Josh. 15 The borders of the lot of Judah, Josh. 15:1–12. Among them Kirjath-arba, Caleb’s inheritance: he drives thence the three sons of Anak; promises to give his daughter in marriage to him who should smite Kirjath-sepher; which Othniel does, and obtains her: she requests of her father some land…

For the general understanding of this business, it must be known, 1. That this work of casting lots was transacted with great seriousness and solemnity, in God’s presence, with prayer and appeal to him for the decision of the matter. 2.

The bay, Heb. the tongue; by which he understands either a creek or arm of that sea; or a promontory, which by learned authors is sometimes called a tongue; it is not material to know which of these it was.

Concerning this description of the southern coast of Judah, see Num. 34:3–5.

The end of Jordan, i.e. the place where Jordan runs into the Salt Sea.

By the north of Beth-arabah, or, on the north, or northward to Beth-arabah; which place is attributed to Judah here, Josh. 15:61; and to Benjamin, Josh.

Debir; a differing place from that Debir, Num. 15:15, which was near Hebron, and remote from Judah’s border; as also from that Debir, Josh. 13:26, which was beyond Jordan. Gilgal; either that Gilgal nigh Jordan, Josh. 4:19, or another place of that name.

The border went up; properly, for the line went from Jordan and the Salt Sea, to the higher grounds nigh Jerusalem; and therefore the line is said to go down, Josh. 18:16, because there it takes a contrary course, and goes downwards to Jordan and the sea.

Of Mount Ephron, i.e. belonging to or bordering upon Mount Ephron. Kirjath-jearim, called Kirjath-baal, Josh. 15:60, Josh. 18:14.

Mount Seir; not that of Edom, but another so called from some resemblance it had with that in quality. Bethshemesh: there were divers cities of this name; this in Judah here, and Josh. 21:16, 2 Kings 14:11, another in Issachar, and a third in Naphtali, Josh. 19:22, Josh. 19:38.

He gave, i.e. Joshua, as appears by comparing this with Josh. 14:6, Josh. 14:12–13. Arba, or Kirjath-arba; not the city, which was the Levites’, but the territory of it, Josh. 21:13.

Thence, i.e. from the said territory, from their caves and and forts in it: compare Josh. 14:12. This and the following work was done either in Joshua’s life-time, as may seem from Josh. 11:21, or after his death, as is related Judg.

Debir; the same mentioned above, Josh. 15:7. The name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher: this clause seems to be added to distinguish this from the other Debir subdued by Joshua, Josh. 10:38–39.

Which is to be understood with some conditions, as, if he were one who could marry her by God’s law; for every promise contrary to that is void; and if she were willing; for though parents had a great power over their children, they could not force them to marry any person against their own wills.

Object. This marriage was unlawful. Answ. No; for it was not Othniel, but Kenaz, who was Caleb’s brother; and besides, the word brother is commonly used for any kinsman; and that Caleb was not properly Othniel’s brother sufficiently appears, because Caleb is constantly called the son of Jephunneh;…

As she came unto him, or, as she went, to wit, from her father’s house to her husband’s, as the manner was: see Poole “Matt. 1:18”. She moved him to ask; she persuaded her husband; either, 1. That he would ask; or rather, 2. That he would suffer her to ask, as she did.

Give me a blessing, i.e. a gift, as that word signifies, Gen. 33:11. A south land, i.e. a dry land, which was much exposed to the south wind, which in those parts was very hot and drying, as coming from the deserts of Arabia. Springs of water, i.e. a.field, as she desired, Josh.

The uttermost cities; those which were on the borders of the land, not the midland cities. It is apparent that all the cities belonging to this tribe are not mentioned in this catalogue. Kabzeel, called Jekabzeel, Neh. 11:25.

Hazor, Hadattah possibly it should be read as one word, Hazor-hadattah, as there is Hazar-gaddah, Josh. 15:27, and Hazar-shual, Josh. 15:28, such compounded proper names being usual; and this may seem the more probable, because if Hazor and Hadattah were two different cities, the conjunction and…

Object. Here are thirty-seven or thirty-eight cities named before; how then are they only reckoned twenty-nine? Answ. There were only twenty-nine of them, which either, 1. Properly belonged to Judah; the rest fell to Simeon’s lot; or, 2. Were cities properly so called, i.e.

Object. There are fifteen numbered. Answ. Either one of them was no city strictly called; or Gederah and Gederothaim is put for Gederah or Gederothaim, so called, possibly, because the city was double, as there want not instances of one city divided into two parts, called the old and the new city.

Libnah, Heb. Libnah. See Josh. 10:29

Here and in the following verses are contained all the cities of the Philistines, among which are Gath and Askelon, which peradventure are here omitted, because they were not at this time places of such power and eminency as afterwards they were, but were the daughters of some of these following…

i.e. The sea-coast, and all other cities, towns, and villages upon it.

i.e. In the higher grounds, called mountains or hills, in comparison of the sea-coast.

Debir is also called Kirjath-sepher, above, Josh. 15:15. So this city had three names.

Goshen. Josh. 10:41

Maon; of which see 1 Sam. 23:25, 1 Sam. 25:2. Carmel; Nabal’s country, 1 Sam. 25:0. Ziph; which gave its name to the neighbouring mountain, 1 Sam. 26:1.

The wilderness; so the Hebrews call places either uninhabited by men, or having but few inhabitants.

The city of Salt; so called either from the Salt Sea, which was near it; or from the salt which was made in it, or about it.

For though Jerusalem was in part taken by Joshua before this, yet the upper and stronger part of it, called Zion, was still kept by the Jebusites, even until David’s time; and it seems from thence they descended to the lower town called Jerusalem, and took it; so that the Israelites were forced to…