Joshua 15:5-12

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:5

And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan ,.... To the place where Jordan fell into it; so that this border was the whole length of the salt sea, which Josephus says F25 De Bello Jud. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 4. was five hundred eighty furlongs; and, according to Pliny F26 Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 16. , an hundred miles: and their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea , at the uttermost part of Jordan ; this northern border began... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:6

And the border went up to Bethhoglah ,.... A place in the tribe of Benjamin, mentioned along with Jericho, and probably near it, Joshua 18:21 ; Jerom F1 De loc. Heb. fol. 87. G. speaks of a place called Betagla, in his time, which was three miles from Jericho, and two from Jordan, and perhaps is this same place: and passed along by the north of Betharabah ; another city belonged to Benjamin, Joshua 18:22 ; and lay in a as its name shows; or in a plain, as the Targum: and the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:7

And the border went up towards Debir ,.... This was neither the Debir in the tribe of Gad, on the other side Jordan, Joshua 13:26 ; nor that in the tribe of Judah near Hebron, Joshua 15:15 ; but a third city of that name, and was not far from Jericho: from the valley of Achor ; where Achan was put to death, and had its name from thence; which, according to Jarchi, lay between the stone of Bohan and Debir: and so northward, looking towards Gilgal ; not the place where Israel were... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:8

And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom ,.... Which belonged to a man of that name formerly; and was near Jerusalem, placed by Jerom F12 De loc. Heb. fol. 91. B. to the east of it; but Reland F13 Palest. lllustrat. tom. 1. p. 253. rather thinks it is to the south. It was infamous for the sacrifices of children to Moloch in it, by burning them, or causing them to pass through fire: hence, in allusion to it, hell fire is often in the New Testament called "Geenna",... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:9

And the border was drawn from the top of the hill ,.... Mount Moriah, and went round in a circuit, so Jarchi and Kimchi: unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah ; which lay at the bottom of it; which, according to the Jewish writers, is the same with the fountain of Etam, from whence a stream flowed to the dipping room in the water gate of the temple, where the high priest for the first time dipped himself on the day of atonement F16 T. Bab. Yoma, fol. 31. 1. & Gloss. in ib.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:10

And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto Mount Seir ,.... Not that in Idumea, so famous for its being the seat of Esau, which lay remote from hence, but a third of that name near Kirjathjearim; and which Adrichomius F20 Theatrum Terrae Sanct. p. 24. places on the borders of Azotus and Ashkelon: this compass is fetched from the north to the west: and passed along unto the side of the mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side ; that is, on the north side of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:11

And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward ,.... Which was one of the principalities of the Philistines; and which, though it fell to the lot of Judah, Joshua 15:45 , was not possessed by them: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to Mount Baalah ; of which places we have no account elsewhere: and went unto Jabneel ; which Masius makes no doubt was one of the Jamnias, and particularly that which was a seaport; which Strabo says F1 Geograph. l. 16.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:12

And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof ,.... The western border of the tribe of Judah went along by the Mediterranean sea, which lay west to the land of Canaan; and this border reached from Jabneel to the river of Egypt, where the southern border ended, Joshua 15:4 , this is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families ; but being too large, some part of it was afterwards given to Simeon, and some particular cities of it were... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 15:5

The east border was the Salt Sea - The Salt Sea is the same as the Dead Sea, lake Asphaltites, etc. And here it is intimated that the eastern border of the tribe of Judah extended along the Dead Sea, from its lowest extremity to the end of Jordan, i.e., to the place where Jordan falls into this sea. read more

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