Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 2.djvu/85

Rh which were made famous in the Old Testament, especially mount Carmel, on which the famous trial was between God and Baal in Elijah's time, yet it was made much more illustrious in the New Testament, for within the lot of this tribe was Nazareth, where our blessed Saviour spent so much of his time on earth, and from, which he was called Jesus of Nazareth, and mount Tabor on which he was transfigured, and that coast of the sea of Galilee on which Christ preached so many sermons, and wrought so many miracles.

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.

The lot of Issachar ran from Jordan in the east, to the great sea in the west, Manasseh on the south, and Zebulun on the north. A numerous tribe, Numb. 26. 25. Tola, one of the judges, was of this tribe, Judg. 10. 1. So was Baasha, one of the kings of Israel, 1 Kings 15. 27. The most considerable places in this tribe were, 1. Jezreel, in which was Ahab's palace, and near it Naboth's vineyard. 2. Shunem, where lived the good Shunamite, that entertained Elisha. 3. The river Kishon, on the banks of which, in this tribe, Sisera was beaten by Deborah and Barak. 4. The mountains of Gilboa, on which Saul and Jonathan were slain, which were not far from En-dor, where Saul consulted the witch. 5. The valley of Megiddo, where Josiah was slain, near Hadad-rimmon, 2 Kings 23. 29. Zech. 12. 11.

24. And the fifth lot came out for the 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 sun-rising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthah-el, toward the north side of Bethemek, 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 Tyre; 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 lot of Asher lay upon the coast of the great sea; we read not of any famous person of this tribe, but Anna the prophetess, who was a constant resident in the temple at the time of our Saviour's birth, Luke 2. 36. Nor were there many famous places in this tribe. Aphek, mentioned v. 30. was the place near which Ben-hadad was beaten by Ahab, 1 Kings 20. 30. But close adjoining to this tribe were the celebrated sea-port towns of Tyre and Sidon, which we read so much of. Tyre is called here that strong city, v. 29. but Bishop Patrick thinks it was not the same Tyre that we read of afterwards, for that was built on an island; this old strong city was on the continent. And it is conjectured by some, that into these two strong holds, Sidon and Tzor, or Tyre, many of the people of Canaan fled and took shelter, when Joshua invaded them.

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 sun-rising. 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, 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.

Naphtali lay furthest north of all the tribes, bordering on mount Libanus. The city of Leshem, or Laish, lay on the utmost edge of it to the north, and therefore, when the Danites had made themselves masters of it, and called it Dan, the length of Canaan from north to south was reckoned from Dan to Beer-sheba. It had Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah upon Jordan, probably, a city of that name, and so distinguished from the tribe of Judah, on the east. It was in the lot of this tribe, near the waters of Merom, that Joshua fought and routed Jabin, ch. 11. 1. &c. In this tribe stood Capernaum and Beth-saida, on the north end of the sea of Tiberias, in which Christ did so many mighty works; and the mountain (as is supposed) on which Christ preached, Matt. 5. 1.

40. And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan, according to their families. 41. And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh, 42. And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, 43. And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, 44. And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, 45. And Jehud,