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Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible
Matthew Henry on Joshua 17:14-18
Here, I. The children of Joseph quarrel with their lot; if they had had any just cause to quarrel with it, we have reason to think Joshua would have relieved them, by adding to it, or altering it, which it does not appe…
The Tabernacle at Shiloh. (b. c. 1444.)
THE TABERNACLE AT SHILOH. (B. C. 1444.) In the midst of the story of the dividing of the land comes in this account of the setting up of the tabernacle, which had hitherto continued in its old place in the centre of the…
Joshua Reproves the Unsettled Tribes. (b. c. 1444.)
JOSHUA REPROVES THE UNSETTLED TRIBES. (B. C. 1444.) Here, I. Joshua reproves those tribes which were yet unsettled that they did not bestir themselves to gain a settlement in the land which God had given them. Seven tri…
The Lot of Benjamin. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF BENJAMIN. (B. C. 1444.) We have here the lot of the tribe of Benjamin, which Providence cast next to Joseph on the one hand, because Benjamin was own and only brother to Joseph, and was little Benjamin (Psalm…
The Lot of Simeon. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF SIMEON. (B. C. 1444.) Simeon's lot was drawn after Judah's, Joseph's, and Benjamin's, because Jacob had put that tribe under disgrace; yet it is put before the two younger sons of Leah and the three sons of t…
The Lot of Zebulun. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF ZEBULUN. (B. C. 1444.) This is the lot of Zebulun, who, though born of Leah after Issachar, yet was blessed by Jacob and Moses before him; and therefore it was so ordered that his lot was drawn before that of…
The Lot of Issachar. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF ISSACHAR. (B. C. 1444.) The lot of Issachar ran from Jordan in the east to the great sea in the west, Manasseh on the south, and Zebulun on the north. A numerous tribe, Numbers 26:25. Tola, one of the judges,…
The Lot of Asher. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF ASHER. (B. C. 1444.) The lot of Asher lay upon the coast of the great sea. We read not of any famous person of this tribe but Anna the prophetess, who was a constant resident in the temple at the time of our…
The Lot of Naphtali. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF NAPHTALI. (B. C. 1444.) Naphtali lay furthest north of all the tribes, bordering on Mount Libanus. The city of Leshem, or Liash, lay on the utmost edge of it to the north, and therefore when the Danites had m…
The Lot of Dan. (b. c. 1444.)
THE LOT OF DAN. (B. C. 1444.) Dan, though commander of one of the four squadrons of the camp of Israel, in the wilderness, that which brought up the rear, yet was last provided for in Canaan, and his lot fell in the sou…
The Inheritance of Joshua. (b. c. 1444.)
THE INHERITANCE OF JOSHUA. (B. C. 1444.) Before this account of the dividing of the land is solemnly closed up, in the Joshua 19:51, which intimates that the thing was done to the satisfaction of all, here is an account…
The Cities of Refuge. (b. c. 1444.)
THE CITIES OF REFUGE. (B. C. 1444.) Many things were by the law of Moses ordered to be done when they came to Canaan and this among the rest, the appointing of sanctuaries for the protecting of those that were guilty of…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 20:7-9
We have here the nomination of the cities of refuge in the land of Canaan, which was made by the advice and authority of Joshua and the princes (Joshua 20:7); and upon occasion of the mention of this is repeated the nom…
The Cities of the Levites. (b. c. 1444.)
THE CITIES OF THE LEVITES. (B. C. 1444.) Here is, I. The Levites' petition presented to this general convention of the states, now sitting at Shiloh, Joshua 21:1-2. Observe, 1. They had not their lot assigned them till…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 21:9-42
We have here a particular account of the cities which were given to the children of Levi out of the several tribes, not only to be occupied and inhabited by them, as tenants to the several tribes in which they lay—no, t…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 21:43-45
We have here the conclusion of this whole matter, the foregoing history summed up, and, to make it appear the more bright, compared with the promise of which it was the full accomplishment. God's word and his works mutu…
The Reubenites, Gadites, and Half Tribe of Manasseh Dismissed. (b. c. 1444.)
THE REUBENITES, GADITES, AND HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH DISMISSED. (B. C. 1444.) The war being ended, and ended gloriously, Joshua, as a prudent general, disbands his army, who never designed to make war their trade, and se…
The Altar of the Reubenites. (b. c. 1444.)
THE ALTAR OF THE REUBENITES. (B. C. 1444.) Here is, I. The pious care of the separated tribes to keep their hold of Canaan's religion, even when they were leaving Canaan's land, that they might not be as the sons of the…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 22:21-29
We may suppose there was a general convention called of the princes and great men of the separate tribes, to give audience to these ambassadors; or perhaps the army, as it came home, was still encamped in a body, and no…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 22:30-34
We have here the good issue of this controversy, which, if there had not been on both sides a disposition to peace, as there was on both sides a zeal for God, might have been of ill consequence; for quarrels about relig…
Joshua's Charge to Israel. (b. c. 1427.)
JOSHUA'S CHARGE TO ISRAEL. (B. C. 1427.) As to the date of this edict of Joshua, I. No mention at all is made of the place where this general assembly was held; some think it was at Timnath-serah, Joshua's own city, whe…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 23:11-16
Here, I. Joshua directs them what to do, that they might persevere in religion, Joshua 23:11. Would we cleave to the Lord, and not forsake him, 1. We must always stand upon our guard, for many a precious soul is lost an…
Joshua's Farewell Address to Israel. (b. c. 1427.)
JOSHUA'S FAREWELL ADDRESS TO ISRAEL. (B. C. 1427.) Joshua thought he had taken his last farewell of Israel in the solemn charge he gave them in the foregoing chapter, when he said, I go the way of all the earth; but God…
Matthew Henry on Joshua 24:15-28
Never was any treaty carried on with better management, nor brought to a better issue, than this of Joshua with the people, to engage them to serve God. The manner of his dealing with them shows him to have been in earn…