44 And Keilah, H7084 and Achzib, H392 and Mareshah; H4762 nine H8672 cities H5892 with their villages: H2691
And she yet again conceived, H3254 and bare H3205 a son; H1121 and called H7121 his name H8034 Shelah: H7956 and he was at Chezib, H3580 when she bare H3205 him.
Then they told H5046 David, H1732 saying, H559 Behold, the Philistines H6430 fight H3898 against Keilah, H7084 and they rob H8154 the threshingfloors. H1637 Therefore David H1732 enquired H7592 of the LORD, H3068 saying, H559 Shall I go H3212 and smite H5221 these Philistines? H6430 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto David, H1732 Go, H3212 and smite H5221 the Philistines, H6430 and save H3467 Keilah. H7084 And David's H1732 men H582 said H559 unto him, Behold, we be afraid H3373 here in Judah: H3063 how much more then if we come H3212 to Keilah H7084 against the armies H4634 of the Philistines? H6430 Then David H1732 enquired H7592 of the LORD H3068 yet again. H3254 And the LORD H3068 answered H6030 him and said, H559 Arise, H6965 go down H3381 to Keilah; H7084 for I will deliver H5414 the Philistines H6430 into thine hand. H3027 So David H1732 and his men H582 went H3212 to Keilah, H7084 and fought H3898 with the Philistines, H6430 and brought away H5090 their cattle, H4735 and smote H5221 them with a great H1419 slaughter. H4347 So David H1732 saved H3467 the inhabitants H3427 of Keilah. H7084 And it came to pass, when Abiathar H54 the son H1121 of Ahimelech H288 fled H1272 to David H1732 to Keilah, H7084 that he came down H3381 with an ephod H646 in his hand. H3027 And it was told H5046 Saul H7586 that David H1732 was come H935 to Keilah. H7084 And Saul H7586 said, H559 God H430 hath delivered H5234 him into mine hand; H3027 for he is shut in, H5462 by entering H935 into a town H5892 that hath gates H1817 and bars. H1280 And Saul H7586 called H8085 all the people H5971 together H8085 to war, H4421 to go down H3381 to Keilah, H7084 to besiege H6696 David H1732 and his men. H582 And David H1732 knew H3045 that Saul H7586 secretly practised H2790 mischief H7451 against him; and he said H559 to Abiathar H54 the priest, H3548 Bring hither H5066 the ephod. H646 Then said H559 David, H1732 O LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 thy servant H5650 hath certainly H8085 heard H8085 that Saul H7586 seeketh H1245 to come H935 to Keilah, H7084 to destroy H7843 the city H5892 for my sake. Will the men H1167 of Keilah H7084 deliver me up H5462 into his hand? H3027 will Saul H7586 come down, H3381 as thy servant H5650 hath heard? H8085 O LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel, H3478 I beseech thee, tell H5046 thy servant. H5650 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 He will come down. H3381 Then said H559 David, H1732 Will the men H1167 of Keilah H7084 deliver H5462 me and my men H582 into the hand H3027 of Saul? H7586 And the LORD H3068 said, H559 They will deliver thee up. H5462 Then David H1732 and his men, H582 which were about six H8337 hundred, H3967 H376 arose H6965 and departed H3318 out of Keilah, H7084 and went H1980 whithersoever H834 they could go. H1980 And it was told H5046 Saul H7586 that David H1732 was escaped H4422 from Keilah; H7084 and he forbare H2308 to go forth. H3318 And David H1732 abode H3427 in the wilderness H4057 in strong holds, H4679 and remained H3427 in a mountain H2022 in the wilderness H4057 of Ziph. H2128 And Saul H7586 sought H1245 him every day, H3117 but God H430 delivered H5414 him not into his hand. H3027
Therefore shalt thou give H5414 presents H7964 to Moreshethgath: H4182 the houses H1004 of Achzib H392 shall be a lie H391 to the kings H4428 of Israel. H3478 Yet will I bring H935 an heir H3423 unto thee, O inhabitant H3427 of Mareshah: H4762 he shall come H935 unto Adullam H5725 the glory H3519 of Israel. H3478
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 15
Commentary on Joshua 15 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 15
Jos 15:1-12. Borders of the Lot of Judah.
1. This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah—In what manner the lot was drawn on this occasion the sacred historian does not say; but it is probable that the method adopted was similar to that described in Jos 18:10. Though the general survey of the country had not been completed, some rough draft or delineation of the first conquered part must have been made, and satisfactory evidence obtained that it was large enough to furnish three cantons, before all the tribes cast lots for them; and they fell to Judah, Ephraim, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The lot of Judah came first, in token of the pre-eminence of that tribe over all the others; and its destined superiority thus received the visible sanction of God. The territory, assigned to it as a possession, was large and extensive, being bounded on the south by the wilderness of Zin, and the southern extremity of the Salt Sea (Nu 34:3-5); on the east, by that sea, extending to the point where it receives the waters of the Jordan; on the north, by a line drawn nearly parallel to Jerusalem, across the country, from the northern extremity of the Salt Sea to the southern limits of the Philistine territory, and to the Mediterranean; and on the west this sea was its boundary, as far as Sihor (Wady El-Arish).
2. the bay—Hebrew, "tongue." It pushes its waters out in this form to a great distance [Robinson].
3. Maaleh-akrabbim—Hebrew, "the ascent of scorpions"; a pass in the "bald mountain" (see on Jos 11:17), probably much infested by these venomous reptiles.
5. the end—that is, the mouth of the Jordan.
6. Beth-hogla—now Ain Hajla, a fine spring of clear and sweet water, at the northern extremity of the Dead Sea, about two miles from the Jordan [Robinson].
Beth-arabah—"the house," or "place of solitude," in the desert of Judah (Jos 15:61).
stone of Bohan the son of Reuben—the sepulchral monument of a Reubenite leader, who had been distinguished for his bravery, and had fallen in the Canaanite war.
7. Achor—(see on Jos 7:26).
Adummim—a rising ground in the wilderness of Jericho, on the south of the little brook that flowed near Jericho (Jos 16:1).
En-shemesh—"the fountain of the sun"; "either the present well of the apostle, below Bethany, on the road to Jericho, or the fountain near to St. Saba" [Robinson].
En-rogel—"the fuller's fountain," on the southeast of Jerusalem, below the spot where the valleys of Jehoshaphat and Hinnom unite.
Jos 15:13-15. Caleb's Portion and Conquest.
13. unto Caleb he gave a part among the children of Judah—(See on Jos 14:6).
14. drove thence the three sons of Anak—rather three chiefs of the Anakim race. This exploit is recorded to the honor of Caleb, as the success of it was the reward of his trust in God.
15. Debir—"oracle." Its former name, Kirjath-sepher, signifies "city of the book," being probably a place where public registers were kept.
Jos 15:16-20. Othniel, for His Valor, Has Achsah to Wife.
16-20. He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher—This offer was made as an incentive to youthful bravery (see on 1Sa 17:25); and the prize was won by Othniel, Caleb's younger brother (Jud 1:13; 3:9). This was the occasion of drawing out the latent energies of him who was destined to be the first judge in Israel.
18, 19. as she came unto him—that is, when about to remove from her father's to her husband's house. She suddenly alighted from her travelling equipage—a mark of respect to her father, and a sign of making some request. She had urged Othniel to broach the matter, but he not wishing to do what appeared like evincing a grasping disposition, she resolved herself to speak out. Taking advantage of the parting scene when a parent's heart was likely to be tender, she begged (as her marriage portion consisted of a field which, having a southern exposure, was comparatively an arid and barren waste) he would add the adjoining one, which abounded in excellent springs. The request being reasonable, it was granted; and the story conveys this important lesson in religion, that if earthly parents are ready to bestow on their children that which is good, much more will our heavenly Father give every necessary blessing to them who ask Him.
Jos 15:21-63. Cities of Judah.
21-63. the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah—There is given a list of cities within the tribal territory of Judah, arranged in four divisions, corresponding to the districts of which it consisted—the cities in the southern part (Jos 15:21-32), those in the lowlands (Jos 15:33-47), those in the highlands (Jos 15:48-60), and those in the desert (Jos 15:61, 62). One gets the best idea of the relative situation of these cities by looking at the map.