Joshua 18:22

Turning northward, and looking that way from the west to the east: and went forth to Enshemesh; or the fountain of the sun, see Joshua 15:7; and went forth toward Geliloth; called Gilgal, Joshua 15:7; which [is] over against the going up to Adummim; a place between Jerusalem and Jericho, see Joshua 15:7; and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben; see Joshua 15:6. Joshua 18:18 Ver. 18. And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward,.... The same with Betharabah, Joshua 15:6; and so it is called here in the Greek version: and went down unto Arabah; the same as before, and included it, for it is mentioned among the cities of this tribe, Joshua 18:22. Joshua 18:19 Ver. 19. And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward,.... Inclining somewhat toward the north, but not leaving the city to the north, for it is included in the lot of Benjamin, Joshua 18:21; of which place see Joshua 15:6; and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea; here ended the southern border of Benjamin, even at the bay or creek of the salt sea, which looked northward, as the southern border of Judah began at that bay of it, which looked southward, Joshua 15:2; at the south end of Jordan; where it fell into the salt sea: this [was] the south coast; as before described. Joshua 18:20 Ver. 20. And Jordan was the border of it on the east side,....

18:11-28 The boundaries of each portion were distinctly drawn, and the inheritance of each tribe settled. All contests and selfish claims were prevented by the wise appointment of God, who allotted the hill and the valley, the corn and pasture, the brooks and rivers, the towns and cities. Is the lot of any servant of Christ cast in affliction and sorrow? It is the Lord; let him do what seemeth him good. Are we in prosperity and peace? It is from above. Be humbled when you compare the gift with your own unworthiness. Forget not Him that gave the good, and always be ready to resign it at his command.

And Betharabah,.... Of the first of these; see Gill on Joshua 15:6 , and Zemaraim; one of the sons of Canaan was named Zemira, Genesis 10:18; by whom this city Zemaraim might be built, or however have its name given it, in memory of him; there was a mountain of this name in the tribe of Ephraim, near to which this city might be, 2 Chronicles 13:4. and Bethel; of the last of these; see Gill on Joshua 7:2.

11. the lot of … Benjamin came up—It has been supposed that there were two urns or vessels, from which the lots were drawn: one containing the names of the tribes, the other containing those of the seven portions; and that the two were drawn out simultaneously. the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph—Thus the prophecy of Moses respecting the inheritance of Benjamin was remarkably accomplished. (See on [199]De 33:12).

Abi-Albon (written incorrectly Abiel in the Chronicles) the Arbathite, i.e., from the place called Beth-haarabah or Arabah ( Joshua 15:61 and Joshua 18:18 , Joshua 18:22 ) in the desert of Judah, on the site of the present Kasr Hajla (see at Joshua 15:6 ). Azmaveth of Bahurim: see at 2 Samuel 16:5 .

28 . Beth-el ] one of the most ancient towns in the country (cf. Joshua 12:9 ), called Luz ‘at the first’ and famous in the history of the Patriarch Jacob ( Genesis 28:19 ; Genesis 35:15 ), captured from the Canaanites by Ephraim ( Jdg 1:22-26 ), situated on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin ( Joshua 16:1 ; Joshua 18:13 ; Joshua 18:22 ). It was reputed of special sanctity. We find the ark at Beth-el ( Jdg 20:18 ; Jdg 20:26-27 ). It was included in Samuel’s circuit ( 1 Samuel 7:16 ). It was the home of one of ‘the schools of the prophets’ ( 2 Kings 2:3 ). It was selected by Jeroboam as the southern sanctuary for the calf-worship which he instituted ( 1 Kings 12:28 &c.). Thenceforth its name chiefly occurs in connexion with the sins of idolatry ( Amos 3:14 ; 2 Kings 23:15 ). It is about 2½ miles N.E. of Beeroth. Its site is generally identified with the extensive ruins of Beitin. Ai ] E. of Beth-el ( Genesis 12:8 ; Joshua 7:2 ), an ancient royal town ( Joshua 12:9 ) destroyed by Joshua (Joshua 7, 8), but afterwards rebuilt. It is called Aiath in Isaiah 10:28 , in which passage its position shows that it lay to the N. of Michmash. In Nehemiah 11:31 it appears as Aija. The name denotes ‘ruinous heaps’ and thus corresponds with Tell-el-Ḥajar (‘mound of stones’), a place about 2⅓ miles S. E. of Bethel, on the S. side of the Wadi-el-Mat-yâ, from which the path leads through the hills to Jericho. In the Pal.

Verse 31. - Abi-albon. He is called Abiel in 1 Chronicles 11:32 . He belonged to the town of Beth-Arabah ( Joshua 15:61 ; Joshua 18:22 ), called also Arabah ( Joshua 18:18 ), in the wilderness of Judah. Azmaveth the Barhumite. He was of Bahurim, for which see note on 2 Samuel 3:16. 2 Samuel 23:31