Beth-aram - This city was rebuilt by Herod, and called Livias, in honor of Livia, the wife of Augustus. Josephus calls it Julias, Julia being the name which the Greeks commonly give to Livia. - Calmet. Succoth - A place between Jabbok and Jordan where Jacob pitched his tents, from which circumstance it obtained its name, see Genesis 33:17 . read more
The half tribe of Manasseh - When the tribes of Reuben and Gad requested to have their settlement on the east side of Jordan, it does not appear that any part of the tribe of Manasseh requested to be settled in the same place. But as this tribe was numerous, and had much cattle, Moses thought proper to appoint one half of it to remain on the east of Jordan, and the other to go over and settle on the west side of that river. read more
The towns of Jair - These were sixty cities; they are mentioned afterwards, and in 1 Chronicles 2:21 , etc. They are the same with the Havoth-jair mentioned Numbers 32:41 . Jair was son of Segub, grandson of Esron or Hezron, and great-grandson of Machir by his grandmother's side, who married Hezron of the tribe of Judah. See his genealogy, 1 Chronicles 2:21-24 . read more
Verse 24 24.And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, etc The observation made above applies also to the tribe of Gad, namely, that their legitimate boundaries were carefully defined in order to prevent disputes as to their possession. Meanwhile God is extolled for his liberality in having expelled nations of great celebrity, and substituted them in their stead. This is expressed more clearly in regard to the half tribe of Manasseh, when sixty cities are enumerated as included in their... read more
The inheritance of Levi. I. THE TRIBE OF LEVI RECEIVED NO INHERITANCE OF LAND . II. THE TRIBE OF LEVI HAD ITS TEMPORAL WANTS ADEQUATELY PROVIDED FOR (see Joshua 13:14 ). (a) just ( 1 Corinthians 9:11 ), (b) necessary for unhindered service, and (c) not injurious to true devotion so long as the servant of God does not degrade his vocation into a trade by working for money instead of receiving money that he may have means for work. ... read more
Unto the tribe of Gad. The border of Gad extended further eastward than that of Reuben. Westward, of course, its border was the Jordan. Its northern border was nearly coincident with that of the land of Gilead, and passed by Maha-naim and Jabesh Gilead, unto the extreme southernmost point of the sea of Galilee. Many of these places also are mentioned in Isaiah 15:1-9 and Jeremiah 48:1-47 . (see note above, Jeremiah 48:16 ). read more
Aroer that is before Rabbah . A different Aroer to that mentioned in Joshua 13:9 . This was near (Hebrew, opposite to, the expression being equivalent to the French en face ) Rabbah, or the great city of the children of Ammon. Keil supposes that this territory had been taken from the Ammonites by Sihon, since the Israelites were not permitted to possess themselves of the land of the Ammonites ( Deuteronomy 2:19 ). For Rabbah, see 2 Samuel 11:1 ; 2 Samuel 12:26 . It is called... read more
Ramath-Mizpeh . This is idenitified with Ramoth-Gilead by Vandevelde, and must have been the Mizpeh of Gilead mentioned in 11:29 . It is supposed to be identical with the place called Mizpah, Galeed, and Jegar-sahadutha by Jacob and Laban respectively ( Genesis 31:47-49 ). If it be the same as Ramoth-Gilead, it is the scene of the celebrated battle against the Syrians, in which Ahab lost his life ( 1 Kings 22:1-53 ), and where the fall of the dynasty of Omri was brought about by the... read more
The valley. The Emek (see Joshua 8:13 ). Beth-Nimrah (see Numbers 32:36 ). Afterwards Nimrim ( Isaiah 15:6 ; Jeremiah 48:34 ). Now Nimrin. Succoth . i.e; booths. Here Jacob rested after his meeting with Esau ( Genesis 33:17 ). Here Gideon "taught the men of Succoth," who had declined to provide food for his army ( 8:5 , 8:7 , 8:16 ). It is mentioned in connection with Zarthan, or Zaretan (cf. Joshua 3:16 ) as being in the tract or כִכַּר of the Jordan, where the... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 13:26
Ramath-mizpeh - The same as Ramoth-gilead. It was one of the cities of refuge, Joshua 20:8 ; Deuteronomy 4:47 . Mahanaim - Or the two camps. Situated on the northern side of the brook Jabbok, celebrated for the vision of the two camps of angels which Jacob had there; see Genesis 32:2 . read more