 1Ch_4:29, has not been discovered.

Chesil - which is mentioned in Jos_19:4 and 1Ch_4:30, between Eltolad and Hormah, as a town of the Simeonites, and the same place as Beth-el in 1Sa_30:27. Chesil seems to be the same with Bethul and Bethuel, Jos_19:4 1Ch_4:30. The name Chesil ( “fool”) was most likely bestowed by way of opprobrium (compare the change of Bethel, house of God, into Bethaven, house of vanity, Hos_4:15). As Chesil signifies the group of stars known as Orion (compare Job_38:31; Amo_5:8), probably it was the worship of the heavenly bodies in particular that was carried on here. Bethel may have been the ancient name, and the spot was perhaps the very one near Beer-sheba where Abraham planted a tamarisk tree Gen_21:33.

Hormah - the same with Zephoth, Jdg_1:17 Jos_12:14. A place rendered famous by the defeat of the Hebrews by the Canaanites. See Num_14:45, Deu_1:44. All these three cities were given to the tribe of Simeon,

Jos 15:31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,

Ziklag - The Philistines seem to have kept possession of this city till the time of David, who received it from Achish, king of Gath, 1Sa_27:6; after which time it remained in the possession of the kings of Judah.

Ziklag - also given to the tribe of Simeon, Jos_19:5; 1Ch_4:30, it was in the bands of the king of Gath, in the times of David, who gave it to him; it bordered on the Amalekites. It was burnt down by the Amalekites (1Sa_30:1.), and still inhabited after the captivity (Neh_11:28).

Sansannah - of which no mention is made elsewhere.

Madmannah and Sansannah – One commentator says they correspond to Beth-marcaboth ( “house of chariots”) and Hazar-susah (“horse enclosure”) in Jos_19:5 and Ziklag, and Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susah, 1Ch_4:31 and at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.

Jos 15:32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:

Ain and Rimmon - possibly originally two towns, but in process of time became so connected as to be treated as one name Neh_11:29 and at En-rimmon, and at Zareah, and at Jarmuth. They were given as Simeonite towns Jos_19:7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages, and 1Ch_4:32 And their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities.

Lebaoth - one of the Simeonite towns, called Beth-lebaoth (lion-house) in Jos_19:6 and Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages, and Beth-birei in 1Ch_4:31 and at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.

Shilchim - called Sharuchen in Jos_19:6, and Shaaraim in 1Ch_4:31.

Rimmon - which is mentioned as the southern boundary of Judah in Zec_14:10 All the land shall be turned as a plain from Geba to Rimmon south of Jerusalem. And it shall rise and dwell in its place, from Benjamin's Gate to the place of the First Gate; to the Corner Gate, and from the Tower of Hananeel to the king's winepresses.

all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages - the Jews generally make thirty eight of them, as we do, and account for the difference of number thus; that nine of these cities were given to the tribe of Simeon, Jos_19:1; and these being taken out of the thirty eight, there remain twenty nine; so Jarchi and Kimchi account for it; but as the number of the cities is uncertain, and this account is given before the separation of the nine, and they are all reckoned together, this does not seem to be satisfactory; rather, as Abarbinel observes, the twenty nine of the places enumerated were cities, and the other were villages, unwalled towns, or not of so much note as the twenty nine.

All the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages - But on a careful examination we shall find thirty-eight; but it is supposed that nine of these are excepted; viz., Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual, Baalah, Azem, Hormah, Ziklag, Ain, and Rimmon, which were afterwards given to the tribe of Simeon. This may appear satisfactory, but perhaps the truth will be found to be this: Several cities in the promised land are expressed by compound terms; not knowing the places, different translations combine what should be separated, and in many cases separate what should be combined. Through this we have cities formed out of epithets. On this ground we have thirty-eight cities as the sum here, instead of twenty-nine.

All the cities were twenty and nine, and their villages - This does not agree with the number of towns mentioned by name, which is not twenty-nine, but thirty-four, according to the King James version. The number twenty-nine is probably an error of the text of old standing, which has arisen from a copyist confounding together different numeral letters that resembled one another. The difference is due either to the confusion by an early copyist of letters similar in form which were used as numerals; or to the separation in the King James Version of names which in the original were one (Jos_15:25).

Jos 15:33 And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,

And in the valley - “The valley” or the Shephelah, is bounded on the south by the Negeb, on the west by the Mediterranean, on the north by the plain of Sharon, on the east by “the mountains” Jos_15:48. It is a well-defined district, of an undulating surface and highly fertile character, thickly dotted, with villages, which are for the most part situated on the different hills. The towns in this district, like those in the Negeb, are classed in four groups. First group of fourteen towns: these belong to the northeastern portion of the Shephelah. The first group contains the towns in the northern part of the hilly region or slopes, which are reckoned as forming part of the lowland: in all, fourteen towns. The most northerly part of this district was given up to the tribe of Dan on the second division (Jos_19:41.).

Eshtaol and Zoreah - were afterward assigned to the tribe of Dan (Jos_19:41), and inhabited by Danites Jdg_13:25; Jdg_18:2, Jdg_18:8,Jdg_18:11 and partly by families of Judah, who had gone out from Kirjath-jearim (1Ch_1:53; 1Ch_4:2). The latter place was the home of Samson Jdg_13:2, who was buried between Zoreah and Eshtaol (Jdg_13:2; Jdg_16:31). It was one of the cities fortified by Rehoboam 2Ch_11:10, and was re-occupied by the Jews after the captivity Neh_11:29. Both places were in later times partly populated by Judahites from Kirjath-jearim; perhaps after the departure of the colony of Danites for Dan-Laish.

Ashnah - of which no mention is made elsewhere; there was another place of the same name, but different from this, Jos_15:43.

Jos 15:34 And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,

Zanoah - was still inhabited by Judaeans after the captivity Neh_11:30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, at Lachish, and the fields of it, at Azekah, and in its villages. And they lived from Beer-sheba to the valley of Hinnom. Neh_3:13 Hanun, and the people of Zanoah, repaired the Valley Gate. They built it, and set up its doors, its locks, and its bars, and a thousand cubits on the wall to the Dung Gate.

Engannim - signifies a fountain of gardens

Tappuah - a royal city, of which see Jos_12:17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one.

Enam - the same as Enaim (Gen_38:14: rendered “an open place”), on the road from Adullam to Timnah on the mountains (Jos_15:57).

Jos 15:35 Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,

Jarmuth - Jarmûk; a royal city, Jos_10:3 And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,

Adullam –another royal city.

Socoh - which was fortified by Rehoboam, and taken by the Philistines in the reign of Ahaz (2Ch_11:7; 2Ch_28:18). It was near this place that David fought with and slew Goliath, the champion of the Philistines, 1Sa_17:1.

Azekah - it appears to be near to Socoh from 1Sa_17:1, where the Philistines are said to pitch their camp between them.

Jos 15:36 And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:

Sharaim - which was on the west of Socoh and Azekah, according to 1Sa_17:52 And the men of Israel rose up and shouted, and Judah pursued the Philistines until you come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even to Gath and to Ekron.

Gederah - possibly the same as the Gederoth which was taken by the Philistines in the time of Ahaz (2Ch_28:18).

Gederothaim - of which we nowhere else read; Kimchi thinks Gederah and Gederothaim were one city:

Fourteen cities - Well reckoned, we shall find fifteen cities here; but probably Gederah and Gederothaim (Jos_15:36) are the same. Upon counting them, it will appear there are fifteen, which may be reduced to fourteen, if with Kimchi we take the two last to be but one, who in this way reconciles it; or with Jarchi make Tappuah and Enam to be one also, called Entappuah, which is the way he takes to solve the difficulty; but perhaps the case is this, that one of the places in the account was not a city, but a village.

Jos 15:37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,

Zenan - probably the same as Zaanan Mic_1:11 Pass over to them, O dweller of Shaphir, in nakedness of shame. The dweller of Zaanan has not gone out; the mourning of Beth-ezel shall take from you his standing.

Hadashah - according to the Mishnah Erub it is the smallest place in Judah, containing only fifty houses.

Migdal-gad - of which we nowhere else read; some think it had its name from some famous exploit done here by one of the tribe of Gad, who came over with Joshua to assist in the war, as the stone of Bohan the Reubenite, Jos_15:6.

Jos 15:38 And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,

Mizpeh – “specula”, a different place from the Mizpeh of Benjamin (Jos_18:26). Of which name there were cities in other tribes; this in the tribe of Judah

Jos 15:39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,

Lachish and Eglon - were royal cities, Jos_10:3 And Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying.

Bozkath - is called Boscath, of which place was the mother of King Josiah, 2Ki_21:1;

Jos 15:40 And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,

Cabbon, Lahmam, and Kithlish - Cities of which we can give no account, not being mentioned elsewhere.

Jos 15:41 And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:

Beth-dagon - The house or temple of Dagon. This is a well known idol of the Philistines, and probably the place mentioned here was in some part of their territories. 1Sa_5:2 And the Philistines took the ark of God and brought it into the house of Dagon, and set it beside Dagon.

Gederoth - reckoned among the cities of the low country, and south of Judah, 2Ch_28:18 The Philistines also had invaded the cities of the low country and of the south of Judah, and had taken Beth-shemesh and Aijalon, and Gederoth, and Shocho with its villages, and Timnah with its villages, and Gimzo and its villages. And they lived there.

Makkedah - Jos_10:10 And the LORD troubled them before Israel, and killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goes up to Beth-horon, and struck them to Azekah, and to Makkedah. It was a royal city, Jos_12:16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

sixteen cities with their villages - and is the exact number of them, as before enumerated.

Jos 15:42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,

Ether and Ashan - which were afterwards given to the Simeonites Jos_19:7.

Ashan - probably the same as Kor-ashan (1Sa_30:30), became a priests' city afterwards (1Ch_6:44; see at Jos_21:16).

Libnah – a royal city, Jos_10:29 And Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.

Jos 15:43 And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,

Ashnah - there was another Ashnah of this tribe, and which was in the vale also, met with already in Jos_15:33 In the low country were Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah.

Jos 15:44 And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:

Keilah - which is mentioned in the history of David (1 Sam 23), and then again after the captivity Neh_3:17 After him the Levites, Rehum the son of Bani, repaired. Next to him Hashabiah, the ruler of the half part of Keilah, repaired in his part.

Keilah - This town was near Hebron, and is said to have been the burying-place of the prophet Habakkuk. David obliged the Philistines to raise the siege of it; (1Sa_23:1-13); but finding that its inhabitants had purposed to deliver him into the hands of Saul, who was coming in pursuit of him, he made his escape.

Achzib - Mic_1:14 Therefore you shall give parting gifts to Moresheth-gath; the houses of Achzib are for a lying thing to the kings of Israel. The same as Chesib Gen_38:5 And she yet again conceived and bore a son. And she called his name Shelah. And she was at Chezib when she bore him. Achzib is said to be on the borders of Asher, Jos_19:29 and the border turns to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre. And the border turns to Hosah, and the boundaries of it are at the sea from the line to Achzib.

Mareshah - which was fortified by Rehoboam 2Ch_11:5-8 And Rehoboam lived in Jerusalem and built cities for defense in Judah. And he built Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa, and Beth-zur, and Shoco, and Adullam, and Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph, Mic_1:15 Yet I will bring an heir to you, O dweller of Mareshah. The glory of Israel shall come to Adullam. It was the place where Asa defeated Zerah the Ethiopian 2Ch_14:9 And Zerah the Ethiopian came out against them with an army of a million men, and three hundred chariots. And he came to Mareshah. The home of Eliezer 2Ch_20:37

And Eliezer the son of Dodavah of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying, Because you have joined yourself with Ahaziah, the LORD has broken your works. And the ships were broken so that they were not able to go to Tarshish. Afterwards the important town of Marissa.

Mareshah - Called also Maresheth and Marasthi; it was the birth-place of the prophet Micah. Near this place was the famous battle between Asa, king of Judah, and Zera, king of Cush or Ethiopia, who was at the head of one thousand thousand men, and three hundred chariots. Asa defeated this immense host and took much spoil, 2Ch_14:9-15.

nine cities with their villages - which is just their number.

Jos 15:45 Ekron, with her towns and her villages:

Ekron – also known as Akir. “Her daughters” are the other towns of the principality of Ekron that were dependent upon the capital. One of the five principalities of the Philistines, which with two more next mentioned, though they fell to the lot of the tribe of Judah, were never possessed by them; for which reason perhaps Gath and Ascalon are not mentioned, and these are put for the rest; Jos_13:3 from Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite, five lords of the Philistines: of Gaza, of Ashdod, of Ashkelon, of Gath, and of Ekron; also the Avim.

Jos 15:46 From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:

From Ekron even unto the sea - The Mediterranean sea.

all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages - this is the Azotus of the New Testament, Act_8:40 But Philip was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached the gospel in all the cities until he came to Caesarea. It is another of the principalities of the Philistines

Jos 15:47 Ashdod 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:

Gath and Askalon are not mentioned, because they are both of them included in the boundaries named. Askalon was between Ashdod and Gaza, by the sea-coast (see at Jos_13:3), and Gath on the east of Ekron and Ashdod (see Jos_13:3), so that, as a matter of course, it was assigned to Judah.

Unto the river of Egypt – Perhaps the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, or Sihor.

The great sea - The Mediterranean, called so in comparison of the lesser seas in Judea, the salt sea, and the sea of Tiberias.

Gaza with her towns and her villages - Gaza was another of the principalities of the Philistines.

Jos 15:48 And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,

Jattir - was given up to the priests Jos_21:13-14 And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron and its open lands as a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah and its open lands, and Jattir and its open lands, and Eshtemoa and its open lands, and is mentioned again in 1Sa_30:27.

Socoh - is different from Socoh in Jos_15:35; that was in the plain, this in the mountain.

And in the mountains - The hill country of Judea, as it is called Luk_1:39 And Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, to a city of Judah.

Shamir - the Alexandrian copy of the Greek version reads Sophir as the name, of the first of these cities; Mic_1:11 Pass over to them, O dweller of Shaphir, in nakedness of shame. The dweller of Zaanan has not gone out; the mourning of Beth-ezel shall take from you his standing.

Jos 15:49 And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,

Dannah - not mentioned elsewhere but may be identified with “Idnah” and Eshtemoh. They were priestly cities Jos_21:14; 1Ch_6:57, and the place to which David, after routing the Amalekites, sent presents 1Sa_30:27-28.

Kirjathsannah, which is Debir - Kirjathsannah had three names, this and Debir, and Kirjathsepher; all which are of much the same signification;

Jos 15:50 And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,

Anab - on the north-east of Socoh (see at Jos_11:21).

Eshtemoh - or Eshtemoa, which was ceded to the priests Jos_21:13-14 And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron and its open lands as a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah and its open lands, and Jattir and its open lands, and Eshtemoa and its open lands, 1Ch_6:42, and is mentioned again in 1Sa_30:28; 1Ch_4:17, 1Ch_4:19.

Jos 15:51 And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:

Holon - given up to the priests Jos_21:13-15 And to the sons of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron and its open lands as a city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah and its open lands, and Jattir and its open lands, and Eshtemoa and its open lands, and Holon and its open lands, and Debir and its open lands, 1Ch_6:43

Giloh - mentioned as the birth-place of the traitor Ahithophel in 2Sa_15:12 And Absalom sent for Ahithophel of Giloh, David's counselor, from his city Giloh, while he offered sacrifices. And the conspiracy was strong, for the people with Absalom grew more and more.

eleven cities with their villages - the number agrees

Jos 15:52 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,

Second group of nine towns, situated somewhat to the north of the last mentioned.

Jos 15:53 And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,

Beth-tappuah - The house of the apple or citron tree. Probably a place where these grew in great abundance and perfection.

Jos 15:54 And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:

nine cities with their villages - which is exactly their number

Jos 15:55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,

Maon - the home of Nabal (1Sa_25:2), on the border of the desert of Judah, which is here called the desert of Maon (1Sa_23:25). It is to be looked for in the conical hill, “Main,” the top of which is covered with ruins. It lies eight or nine miles southeast of Hebron. In a desert to which this town gave name, David took refuge for a considerable time from the persecution of Saul; and in this place Nabal the Carmelite had great possessions. 1Sa_23:24, 1Sa_23:25; 1Sa_25:2.

Carmel - Not the celebrated mount of that name, but a village, the residence of Nabal.1Sa_25:2, a town and mountain mentioned in the history of David, and again in the time of Uzziah (1Sa_15:12; 1Sa_25:2.; 2Ch_26:10). The name belongs to more than one place Jos_12:22. It is the place where Saul erected a trophy to himself after the defeat of the Amalekites; see 1Sa_15:12.

Ziph - in the desert of that name, to which David fled from Saul (1Sa_23:14., 1Sa_26:2-3), was fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch_11:8), and has been preserved in the ruins upon the hill Ziph. Which gave its name to the neighbouring mountains, 1Sa_26:1.

Jos 15:56 And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,

Jezreel - the home of Ahinoam (1Sa_25:43; 1Sa_27:3, etc.). This Jezreel in the tribe of Judah is different from that which was once a royal seat of some of the kings of Israel, and from whence the famous valley of Jezreel or Esdraelon had its name: of this we have no other account elsewhere:

Zanoah - a distinct place from the city of the same name in the valley, Jos_15:34.

Jos 15:57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:

Cain - or Hakain, "that Cain", we nowhere else read of; whether the name was given it by the old Canaanites, in memory of Cain, the son of Adam, is not certain:

Gibeah - there were other places that went by the name of Gibeah; there was a Gibeah in Benjamin, Jdg_20:4, and another in the same tribe called Gibeah of Saul, 1Sa_11:4, to distinguish it from that; but this was in the tribe of Judah.

Timnah - probably the place already mentioned in Gen_38:12. A frontier town of the Philistines; it was in this place that Samson got his wife, see Judges 14:1-15:20.

ten cities with their villages - the number agrees with the names of them.

Jos 15:58 Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,

Beth-zur - which was fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch_11:7),

Jos 15:59 And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:

The Septuagint includes a fifth group of eleven towns, which appears to have dropped in very ancient times out of the Masoretic text. The omitted group contains the towns of an important, well-known, and populous district lying immediately south of Jerusalem, and containing such towns as Tekoah 2Sa_14:2; Neh_3:5, Neh_3:27; Amo_1:1; Bethlehem, the native town of David and of Christ Gen_35:19; and Aetan, a Grecised form of Etam 2Ch_11:6. Joshua 15:59 and Magaroth, and Baethanam, and Thecum; six cities, and their villages; Theco, and Ephratha, this is Baethleem, and Phagor, and Aetan, and Culon, and Tatam, and Thobes, and Carem, and Galem, and Thether, and Manocho: eleven cities, and their villages, (Septuagint) Theko, the well-known Tekoah, the home of the wise woman and of the prophet Amos (2Sa_14:2; Amo_1:1), was fortified by Rehoboam, and still inhabited after the captivity (2Ch_11:6; Neh_3:5, Neh_3:27). Ephratah, i.e., Bethlehem, the family seat of the house of David (Rth_1:1; Rth_4:11; 1Sa_16:4; 1Sa_17:12.; Mic_5:2), was fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch_11:6), and is a place frequently mentioned. It was the birth-place of Christ (Mat_2:1.; Luk_2:4). Bethlehem did not receive the name of Ephratah for the first time from the Calebite family of Ephrathites (1Ch_2:19, 1Ch_2:50; 1Ch_4:4), but was known by that name even in Jacob's time (Gen_35:19; Gen_48:7). Aetan was fortified by Rehoboam (2Ch_11:6). Galem is a different place from the Gallim on the north of Jerusalem (Isa_10:30).

Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon - Of these cities we have no account elsewhere; only mention is made of Eltekeh, in the tribe of Dan, Jos_19:44,

Jos 15:60 Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:

Kirjath-baal - or Kirjath-jearim; The same as Baalah. Jos_15:9 And the border was drawn from the top of the hill to the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron. And the border was drawn to Baalah; it is Kirjath-jearim. Jos_9:17.

Rabbah - of which we nowhere else read; for this is a very different city from the Rabbah of the children of Ammon, 2Sa_12:26,

Jos 15:61 In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,

This district, including the towns in “the wilderness,” the scene of David’s wanderings (1Sa_23:24; Psa_63:1-11 title), and of the preaching of the Baptist Mat_3:1, and perhaps of our Lord’s temptation Matt. 4, extended from the northern limit of Judah along the Dead Sea to the Negeb; it was bounded on the west by that part of “the mountains” or highlands of Judah, which adjoined Bethlehem and Maon.

Jos 15:62 And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.

The city of Salt - not mentioned elsewhere, but probably connected with “the valley of salt” 2Sa_8:13 And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking the Syrians in the Valley of Salt, eighteen thousand men. The name itself, and the mention of En-gedi (Gen_14:7) suggest that its site must be looked for near the Dead Sea.

The city of salt - in which the Edomites sustained repeated defeats 2Sa_8:13; 2Ki_14:7 He killed ten thousand of Edom in the Valley of Salt, and took Selah by war, and called the name of it Joktheel until this day. 1Ch_18:12 And Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand of the men of Edom in the Valley of Salt. 2Ch_25:11 And Amaziah made himself strong, and led forth his people, and went to the Valley of Salt, and struck ten thousand of the sons of Seir. It was no doubt at the southern end of the Dead Sea, in the Salt Valley.

The city of Salt - Or of Melach. This city was somewhere in the vicinity of the Dead Sea. The whole country abounds with salt. Some suppose that it is the same as Zoar, the place to which Lot escaped after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Engedi - The well of the kid: it was situated between Jericho and the Dead Sea (also known as lake of Sodom).To which David also fled to escape from Saul 1Sa_24:1 And it happened when Saul had returned from following the Philistines, they told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.

Engedi - or Hazazon-Tamar, from the palm trees which grew there, 2Ch_20:2 And they came in and spoke to Jehoshaphat, saying, A great multitude has come against you from beyond the sea on this side of Syria. And behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar, which is En-gedi. It was famous for vineyards also, Son_1:14 My Beloved is to me like a cluster of henna in the vineyards of Engedi.

Jos 15:63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

the sons of Judah could not drive them out - there follows a notice to the effect that the Judaeans were unable to expel the Jebusites from Jerusalem, which points back to the time immediately after Joshua, when the Judaeans had taken Jerusalem and burned it (Jdg_1:8), but were still unable to maintain possession. This notice is not at variance with either Jos_18:28 or Jdg_1:21, since it neither affirms that Jerusalem belonged to the tribe of Judah, nor that Judah alone laid claim to the possession of the town to the exclusion of the Benjamites. The whole history of Jerusalem, previously to the time of David, is encumbered with many difficulties. Sometimes it is attributed to Judah, sometimes to Benjamin, and it is probable that, being on the frontiers of both those tribes, each possessed a part of it This verse is an additional proof that the book of Joshua was not written after the times of the Jewish kings; for when this verse was written, the Jebusites dwelt with the children of Judah, which they did not after the days of David; therefore the book was written before there were any kings in Judea.

As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem - From whom the city was called Jebus, Jdg_19:10. The Jews say, that these Jebusites were not those of the seven nations; but there was a man whose name was Jebus, and he was of the Philistines, of the seed of Abimelech, and the place was called by his name Jebus; and the men of that family that dwelt at Jerusalem, their names were called Jebusites, having their descent from him; so Araunah, the Jebusite, was king of that place: and the fort of that place was Zion, which was at Jerusalem, but without any foundation; there is no doubt to be made of it, that these Jebusites were Canaanites.

the children of Judah could not drive them out - according to the Jewish writers they could have done it, but it was not fit and proper they should, because of the oath of Abraham to Abimelech, from whom they suppose these Jebusites sprung; but the case was this; though Joshua slew the king of this place, and took his land with the rest, Jos_10:1; and though the men of Judah retook it after his death, it having been got into the hands of the Jebusites again, Jdg_1:8; yet either the fort of Zion was never taken by either of them, or if taken, the Jebusites got possession of it again, and held it until the times of David; 2Sa_5:6.