Joshua 15

Jos 15:1-12.

BORDERS OF THE

LOT OF

JUDAH.

1. This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah--In what

manner the lot was drawn on this occasion the sacred historian does not

say; but it is probable that the method adopted was similar to that

described in

Jos 18:10.

Though the general survey of the country had not been completed, some

rough draft or delineation of the first conquered part must have been

made, and satisfactory evidence obtained that it was large enough to

furnish three cantons, before all the tribes cast lots for them; and

they fell to Judah, Ephraim, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The lot of

Judah came first, in token of the pre-eminence of that tribe over all

the others; and its destined superiority thus received the visible

sanction of God. The territory, assigned to it as a possession, was

large and extensive, being bounded on the south by the wilderness of

Zin, and the southern extremity of the Salt Sea

(Nu 34:3-5);

on the east, by that sea, extending to the point where it receives the

waters of the Jordan; on the north, by a line drawn nearly parallel to

Jerusalem, across the country, from the northern extremity of the Salt

Sea to the southern limits of the Philistine territory, and to the

Mediterranean; and on the west this sea was its boundary, as far as

Sihor (Wady El-Arish).

2. the bay--Hebrew, "tongue." It pushes its waters out in this

form to a great distance [ROBINSON].

3. Maaleh-akrabbim--Hebrew, "the ascent of scorpions"; a pass in

the "bald mountain"

(see on

Jos 11:17),

probably much infested by these venomous reptiles.

5. the end--that is, the mouth of the Jordan.

6. Beth-hogla--now Ain Hajla, a fine spring of clear and sweet

water, at the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, about two miles from

the Jordan [ROBINSON].

Beth-arabah--"the house," or "place of solitude," in the desert of

Judah

(Jos 15:61).

stone of Bohan the son of Reuben--the sepulchral monument of a

Reubenite leader, who had been distinguished for his bravery, and had

fallen in the Canaanite war.

7. Achor--(see on

Jos 7:26).

Adummim--a rising ground in the wilderness of Jericho, on the south

of the little brook that flowed near Jericho

(Jos 16:1).

En-shemesh--"the fountain of the sun"; "either the present well of the

apostle, below Bethany, on the road to Jericho, or the fountain near to

St. Saba" [ROBINSON].

En-rogel--"the fuller's fountain," on the southeast of Jerusalem, below

the spot where the valleys of Jehoshaphat and Hinnom unite.

Jos 15:13-15.

CALEB'S

PORTION AND

CONQUEST.

13. unto Caleb he gave a part among the children of

Judah--(See on

Jos 14:6).

14. drove thence the three sons of Anak--rather three chiefs of the

Anakim race. This exploit is recorded to the honor of Caleb, as the

success of it was the reward of his trust in God.

15. Debir--"oracle." Its former name, Kirjath-sepher, signifies

"city of the book," being probably a place where public registers were

kept.

Jos 15:16-20.

OTHNIEL, FOR

HIS

VALOR,

HAS

ACHSAH TO

WIFE.

16-20. He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher--This offer was made as an

incentive to youthful bravery (see on

1Sa 17:25);

and the prize was won by Othniel, Caleb's younger brother

(Jud 1:13; 3:9).

This was the occasion of drawing out the latent energies of him who was

destined to be the first judge in Israel.

18, 19. as she came unto him--that is, when about to remove from her

father's to her husband's house. She suddenly alighted from her

travelling equipage--a mark of respect to her father, and a sign of

making some request. She had urged Othniel to broach the matter, but he

not wishing to do what appeared like evincing a grasping disposition,

she resolved herself to speak out. Taking advantage of the

parting scene when a parent's heart was likely to be tender, she begged

(as her marriage portion consisted of a field which, having a southern

exposure, was comparatively an arid and barren waste) he would add the

adjoining one, which abounded in excellent springs. The request being

reasonable, it was granted; and the story conveys this important lesson

in religion, that if earthly parents are ready to bestow on their

children that which is good, much more will our heavenly Father give

every necessary blessing to them who ask Him.

Jos 15:21-63.

CITIES OF

JUDAH.

21-63. the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of

Judah--There is given a list of cities within the tribal territory

of Judah, arranged in four divisions, corresponding to the districts of

which it consisted--the cities in the southern part

(Jos 15:21-32),

those in the lowlands

(Jos 15:33-47),

those in the highlands

(Jos 15:48-60),

and those in the desert

(Jos 15:61, 62).

One gets the best idea of the relative situation of these cities by

looking at the map.