Joshua 18:14-Judges 18:1 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 18:11-28

We have here the lot of the tribe of Benjamin, which Providence cast next to Joseph on the one hand, because Benjamin was own and only brother to Joseph, and was little Benjamin (Ps. 68:27), that needed the protection of great Joseph, and yet had a better protector, for the Lord shall cover him all the day long, Deut. 33:12. And it was next to Judah on the other hand, that this tribe might hereafter unite with Judah in an adherence to the throne of David and the temple at Jerusalem. Here we... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:14

And the border was drawn thence ,.... From Bethhoron: and compassed the corner of the sea southward ; it is hard to say what sea is meant, or what by it. Fuller F11 Pisgah Sight, B. 2. c. 12. p. 251. conjectures, that as the Hebrews call any confluence of water a sea, as we call such a "mere", the great waters in Gibeon may be meant, Jeremiah 41:12 ; for it cannot mean the Mediterranean sea, for Dan lay between Benjamin and that; and yet if a sea is meant, no other can be;... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:1-28

Progress in the great work. The tribes gathered together at Shiloh, set up the common tabernacle for worship, and then proceeded, at Joshua's instance, to complete the division of the land. Several detached considerations may be derived from this chapter. I. THE DUTY OF A PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF GOD . The duty of public worship has been universally recognised in all religions, and is founded in a natural tendency of mankind. Philosophical sects, in which religious... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 18:14

And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the border of the sea. This is a serious mistranslation, arising from the same word being used for sea and west in Hebrew. The LXX . has πρὸς (some copies have παρὰ ) θάλασσαν . The literal translation is, and the border extended, and deflected to the western side. What is meant is that the further portion of the border now described was the western side of Benjamin. Southward . The western border of course ran in a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 18:11-28

See the marginal references. There are many indications found in this and the next chapter that the text is in great disorder, and many of the places are still unknown.Joshua 18:14And compassed the corner ... - Render “and turned on the west side southward.” The meaning is, that at lower Beth-horon the northern boundary-line of Benjamin curved round and ran southward - Beth-horon being its extreme westerly point.Joshua 18:21The “Valley of Keziz,” or “Emek-Keziz,” is perhaps the “Wady el Kaziz,”... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Joshua 18:14

Joshua 18:14. The corner of the sea southward No account can be given of this border, according to our translation. For it is certain it did not compass any corner of the Mediterranean sea, (and no other sea can be here meant,) nor come near unto it. Therefore, by פאת ים , peath-jam, which we translate corner of the sea, must be meant the side of the sea; or rather the west side. So the Vulgate hath it, and the Seventy to the same purpose. And the word southward is joined by the... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Joshua 18:1-28

The seven smaller tribes (18:1-19:51)Allotments were now finished for two and a half tribes on the east of Jordan (Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh) and two and a half tribes on the west (Judah, Ephraim and the other half of Manasseh). The next task was to settle the seven smaller tribes that remained. For this purpose the camp, including the tabernacle, was shifted from Gilgal to a more central location at Shiloh (18:1-2; cf. 5:10; 10:6,15,43; 14:6; 19:51; 22:9,12).Many of the people had by... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 18:11-28

The inheritance of Benjamin 18:11-28Benjamin shared its territorial boundaries (Joshua 18:11-20) with Judah on the south and Ephraim on the north. On the east the Jordan River formed Benjamin’s border. On the west, about half way to the Mediterranean Sea, Israel’s leaders drew a border separating Benjamin from Dan.The towns of Benjamin (Joshua 18:21-28) fell into two groups. Twelve towns stood in the eastern part of the territory (Joshua 18:21-24) and 14 in the western (Joshua 18:25-28). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Joshua 18:11-51

6. The inheritance of the remaining tribes 18:11-19:51First the two and one-half tribes east of the Jordan received their land. Then Judah, the primary recipient of Jacob’s patriarchal blessing, and Joseph, the recipient of Jacob’s patriarchal birthright, received their allotments (chs. 15-17). Finally the remaining tribes received their inheritances in the land. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 18:1-28

The Second Allotment. Introduction. The Territory of Benjamin1-10. These vv supply an introduction to the second allotment in general, and agree with the passages which, in common with Judges 1, view the conquest as gradual and partial. The seven tribes still hang back through ’slackness’ (Joshua 18:3), while Judah and Joseph are already in possession.5. Judah shall abide, etc.] In the final allotment the S. border of Benjamin coincided with the N. border of Judah as far as Kirjath-jearim; the... read more