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. XVI.

Vers. 1. ANd the lot of the children of Joseph, fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, &c.] It is the opinion of some learned writers, that there was but one lot drawn for the children of Ioseph, and that be∣cause one half of the tribe of Manasseh, being already disposed of without Iordan, it was judged the fittest way to joyn the other half of the tribe of Manesseh in one lot with the tribe of Ephraim, under the common name of the children of Joseph; for, say they, by this means they made sure that the children of Ioseph should be seated toge∣ther in that part of Canaan, which the lot that was drawn out with that which had their name in it, did assigne to them. And this likewise, they seek to make good from the words of the text, both here where it speaks of the inheritance of Ephraim & Ma∣nasseh, as comprehended in one lot, And the lot of the children of Joseph, fell from Jordan, &c. and again, chap. 17.14. where the children of Ioseph seem to com∣plain of this, And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua saying, why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit? But all things considered, I think it more probable that there were two severall lots for the tribe of Ephraim and the half of Manasseh: first, because those words chap. 14.2. By lot was their inheritance —for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe, seems rather to imply, that there were severall lots both for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe: secondly, because the portion that fell to the tribe of Ephraim being described in the latter part of this chapter, it follows in the beginning of the next chapter, There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh: for do not those words clearly intimate that there was one lot drawn for Ephraim, and another for Manasseh? and thirdly, because the providence of God in ordering the lots must needs be the more wonderfull, if Iu∣dahs lot coming forth first, the next two lots also that were drawn should be these of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sonnes of Ioseph, immediately one after another, upon whom also God had transferred a part of Reubens birthright, as it is expressely said,

1. Chron. 5.1, 2. And indeed that complaint of the sonnes of Joseph, chap. 17.14. Why hast thou given we but one lot and one portion to inherit? was not meant of the drawing but one lot for them, but of the quantitie of land assigned to them for their portion, to wit, that it was no more then might well have been assigned for one tribe. For had they taken exception that there was but one lot for these two tribes, they would have contested about this when they made the lots, and not after their lot was drawn. And here in this place, the text speaks of the lot of the chil∣dren of Joseph in the singular number, not because there was but one lot drawn both for Ephraim and Manasseh, but because the writer of this book intended, first to shew joyntly together where the inheritance of these two tribes lay, and then af∣terwards to shew severally what each of them had for their portion. So that there∣fore in these first three verses of this chapter the south bounds of the inheritance of the sonnes of Joseph where it bordered upon Benjamins portion is described, to wit, that they began at that part of Jordan which was nigh unto Iericho, and so went up unto the water of Jericho, that is, to certain streams that watered Ieri∣cho, called afterwards the waters of Elisha, because of that miracle which he wrought upon them, 2. Kings 2.21. (it is here said to have been on the east, and chap. 18.12. on the north side of Jericho, because it lay north-east of the city) and so to the wildernesse that goeth up from Iericho throughout mount Bethel, namely the wildernesse of Beth-aven chap. 18.12. and so from Bethel to Luz, and thence to the borders of Archi, to Ataroth called also Ataroth-addar verse 5. and again, chap. 18 12. and so on still westward by the severall places here mentioned till they ended at last at the sea, that is, the Mediterranean sea.

Vers 5. The border of their inheritance on the east side was Ataroth-addar unto Beth-horon the upper.] Here begins the description of that portion of the land of Canaan which was assigned to the tribe of Ephraim; which to us that cannot have any certain knowledge of that countrey as it was in those times, must needs be very difficult and hard to be understood, especially being described here in so few words as it is. In this first clause all is said, that is said, concerning the eastern bounds, to wit, that it reached from Ataroth in the southern bounds, to Beth-horon in the north side; and so indeed the breadth of Ephraims portion is onely here set forth where it was broadest eastward.

Vers. 6. And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah, &c.] There being mention made in the former verse of Beth-horon the upper, which lay on the north side of Ephraims lot, here now the text describes how the north border went out from the said Beth-horon first westward to Michmethah, and then eastward by severall towns here mentioned, till it ended at last at Jordan.

Vers. 8. The border went out from Tappuah westward, &c.] Here the text returns to shew what had been touched before, verse 6. to wit, how the northern border went on westward beyond Michmethah toward the sea, namely, that it went along by Tappuah unto the river Kanah, and so at last to the midland sea.

Vers 9. And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh.] That is, besides the cities that stood within the compasse of these bounds, the Ephramites had certain cities allotted them

within the portion of Manasseh, as an addition, because this portion here described was too little for them.

Vers. 10. And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer, &c.] See the note chap. 17.12.