Joshua 19:5

17. And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. 17. Ipsi Issachar egressa est sors quarta, filiis inquam, Issachar per familias suas. 18. And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, 18. Et fuit terminus eorum Jezrael, et Chesuloth, et Sunem, 19. And Hapharaim, and Shion, and Anaharath, 19. Et Hapharaim, et Sion, et Anaharath, 20. And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, 20. Et Rabbith, et Cicion, et Abeth, 21. And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez; 21. Et Remeth, et Engannin, et Enhaddah, et Beth-passes. 22. And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. 22. Et pervenit terminus in Thabor, et Sahasima, et Beth-semes: eruntque exitus termini eorum ad Jordanem: urbes sedecim, et villae earum. 23. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages. 23. Haec est haereditas tribus filiorum Issachar per familias suas: urbes et villae earum. 24. And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. 24. Egressa est autem sors quinta tribui filiorum Aser per familias suas. 25. And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, 25. Fuitque terminus eorum Helcath, et Hali, et Bethen, et Achsaph,

Or, Beersheba, that is, Sheba; for so the particle "vau" is sometimes used {z}, and must be so used here; or otherwise, instead of thirteen, it will appear that there are fourteen cities, contrary to the account of them, Joshua 19:6; so Kimchi and Ben Melech make them one city. And it may be observed, that in the enumeration of the cities of Simeon, 1 Chronicles 4:28; Sheba is left out, and only Beersheba is mentioned; which, was a well known place in, the farthest border of the land of Israel southward, and the reason of its name is manifest, Genesis 21:31; See Gill on "Joshua 15:28"; and Moladah; another of the cities of Judah, Joshua 15:26. {z} Vid. Noldium, p. 280. No. 1200. Joshua 19:3 Ver. 3. And Hazarshual,.... See Gill on "Joshua 15:28"; and Balah, and Azem; of these places see Gill "Joshua 15:29"; for Balah is the same with Baalah there, and with Bilhah 1 Chronicles 4:29; and Azem with Ezem there. Joshua 19:4 Ver. 4. And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah. These were all cities of Judah, Joshua 15:30; Eltolad is the same with Tolad, and Bethul with Bethuel, 1 Chronicles 4:29, and with Chesil, Joshua 15:30, mentioned there along with Hormah; See Gill on "Joshua 15:30". Joshua 19:5 Ver. 5. And Ziklag,....

19:1-9 The men of Judah did not oppose taking away the cities within their border, when convinced that they had more than was right. If a true believer has obtained an unintended and improper advantage in any thing, he will give it up without murmuring. Love seeketh not her own, and doth not behave unseemly; it will induce those in whom it richly dwells, to part with their own to supply what is lacking to their brethren.

And Ziklag,.... Another of the cities of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:31 , and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah; or Hazarsusim, as in 1 Chronicles 4:31; the one signifies a chariot house, and the other a court or stable for horses, which made Bochart conjecture (a), that they were places where Solomon kept his chariots and horses; but it should be observed that these were the names by which these places went in the times of the old Canaanites; and seem to me rather where some of their kings had their horses and chariots; or rather where there were temples dedicated to the horses and chariots of the sun; see 2 Kings 23:11. (a) Hierozoic. l. 2. c. 9. col. 158.

5 . 9. Ziklag ] See ch. Joshua 15:31 , identified by Rowlands and Wilton ( Negeb , p. 209) with Asloodg or Kasloodg ; ( a ) Achish bestowed the town upon David; ( b ) here David resided upwards of one year and four months ( 1 Samuel 27:7 ; 1 Samuel 30:14 ; 1 Samuel 30:26 ); ( c ) here he received the news of Saul’s death ( 2 Samuel 1:1 ; 2 Samuel 4:10 ); 10. Beth-marcaboth = “house of chariots ,” and 11. Hazar-susah = “village of horses ,” appear to be the old names of Madmannah and Sansannah (see ch. Joshua 15:31 ). These names indicate, remarks Dean Stanley, “that they were stations of passage, like those which now are to be seen on the great line of Indian transit between Cairo and Suez,” we recognise in them “the dêpots and stations for the ‘horses’ and ‘chariots,’ such as those which in Solomon’s time went to and fro between Egypt and Palestine.” Sinai and Palestine , p. 160; Joshua 19:5

CHAPTER 19 Jos 19:1-9. The Lot of Simeon. 1. the second lot came forth to Simeon—The next lot that was drawn at Shiloh, gave the tribe of Simeon his inheritance within the territory, which had been assigned to that of Judah. The knowledge of Canaan possessed by the Israelites, when the division of the land commenced, was but very general, being derived from the rapid sweep they had made over it during the course of conquest; and it was on the ground of that rough survey alone that the distribution proceeded, by which Judah received an inheritance. Time showed that this territory was too large (Jos 19:9), either for their numbers, however great, to occupy and their arms to defend, or too large in proportion to the allotments of the other tribes. Justice therefore required (what kind and brotherly feeling readily dictated) a modification of their possession; and a part of it was appropriated to Simeon. By thus establishing it within the original domain of another tribe, the prophecy of Jacob in regard to Simeon was fulfilled (Ge 49:7); for from its boundaries being not traced, there is reason to conclude that its people were divided and dispersed among those of Judah; and though one group of its cities named (Jos 19:2-6), gives the idea of a compact district, as it is usually represented by map makers, the other group (Jos 19:7, 8) were situated, two in the south, and two elsewhere, with tracts of the country around them.

The inheritance of Simeon was taken out of the portion of Judah, which proved on experience to be larger than the numbers of that tribe required. The Simeonite territory is described by its towns, of which fourteen were in the Negeb, and four others Joshua 19:7 partly in the Negeb and partly in "the valley." On the narrow confines here assigned to Simeon, and its insignificant position altogether among the Twelve tribes, see Deuteronomy 33:6 note.

Beersheba: see at Joshua 15:28 . Sheba is wanting in the Chronicles, but has no doubt been omitted through a copyist's error, as Shema answers to it in Joshua 15:26 , where it stands before Moladah just as Sheba does here. - On the names in Joshua 19:3-6 , see the exposition of Joshua 15:28-32 . - The sum total given in Joshua 19:6 , viz., thirteen towns, does not tally, as there are fourteen names. On these differences, see the remarks on Joshua 15:32 .

(31) Beth-marcaboth = “house of chariots.” Hazar - susim = “village of horses;” for which Hazarsusah is an equivalent (susah being used as a collective word). Beth-birei.—Probably a corrupt writing of Beth-lebaoth, “house of lionesses” (Joshua 19:6), for which Joshua 15:32 has the contraction Lebaoth. There were lions in the wilds of Judah (1Samuel 17:34). (Comp. Judges 14:5; 1Kings 13:24.) Shaaraim (two gates) is Sharuhen (Joshua 19:6), and Shilhim (Joshua 15:32). Sharuhen is known from Egyptian inscriptions (Sharuhuna). These were their cities unto the reign of David, and their villages.—Joshua 19:6 shows that this is the right punctuation: “And Beth-lebaoth and Sharuhen: thirteen towns, and their villages.” Unto the reign of David.—Does this mean that in the age of David the thirteen cities passed from the possession of the Simeonites? Ziklag, at all events, was at that time a Philistine borough (1Samuel 27:6).