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The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 15:61
The wilderness. מִדְבַּר; This was the eastern part of the territory of Judah, bordering on the Dead Sea. Here David took refuge from the pursuit of Saul (Psalms 63:1), here St. John the Baptist prepared the way of Chri…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 15:62
The city of Salt. Probably near the valley of Salt (2 Samuel 8:13; 2 Kings 14:7; 1 Chronicles 18:12), which must have been near the border of Edom, and in close proximity to the Dead Sea (see note on Joshua 3:16). En-ge…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 15:63
Failure. We have here the first hint of the incompleteness of Israel's conquest of the land. The effects of this failure fully to carry out the Divine command in the extermination of the heathen were very manifest after…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 15:63
Invisible Jebusites. The failure of the men of Judah to conquer the Jebusites is illustrative of the failures men too commonly encounter in the attempt to accomplish the aims of life. I. NO MAN PERFECTLY SUCCEEDS IN THE…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 15:63
As for the Jebusites. This passage, compared with 1:8, 1:21, and 2 Samuel 5:6, implies that the people of Judah took and set on fire the lower city, but were compelled to leave the stronghold of Zion in the hands of the…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 16:1-31
This and the following chapter should not be separated. They give the lots of Ephraim and Manasseh, the children of Joseph, who, next to Judah, were to have the post of honour, and therefore had the first and best porti…
The Lot of Joseph. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF JOSEPH. (B. C. 1444.) Though Joseph was one of the younger sons of Jacob, yet he was his eldest by his most just and best beloved wife Rachel, was himself his best beloved son, and had been the greatest ornam…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:1-10
EXPOSITION THE INHERITANCE OF EPHRAIM AND MANASSEH.
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:1
Fell. Literally came forth, i.e; out of the urn. The water of Jericho. "This is the present fountain of es Sultan, half an hour to the west of Ribs, the only large fountain in the neighbourhood of Jericho, whose waters…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:2
From Bethel to Luz. Like Jerusalem and AElia Capitolina, or old and new Carthage, the new city did not coincide precisely in its site with the old one (see Joshua 18:13; also Genesis 28:19; Genesis 35:6; 1:23). Bethel w…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:3
Japhleth. Rather, the Japhlethite; but it is unknown what this family was. Beth-horon the nether (see Joshua 10:10). In Joshua 16:5 we have Upper Beth-horon, but the places were close together. For Gezer; see Joshua 10:…
The Inheritance of Joseph's Children. (b. c. 1444.)
THE INHERITANCE OF JOSEPH'S CHILDREN. (B. C. 1444.) Here, 1. The border of the lot of Ephraim is set down, by which it was divided on the south from Benjamin and Dan, who lay between it and Judah, and on the north from…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:5
The border of the children of Ephraim. The Hebrew word is translated indifferently by coast and border in our translation. The border of Joseph is very slightly traced out by the historian. It is difficult to give a rea…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:6
And the border went out towards the sea. Or, "and the western border." On the north side. Or, "northward." Apparently a line is drawn from the sea, which (Joshua 16:3) is given as the termination of the southern boundar…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:7
Ataroth. Another Ataroth, on the northern border of Ephraim. The name, which signifies crowns is a common one (see Numbers 32:3, Numbers 32:34, Numbers 32:35; 1 Chronicles 2:54). Came to Jericho. Or perhaps skirted Jeri…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:8
The border went out from Tappuah westward. This would seem to be a more minute description of the border line drawn from the sea to Michmethah above. Tappuah seems to have been near Mich-methah, and on the border (Joshu…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:9
And the separate cities. Literally, and the cities divided off. The word "were," in our version, is misplaced. It should be read thus: "And there were cities divided off and assigned to the tribe of Ephraim in the midst…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:10
Canaanites still in the land. I. CANAANITES STILL IN THE LAND WERE A WITNESS TO THE FAILURE OF THE JEWS TO ACCOMPLISH GOD'S WILL. They may have failed But these Canaanites were a cause of future trouble and a constant t…
The Pulpit Commentary on Joshua 16:10
And they drave not out. The Ephraimites soon grew slack in the fulfilment of the Divine command. There is a distinction, apparently, between this passage and Joshua 15:63. There the tribe of Judah was unable to drive ou…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 17:1-6
Manasseh was but half of the tribe of Joseph, yet it was divided into two parts. The daughters of Zelophehad now reaped the benefit of their pious zeal and prudent forecast. Those who take care in the wilderness of this…
The Inheritance of Joseph's Children. (b. c. 1444.)
THE INHERITANCE OF JOSEPH'S CHILDREN. (B. C. 1444.) Manasseh was itself but one half of the tribe of Joseph, and yet was divided and subdivided. 1. It was divided into two parts, one already settled on the other side Jo…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 17:7-13
There was great communication between Manasseh and Ephraim. Though each tribe had its inheritance, yet they should intermix one with another, to do good offices one to another, as became those, who, though of different…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 17:7-13
We have here a short account of the lot of this half tribe. It reached from Jordan on the east to the great sea on the west; on the south it lay all along contiguous to Ephraim, but on the north it abutted upon Asher an…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 17:14-18
Joshua, as a public person, had no more regard to his own tribe than to any other, but would govern without favour or affection; wherein he has left a good example to all in public trusts. Joshua tells them, that what w…