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Vers. 1. NOw Joshua was old and stricken in years, and the Lord said unto him, Thou art old, &c.] God had promised that Joshua should divide this land unto the people, chap. 1.6. Be strong, and of a good courage: For unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I sware unto their fa∣thers to give them (and herein was he a type of Christ, who having vanquished all
our enemies, is now ascended up into heaven to prepare a place for us, John 14.2. In my fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you: I go to prepare a place for you.) He therefore being now old, God calls upon him to dispatch this work before he dyes, and not to deferre it till they were possessed of all, as happely he thought he must have done.
Vers. 2. This is the land that still remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri.] The land of the Philistines lay along the coasts of the midland sea; and the land of Geshuri was on the North part of Canaan.
Vers. 3. From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron north∣ward, which is counted to the Canaanite, &c.] That is, this land of the Philistines belongs to Canaan, & consequently to the Israelites, though as yet they have not taken it: For the Philistines (called Caphtorims because thence they came, Amos 9.7. Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt? and the Philistines from Caphtor?) entered upon this part of Canaan, drove out the old inhabitants and dwelt in it themselves, Deut. 2.23. The Avims which dwelt in Hazerim, even unto Azzah, the Caphtorims, which came forth out of Caphtor, destroyed them and dwelt in their stead. Concerning Sihor, see the note upon Num. 34.30.
Also the Avites.] Or the Avims, Deut. 2.23. who being expelled out of their land by the Philistines as is above noted, did yet it seems continue in some portion of their land adjoyning to the Philistines.
Vers. 4. From the south all the land of the Canaanites, &c.] That is, as this land of the Philistines, which lies at the south end of the sea-coasts, so also all the land of the Canaanites from thence along the sea-coasts, was not yet possessed by the Israelites, even Mearah (or the cave) that is besides the Sidonians and Aphek, a town in the tribe of Asher not farre from Sidon, and so to the borders of the A∣morites; for there were Amorites on both sides of Jordan: There was a town in∣deed called Aphek whose king was slain by Joshua, chap. 12.18. but this it seems was not that, but another in the tribe of Asher called Aphik, Judges 1.31.
Vers. 5. And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon toward the sunne rising, &c.] The Giblites were a people who inhabited Gebel, Psal. 83.7. a promontary near Sidon. All their countrey and all Lebanon, &c. was not yet subdued. For now he turns to the midland sea, to shew what lay unvanquished on the northern bounds, to wit, the countrey about Libanus; and so easternly as farre as Hamath, where even in Davids time there was a Canaanitish king, 2. Sam. 8.9.
Vers. 6. Them will I drive out before the children of Israel.] This promise is to be understood conditionally, if they should continue faithfull in keeping cove∣nant with him; wherein failing they never came to possesse them, though in Davids and Solomons time they became tributary unto them.
Onely divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites, &c.] That is, even that land be∣fore spoken of, not yet conquered; which God enjoyns to strengthen their faith, and that having it in their charter from God, this might be a spurre to them in fu∣ture times not to neglect the seeking of it, and driving out the rest of the nations. See the note upon Num. 26.53.
Vers. 8. With whom the Reubenites, and the Gadites have received their inhe∣ritance, &c.] That is, with which tribe of Manasseh, (to wit, the other half of
them) the Reubenites and the Gadites had already received their inheritance with∣out Jordan. For these words are added, to shew the reason why in the foregoing verse, Joshua was commanded to divide the land within Jordan, to the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh, to wit, because the Reubenites and the Gadites had already received their inheritance together with the other half of the Manassites in the land without Jordan, which Moses had given them. And though there may seem to be a tautology, or a vain repetition of the same thing in the following words, which Moses gave them, even as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them, yet if the words be well weighed we shall find it is not so; for that second clause, even as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them, is added, as it were, to imply the just confirming of the former donation now by Joshua, and the rest that now divided the land; as if it had been said, they have already received their inhe∣ritance which Moses gave them beyond Jordan, as is fitting, because Moses the ser∣vant of the Lord did so order it.
Vers. 9. From Aroer that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, &c.] Here first the whole land without Jordan is described, which was by Moses given to the Reu∣benites, and the Gadites, and the one half tribe of Manasseh; and then afterwards is shown what each of them had severally.
Vers. 11. And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites.] Even the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites are here mentioned as a part of the land without Jordan, belonging to the two tribes and a half planted there, because Moses had indeed given them their countrey together with the rest, though as yet they had it not in their possession, as is afterwards expressed verse 13.
Vers. 12. For these did Moses smite and cast them out.] To wit, Sihon and Og before mentioned and their people. For this cannot be referred to all the inha∣bitants of the land before named, because it is expressely said in the following verse, that the Geshurites and the Maachathites were not cast out.
Vers. 13. Neverthelesse the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, &c.] Though the land without Jordan was vanquished whilest Moses was yet living, yet they did not then drive out these Geshurites & Maachathites, who inhabited the out∣most skirts of the countrey, to wit, because having in their possession enough for the present use of the two tribes and a half that were planted there, it was not judged requisite to delay their passing over Jordan till they had fully cleared all the utmost corners of that land. Neither was it therefore any sinne in Moses and the Israelites thus at first to forbear a while the casting out of these people. But yet when in after times they continued still to suffer them to roost amongst them, that was an act of base sloth, and is noted doubtlesse in the last words of this verse to their just re∣proch, the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites untill this day.
Vers. 14. Onely unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance.] This, which is in so many places repeated, is here inserted to shew the reason of that, verse 7. why God enjoyned Joshua to divide the land within Jordan unto the nine tribes and the half of Manasseh, to wit, because the tribe of Levi was to have no part of
the land; for had they been to have had a share too, there would have been still ten tribes and a half to provide for.
Vers. 15. And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheri∣tance according to their families.] That is, proportionably according to the num∣ber of their families. Now the bounds of each tribe are thus exactly set down to prevent all discord and division for the time to come.
Vers. 16. And their coast was from Aroer, &c.] That is, it reached from A∣roer exclusively. Aroer indeed belonged to the tribe of Gad, Num. 32.34. And the children of Gad built Dibon and Ataroth and Aroer. So that the city of Aroer and the outsides of the plains of Medeba (for the plain it self was a part of Reu∣bens possession) are here made the bounds for this tribe.
Vers. 17. Heshbon and all her cities that are in the plain of Dibon, &c.] This town is reckoned amongst Reubens possessions, Num. 32.37. And the children of Reuben built Heshbon, yet Josh. 21.39. and 1. Chron. 6.81. it is reckoned amongst the cities of Gad given to the Levites. The next city Dibon is indeed reckoned a∣mongst the cities of Gad, Num. 32.34. And the children of Gad built Dibon, but the reason of this is, because they stood in the confines of both tribes, and so were in common inhabited by both.
Vers. 21. And all the kingdome of Sihon king of the Amorites which reigned in Heshbon.] That is, and all the kingdome of Sihon in those parts within the bounds before mentioned: for it is expressely said, verse 27. that the rest of the kingdome of Sihon king of Heshon was given to Gad. And this seems added, partly to imply that though some of these cities had been the Moabites, yet at that time they were Sihons, and so according to Gods commandment they meddled not with the Ammonites and Moabites countrey.
Whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, &c.] These five princes of Midian were not slain at the same time, and in the same battell, where∣in Sihon was slain at Jahaz, Numb. 21.23, 24. but long after, by a party that were purposely sent out by Moses against the Medianites, Numb. 31.8. and therefore it is very probably conceived by Expositours, that the reason why the death of Sihon, & these princes, is mentioned here together is, because these princes, though they were princes of Midian, yet withall were (as it follows here in the next words) Dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the countrey, to wit, in the countrey of the Amorites, where Sihon reigned, and so aided him in his warre against the Israelites, and however they were not slain then together with Sihon, but escaped away into the land of Midian, and Sihon being now dead, took upon them the power and title of kings (for so they are therefore called, Numb. 31.8.) in some cities of Midian, that were hap∣pely before tributary to Sihon, yet afterward in another expedition of the Israelites, which they undertook by the direction of Moses, against the Midianites, they were slain as Sihon their Lord was before in a former battell, and so the cutting off both of Sihon and these his vassals, is here mentioned together. Some Expositours do in∣deed otherwise conceive of that last clause, Which were Dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the countrey, to wit, that though they were the vassals of Sihon, yet they were na∣tive Midianites, and such as dwelt in that countrey, and so were the more zealous
for the defence of their countrey against the Israelites, and so the slaying of Sihon and these princes of Midian is here mentioned together, onely because both the one and the other were slain by the Israelites, and much about the same time; but that where the text is discribing the countrey of Sihon, it should be said of these princes, that they were Dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the countrey, meaning thereby the coun∣trey of Midian, may be justly thought somewhat improbable, and therefore the first Exposition seems to me the best.
Vers. 22. Balaam also the sonne of Beor the Soothsayer did the children of Isra∣el slay, &c. See the note upon Numb. 24.25.
Vers. 23. And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan and the bor∣der thereof.] That is, the banks, or border, or coasts of Jordan all along was the border, to wit, the western border of Reuben.
Vers. 25. And their coast was Jasher, and all the cities of Giliad.] That is, all the cities of Gilead within the bounds afterward mentioned; for half Gilead was given to the tribe of Manasseh, vers. 31.
And half the land of the children of Ammon, &c.] Which it seems Sihon had taken away from the Ammonites, as he had also encroched upon the Moabites coun∣trey, Numb. 21.26. For Heshbon was the city of Sihon, the king of the Amorites, who had fought against the former king of Moab, and taken all his land out of his hand, even unto Arnon, which might be the ground of that challenge which the king of the Ammonites made to this land, Judg. 11.13. And the king of the chil∣dren of Ammon answered unto the messengers of Jephthah, because Israel took away my land, when they came up out of Egypt, from Arnon even unto Jabbok, and unto Jordan: now therefore restore those lands again peaceably. For otherwise the Isra∣elites were forbidden to take any part of the Ammonites land away from them, Deut. 2.19. And when thou comest nigh to the children of Ammon, distresse them not, nor meddle with them.
Vers. 26. And from Heshbon, unto Ramath-mizpeh, &c.] Called Ramoth in Gilead, chap. 20.8.
Vers. 29. And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh.] See the note upon Num. 32.33.
Vers. 30. And all the towns of Jair which are in Bashan, threescore cities.] See the note upon Num. 32.41.
Vers. 31. And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdome of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir, the sonne of Ma∣nasseh.] See Num. 32.39.
Even unto the one half of the children of Machir by their families.] For Ma∣nasseh had onely one sonne, to wit, Machir, whose sonnes had their inheritance half within Jordan, and half without.
Vers. 33. But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance.] See the note above upon verse 14.