Joshua 19:7

Those who take Sheba, Joshua 19:2, to be the same with Shema, Joshua 15:26, make but one city here, and take away the last, as the Greek version does, and render the word "and their fields", and so the number still is as follows: thirteen cities and their villages; the sum total of those enumerated above. {b} De Jud. Bell. l. 4. c. 8. sect. 1. {c} Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 14. {d} Strabo. Geograph. l. 17. p. 559. {e} De Animal. l. 12. c. 7. Joshua 19:7 Ver. 7. Ain, Remmon,.... Of the two first, which were cities of Judah, See Gill on "Joshua 15:32"; and Ether, and Ashan; of the two last, see Gill "Joshua 19:42"; four cities and their villages; Ain, Remmon, therefore, could not be one city, at this time, as it seems to have been in the times of Nehemiah, Nehemiah 11:29; or otherwise there would have been but three cities. Joshua 19:8 Ver. 8. And all the villages that [were] round about these cities,....

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,....

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.

Ain, Remmon,.... Of the two first, which were cities of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:32 , and Ether, and Ashan; of the two last; see Gill on Joshua 19:42, four cities and their villages; Ain, Remmon, therefore, could not be one city, at this time, as it seems to have been in the times of Nehemiah, Nehemiah 11:29; or otherwise there would have been but three cities.

7 . Second Group . 1. Ain = an “ eye ” and also in the vivid imagery of the East, a spring or natural burst of living water, always distinguished from the artificial “well” or “tank” = Beer or Bor . It generally occurs in combination with other words, defining the locality as En-gedi, En-gannim, En-hakkore, En-rogel . In two cases it stands alone, ( a ) here, and ( b ) in Numbers 34:11 . Mr Wilton ( Negeb , pp. 229–234) would here also connect it with the next name; 2. Remmon , as the name of a single city, Ain or En-Remmon = the spring of the pomegranate , and in the catalogue of the places re-occupied by the Jews after the return from the Captivity the two are joined, and appear in our Version as En-Rimmon , see Nehemiah 11:29 ; Nehemiah 3. Ether , see ch. Joshua 15:42 Van de Velde heard of a Tel Athar in the desert country below Hebron; 4. Ashan , see above, ch. Joshua 15:42 . Joshua 19:7

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.

10. Naphtali Judah is first, having the first lot; and he dwelt in the south part of the land, Joshua 15:1, etc.; and next to him Simeon, because his inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah, Joshua 19:1. Benjamin was third; he had his inheritance by Judah, between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph, Joshua 18:11. Dan was the fourth; his lot fell westward of that of Benjamin, in the country of the Philistines, as may be seen in Joshua 19:40, Joshua 19:41, etc. Fifth, Manasseh; and sixth, by him, his brother Ephraim, whose inheritances were behind that of Benjamin, Joshua 16:7. Next to these dwelt, seventh, Zebulun; and eighth, Issachar; concerning whose lots see Joshua 19:10-17. Ninth, Asher; and tenth, Naphtali; see Joshua 19:24, Joshua 19:32, etc. And as in encamping about the tabernacle they were arranged according to their fraternal relationship, (see Numbers 2)., so they were in the division and inheriting of the promised land. Judah and Simeon, both sons of Leah, dwelt abreast of each other. Benjamin, son of Rachel, and Dan, son of Rachel's maid, dwelt next abreast. Manasseh and Ephraim, both sons of Joseph, son of Rachel, had the next place abreast. Zebulun and Issachar, who dwelt next together, were both sons of Leah; and the last pair were Asher, of Leah's maid, and Naphtali, of Rachel's maid.

Verse 72. - Kedesh . There were three places of this name. 1. Kedesh, at the extreme south of Judah ( Joshua 15:23 ; Joshua 19:20, 21 ), perhaps the same with Kadesh-barnea ( Joshua 15:3 ). 2. The Kedesh of this verse, perhaps the same with the Kedesh of Joshua 13:22 ; it is called Kishon in Joshua 21:28 . 3. The Kedesh of ver. 76, i.e. Kedesh in Galilee, one of the cities of refuge in the tribe of Naphtali (Joshua 19: 37; 20:7; 21:32; Judges 4:6-10 ). Daberath (Authorized Version, Dabaroh, Joshua 21:28 ); mentioned as on the boundary of Zebulun in Joshua 19:12 . 1 Chronicles 6:72