And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea ,.... Sometimes called the dead sea, the sea of Sodom, and the lake Asphaltites, which, as Jarchi observes, was southeast of the land of Israel: from the bay that looketh southward ; or the "tongue", as the Hebrew, which the Targum and Kimchi interpret of a rock or promontory, the point that ran out into the sea, looking to the southeast. read more
From the bay that looketh southward - These were the southern limits of the tribe of Judah, which commenced at the extremity of the lake Asphaltites or Dead Sea, and terminated at Sihor or the river of Egypt, and Mediterranean Sea; though some think it extended to the Nile. read more
The inheritance of Judah. This chapter does not suggest much matter for homiletic treatment. The chief points to be noticed are HOMILIES BY J. WAITE read more
The shore of the salt sea. Literally, the extremity, i.e; the south extremity. From the bay. Literally, tongue . The LXX . translates by λοφία , ridge. The whole southern portion of the sea is cut off from the rest by a peninsula near Kerak, the ancient Kit of Moab. It is called the Lisan. Whoever was the writer of the Book of Joshua, these details prove him to have had an accurate acquaintance with the geography of Palestine. He was no priestly inventor of fables attached to... read more
Joshua 15:2. The bay that looketh southward Hebrew, the tongue; either a creek or arm of that sea, or a promontory, which by learned authors is sometimes called a tongue. Every sea is salt, but this had an extraordinary saltness, the effect of that fire and brimstone which destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah. read more
The tribe of Judah (14:6-15:63)By far the largest portions of Canaan went to the chief tribes, those of Judah and Joseph (cf. Genesis 49:8-12,Genesis 49:22-26). Judah received almost the whole of southern Canaan, and Joseph received almost the whole of central Canaan.Caleb received his special inheritance within the area given to his tribe, Judah. Here he proved that his expression of faith made forty-five years earlier was not mere words. At that time he and Joshua alone in Israel believed... read more
2. the bay—Hebrew, "tongue." It pushes its waters out in this form to a great distance [ROBINSON]. read more
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
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 15:1-12
Judah and Joseph were the two sons of Jacob on whom Reuben's forfeited birth-right devolved. Judah had the dominion entailed on him, and Joseph the double portion, and therefore these two tribes were first seated, Judah in the southern part of the land of Canaan and Joseph in the northern part, and on them the other seven did attend, and had their respective lots as appurtenances to these two; the lots of Benjamin, Simeon, and Dan, were appendant to Judah, and those of Issachar and Zebulun,... read more