Annotations upon the remaining historicall part of the Old Testament. The second part. to wit, the books of Joshua, Judges, the two books of Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles, and the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther : wherein first, all such passages in the text are explained as were thought likely to be questioned by any reader of ordinary capacity : secondly, in many clauses those things are discovered which are needfull and usefull to be known ... and thirdly, many places that might at first seem to contradict one another are reconciled ... / by Arthur Jackson.

CHAP. XV.

Vers. 1. THis then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families, even to the border of Edom, &c.] In this chapter the narra∣tion of the dividing the land within Jordan by lot is continued, which was broken off in the foregoing chapter, to shew, how Caleb demanded that Hebron and the adjacent mountain might be reserved to him, as his by an extraordinary promise which God had long since made to him. That the lots were onely to decide in what part of the countrey each tribe should be planted, and that afterwards the quantitie of the land which each tribe should have was set out by Joshua, Eleazar, and the heads of the tribes, chosen to be the men that should divide the land, is noted before upon the second verse of the foregoing chapter, as likewise, Num. 26.55. What man∣ner of lottery they used in this businesse is no where expressed. The common opini∣on of the Hebrew writers is, that there were two pots, or other vessels, set before the Tabernacle, the one having the names of the tribes, that were to have their portion of the land assigned, the other just so many lots, in each of which such and such a part of the land was described, and that some man appointed to that service, happely E∣leazar the high priest, drew out of one pot one of the tribes, and then out of the other pot one of the lots there, and so then that tribe had their portion assigned them in that part of the land described and set forth in that lot; and so accordingly with the rest. And indeed though this be not expressed thus any where in the Scripture, yet the phrase that is often used in the following chapters, that such a lot came out & such a lot came up, may seem covertly to imply so much, as chap. 19. v. 1.10, 17, &c. Some indeed hold that there was but one pot wherein there was so many lots as there were tribes that were to have their inheritance in the land within Jordan, each lot having a severall portion of land described and set out therein, and that there was a lot drawn for each tribe in their severall order, as first there was a lot drawn for the tribe of Judah, as is here said, because that tribe had the chief Prero∣gative of the first-born conferred upon them in stead of Reuben; and secondly there was lots drawn for the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh that were descended of Joseph, chap. 16.1. and that because they had also some part of the dignity of

Reubens primogeniture or birthright of the first-born conferred upon them; and so successively in the rest. But I see not how this can so well stand with the expressions which the Scripture useth concerning the lots: for those phrases which are used chap. 19. The second lot came forth to Simeon, verse 1. and the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun, vers. 10. and the fourth lot came out to Issachar, verse 17, &c. do methinks very probably intimate, that it was not by appointment but by lot also, that such a tribe had the first lot, and such a tribe the second, &c. even as the lots wherein their names were written came first to hand; and surely herein the hand of God in ordering the lots was the more evident and wonderfull; as for instance, That Judahs lot should come out first, and then that his lot should fall in the richest and best part of the kingdome, how apparently were the people herein taught to take notice of the purpose of God in exalting this tribe above the rest. As for the dividing of the land in severall lots it may be questioned, whether there were not now at the first certain men sent out to view the land, that they might the better know how to divide it into so many severall lots, as they did afterward when after the work had been given over for a time they set upon it again, chap. 18.4, 5. Give out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them, and they shall rise and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them, and they shall come again to me, & they shall divide it into seven parts, &c. But because this is so fully expressed there and no mention is made of any such thing here, there∣fore we may rather think that now at first they went not so exactly to work, but onely set out to each lot a portion of land as well as they could guesse according to that knowledge they had got of the land by severall inrodes they had made in∣to it, till upon the three first lots that were drawn the people began to suspect that Judahs lot being so large, there would not be a proportionable share left for the other tribes, and so before they would set upon the work again, there were certain men sent out purposely to make a more full discovery of the land, that they might the more equally set out to each lot a severall share. But however, here we have the lot of Judah (which by the singular providence of God came out first) described by the severall bounds thereof, as it was in the first division of the lots, This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families, even to the bor∣der of Edom; and the last clause, even to the border of Edom, is added to shew that the description here given us of the bounds of Judahs portion shall begin at the east end of the south coast, which was towards the wildernesse of Edom: As for the south coast which is here largely described in the foure first verses of the chapter, what is to be noted therein you may see. Num. 34.3, 4, 5, &c.

Vers. 5. And the east border was the salt sea; even unto the end of Jordan.] That is, their border on the east side was from the place where their south border was drawn, vers 1. to wit, the wildernesse of Zin all along the salt sea, that is, the lake of Sodome, even unto the place where the river Jordan runnes into this lake.

And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea, at the up∣permost part of Jordan.] That is, their border on the north side (which divided the tribe of Judah from the tribe of Benjamin) went from the bay of the dead sea

where the river Jordan ran into it, and so went up to Beth-hogla, and then passed along on the North of Betharabah, leaving Betharabah on the South in the lot of Judah, verse 61. Indeed, chap. 18.22. this city is reckoned amongst Benjamins ci∣ties; But this is because it stood on the confines of Judah and Benjamin, and so is reckoned as many others are to both tribes.

Vers. 6. And the border went up to the stone of Bohan the sonne of Reuben.] That is, Bohan the Reubenite. In remembrance of some remarkable passage that concerned this man, was this stone set up and called the stone of Bohan.

Vers. 7. The border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor.] This is not that Debir taken by Othniel, verse 17. for that was near Hebron and not so close upon Judahs border.

And so north-ward looking towards Gilgal, that is before the going up to A∣dummim, which is on the south-side of the river.] That is, and so from Debir it turned northward at that place where Gilgal is, called Geliloth, chap. 18.17. right against Adummim, which is on the south-side of the river Kidron, so that he who should carry the line should have Gilgal before him north-ward, and Adum∣mim behind him on the south-side of the river.

Vers. 8. And the border went up by the valley of the sonne of Hinnom unto the south-side of the Jebusite, the same is Jerusalem.] That is, it went from Enro∣gel, or the fullers fountain (which was not farre from Jerusalem; for Adonijah and his conspiratours being at Enrogel heard the sound of the trumpets, and the shout∣ing of the people when Solomon was anointed king at Jerusalem, 1. Kings 1.9, 49.) by the valley of the sonne of Hinnom, unto the south-side of the city Jebus, which was afterwards called Jerusalem; not the fort of Sion, for that was more south-ward in Judahs portion, but the city it self which by that means was shut out of Ju∣dahs lot and left in the portion of Benjamin, see the following note upon verse 63.

Vers. 9. And the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjath-jearim.] Cal∣led Kirjath-baal, verse 60. and chap. 18.14.

Vers. 10. And the border compassed from Baalah west-ward unto mount Seir, &c.] That is, having before fetched a compasse north-ward, it now turned west-ward unto mount Seir, which was not that in the land of Idumea, but another of that name.

Vers. 12. And the west-border was to the great sea and the coast thereof.] See chap. 13.23.

Vers. 14. And Caleb drove thence the three sonnes of Anak, &c.] That is, from the mountains about Hebron. See the note upon chap. 11.21.

Vers. 15. He came up thence to the inhabitants of Debir, &c.] There was a Debir taken before by Joshua chap. 10.38, 39. but that which Joshua took, I con∣ceive, was not this which lay so near to Hebron which Caleb now took, but that mentioned above, vers. 7. in the borders of Judah, and much nearer to Jordan, whence it is happely that Joshua is said to have taken that in his return towards Gilgal, chap. 10.38. and that here this city is expressely said to be that city which was formerly called Kirjath-sepher, to distinguish it from Debir taken by Joshua.

Vers. 16. He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Ach∣sah

my daughter to wife.] That is, I will give my consent that he shall have my daughter: we cannot hence inferre that he might lawfully force upon his daughter what husband he pleased, for this he speaks as taking it for granted that his daughter would be guided by him.

Vers. 17. And Othniel the sonne of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb took it.] This was that Othniel which was afterwards the judge of Israel, Judg. 3.9. And when the children of Israel cryed unto the Lord, the Lord raysed up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the sonne of Kenaz, Calebs younger brother: and happely for this exploit he became first famous amongst the Israelites, and we may well think that this story is here inserted chiefly for his sake; by brother here may be meant kinsman, and so be referred to Othniel, that he was the brother, that is, the near kinsman of Caleb; but because of that word (younger) added, Judg. 1.13. Othniel the sonne of Kenaz Calebs younger brother: and so a∣gain Judg. 3.9. I conceive this word brother is to be referred to Kenaz, that he was the father of Othniel, and the brother of Caleb: for though Caleb was the sonne or grandchild of Kenaz, and thence called a Kenezite, chap. 14.16. yet he might have a Kenaz to his brother too.

Vers. 18. And it came to passe, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field, &c.] This following passage concerning the enlarging of Ach∣sahs dowry, by a portion of land which her father gave her, may well be added, to shew how Caleb prized Othniel because of this his taking Debir, It came to passe, saith the text, as she came unto him, that is, as she was going from her fathers to her husbands family, she moved him to ask of her father a field, that is, taking the op∣portunity of her being now to leave her father (for then the affections of fathers are wont to be moved towards their daughters) she perswaded her husband to ask a field of her father, to wit, over and above that which he had already given her, as an encrease of her dowry: For Caleb had sonnes, 1. Chron. 4.15. and in this case it is clear, they might not give away any part of their inheritance from their sonnes to their daughters, Numb. 27.8, 9. If a man die and have no sonne, then ye shall cause his inheritance to passe unto his daughter. And if he have no daughter, then ye shall give his inheritance unto his brethren: and therefore we must know that the land which Caleb had already given his daughter, and which she further now desi∣red of him, was to be given her onely as a dowry for term of life, or till the yeare of Jubile. Being it seems not content with that portion of land, which her father had already given her, vers. 19. she moved her husband to ask, or (for so also the words may be understood) she moved her husband that she might ask another field, to wit, as an enlargement of her dowry.

And she lighted off her asse: and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?] We may two severall wayes understand this which is here said concerning Achsah Calebs daughter, that she lighted off her asse: for either the meaning may be, that when they had set her upon an asse, that she might ride home with her husband Oth∣niel to his house, she slipped down again, as in discontent and seeming to be unwil∣ling to go with her husband, to wit, because her husband had not as she had moved him desired of her father an enlargement of her dowry, and so thereupon her father

demanded of her, what wouldest thou? as perceiving that she was discontented, and desirous to know what it was that troubled her: Or else, that having desired her hus∣band, as they were riding away from her fathers house, to make sute to her father for another field to be added to what he had already given her, when she perceived that he was loth to do it, or perswaded her rather to undertake it her self, she lighted off her asse, as addressing her self to make her request to her father, which her father perceiving, demanded of her presently what she would have.

Vers. 19. Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land, give me also springs of water.] To intimate, that the portion of land which he had given her was dry and not well watered, she calls it a south land, to wit, ei∣ther because the southern parts of Iudahs portion were dry and barren, and hence such lands were called south lands; or else, because the southern parts of Calebs por∣tion in particular were such. And hereupon she desires him to give her also springs of water, thereby intending either merely some springs of water, which might be conveyed into the south land to make it fruitfull, or else some portion of land that was well watered.

And he gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.] That is, some higher grounds that were well watered, and some lower; or which tends much to one, he gave her some springs or watered grounds on each side the land he had formerly gi∣ven her for a dowry, both above it, and below it.

Vers. 21. And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward, were Kabzeel, &c.] It is called Iekabzeel, Neh. 11.25.

Vers. 32. All their cities are twenty nine, with their villages.] There are indeed eight and thirty cities or towns named in the foregoing verses, and therefore for the clearing of this some hold, that because nine of these were afterwards assigned to the tribe of Simeon, therefore it is said here, that all the cities of Iudah in those parts were nine and twenty. But the better answer I conceive is, that nine and twenty of them onely were walled cities, the other were the most famous towns and villages in those parts. And here in this first catalogue of Iudahs cities in the Southern parts, the most noted towns are expressed by name, as well as the walled cities, that in the following catalogues we may conceive the same, to wit, that there were many towns of note besides the cities there mentioned, though they be not expressed by name as here they are.

Vers. 36. Fourteen cities with their villages.] There are fifteen named in the foregoing verses, either therefore one of them was no citie, but some noted town, or rather it may be very probably conceived that Gederah and Gederothaim were but one citie: and therefore some reade it (as it is in the margin of our bibles) Gederah or Gederothaim.

Vers. 62. And Nibshan and the citie of salt.] This citie might have its name, The citie of salt, from the salt pits that were there, and the abundance of salt that was dayly made by the inhabitants of the citie.

Vers. 63. As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Ju∣dah could not drive them out.] It is a question much argued amongst writers, whe∣ther Jerusalem stood in Judahs or in Benjamins portion. By many places of Scri∣pture

it seems evident that it was in Benjamins portion. For in the 18. chapter of this book vers. 28. it is reckoned amongst the cities that were in Benjamins lot, and we see that Moses did before his death prophesie concerning Benjamin, that the Tem∣ple which was in Jerusalem should be built in Benjamins portion, for that is the drift of those words, Deut. 33.12. And of Benjamin he said, The beloved of the Lord shall dwell in safety by him, and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between his shoulders; yea and Jer. 6.1. the inhabitants of Jerusalem are ex∣pressely called the children of Benjamin, O ye children of Benjamin, gather your selves to flee out of the midst of Jerusalem, and Judg. 1.21. the same that is here said of the children of Judah is likewise there said of the children of Benjamin, The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. But now again by other places of Scripture it seems as evident that Jerusalem was in Judahs portion. For first, mention is here made of it as one of Judahs cities, The Jebu∣sites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day: and secondly, Je∣rusalem is said to have been taken by the children of Judah, Judg. 1.8. and thirdly, it is reckoned as the great priviledge of the children of Judah, that the Lord in his Temple dwelt amongst them, Psal. 78.67, 68, 69. Moreover he refused the Ta∣bernacle of Joseph, and chose not the tribe of Ephraim, but chose the tribe of Ju∣dah, the mount Sion which he loved, and he built his Sanctuary like high places, &c. but the truth herein is, that Jerusalem stood in the border of these two tribes, and so was part in Judahs, and part in Benjamins portion, and therefore the places of Scripture before cited do not any way contradict one another, the fort of Sion and some of the south skirts of the city were in Judahs portion, but the greatest part of the city in Benjamins, and therefore it may well be that when they went about to expell the Jebusites that dwelt there, both Iudah and Ben∣jamin joyned their forces together, as Judah and Simeon did in a like case, Judg. 1.3. And Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight aganst the Canaanites, and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. As for that which is here said concerning Jerusalem, to wit, that the children of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites thence (and the like we see is said concerning the children of Benjamin, Judg. 1.21.) we must know that the Iebusites continued in Ierusa∣lem unto Davids time. Indeed Adoni-zedek the king of Jerusalem was slain by Ioshua chap. 10.23, 26. (for he was one of those five kings that made warre against Gibeon) though we find no mention there of his taking Ierusalem; yea, and it is expressely said, Iudg. 1.8. that afterwards the children of Iudah took the city of Je∣rusalem and burnt it with fire, that is, some part of it. Well, but yet the fort of Sion, which was the chief strength of Ierusalem, was not at that time taken by them; for that the Iebusites held till David took it, 2. Sam. 5, 6, 7. yea and it seems that after∣ward the Iebusites did also by the help of this fort recover the city again, at least so farre, that they forced the Israelites to let the Iebusites dwell there amongst them, as it is said here. For in the dayes of the Iudges we see that Iebus, that is, Ierusalem was still inhabited by the Iebusites, Iudg. 19.12. We will not turn aside hither into the city of a stranger, that is not of the children of Israel (saith the Levite there

concerning Iebus) we will passe over to Gibea. But however we must not think, that this which is said here, that the children of Judah could not drive them out, is ad∣ded by way of excusing them; no, but rather to their shame and reproch; for though the fort of Sion was a place of great strength, so that when David set himself down with his army before it, the Iebusites scorned him, & bragged that their lame and blind and impotent people, should defend it against him, 2. Sam. 5.6. Yet God would certainly have driven them out according to his promise, had they not been wanting to themselves. But they grew slothfull and faint hearted, and by these and other their sinnes, provoked the Lord to withdraw himself from them, and so then indeed they could not drive out the inhabitants, but were glad to purchase peace upon any tearms; according to that Iudg. 2.20, 21. And the anger of the Lord was hot a∣gainst Israel, and he said, Because this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkned to my voice; I also will not hence forth drive out any from before them, of the nations which Joshua left when he died, &c.