Annotations upon the Holy Bible. Vol. I wherein the sacred text is inserted, and various readings annex'd, together with parallel scriptures, the more difficult terms in each verse are explained, seeming contradictions reconciled, questions and doubts resolved, and the whole text opened / by the late reverend and learned divine Mr. Matthew Poole.

NOW after the death of Joshua a 1.1, it came to pass, that the children of Is∣rael asked the LORD b 1.2, saying, Who shall go up for us against the Cana∣anites first c 1.3, to fight against them?

2 And the LORD said, Judah d 1.4 shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

3 And Judah said unto Simeon his brother e 1.5, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites f 1.6, and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

4 And Judah went up, and the LORD deliver∣ed the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand, and they slew of them in Bezek g 1.7, ten thousand men.

5 And they found Adoni-bezek h 1.8, in Bezek i 1.9, and they fought against him k 1.10, and they •…•…lew the Canaanites, and the Perizzites.

6 But Adoni-bezek fled, and they purfued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs, and his great toes l 1.11.

7 And Adoni-bezek said, Threescore and ten kings m 1.12, having ‡ 1.13 their thumbs * 1.14 and their great toes cut off, ‖ 1.15 gathered their meat under my table n 1.16: as I have done▪ so God hath requited me o 1.17: and they brought him p 1.18 to Jerusalem q, and there he died.

8 (Now the children of Judah had sought against Jerusalem, and had taken it * 1.19, and smitten it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.)

9 * 1.20 And afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, that dwelt in the mountain, and in the south, and in the ‖ 1.21 valley.

10 And Judah went against the Canaanites r 1.22 that dwelt in Hebron, (now the name of Hebron before was * 1.23 Kirjath-arba) and they slew Sheshai, and Ahi∣man, and Talmai.

11 And from thence he went against the inha∣bitants of Debir, (and the name of Debir before was Kirjath-sepher.)

12 And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjath∣sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

13 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, * 1.24 Calebs younger brother, took it: and he gave him Ach∣sah his daughter to wife.

14 And it came to pass when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass, and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

15 And she said unto him, Give me a blessing, for thou hast given me a south land, give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

16 ¶ And the children of the Kenite, Moses fa∣ther in law s 1.25, went up out of the city of palm∣trees t, with the children of Judah, into the wil∣derness of Judah, which lieth in the south of Arad t 1.26, and they * 1.27 went and dwelt among the people x 1.28.

17 And Judah went with Simeon his brother y 1.29, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it (and the name of the city was called Hormah) z 1.30.

18 Also Judah took Gaza with the coast thereof, and Askelon with the coast thereof, and Ekron with the coast thereof a 1.31.

19 And the LORD was with Judah, and ‖ 1.32 he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain, but could not b 1.33 drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had charets of iron.

20 * 1.34 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Mo∣ses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak c 1.35.

21 And the children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin d 1.36 in Jerusalem unto this day.

22 ¶ And the house of Joseph e 1.37, they also went up against Bethel: and the LORD was with them.

23 ¶ And the house of Joseph sent to descry Beth∣el, (now the name of the city before was * 1.38 Luz.)

24 And the spies saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said unto him, Shew us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city f 1.39, and * 1.40 we will shew thee mercy.

25 And when he shewed them the entrance into the city, they smote the city with the edge of the sword: but they let go the man and all his fami∣ly g 1.41.

26 And the man went into the land of the Hit∣tites h 1.42, and built a city, and called the name thereof Luz: which is the name thereof unto this day.

27 ¶ * 1.43 Neither did Manasseh i 1.44 drive out the inha∣tants

of Beth-shean k 1.45, and her ‡ 1.46 towns, nor Taa∣nach l 1.47, and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor m 1.48, and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam, and her towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo n 1.49, and her towns: but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

28 And it came to pass when Israel was strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, and did not utterly drive them out.

29 ¶ * 1.50 Neither did Ephraim drive out the Ca∣naanites, that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer o 1.51 among them.

30 ¶ Neither did Zebulun drive out the inha∣bitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol: but the Canaanites dwelt among them, and became tributaries.

31 ¶ Neither did Asher drive out the inhabitants of Accho, nor the inhabitants of Zidon, nor of Ahlab, nor Achzib, nor Helbah, nor Aphik, nor of Rehob:

32 But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaa∣nites, the inhabitants of the land: for they did not drive them out.

33 ¶ Neither did Naphtali drive out the inhabi∣tants of Beth-shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth∣anath, but he dwelt among the Canaanites the in∣habitants of the land: nevertheless, the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh p 1.52, and of Beth-anath, became tri∣butaries unto them.

34 And the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley q 1.53.

35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Ajalon and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph r 1.54 ‡ 1.55 prevailed, so that they be∣came tributaries.

36 And the coast of the Amorites was from ‖ 1.56 the going up to Akrabbim s 1.57, from the rock and up∣ward.

Notes

• a 1.1

  Not long after it, because Othniel, the first Judge, lived in Ioshuah's time.
• b 1.2

  Being assembled together at Shiloh, they enquired of the High-priest by the Urim and Thum∣mim. See Numb. 27. 21. Iudg. 20. 18. 1 Sam. 23. 9.
• c 1.3

  Be∣ing sensible that the Canaanites are troublesome to them, and expected great advantage against them by their heedless con∣dition, and finding their People to encrease and multiply exceedingly, and consequently the necessity of enlarging their Quarters, they renew the War. They do not enquire who shall be the Captain General to all the Tribes; but (as appears by the answer) What Tribe shall first undertake the Expedition, that by their success the other Tribes may be encouraged to make the like attempt upon the Canaanites in their several Lots.
• d 1.4

  Not a person so called, but the Tribe of Iudah, as is manifest from v. 3, 4, 8, 9. which is chosen for the first en∣terprise, because they were both most populous, and so most needing enlargement; and withal most Valiant, and therefore most likely to succeed: for God chuseth fit means for the work which he designs; and because the Canaanites were numerous and strong in those parts, and therefore were in time to be suppressed, before they grew too strong for them.
• e 1.5

  As nearest to him both by relation, being his Brother by both Parents, which few of them were; and by habi∣tation, as appears from Ios. 19. 1, 2.
• f 1.6

  Special∣ly so called, because they are distinguished from the Pe∣rizzite, v. 4.
• g 1.7

  Not in the City, for that was not yet taken, v. 5. but in the Territory of it, or near to it; as in Hor is taken, Numb. 33. 37. And in Iericho, Ios. 5. 13.
• h 1.8

  The Lord or King of Bezek, as his Name signifies
• i 1.9

  Whither he fled, when he had lost the Field.
• k 1.10

  i. e. Against the City wherein he had Encamped himself, and the rest of his Army.
• l 1.11

  That he might be disenabled to fight with his Hands, or to run away upon his Feet. And this they did, either by the secret instinct and direction of God, or upon notice of his former Tyranny and Cruelty expressed upon others, in this manner, as it follows: either way it was a just requital.
• m 1.12

  Which is not strange in those times and places: for these might be either, First, Kings successively, and so there might be divers of those Kings in one place, and so in others: Or, Secondly, Contemporary Kings▪ For it is well known, that anciently each Ruler of a City, or great Town, was called a King, and had Kingly Power in that place; and many such Kings we meet with in Canaan: and it is probable, that some years before, Kings were more numerous there, till the greater devoured many of the less.
• ‡ 1.13

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 thumbs 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 feet.
• * 1.14

  That so their hands might be unable to manage weapons of War.
• ‖ 1.15

  Or, 〈◊〉〈◊〉
• n 1.16

  An act of Barbarous Inhumanity thus to insult over the miserable, joyned with abominable Luxury.
• o 1.17

  He acknowledgeth the Providence and vindictive Justice of God, which also Pha∣roah did, and others too, without any true sense of Piety.
• p 1.18

  They carried him in Triumph as a monument of Gods righteous Vengeance.
• * 1.19

  To wit, in Ioshuah's time; which though done before, may be here repeated, to shew why they brought Adoni∣besek to Ierusalem, because that City was in their hands, ha∣ving been taken before; as may be gathered from Ios. 15. 63. And the taking of this City may be ascribed to the chil∣dren of Iudah, rather than to Ioshua, because the City was not taken by Ioshua, and the whole Body of the Army in that time when so many Kings were destroyed, Ios. 10. and 12. (for there is mention made of the destroying of the King of Ierusalem, Ios. 10. 23. and 12. 10. But not a word of the taking of Ierusalem, as there is of the taking of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Libnah, and other Cities belonging to the Kings there mentioned, Ios. 10. 28, &c.) but by the Children of Iudah after they had received their Lot, when at the desire, and with the consent of the Benjamites, in whose Lot Ierusalem fell. Ios. 18. 28. they assaulted and took it, and thereby, as it seems acquired the right of Copartnership with the Benjamites in the possession of that City. Though some think Ierusalem was twice taken, once in Ioshua's Life-time; and being af∣terwards recovered by the Canaanites, was now retaken by the Children of Iudah.
• * 1.20

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 10. 36. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 11. 21. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 15. 13.
• ‖ 1.21

  〈◊〉〈◊〉, low Countrey.
• r 1.22

  Under the Conduct of Caleb, as it is recorded Ios. 15. 14, &c. for that relation, and this here following, are doubtless one and the same Expedition and War, as appears by all the circumstances; and it is mentioned either there by anticipa∣tion, or here by repetition. Of this and the following Ver∣ses, see the Notes there.
• * 1.23

  〈◊〉〈◊〉. 15. 13.
• * 1.24

  Chap. 3. 9.
• s 1.25

  i. e. of Iethro, so called from the people from whom he descended, Numb. 24. 21, 22. And, whatsoever he did, it is evident, that his Posterity came into Canaan with the Israe∣lites, and were there seated with them. See Iudg. 4. 11. 17. and 5. 24. 1 Sam. 15. 6. 1 Chron. 2. 55.
• t 1.26

  i. e. From Iericho so called, Deut. 34. 3. not the City, which was utterly destroyed; but the Territory belonging to it, where it seems they were seated as in a most plea∣sant, and fruitful, and safe place, according to the promise made by Moses to their Father, Numb. 10. 31, 32. and whence they might remove, either to avoid the Society or Molestation of the Neighbouring Canaanites; or out of love to the children of Iudah, whom they went to; or to avoid temptations to Luxury, and exercise themselves in self-deni∣al, and contempt of the present evil World, and the Lusts thereof; as may be thought from Ier. 35. 6, &c. Or for some other cause unknown to us at this distance.
• * 1.27

  In the Southern part of the Land of Canaan, where Arad was, Numb. 21. 1. u i. e. Some of them, for others of them dwelt in the con∣trary quarter, in the most Northern part of the Land.
• x 1.28

  Heb. that people, to wit, those Children of Iudah that lived there.
• y 1.29

  According to his Promise, v. 3. and the Laws of Justice and Gratitude.
• z 1.30

  Either 1. The same place so destroyed and called, Numb. 21. 3. and so what was there Vowed, •…•…, here Executed: Or 2. Some other place called by the same Name upon the like occasion, which was frequent among the He∣brews: This seems more probable, 1. Because this was but one City; that, divers Cities, Numb. 21. 2, 3. 2. Because that seems to have been done in Moses his time, though In∣terpreters generally think otherwise; of which see my Notes there.
• a 1.31

  The principal Cities of the Philistines. Qu. How could this be, when among the people le•…•…t to try Israel, are the five Lords of the Philistines, Judg. 3. 3? Ans. It is onely said that they took the Cities, and probably contented them∣selves with making them Tributary; but it is not said that they slew the people, as they ought to have done; and as it is said of the other Cities here, v. 5, 8, 17, 25. And the peo∣ple being thus spared, did by Gods Just Judgment, recover their strength, and expel the Iews out of their Cities, as we find afterwards: It is further observable, that Ekron here taken, was one of Dan's Cities, Ios. 19. 43. and it was at∣tempted and taken here by Iudah and Simeon, partly out of love to their Brother Dan, and partly to secure their new Conquests, and other adjoining Territories, from such potent Neighbours.
• ‖ 1.32

  Or, he 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the mountain.
• b 1.33

  Because of their unbelief, whereby they doubted and distrusted Gods power to destroy those who had Chariots of Iron, and so gave way to their own fear and sloth, where∣by God was provoked to withdraw his helping hand from them, and so they were really made impotent, as they were unwilling. See Ios. 17. 16.
• * 1.34

  Numb. 14. 24. Josh. 14. 9, 13. and 15. 13.
• c 1.35

  Above mentioned, v. 10.
• d 1.36

  See on Ios. 15. 36.
• e 1.37

  i. e. The Tribe of Ephraim, as appeaars from their op∣position to the Tribe of Manasseh, v. 27.
• * 1.38

  Gen. 28. 19.
• f 1.39

  On which side it is weakest, that we may best invade and take it.
• * 1.40

  Josh. 2. 12, 14.
• g 1.41

  Together with his Estate, as the following Verse ma∣nifests.
• h 1.42

  Where the Hittites seated themselves after they were driven out of Canaan, which seems to be Northward from Canaan, and near unto it. See 1 King. 11. 1. 1 Chron. 1. 17.
• * 1.43

  Josh. 17. 11, 12, 13.
• i 1.44

  i. e. That half of this Tribe which dwelt in Canaan.
• k 1.45

  A place near Iordan, Ios. 17. 11.
• ‡ 1.46

  Heb. daugh∣ters.
• l 1.47

  Of which see Ios. 1•…•…. 21. and 17. 11.
• m 1.48

  A great City with large Territories. See Ios. 11. 2. and 12. 23. and 17. 11.
• n 1.49

  A Royal City. See Ios. 12. 21. and 17. 11.
• * 1.50

  •…•…sh. 16. 10.
• o 1.51

  Which they possessed till Solomons time, 1 King. 9. 16.
• p 1.52

  A place differing from that Bethshemesh, Ios. 15. 10.
• q 1.53

  i. e. Into the Plain Countrey; which was the occasion of that Expedition for the getting of new quarters; of which we read Ios. 19. and Iudg. 18.
• r 1.54

  i. e. Of the Ephraimites, who helped their Brethren the Danites against the Amorites, and that with good Suc∣cess.
• ‡ 1.55

  Heb. was heavy.
• ‖ 1.56

  Or Maale∣akrabbim.
• s 1.57

  Which was in the Southern part of Canaan, Ios. 15. 2, 3. from whence it went up towards the North. This is added to shew the great power and large extent of this people.