Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
Joshua 14
The method of dividing the land, ver. 1-5. Caleb demands
Hebron, ver. 6-12. which Joshua grants, ver. 13-15.
Verse 1. Eleazar the priest - He best understood the laws of God by
which this division was to be regulated. Heads of the fathers -
Twelve persons, each the head of his tribe, who were appointed
and named by God, Num. xxxiv, 19, and if any of them were now
dead, no doubt Joshua and Eleazar, by God's direction, put others
in their stead.
Verse 2. By lot - This course God ordained, partly to prevent
discontents, enmities and quarrels among the tribes, and partly to
demonstrate the truth and wisdom of his providence, by which
alone those parts fell to each of them, which Jacob long since, and
Moses lately, foretold; so that as a learned man saith, he must be
more stupid than stupidity, that doth not acknowledge a Divine
hand in this matter. The lot did only determine the several parts to
the several tribes, but did not precisely fix all the bounds of it;
these might be either enlarged or diminished according to the
greater or smaller number of the tribes.
Verse 4. Were two tribes - That is, had the portion of two tribes, and
therefore though Levi was excluded, there remained nine tribes
and a half, to be provided for in Canaan.
Verse 5. They - That is, the persons named, ver. 5, who acted in the
name of the children of Israel, divided it, either now, or presently
after.
Verse 6. Then - When Joshua and the rest were consulting about the
division of the land, though they did not yet actually divide it. The
heads of that tribe who were willing thus to shew respect to him;
and to testify their consent, that he should be provided for by
himself, and that they would not take it as any reflection on the
rest of the tribe. In Gilgal - Where the division of the land was
designed and begun, though it was executed and finished at
Shiloh. The Kenezite - Of the posterity of Kenaz. The Lord said -
In general, the promise he made us of possessing this land; and for
my part, that which is expressed here, ver. 9.
Verse 7. As it was in mine heart - I spake my opinion sincerely, without
flattery and fear, when the other spies were biased by their own
fears, and the dread of the people, to speak otherwise than in their
consciences they believed.
Verse 8. I wholly followed the Lord - Which self-commendation is
justifiable, because it was necessary, as being the ground of his
petition. Therefore it was not vain glory in him to speak it: no
more than it is for those, who have God's spirit witnessing with
their spirits, that they are the children of God, humbly and
thankfully to tell others, for their encouragement, what God hath
done for their souls.
Verse 10. Forty-five years - Whereof thirty- eight years were spent in
the wilderness, and seven since they came into Canaan. The
longer we live the more sensible we should be, of God's goodness
to us in keeping us alive! Of his care in prolonging our frail lives,
his patience in prolonging our forfeited lives! And shall not the
life thus kept by his providence, be devoted to his praise?
Verse 11. For war - Not only for counsel, but for action; for marching
and fighting. And therefore this gift will not be cast away upon an
unprofitable and unserviceable person. To go out, and to come in -
To perform all the duties belonging to my place. Moses had said,
that at eighty years old, even our strength is labour and sorrow.
But Caleb was an exception to this rule: At eighty-five years old,
his strength was still ease and joy. This he got by following the
Lord fully.
Verse 12. This mountain - That is, this mountainous country. He names
the country rather than the cities, because the cities were given to
the Levites, chap. xxi, 11, 13. Thou heardest - Didst understand,
both by the reports of others, and by thy own observation.
Hearing, the sense by which we get knowledge, is often put for
knowing or understanding. If the Lord will be with me - A modest
and pious expression, signifying both the absolute necessity of
God's help, and his godly fear, lest God for his sins should deny
his assistance to him; for although he was well assured in general,
that God would crown his people with success in this war, yet he
might doubt of his particular success in this or that enterprize. To
drive them out - Out of their fastnesses where they yet remain,
Caleb desires this difficult work as a testimony of his own faith,
and as a motive to quicken his brethren to the like attempts.
Verse 13. Blessed him - Prayed to God to bless and help him according
to his own desire.
Verse 15. A great man - In stature, and strength, and dignity, and
authority, as being the progenitor of Anak, the father of those
famous giants called Anakims.
Chapter 14:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 Deuteronomy Judges
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
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