Joshua 14:1-2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 14:1-5

The historian, having in the foregoing chapter given an account of the disposal of the countries on the other side Jordan, now comes to tell us what they did with the countries in the land of Canaan. They were not conquered to be left desert, a habitation for dragons, and a court for owls, Isa. 34:13. No, the Israelites that had hitherto been closely encamped in a body, and the greatest part of them such as never knew any other way of living, must now disperse themselves to replenish these new... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 14:1

And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan ,.... Of which an exact account is given in the following chapters, particularly in the Joshua 15:1 , which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for an inheritance unto them ; namely, ten princes, one of each tribe, who, with Eleazar and Joshua, were appointed of the Lord by name to do this business, even... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 14:2

By lot was their inheritance ,.... Every tribe had its part and portion assigned to it, by the casting of lots; which was done to prevent any future quarrels, animosities and strifes among the tribes, the disposition being of the Lord; and to show the exact agreement between the lot and the divine predictions by Jacob and Moses; and to make it appear that the division of the land was not owing to the private combination of the above men, and their private settlement of it; but to the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 14:1

Eleazar the priest, etc. - Eleazar, as being the minister of God in sacred things is mentioned first. Joshua, as having the supreme command in all things civil, is mentioned next. And the Heads or Princes of the twelve tribes, who in all things acted under Joshua, are mentioned last. These heads or princes were twelve, Joshua and Eleazar included; and the reader may find their names in Numbers 34:19-28 . It is worthy of remark that no prince was taken from the tribes of Reuben and Gad,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 14:2

By lot was their inheritance - Concerning the meaning and use of the lot, see the note on Numbers 26:55 ; and concerning the manner of casting lots in the case of the scapegoat, see the note on Leviticus 16:8 , Leviticus 16:9 . On this subject Dr. Dodd has selected some good observations from Calmet and Masius, which I here borrow: "Though God had sufficiently pointed out by the predictions of Jacob when dying, and those of Moses, what portions he designed for each tribe, we readily... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 14:1

Verse 1 1.And these are the countries, etc He now proceeds to the land of Canaan, from which nine tribes and a half were to obtain their lots. And he will immediately break off the thread of the narrative, as we shall see. Yet the transition is seasonably made from that region whose situation was different, to let the reader know that the discourse was to be concerning the land of Canaan, which was to be divided by lot. We have said that Joshua and Eleazar not only divided what the Israelites... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:1

EXPOSITION Tribes . The word here for "tribes," in connection with the word "fathers," is the one which implies genealogical descent (see note on Joshua 13:29 ). Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes. A picture of national unity; the head of the Church, representing the religious aspect of the community; the head of the State, representing its civil aspect; the heads of the tribes, to signify the general assent of the body... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:1

Peasant proprietorship. The land of Canaan is divided not amongst nobility and gentry, but amongst the people. Each family has its little farm—probably averaging about ten acres. Divided equally amongst the people, the Mosaic law expressly forbade its alienation in perpetuity from any family. The jubilee year was ordained in order that twice in a century any too great inequalities of condition which had crept in might be redressed; that every family which, through misfortune or even fault,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:1-5

The allotment of the tribes. This record of the division of the land among the tribes is suggestive of principles that are capable of a wider and more general application, and also of one that is narrower and more individual. Note— I. THE DIVINE PROVIDENCE THAT DETERMINES THE SPHERE AND SURROUNDINGS OF ALL HUMAN LIFE . This is indicated in the division being made by lot. Whatever the form of the lot may have been, its meaning was that the destination of each... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:2

By lot was their inheritance. The commentators, following the Rabbis, have amused themselves by speculations how the lot was taken. The question is of no great practical importance; but no doubt the contrivance was a very primitive one, as the word גוֹרָל a small pebble, used here, seems to imply. What is of more importance is the fact that the distribution of territory was the result of no one's caprice, or ambition, or intrigue. The whole matter was referred to God, and the leader of... read more

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