Christian Churches of God
No. F006iv
Commentary on Joshua
Part 4
(Edition 1.0 20221124-20221124)
Chapters
16-19
Christian Churches of God
E-mail: secretary@ccg.org
(Copyright ã 2022 Wade Cox)
This paper may be freely copied and
distributed provided it is copied in total with no alterations or deletions.
The publisher’s name and address and the copyright notice must be
included. No charge may be levied on
recipients of distributed copies. Brief
quotations may be embodied in critical articles and reviews without breaching
copyright.
This paper is available from the
World Wide Web page:
http://www.logon.org and http://www.ccg.org
Commentary on Joshua Part 4
Chapter 16-17
Allotment
for Ephraim and Manesseh (16:1-17:18 Joseph)
Joshua 16:1-10 The allotment
of the descendants of Joseph went from the Jordan by Jericho, east of the
waters of Jericho, into the wilderness, going up from Jericho into the hill
country to Bethel; 2then going from Bethel to Luz, it passes along
to At'aroth, the territory of the Archites; 3then it goes down
westward to the territory of the Japh'letites, as far as the territory of Lower
Beth-hor'on, then to Gezer, and it ends at the sea. 4The people of
Joseph, Manas'seh and E'phraim, received their inheritance. 5The
territory of the E'phraimites by their families was as follows: the boundary of
their inheritance on the east was At'aroth-ad'dar as far as Upper Beth-hor'on, 6and
the boundary goes thence to the sea; on the north is Mich-me'thath; then on the
east the boundary turns round toward Ta'anath-shi'loh, and passes along beyond
it on the east to Jan-o'ah, 7then it goes down from Jan-o'ah to
At'aroth and to Na'arah, and touches Jericho, ending at the Jordan. 8From
Tap'puah the boundary goes westward to the brook Kanah, and ends at the sea.
Such is the inheritance of the tribe of the E'phraimites by their families, 9together
with the towns which were set apart for the E'phraimites within the inheritance
of the Manas'sites, all those towns with their villages. 10However
they did not drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: so the Canaanites
have dwelt in the midst of E'phraim to this day but have become slaves to do
forced labor.
16:1-17:18
The
territory assigned to the tribes of Joseph.
The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh were allotted the
tribes of the central highlands.
vv. 1-4 The southern boundary ran roughly from Jericho to
the Mediterranean.
vv. 5-10 Covers the delimitation of the boundary of Ephraim.
v. 10. This verse is similar to Judges 1:29.
Ephraim was to become a company of nations (Gen.
48:15-16) and the means of the salvation of the gentiles and Manasseh was to
become a mighty people in their own right and thus their inheritance had to
spread beyond Israel, as signified by the lands beyond the Jordan. That became
a reality from the captivity under the Assyrians to 722 BCE, moving north of
the Araxes, and then into Europe from the fall of the Parthian Empire in the
Second Century CE (see No. 212F). Judah
was to remain in Judea and return after the Babylonian Captivity to enable the
Messiah, and the established Church to grow from there. Judah/Simeon and the
Edomites were dispersed from there after the Fall of the Temple 70–135 CE.
(See No. 212E, 298). All prophecy
determines the place in history of its subjects.
Chapter 17
Joshua 17:1-18 Then
allotment was made to the tribe of Manas'seh, for he was the first-born of
Joseph. To Machir the first-born of Manas'seh, the father of Gilead, were
allotted Gilead and Bashan, because he was a man of war. 2And
allotments were made to the rest of the tribe of Manas'seh, by their families,
Abi-e'zer, Helek, As'ri-el, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemi'da; these were the male
descendants of Manas'seh the son of Joseph, by their families. 3Now
Zeloph'ehad the son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manas'seh,
had no sons, but only daughters; and these are the names of his daughters:
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 4They came before Elea'zar
the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the leaders, and said, "The LORD
commanded Moses to give us an inheritance along with our brethren." So
according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the
brethren of their father. 5Thus there fell to Manas'seh ten
portions, besides the land of Gilead and Bashan, which is on the other side of
the Jordan; 6because the daughters of Manas'seh received an
inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead was allotted to the rest of
the Manas'sites. 7The territory of Manas'seh reached from Asher to
Mich-me'thath, which is east of Shechem; then the boundary goes along southward
to the inhabitants of En-tap'puah. 8The land of Tap'puah belonged to
Manas'seh, but the town of Tap'puah on the boundary of Manas'seh belonged to
the sons of E'phraim. 9Then the boundary went down to the brook
Kanah. The cities here, to the south of the brook, among the cities of
Manas'seh, belong to E'phraim. Then the boundary of Manas'seh goes on the north
side of the brook and ends at the sea; 10the land to the south being
E'phraim's and that to the north being Manas'seh's, with the sea forming its
boundary; on the north Asher is reached, and on the east Is'sachar. 11Also
in Is'sachar and in Asher Manas'seh had Beth-she'an and its villages, and
Ibleam and its villages, and the inhabitants of Dor and its villages, and the
inhabitants of En-dor and its villages, and the inhabitants of Ta'anach and its
villages, and the inhabitants of Megid'do and its villages; the third is
Naphath. 12Yet the sons of Manas'seh could not take possession of
those cities; but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in that land. 13But
when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor,
and did not utterly drive them out. 14And the tribe of Joseph spoke
to Joshua, saying, "Why have you given me but one lot and one portion as
an inheritance, although I am a numerous people, since hitherto the LORD has
blessed me?" 15And Joshua said to them, "If you are a
numerous people, go up to the forest, and there clear ground for yourselves in
the land of the Per'izzites and the Reph'aim, since the hill country of
E'phraim is too narrow for you." 16The tribe of Joseph said,
"The hill country is not enough for us; yet all the Canaanites who dwell
in the plain have chariots of iron, both those in Beth-she'an and its villages
and those in the Valley of Jezreel." 17Then Joshua said to the
house of Joseph, to E'phraim and Manas'seh, "You are a numerous people,
and have great power; you shall not have one lot only, 18but the
hill country shall be yours, for though it is a forest, you shall clear it and
possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites,
though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong."
17:1-6
Arrangements for the clans of the half tribe of
Manasseh that settled on the west of the Jordan.
v. 2 The rest of the tribe refers to those who settled east of the
Jordan (13:29-31).
vv. 7-13 Delimitation of the
boundary of Manasseh.
vv. 11-13 These verses are similar to
Judges 1:27-28.
vv.
14-18 The Joseph tribes demand and receive a double portion.
The
double portion is reduced somewhat in the tribal allocation seen in Revelation
chapter 7 at the return of the Messiah, where Dan is combined with Ephraim to
form the new Joseph and Manasseh received a full portion. This was so Levi can
take its potion among the tribes under the resurrected Apostles with the
Messiah. Dan and Ephraim’s portions under the great Multitude do not appear
limited. Dan also inherits the justice system as part of the Nation of Israel
(Gen. 49:16). As that has not happened to date it must also be from the
beginning of the Millennium at the return of the Messiah. Scripture cannot be
broken (Jn. 10: 34-36).
Chapter 18
Division of the Rest of the Land
Joshua 18:1-27 Then the whole
congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh, and set up the tent
of meeting there; the land lay subdued before them. 2There remained
among the people of Israel seven tribes whose inheritance had not yet been
apportioned. 3So Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long
will you be slack to go in and take possession of the land, which the LORD, the
God of your fathers, has given you? 4Provide three men from each
tribe, and I will send them out that they may set out and go up and down the
land, writing a description of it with a view to their inheritances, and then
come to me. 5They shall divide it into seven portions, Judah
continuing in his territory on the south, and the house of Joseph in their
territory on the north 6And you shall describe the land in seven
divisions and bring the description here to me; and I will cast lots for you
here before the LORD our God. 7The Levites have no portion among
you, for the priesthood of the LORD is their heritage; and Gad and Reuben and
half the tribe of Manas'seh have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan
eastward, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them." 8So
the men started on their way; and Joshua charged those who went to write the
description of the land, saying, "Go up and down and write a description
of the land, and come again to me; and I will cast lots for you here before the
LORD in Shiloh." 9 So the men went and passed up and down in
the land and set down in a book a description of it by towns in seven
divisions; then they came to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh, 10and
Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD; and there Joshua
apportioned the land to the people of Israel, to each his portion. 11The
lot of the tribe of Benjamin according to its families came up, and the
territory allotted to it fell between the tribe of Judah and the tribe of
Joseph. 12On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan; then
the boundary goes up to the shoulder north of Jericho, then up through the hill
country westward; and it ends at the wilderness of Beth-a'ven. 13From
there the boundary passes along southward in the direction of Luz, to the
shoulder of Luz (the same is Bethel), then the boundary goes down to
At'aroth-ad'dar, upon the mountain that lies south of Lower Beth-hor'on. 14Then
the boundary goes in another direction, turning on the western side southward
from the mountain that lies to the south, opposite Beth-hor'on, and it ends at
Kir'iath-ba'al (that is, Kir'iath-je'arim), a city belonging to the tribe of
Judah. This forms the western side. 15And the southern side begins
at the outskirts of Kir'iath-je'arim; and the boundary goes from there to
Ephron, to the spring of the Waters of Nephto'ah; 16then the
boundary goes down to the border of the mountain that overlooks the valley of
the son of Hinnom, which is at the north end of the valley of Reph'aim; and it
then goes down the valley of Hinnom, south of the shoulder of the Jeb'usites,
and downward to En-rogel; 17then it bends in a northerly direction
going on to En-she'mesh, and thence goes to Geli'loth, which is opposite the
ascent of Adum'mim; then it goes down to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben; 18and
passing on to the north of the shoulder of Beth-arabah it goes down to the
Arabah; 19then the boundary passes on to the north of the shoulder
of Beth-hoglah; and the boundary ends at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at
the south end of the Jordan: this is the southern border. 20The
Jordan forms its boundary on the eastern side. This is the inheritance of the
tribe of Benjamin, according to its families, boundary by boundary round about.
21Now the cities of the tribe of Benjamin according to their
families were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-ke'ziz, 22Beth-arabah,
Zemara'im, Bethel, 23Avvim, Parah, Ophrah, 24Che'phar-am'moni,
Ophni, Geba--twelve cities with their villages: 25Gibeon, Ramah,
Be-er'oth, 26Mizpeh, Chephi'rah, Mozah, 27Rekem, Irpeel,
Tar'alah, 28Zela, Ha-eleph, Jebus (that is, Jerusalem), Gib'e-ah and
Kir'iath-je'arim--fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance
of the tribe of Benjamin according to its families.
18:1-19-51
Territories
assigned to the other tribes.
18:1-10 General Introduction
v. 1 Shiloh - Located in the central highlands; it was the
principal Israelite sanctuary in early days (Judges 18:31; 1Sam. 4:3-4).
18:11-28 The territory of Benjamin.
This allocation between the tribes of Joseph and
Judah explains the proximity of Benjamin to Judah and why so many of Benjamin
remained with Judah after the captivity and some were dispersed with Israel.
Note that Jerusalem is actually the right and
territory of Benjamin.
Chapter 19
Allotment for Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali,
and Dan
Joshua 19:1-51 The second lot
came out for Simeon, for the tribe of Simeon, according to its families; and
its inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah. 2And
it had for its inheritance Beer-sheba, Sheba, Mola'dah, 3Hazar-shu'al,
Balah, Ezem, 4Elto'lad, Bethul, Hormah, 5Ziklag,
Beth-mar'caboth, Ha'zar-su'sah, 6Beth-leba'oth, and
Sharu'hen--thirteen cities with their villages; 7En-rimmon, Ether,
and Ashan--four cities with their villages; 8together with all the
villages round about these cities as far as Ba'alath-beer, Ramah of the Negeb.
This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon according to its families. 9The
inheritance of the tribe of Simeon formed part of the territory of Judah;
because the portion of the tribe of Judah was too large for them, the tribe of
Simeon obtained an inheritance in the midst of their inheritance. 10The third lot came up for the tribe
of Zeb'ulun, according to its families. And the territory of its inheritance
reached as far as Sarid; 11then its boundary goes up westward, and
on to Mar'eal, and touches Dab'besheth, then the brook which is east of
Jok'ne-am; 12from Sarid it goes in the other direction eastward
toward the sunrise to the boundary of Chis'loth-ta'bor; thence it goes to
Dab'erath, then up to Japhi'a; 13from there it passes along on the
east toward the sunrise to Gath-hepher, to Eth-kazin, and going on to Rimmon it
bends toward Ne'ah; 14then on the north the boundary turns about to
Han'nathon, and it ends at the valley of Iph'tahel; 15and Kattath,
Nahal'al, Shimron, I'dalah, and Bethlehem--twelve cities with their villages. 16This
is the inheritance of the tribe of Zeb'ulun, according to its families--these
cities with their villages. 17The fourth lot came out for Is'sachar,
for the tribe of Is'sachar, according to its families. 18Its
territory included Jezreel, Chesul'loth, Shunem, 19Haph'ara-im,
Shion, Ana'harath, 20Rabbith, Kish'ion, Ebez, 21Remeth,
En-gan'nim, En-had'dah, Beth-paz'zez; 22the boundary also touches
Tabor, Shahazu'mah, and Beth-she'mesh, and its boundary ends at the
Jordan--sixteen cities with their villages. 23This is the
inheritance of the tribe of Is'sachar, according to its families--the cities
with their villages. 24the fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher
according to its families. 25Its territory included Helkath, Hali,
Beten, Ach'shaph, 26Allam'melech, Amad, and Mishal; on the west it touches
Carmel and Shihor-lib'nath, 27then it turns eastward, it goes to
Beth-dagon, and touches Zeb'ulun and the valley of Iph'tahel northward to
Beth-emek and Nei'el; then it continues in the north to Cabul, 28Ebron,
Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, as far as Sidon the Great; 29then the boundary
turns to Ramah, reaching to the fortified city of Tyre; then the boundary turns
to Hosah, and it ends at the sea; Mahalab, Achzib, 30Ummah, Aphek
and Rehob--twenty-two cities with their villages. 31This is the
inheritance of the tribe of Asher according to its families--these cities with
their villages. 32The sixth lot came out for the tribe of Naph'tali,
for the tribe of Naph'tali, according to its families. 33And its
boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak in Za-anan'nim, and Ad'ami-nekeb, and
Jabneel, as far as Lakkum; and it ended at the Jordan; 34then the
boundary turns westward to Az'noth-tabor, and goes from there to Hukkok,
touching Zeb'ulun at the south, and Asher on the west, and Judah on the east at
the Jordan. 35The fortified cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath,
Rakkath, Chin'nereth, 36Ad'amah, Ramah, Hazor, 37Kedesh,
Ed're-i, En-ha'zor, 38Yiron, Mig'dal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and
Beth-she'mesh--nineteen cities with their villages. 39This is the
inheritance of the tribe of Naph'tali according to its families--the cities
with their villages. 40The seventh lot came out for the tribe of
Dan, according to its families. 41And the territory of its
inheritance included Zorah, Esh'ta-ol, Ir-she'mesh, 42Sha-alab'bin,
Ai'jalon, Ithlah, 43Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44El'tekeh,
Gib'bethon, Ba'alath, 45Jehud, Bene-be'rak, Gath-rim'mon, 46and
Me-jar'kon and Rakkon with the territory over against Joppa. 47When
the territory of the Danites was lost to them, the Danites went up and fought
against Leshem, and after capturing it and putting it to the sword they took
possession of it and settled in it, calling Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan
their ancestor. 48This is the inheritance of the tribe of Dan,
according to their families--these cities with their villages.49When
they had finished distributing the several territories of the land as
inheritances, the people of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the
son of Nun. 50By command of the LORD they gave him the city which he
asked, Tim'nath-se'rah in the hill country of E'phraim; and he rebuilt the
city, and settled in it. 51These are the inheritances which Elea'zar
the priest and Joshua the son of Nun and the heads of the fathers' houses of
the tribes of the people of Israel distributed by lot at Shiloh before the
LORD, at the door of the tent of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
19:1-9 The territory of Simeon located within Judah
(v. 9).
19:10-48 The territories of the Galilee tribes.
vv. 10-16 Territory of Zebulun.
vv. 17-23 Territory of Issachar
vv. 24-31 Territory of Asher
vv. 32-39 Territory of Naphtali
vv. 40-48 Territory of Dan
Dan never subjugated all these lands in the South (vv.
41-46). It was soon forced to migrate north to the region of Leshem (Laish, Jdg.
18-27).
vv. 49-51
Conclusion of the distribution of land to the tribes.
Dan also was relocated and had a split division. Also
it became a seafaring power and dwelt in the isles “far off.” These, and the
aspects below, are also discussed in the Commentary on Jeremiah and in No. 212F. So also
the birthright of Issachar and Zebulun in Genesis 48 show that they had the
benefits accruing from a maritime inheritance which they did not have here.
The restoration of Israel and Judah in the last days
is revealed through the prophet Habakkuk (F035).
*****
Bullinger’s Notes
on Chapters 16-19 (for KJV)
Chapter 16
Verse 1
the lot. See note on Joshua
14:1 .
children = sons.
fell = came forth, i.e. from the bag behind the
High Priest's breastplate, the Thummim meaning "Yes". See notes
on Exodus
28:30 and Numbers
26:55 .
Verse 2
Beth-el to Lux, Compare Genesis
28:19 and Judges
1:26 , the "Mount" Beth-el of Joshua
16:1 .
of Archi = the Archite. Compare 2Sa 16:32 ; 2
Samuel 16:16 .
Verse 5
the border, or boundary. Note the Figure of speech
Topographia ( App-6 ). in Joshua
16:5 and Joshua
16:6 .
was thus = turned out to be.
Verse 10
drave not out . . . Gezer. Gross disobedience to
the repeated command of Jehovah. Compare Exodus
23:31 .Deuteronomy
7:2 , Ac. See note on, Kings Joshua
9:16 , Joshua
9:17 .
Chapter 17
Verse 1
a lot = the lot. Compare Joshua
16:1 , above.
firstborn of Joseph. Genesis
41:51 ; Genesis
46:20 ; Genesis
50:23 . Nah 32:39 .
man = Hebrew. ish .
App-14 .
Verse 2
children = sons.
Verse 3
Zelophehad. Compare Numbers
26:33 ; Numbers
27:1 ; Numbers
36:2 .
but = but [only]: or "but [he had]".
Milcah. Some codices, with three early printed
editions, Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and Milcah".
Verse 4
Eleaear the priest. His presence necessary for the casting of
lots, with the Urim and Thummim. See notes on Exodus
28:30 and Numbers
26:55 .
The LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah .
App-4 .
Moses. Some codices, with three early printed
editions, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "by the hand of Moses":
"hand" being put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of
Cause), for what is done by it ( App-6 ).
Verse 5
there fell : i.e. by lot. Compare Joshua
17:1 , and note.
Verse 9
outgoings = utmost limits. English idiom.
Verse 11
towns Hebrew daughters. Figure of speech Prosopopoeia (
App-6 ) = villages.
Verse 12
could not drive out. Compare Joshua
15:63 ; Joshua
16:10 ; and see Exodus
23:31 .Deuteronomy
7:2 , &c.
Verse 14
children of Joseph = sons of Joseph, i.e. Manasseh. Note
their selfishness, so well reproved by Joshua (verses: Joshua
17:15-18 ), who was of that tribe himself.
portion. Hebrew "line", put by Figure of
speech Metonymy (of Cause), for the
territory marked out by it ( App-6 ).
forasmuch = to such a degree.
Verse 18
cut down = carve out, or create as in Genesis
1:1 .
giants . Hebrew. Rephaim .
See note on Numbers
13:22 .Deuteronomy
1:28 , and App-23 and App-25 .
Chapter 18
Verse 1
children = sons.
Shiloh = tranqaillity or rest. Compare Genesis
49:10 ; eight times in this book. See Joshua
18:1 , Joshua
18:8 , Joshua
18:9 , Joshua
18:10 ; Joshua
19:51 ; Joshua
21:2 ; Joshua
22:9 , Joshua
22:12 . See note on Judges
18:31 .
tabernacle . Hebrew 'ohel' = tent ( App-40 ). It
remained here (Judges
21:12 . 1
Samuel 1:3 ; 1
Samuel 3:3 ) till the Philistines took the ark (1
Samuel 4:11 ). In the days of Saul
it was at Nob (of Benjamin, 1
Samuel 21:1 ; 1
Samuel 22:19 ), and at Gibson at beginning of Solomon's
reign (1
Kings 3:5 . 2
Chronicles 1:3 ). Compare Psalms
78:60 , Psalms
78:67 , Psalms
78:68 . Jeremiah
7:12 .
Verse 3
the LORD, God = Jehovah Elohhm App-4 .
Verse 4
men. Hebrew, plural of ish
or enosh. App-14 .
go through = walk to and fro.
Verse 5
divide it. Tracing the boundaries by the ravines, it
is said that there is some resemblance in outline to the tribal signs, as given
in notes on Numbers
2:0 .
coast = boundary; put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of
Adjunct) for territory. App-6 .
Verse 6
describe = map out.
the description. The Figure of speech Ellipsis (
App-6 ) here may be filled in by saying "the surveys or maps".
Moses the servant of the LORD See note on first
occurrence, Deuteronomy
34:5 .
Verse 8
walk. See note
on "go", Joshua
18:4 .
Verse 9
in a book. See note on Exodus
17:14 and App-47 .
Verse 10
Joshua cast lots. He directing Eleazar the priest, without
whom no lot could be cast. See note on Exodus
28:30 . Numbers
26:55 .
according to, Some codices, with five early printed
editions, read "in their portions".
Verse 11
came forth. i.e. from the bag containing the Urim and
Thummim, See note on Exodus
28:30 . Numbers
26:55 .
Verse 12
mountains = hill country.
Verse 16
giants. Hebrew. Rephaim. See
note on Numbers
13:22 .Deuteronomy
1:28 . Also App-23 and App-25 .
Verse 18
Arabah. See note on Deuteronomy
1:1 .
Chapter 19
Verse 1
lot came
forth . See note on Exodus
28:30 . Numbers
26:55 .
children. Hebrew sons.
Verse 10
came up. i.e. out of the bag.
See Joshua
19:1 .
Verse 16
the
children of Zebulun = the sons of Zebulun. Some codices, with Septuagint and Vulgate,
read "the tribe of the sons of Zebulun".
Verse 17
came out. See note on Joshua
19:1 and Joshua
19:10 .
Verse 22
coast = boundary.
Verse 33
outgoings = utmost limits.
Verse 35
Chinnereth. In New Testament
called Gennesareth. Compare Numbers
34:11 .Deuteronomy
8:17 . Deuteronomy
11:2 ; Deu 13:27 .
Verse 50
word. Hebrew = mouth. Put
by Figure of speech Metonymy (of
Cause) for what is spoken by it. App-6 .
the Lord Hebrew. Jehovah .
App-4 .
built = rebuilt.
Verse 51
Shiloh. See note on 18. i.
tabernacle = tent. See App-40 .
q