Jos 15: "The record lists the towns of conquest and the
borders of the Land inherited by Israel. Many of these towns became famous in
the history of Israel. Some faded into insignificance, so that their locations
are not even known. So the ch reveals: [1] Judah's borders: vv 1-12. [2] Caleb's
portion: vv 13-15. [3] Othniel takes Debir: vv 16-19. [4] Southern Division of
Judah: vv 20-47. [5] Eastern Districts of Judea: vv 48-62. Such an inheritance
must have been exciting to Joshua and his associates, as they located each area
of conquest, and determined the means of overcoming. Antitypically, it presents
the joy of the multitudinous Christ as the conquest of the nations is
undertaken, and the victory of faith is achieved" (GEM).
Jos 15: "Judah was the imperial tribe, and it was fitting that
he should be planted in a conspicuous territory. Even if the republic had not
been destined to give place to the monarchy, some preeminence was due to the
tribe which had inherited the patriarchal blessing, and from which he was to
come in whom all the families of the earth were to be blessed. Judah and the
sons of Joseph seem to have obtained their settlements not only before the other
tribes, but in a different manner. They did not obtain them by lot, but
apparently by their own choice and by early possession. Judah was not planted in
the heart of the country. That position was gained by Ephraim and Manasseh, the
children of Joseph, while Judah obtained the southern section. In this position
his influence was not so commanding at first as it would have been had he
occupied the centre. The portion taken possession of by Judah had belonged to
the first batch of kings that Joshua subdued, the kings that came up to take
vengeance on the Gibeonites. What was first assigned to Judah was too large, and
the tribe of Simeon got accommodation within his lot (Jos 19:9). Dan also
obtained several cities that had first been given to Judah (cp Jos 15:21-62;
19:40-46). In point of fact, Judah ere long swallowed up a great part of Simeon
and Dan, and Benjamin was so hemmed in between him and Ephraim that, while
Jerusalem was situated within the limits of Benjamin, it was, for all practical
purposes, a city of Judah" (EB).
Jos 15:7
ADUMMIM: Rt "red" or "blood", becs of red clay and
stone along the way from Jerusalem to Jericho. [Also, later, because of bandits
that predominate along the path -- as in Christ's parable of good Samaritan (Luk
10:30). It is said that some construction workers from Herod's Temple -- being
laid off with no other jobs to go to -- set up shop as bandits on the Way of
Blood]
Jos 15:8
VALLEY OF REPHAIM: Consistently translated in NIV. AV
has "valley of the giants" (Jos 15:18; 17:15; 18:16) or "valley of the Rephaim"
(2Sa 5:18,22,23; 1Ch 11:15; 19:9; Isa 17:5).
Jos 15:15
Cp v 49: This city belonged to Simeon (Jos 21:15). Apparently
a "university" for training scribes: Significance of names: "Debir" = word;
"K-sepher" = town of books or scrolls; "K-sannah" = town of instruction (Enj
159).
KIRJATH-SEPHER: The city of the "scroll" was "sealed
up", and no man could open it! Cp Rev 5:5; Gen 22:17,18.
Jos 15:19
GIVE ME ALSO SPRINGS OF WATER: Cp Joh 4:15: "Give me
this water, that I thirst not."
Jos 15:63
TO THIS DAY: Thus the Book was written before David's
reign (2Sa 5).