The writer recorded the boundaries of the whole tribal territory first. The description proceeds counterclockwise from south (Joshua 15:2-4) to east (Joshua 15:5) to north (Joshua 15:5-11) to west (Joshua 15:12). read more
Judah’s boundaries and Caleb and Othniel’s inheritances 15:1-20 read more
3. Judah’s inheritance ch. 15The tribe of Judah probably received first consideration in the text, because it was this tribe that had received Jacob’s special patriarchal blessing. It was also the largest tribe.Ancient Near Easterners used natural landmarks (rivers, mountains, deserts, towns, etc.) to construct borders as well as artificial boundaries that they made by drawing lines between sites. Virtually all nations have used these methods, and they are still common today.Judah was the... read more
The Assignment of the TerritoryIt has been noticed that there are many incidental features in this narrative which point to a contemporary document. Thus in the lot of Judah we have a full description, both of the frontier-lines (Joshua 15:1-12), and also of the chief cities contained within them (Joshua 15:21-62): and the same is true of Benjamin (Joshua 18:11-28). But these are the tribes which seem to have conquered their territory soonest and most completely. Ephraim and Manasseh, on the... read more
The Lot of Judah1-12. The boundaries of Judah’s lot. There is a valuable descriptive note on this section and on Joshua 15:20-63 in Black’s Commentary on ’Joshua’ in the Smaller Cambridge Bible.2-4. The S. Frontier. This coincides, of course, with the S. Frontier of the whole land as given in Numbers 34:3-5. 4. The river of Egypt] RV ’brook of Egypt,’ not the Nile, but the Wâdy el Arish: cp. Joshua 15:47.5. The E. Frontier, viz. the Dead Sea.5-11. The N. Frontier. Cp. the account in Joshua... read more
(10) Mount Seir.—Of course, entirely distinct from the place in Edom, but not precisely identified.Chesalon is identified with Kesla, two and a quarter miles due north of Khurbet ’Erma, on sheet 17 Timnah is Tibneh (on sheet 16). read more
(11) Ekron is Akir (on sheet 16). Here we are in the Shephêlah, or plain of the sea-coast.Jabneel is Yebnah, west of Ekron, nearer the sea. read more
CHAPTER XXIV.THE INHERITANCE OF JUDAH.Joshua 15:1-63.JUDAH was the imperial tribe, and it was fitting that he should be planted in a conspicuous territory. Even if the republic had not been destined to give place to the monarchy, some pre-eminence was due to the tribe which had inherited the patriarchal blessing, and from which He was to come in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. Judah and the sons of Joseph seem to have obtained their settlements not only before the other... read more
3. The Portion of Judah CHAPTER 15 1. The south-border of Judah’s portion (Joshua 15:1-4 ) 2. The eastern and northern border (Joshua 15:5-11 ) 3. The western border (Joshua 15:12 ) 4. Caleb’s conquest (Joshua 15:13-19 ) 5. Inheritance according to families (Joshua 15:20-63 ) This is a chapter which contains many names; nearly one hundred and fifty are recorded. With the help of a good concordance, or dictionary of Hebrew names, the English meaning may be ascertained. However, many... read more
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E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joshua 15:11
side, or slope, or shoulder. read more