the kings of southern Palestine hastily gathered their forces together, not to attack Joshua, but to reduce Gibeon (eh. x. 1-6). Their plans are dis- concerted by the celerity of Joshua, who, on the receipt of tidings of the attack on Gibeon, falls suddenly upon the allies in the morning, and route them with immense slaughter (vers. 6-10). A violent storm (ver. 11) assists in the discomfiture of his enemies, and Joshua adjures the sun and moon not to go down until his victory is complete, an adjuration which is fulfilled (vers. 12-14). We next read (vers. 16-27: for ver. 15 see notes) of the death of the five kings, and the pursuit of the flying enemy. Then come a series of sieges (vers. 28-48), those of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, as well as the annihilation of an expedition from Gezer, with the view of forcing Joshua to raise the siege of Lachish (ver. 88). The result of this was the subjugation of the country from Gibeon to Kadesh- barnea and Gaza. Ch. xi. brings us to a combination of the cities of northern Palestine, under Jabin king of Razor, to resist the progress of Joshua. The rendezvous appointed was at the lake Merom, not far from the Anti-Lebanon range (vers. 1-5). But once more the danger was averted by the promptitude of Joshua, who fell upon them before their preparations were complete, and totally routed them, and destroyed many of their cities (vers. 6-14). But the reduction of northern Palestine was a more serious matter than that of the south. We are expressly told that Joshua made war a long time with those kings (ver. 18J. But the result was the reduction of the whole country with certain exceptions, of which we afterwards read (eh. xvii. 12). The supremacy of Israel was, however, not contested, as the payment of tribute shows (vers. 15-20). In vers. 21-28 we read of the destruction of the Anakim, who had probably taken refuge in Philistia, but who had clearly taken advantage of Joshua's prolonged campaign in the north to repossess themselves of their cities. It was not until a later period that this territory was gi.en by lot to Judah, for this tribe must have been engaged with the rest in the campaign in the north. The reduction of the Anakim, exhausted by their previous defeats, does not seem to have been a difficult task. Ch. xii. commences the second portion of the book, which relates to the territory conquered by Israel, and its distribution among the tribes.· The district beyond Jordan, inhabited by Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, is first mentioned (vere. 1-6). In the remaining verses the territories of thirty-one kings are mentioned as conquered by Joshua. Ch. xiii. commences with the mention of the portions of Palestine as yet unconquered, and proceeds to a more minute specification of the conquered territory eastward of Jordan. • The unconquered territory consisted (1) of Philietia (vers. 2, 3); (2) of the lowlands bordering on Bidon (see notes) (3) the country near Aphek; (4) the land of the Giblites; and (6) the TO THE BOOK OF ,JOSHUA. XXXV
extreme northern portion of Palestine, including the great Lebanon range (vera. 4-6). Joshua is now commanded to assign the land beyond Jordan, which is described in detail, with occasional references to the condition of the country when the book was written, and the remark, several times repeated, that the Levites had no share in the allotment (vers. 7-14). Then follows a still more detailed account of the territory beyond Jordan, and the races displaced (vers. 15-88). Ch. xiv. tells us that the inheritance was made by lot, and repeats, after the author's manner, the statements that the country beyond Jordan was given to the two and a half tribes, and that the Levites had no part in the distribution (vers. 1-5). The remainder of the chapter (vers. 6-15) is devoted to Caleb's request, and its fulfilment. Ch. xv. divides itself into three parts. The first (vers. 1-12) traces out the border of the tribe of Judah. 'l'he second (vers. 18-19) narrates an interesting incident in the family of Caleb. The third (v&rs. 22-68) enumerates the cities of Judah. Ch. xvi. describes the border of Ephraim. Ch. xvii. begins by mentioning the families of the portion of the tribe whose inheritance was west of Jordan (vers. 1-6), specially noting the fact that "Manasseh's daughters'' had an inheritance with his sons. Vera. 7-11 give a very imperfect outline of the territory of Manasseh. Vers. 12-18 record the complaint of Ephraim and Manasseh, that the portion allotted to them was not sufficient, and Joshua's answer. Ch. xviii. gives the account of the fresh survey ordered by Joshua (vers. 1-9), and the fresh division (ver. 10) in consequence. In ver. 11 begins the description of the border of Benjamin, which is continued to ver. 20. Then follows (vers. 21-28) an enumeration of the cities of Benjamin. Ch. xix. 1-9 names the cities in the territory of Simeon. The border of Zebulon follows (vers. 10-16), and is succeeded by the border of lssachar (vers. 17-28); Asher (vers. 24-81) follows; then Naphtali (vers. 82-89); and lastly (vers. 40-48), Dan, whose later migration northward when they found the territory too small for them, is here recorded. When all the allot- ments had been made, Joshua himself received his portion (vers. 49-51). Ch. xx. contains the appointment of the cities of refuge; and eh. xxi. that of the Levitical cities. In eh. xxii. the history is resumed. The two and a half tribes on their return after a solemn farewell from Joshua, to their inheritance, fearing that they shall be regarded as outcasts beyond Jordan, erect an altar on their way homeward, as a token of their connection with Israel (vers. 1-10). The remaining tribes, regarding this act as an infraction of the law of Moses, gather together in assembly, prepare for war, but first send an embassy, consisting of the heads of the nine tribes and a half westward of INTRODUCTION