their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

:

(10) And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid: (11) and their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam; (12) and turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chisloth-tabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia, (13) and from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittah-hepher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon1 methoar to Neah; (14) and the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el: (15) and Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-lehem: twelve

conquest of Canaan by Joshua, and shows that when his work was done, something was still left for the individual tribes to do.

THE BORDER of Zebulun.

(10) The third lot. . . for the children of Zebulun... Sarid (Syriac, Asdod; LXX., Seddouk) should be apparently spelt with consonants S, D, D. It is identified as Tell Shadûd (sheet viii.). From this point a line is drawn westward (past M'alûl, sheet v.) to Jokneam (Tell Keimun, same sheet), a place at the south-east end of the Carmel ridge. This is the south boundary. We may note that it does not touch the sea, but leaves room for the territory of Asher to interpose (comp. chap. xvii. 10, 11). Returning to Sarid, the boundary is next (verse 12) drawn eastward to Chisloth-tabor (Iksâl, sheet vi.), Daberath (Dabûrieh, sheet vi.), Japhia (Yâfa, sheet v.), Gittah-hepher (El-Mesh-hed, sheet vi.).

(12) And goeth up to Japhia.-Better, and had gone up to Japhia, which lies west of the two places previously named. Daberath is the south-east boundary. El-Mesh-hed lies north of this.

(13) Remmon-methoar to Neah.-Better, Remmon that stretcheth to Neah. Remmon is identified as Rummaneh, due north of Gittah-hepher (sheet vi.).

(14) Hannathon (Kefr-'Anân, sheet ix.) is the northeast corner of the boundary. The valley (ravine) of Jiphthah-el (God's opening) seems to be the gorge running south-west from the north of Haunathon towards the plain.

(15) Nahallal.—(’Ain Mahil, sheet vi.). Shimron.-(Simûmich, west of Nazareth, sheet v.). Idalah.-(El Huwarah, a ruin just south of Bethlehem, sheet v.).

Beth-lehem.-(Beit- Lahm, sheet v.). It seems right to refer Ibzan of Bethlehem (Judges xii. 8, 10) to this town. The other Bethlehem is called in Judges and Ruth, Bethlehem-Judah; and in Micah, Bethlehem-Ephratah (Judges xvii. 7, xix. 1; Ruth i. 1; Micah v. 2). Bethlehem-Judah is designated Bethlehem only when it is impossible to mistake it

is

The Lot of Issachar.

(16) This is

cities with their villages. the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.

(17) And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families. (18) And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem, (19) and Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath, (20) and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez, (21) and Remeth, and En-gannim, and En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez; (22) and the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages. (23) This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.

(24) And the fifth lot came out for the

for Bethlehem of Zebulun (e.g., Ruth i. 19, and 1 Sam. xvi. 4).

Twelve cities.-Ittah-kazin, Neah, Dabbasheth, and Kattath have not been identified, and they may not all be names of towns.

(17) The fourth lot to Issachar.-These two tribes were located next to the house of Joseph on the north. It should be remembered that Issachar and Zebulun had been associated with Judah to form the same camp and division of the army in the wilderness. This association, lasting forty years, must have created many ties between these two tribes and their leader Judah. It was no ordinary wisdom that placed the descendants of Rachel (Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh) between Judah on the south and Judah's two associates on the north-to cement the union of all Israel, and as far as possible to prevent discord.

With regard to Judah and Zebulun, it is noticeable that we find their union reproduced in the earthly history of our Lord. Mary, who was of the house of David, and Joseph of the same lineage, are found dwelling in Nazareth, in the tribe of Zebulun. Thus the north and the south alike had "part in David," and inheritance in David's Son. There is a Bethlehem (verse 15) in Zebulun as well as in Judah. The name

is not found in any other tribe.

(18) Zerin (sheet viii.), Iksal (sheet vi.), Sûlem (sheet

tribe of the children of Asher according to their families. (25) And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph, (26) and Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath; (27) and turneth toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el toward the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand, (28) and Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon; (29) and then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city 1Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib: (30) Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages. (31) This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.

the exodus, and with him had encamped on the north side of the tabernacle, and had brought up the rear. These two, each dissociated from his own brother (viz., Asher from Gad and Naphtali from Dan), are paired together in their inheritance in Palestine (comp. Naphtali and Manasseh in Rev. vii., and see Names on the Gates of Pearl, pp. 199, 200). The tribe of Asher was more akin to the house of Judah, for Zilpah, the mother of Asher, was Leah's handmaid; and the tribe of Naphtali to the house of Joseph, for Bilhah, Naphtali's mother, was Rachel's handmaid. But in all cases the lot of the inheritance of the tribe seems to have fallen in such a way as to favour the construction of a united Israel-a Dodecaphulon, to use St. Paul's word-an organised body of twelve tribes.

(25) Their border. The border of Asher on the west is the Mediterranean. On the east of Asher lies the tribe of Naphtali, but most of the towns named in these verses lie well within the territory of Asher. The northern end of the territory of this tribe lies beyond the limits of the Ordnance Survey, for it reaches "unto great Zidon " (verse 28). The southern boundary is said to be Carmel (verse 26), but no town is identified south of Cabul (Kabul, south-east of Akkah, sheet v.). The towns identified are as follows:

(25) El B'aneh, El-Yasif or Kefr Yasif (sheet iii.). (26) Khurbet-el-Amûd, and M'aisleh (? Kh.-Muslih) (sheet iii.).

Shihor-libnath (river of glass), the river Belus (sheet v.).

(27) Beth-dagon (Tell-'Daûk), near the mouth of the Belus.

Neiel.-(Y'Arûn, sheet v.).

Cabul.-(Kabul, south-east of Akkah, sheet v.). (28) Hebron.-(Abdon, Kh.-Abdeh, sheet iii.). Hammon (El Hama, sheet iii.).

Kanah (south-east of Tyre, sheet i.).

(29) Tyre. (es-Sûr, sheet i.). Hosah ('Ozziyeh, sheet i.). Achzib (es-Zib, sheet iii., on the coast). (See

and of Naphtali.

(32) The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. (33) And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan: (34) and then the coast turneth westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising. (35) And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, (36) and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, (37) and Kedesh, and Edrei, and En-hazor, (38) and Iron, and Migdal-el, Horem, and Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh; nineteen cities with their villages. (39) This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.

Josh. xv. 44 for another place of same name.) Ummah (Kh.-Almah, north of Achzib).

(33) And their coast was -This verse is thus translated by Conder, "Their coast was from Heleph and the Plain of Bitzanannim and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum, and the outgoings were at Jordan."

The east border of the tribe is Jordan, including the waters of Merom and the Sea of Galilee. The tribe of Issachar on the south, and the tribes of Zebulun and Asher on the west, are conterminous with Naphtali. The places mentioned are identified as follows:Heleph.-(Beit Lif, sheet iv.). The plain of Bitzanannim (Kh.-Bessum, sheet vi.). Adami (Kh.Admah, sheet ix.): this is the southernmost of all the towns named. Nekeb (Kh.-Seiyâdeh, sheet vi.). Jabneel (Yemma, sheet v.). All the above places, except Heleph, lie near the Sea of Galilee, on the south-west side.

(34) Hukkok (Yakûk, sheet vi.), in the same region as the above, but a little further north, near the northeast boundary of Zebulun. Of Judah upon Jordan we can say nothing with certainty.

(35) The fenced cities.-Observe the protection of the northern border by fortresses. Ziddim (Hattin), Hammath (Hammâm Tabarîya), Rakkath (Tiberias), and Chinnereth (not identified, but giving a name to the Sea of Galilee, and therefore evidently close by), are all in sheet vi., near the lake.

(36, 37) Adamah (Ed-Dâmeh, ? Daimah, sheet vi.), Ramah (Rameh), Hazor (Hadîreh), Kedesh (Kades), Edrei (Y'ater), En-hazor (Hazireh), and Iron (Y'arûm), are all in sheet iv., north of the above. The town of Hazor has been variously identified by previous writers, but Conder expresses no doubt as to its being Hadireh, which certainly occupies a commanding position above a stream that flows into Lake Merom.

(38) Migdal-el and Horem are identified as Kh.Mujeidil and Hârah on sheet ii., further north again; and Beth-anath as 'Ainatha (sheet iv.).

(40) The seventh lot... of the children of Dan.-Dan was the most numerous tribe, next to Judah, in each census taken during the exodus. (See Num. i. and xxvi.) This tribe had also had a post of honour in being commander of the rear-guard during the march. A similar post is here assigned to Dan in Palestine, viz., next to Judah, on the side of the Philistine territory. The Philistines were the most powerful and warlike of the unconquered nations of Palestine. The wisdom of guarding Israel on their frontier by the two strongest of the tribes is manifest. It was Samson, a Danite, who began to deliver Israel from them, and David completed the work. Though there were Philistine wars in the time of the later kings, they never had dominion over Israel after David's time.

(41) And the coast . . .-Zorah and Eshtaol, in the tribe of Dan, had been originally assigned to Judah (chap. xv. 33); so also Ekron. But it is not clear whether they are mentioned here as marking the border of Dan and Judah, or actually in the territory of the former. However, Dan is wedged in, as it were, between the powerful tribes of Judah and Ephraim, the unconquered Philistines, and the sea. It is not surprising that their coast "went out from them " (verse 47) when it was partly unconquered, partly taken from other tribes in the first instance. Conder says it was carved out of the country of Ephraim.

(41-46) All the towns mentioned here are identified by Conder.

Thimnathah (Ruin) Tibneh} Sheet xiv.

Ekron (Akir, sheet (Gibbethon-(Kibbiah, sheet xiv.)

xvi.)

Baalath-(Belain, sheet xiv.)

Jehud-El-Yehudiyeh

Bene-berak-Ibn Ibrak } Sheet xiii.

For Gath-rimmon, Conder suggests Gath; but this he identifies with Tell-es-Safi, which is well within the territory of Judah (to the south of sheet xvi.).

Me-jarkon," the yellow water," is thought to be the river 'Aujeh (sheet xiii.), and Rakkon, Tell-er-Rakkeit, to the north of the mouth of it. Japho is Jaffa, on the same sheet.

(47) And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them.-The words "too

They Take Leshem.

a

went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, " Dan, after the name of Dan their father. (48) This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.

(49) When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: (50) according to the word of the LORD they gave him the

little are not in the original; and it seems better to translate literally: And the coast of the children of Dan went out from them-i.e., their territory was partly re-conquered by the Philistines. Something similar seems to have occurred in several districts of the country. The Israelites not taking advantage of the impression produced by Joshua's great victories to occupy the territory assigned to them, the nations of Canaan re-possessed themselves of their former abodes, and held them against Israel. The Philistines are expressly said to have been left to prove Israel. Joshua was not permitted to exterminate them. And although Dan and Judah, numerically the two strongest of all the tribes (both in the census in the plains of Moab and at Sinai), were placed next to the Philistines, and had the task of conquering that nation assigned to them, still it was not effected. We read in Judges i., "The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountains, for they would not suffer them to come down into the valley.”

Hence the Danites, instead of attacking the Philistines and Amorites in their inheritance, preferred to form a new settlement in the north, and put to the sword" a people quiet and secure," who "had no deliverer," rather than "run with patience the race set before them." They were not minded to resist unto blood, striving against their foes. (See the narrative in Judges xviii., especially verses 27 and 28.)

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(49, 50) When they had made an end... gave an inheritance to Joshua. according to the word of the Lord they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim (Kefr Hâris, sheet xiv.).. Historically and typically the fact is noticeable. (a) Historically. Joshua waited for his own inheritance until the last. He sought not his own interest, but that of the people. He asked no kingdom for himself or his family, only a city, which he built, and dwelt therein. (b) Typically. They gave him the city which he asked, according to the word of the Lord." What does this mean in the case of the true Joshua ? "Ask of me, and I shall give thee the nations for thine inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy possession." He must reign till God hath put all enemies under His feet. Then, and not till then, will He take His own personal inheritance, and be subject to Him that put all things under Him. Timnath-serah means an abundant portior, a portion of abundance. Though smali, it was enough for Joshua. It will be eno-go for his Antitype, when He shall see of the travail of His soul, and be satisfica." It is afterwards called Timnath-heres, the portion of

66

city which he asked, even a Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.

(51) These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

CHAPTER XX.-(1) The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying, (2) Speak to the children of Israel, saying, "Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses :

a ch. 24.30.

19. 2.

:

Cities of Refuge.

they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime. (6) And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.

(7) And they 1appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah. (8) And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh. (9) These were the

the Sun. "His going forth is from the end of heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it, and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof."

XX.

THE INHERITANCE OF LEVI.

(a) Six cities of refuge (chap. xx.).
(b) Forty-two other cities (chap. xxi.).

(a) THE CITIES of Refuge.

(2) Appoint out for you cities of refuge.The law in Num. xxxv. appointed that the Levites should have (verse 6) six cities of refuge, and fortytwo others. This connection is not always observed, but it has an important bearing on the institution here described. The law of the cities of refuge is given in full in Num. xxxv. and Deut. xix. (See Notes on those passages.)

(6) Until the death of the high priest.-The fact is familiar, and the meaning appears to be this: Man being the image of God, all offences against the person of man are offences against his Maker, and the shedding of man's blood is the greatest of such offences. The blood defileth the land, and the land cannot be cleansed of the blood that is shed therein but by the blood of him who shed it" (Num. xxxv. 33). If, however, the man-slayer did not intend to shed the blood of his neighbour, he is not worthy of death, and the Divine mercy provides a shelter wherein he may still live without offence to the Divine Majesty. Such a shelter is the city of refuge, a city of priests or Levites, whose office was to bear the iniquity of the

Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood 43 before the congregation.

children of Israel, to shield their brethren from the danger they incurred by the dwelling of Jehovah in the midst of them, "dwelling among them in the midst of their uncleanness." Hence the man-slayer must always remain, as it were, under the shadow of the sin-bearing priest or Levite, that he might live, and not die for the innocent blood which he had unintentionally shed. But how could the death of the high priest set him free? Because the high priest was the representative of the whole nation. What the Levites were to all Israel, what the priests were to the Levites, that the high priest was to the priests, and through them to the nation: the individual sin-bearer for all. Into his hands came year by year all the iniquities of the children of Israel, and all their transgressions in all their sins," and he presented a sinoffering for all.

66

While the high priest still lived he would still be legally tainted with this load of sin, for the law provides no forgiveness for a priest. But "he that is dead is justified from sin," and at his death the load which was laid on the high priest might be held to have passed from him, for he had paid the last debt a man can pay on earth. But the high priest being justified, the sinners whom he represents are justified also, and therefore the man-slayers go free. The sentence we have often heard in the explanation of this fact, "Our High Priest can never die," is beside the mark, for if He could never die, we must always remain marked criminals, in a species of restraint. Rather let us say, He has died, having borne our sins in His own body on the tree, that we may be free to serve Him, not in guilt and dread and bondage, but in liberty and life.

The Cities of

a Num. 35. 2.

CHAPTER XXI. (1) Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel; (2) and they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, "The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle. (3) And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and 1 Heb., called. their suburbs.

(4) And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of

the Levites. families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

(8) And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.

(9) And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name, (10) which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for their's was the first lot. (11) And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. (12) But the fields of the city, and the villages

(6) And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

(7) The children of Merari by their

XXI.

(b) THE REST OF THE LEVITICAL CITIES. (2) Suburbs.-The extent of these is described in Num. xxxv. (See on that passage.)

(4-8) The order of the distribution-viz., (1) to priests, (2) to Kohathites, (3) to Gershonites, (4) to Merarites-is in strict agreement with the order of priority observed in the exodus. In the camp of Israel there were two squares surrounding the tabernacle: an inner square of priests and Levites, an outer square of the tribes of Israel, three on each side. The inner square was arranged thus:- The priests, with Moses and Aaron, on the east, by the entrance of the tabernacle; the Kohathites on the south, the Gershonites on the west, and the Merarites on the north. On the march the priests were the chief officers of this portion of the army. The Kohathites carried the sacred vessels, the Gershonites the curtains and various fabrics of the tent and tabernacle, and the Merarites the bars and boards. When they received their inheritances in Palestine, the same relative order was preserved.

INHERITANCE OF THE PRIESTS (verses 9-19). (9) Out of the tribe of Judah Simeon; and (17) out of the tribe of Benjamin.

and

Jephunneh for his possession. (13) Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs, (14) and Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs, (15) and Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs, (16) and Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Beth-shemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes. (17) And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her

(13) Hebron (El Khalil). (14) Jattir (Attir).

Eshtemoa (Es Semû’a).

(16) Juttah (Yuttah).

Beth-shemesh (Ain Shemes).

(17) Gibeon (El Jib). Geba (Jeb'a).