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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 15:20-63

We have here a list of the several cities that fell within the lot of the tribe of Judah, which are mentioned by name, that they might know their own, and both keep it and keep to it, and might neither through cowardice nor sloth lose the possession of what was their own. I. The cities are here named, and numbered in several classes, which they then could account for the reason of better than we can now. Here are, 1. Some that are said to be the uttermost cities towards the coast of Edom,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:41

And Gederoth ,.... Gederoth is reckoned among the cities of the low country, and south of Judah, 2 Chronicles 28:18 , and Bethdagon ; in it very probably was a temple of Dagon, which was a principal deity of the Philistines, 1 Samuel 5:2 ; Jerom says F24 De loc. Heb. fol. 89. F. in his time was shown a large village called Capherdagon, between Diospolis and Jamnia; of Naamah, the same writer says nothing, only that it was a city of the tribe of Judah: and Makkedah ; see ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 15:41

Beth-dagon - The house or temple of Dagon. This is a well known idol of the Philistines, and probably the place mentioned here was in some part of their territories; but the situation at present is unknown. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 15:1-63

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 15:21-63

List of the towns of the tribe of Judah. These are arranged in four divisions, according to the natural features of the district; namely,, those of the Negeb or south country Joshua 15:21-32; of “the valley,” or “the plain” (“Shephelah”, Joshua 15:33-47); of “the mountains” Joshua 15:48-60; and of “the wilderness” Joshua 15:61-62. Many of the identifications are still conjectural only.Joshua 15:21-32. The Negeb was for the most part rocky and arid, and cannot have been at any time very thickly... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:1-63

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 15:1-63

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 15:21-62

The towns in Judah 15:21-62The writer grouped the towns in Judah according to that tribe’s four districts. This part of Canaan contained four distinct regions: the southern Negev, the lowland plain (Shephelah), the mountains (hill country), and the desert. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 15:33-47

The Shephelah (lowland) was the area between the Coastal Plain to the west and the hill country of Judah to the east. The Negev lay to its south. The writer grouped the towns in this area also. He named 14 towns in the northern part of the Shephelah (Joshua 15:33-36): 16 in the northwest (Joshua 15:37-41), nine in the south (Joshua 15:42-44), and three in the southwest (Joshua 15:45-47). read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 15:1-51

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

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