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Matthew Henry

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 15:9

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 15:9

Baalah , which is Kirjath-jearim - This place was rendered famous in Scripture, in consequence of its being the residence of the ark, for twenty years after it was sent back by the Philistines; see 1 Samuel 5:1-7:2. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 15:10

Beth-shemesh - The house or temple of the sun. It is evident that the sun was an object of adoration among the Canaanites; and hence fountains, hills, etc., were dedicated to him. Beth-shemesh is remarkable for the slaughter of its inhabitants, in consequence of their prying curiously, if not impiously, into the ark of the Lord, when sent back by the Philistines. See 1 Samuel 6:19 . 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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 15:9

Was drawn. Or, extended. The fountain of the waters of Nephtoah. If these be identified with En Etam, as is done by the Rabbis (whom Conder follows), and if we suppose it to have supplied Jerusalem with water by the aqueduct which ran from a point southwest of Betlehem to Jerusalem, we must place it south of Bethlehem, and imagine that the border ran directly south here. Far more probable is the notion of Vandevelde, which places it northwest of Jerusalem, at Ain Lifta. Conder's view is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 15:10

Compassed . Or, deflected (see Joshua 15:4 ). This is in accordance with the view taken above. The border line which had run northwest from Jerusalem now bent backwards in a southwesterly direction, and followed the ridge towards Chesalon (see note on Chesalon). Mount Seir. Not the dwelling place of Esau, afterwards the country of the Edomites ( Genesis 32:3 ; Genesis 36:8 ), but a range running southwestward from Kirjath-jearim, part of which is still known as Sairah, or Saris, "auf... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 15:11

Ekron . This important Philistine city (see Joshua 13:3 ) lay close to the northern border of Judah. As a matter of fact, however, the tribe of Judah never succeeded in permanently occupying this territory, which only fell under their yoke during the reigns of David and Solomon. The cities of the Philistines were, it is true, most of them captured ( 1:18 ), but we soon find the Philistines once more in possession of them (see 1 Samuel 5:8-10 ). Northward . The border turned sharply... read more

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