122
The locality of these three places has not been ascertained; but they seem to have been in the
neighborhood of Hazor.
123
There were several places throughout the land bearing the name of "Mizpeh" or "view." This Mizpeh was
probably the modern village Mutulleh, which also means "prospect," situated on a hill two hundred feet
high, north of Lake Merom, whence there is a splendid view.
124
This we gather from Joshua 14:10. From it we learn that forty-five years had elapsed sin ce the spies
returned to Kadesh. But as thirty-eight of these were spent in the wanderings in the wilderness, it follows
that the wars for the occupation of Canaan must have lasted seven years.
125
In Joshua 11:21 a distinction is made between "the mountains of Judah" and "the mountains of Israel."
This, strange as it may sound, affords one of the undesigned evidences of the early composition of the
Book of Joshua. "When Judah entered on his possession," observes a German critic, "all the other tribes
were still in Gilgal (14:6; 15:1). Afterwards, when Ephraim and Manasseh entered on theirs, all Israel, except
Judah, were camped in Shiloh (16:1; 18:1), these two possessions being separated by the still unallotted
territory which later was given to Benjamin (18:11). What more natural than that 'the mountain' given to the
'children of Judah' should have been called 'the mountain of Judah,' and that where all the rest of Israel
camped, 'the mountain of Israel,' and also 'the mountain of Ephraim' (19:50; 20:7), b ecause it was afterwards
given to that tribe?"
126
Literally: "from Shichor, in the face of Egypt," or rather "from the black (river) to the east of Egypt." This
was the brook Rhinocorura, the modern el-Arish.
127
Left untranslated (Mearah) in the Authorized Version. The cave, which is east of Sidon, still serves as a
hiding-place to the Druses.
128
The modern Afkah, on a terrace of Mount Lebanon, by the principal source of the river Adonis, in a
lovely situation.
129
The explanation of this is doubtful. Po ssibly it means: as far east as the territory of Og, king of Bashan,
which formerly belonged to the Amorites.
130
Hamath, a district in Syria, with a capital of the same name on the Orontes.
131
The particle "and," put in italics in our Authorized Version, is not in the text of Joshua 13:6. The clause,
"all the Sidonians" is explanatory, not additional.
132
With the register of the defeated kings (Joshua 12) the first part of the Book of Joshua ends, and Part 2
begins with ch. 13.
133
Although geographical details may seem dry to some, they are most important for the proper
understanding of the Bible narrative. They may also be made alike interesting and spiritually useful, if the
history of these places is traced in the various passages of Scripture where they are mentioned.
134
The children of Joseph were counted two tribes.
135
In connection with this we may note the curious and undesigned evidence, that we have in the text the
real and original allotment of the land by Joshua himself. As so often, it is d erived from an objection
suggested. For there are strange divergencies in the sacred text. In describing the lots of Judah and of
Benjamin, the boundaries are accurately marked, and a complete list of cities is given; in those of Ephraim
and half Manasseh there is no register of cities; in those of Simeon and Dan only lists of cities: in those of