Joshua 13:4

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 13:1-6

Here, I. God puts Joshua in mind of his old age, Josh. 13:1. 1. It is said that Joshua was old and stricken in years, and he and Caleb were at this time the only old men among the thousands of Israel, none except them of all those who were numbered at Mount Sinai being now alive. He had been a man of war from his youth (Exod. 17:10); but now he yielded to the infirmities of age, with which it is in vain for the stoutest to think of contesting. It should seem Joshua had not the same strength... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:4

From the south, all the land of the Canaanites ,.... That is, of those Canaanites who were particularly so called, in distinction from those of the other nations or tribes, and who dwelt in several parts of the land, some in the east and others in the west, see Joshua 11:3 ; and, as it seems here, some in the south: now on the side of the south, as Kimchi interprets it, all the land of the Canaanites was left, that is, remained unconquered and not possessed: and Mearah that is beside... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 13:4

The land of the Canaanites - This lay on the south of the country of the Philistines, towards the sea-coast. Mearah - Supposed to be the city Maratha, on the Mediterranean Sea. - Calmet. Or the river Majora, which falls into the Mediterranean Sea, between Sidon and Berytus. See Pliny, Hist. Nat. lib. v., c. 20. Aphek - See on Joshua 12:18 ; (note). To the borders of the Amorites - Though the term Amorite is sometimes used to designate the inhabitants in general of the land of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 13:2-7

The land allotted, though not yet secured. "There remaineth yet very much land to be possessed." "Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance"—form a somewhat strange pair of precepts. It seems as if Joshua was dividing what he had not got; and as if Israel were casting lots rather for perils than property. It is not quite so extreme as this. The point in the conquest was reached when nowhere was there a resistance needing a nation in arms to quell it. The several tribes were each... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 13:4

From the south. The LXX . and the best modern commentators connect these words with what precedes. This gives a better sense than joining it to what follows. For the south was not "all the land of the Canaanites," but a large part of it belonged, as we have just seen, to a tribe not of Canaanitish origin, while the land of the Canaanites (see note on Joshua 3:10 ) extended far to the northward. Therefore we must understand the words "all the land of the Canaanites" to begin a fresh... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 13:4

Read “on the south,” and connect the words with the verse preceding. They indicate the southern limit of the still unconquered territory in this neighborhood, as Joshua 13:3 gives the northern one.Mearah - The “cave” (see the margin) has been referred to “Mugar Jczzin” (“cave of Jezzin”), between Tyre and Sidon, or to a district characterized by deep cave-like ravines near Sidon and Dan-Laish. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 13:4

Joshua 13:4. From the south That is, from those southern parts of the sea- coast now possessed by the Philistines, all the more northern parts of the sea-coast being yet inhabited by the Canaanites, almost as far as Sidon. The Amorites The Amorites were a very strong and numerous people, and we find them dispersed in several parts, some within Jordan, and some without it, some in the south, and others in the north, of whom he speaks here. read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 13:1-33

13:1-22:34 DIVISION OF THE LANDAll the land that Israel had conquered was now divided among the twelve tribes. The list of tribal boundaries may not make very interesting reading today, but it was necessary for Israel as a permanent and lawful record to which people could refer if any disagreement arose. It also told the tribes of the enemies that had yet to be destroyed, both within their own tribal areas and in lands round about.Overall plan for the division (13:1-14:5)The area west of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Joshua 13:4

From = on. The Syriac punctuates Joshua 13:3 and Joshua 13:4 , thus: "also the Avites on the south", read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Joshua 13:4

Ver. 4. From the south, all the land of the Canaanites— To the south of the country of the Philistines, on the sea-coast, lay the Canaanites, properly so called, who remained still unconquered. Mearah, a city unknown, towards the north, but in the territory of Sidon, was in the same class. See Calmet. Aphek was probably the city which we find in the tribe of Asher, not very distant from Sidon, but farther eastward. To the borders of the Amorites— There were Amorites in all the land of Canaan,... read more

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