MPV Commentary

1. Now Joshua was old and advanced in years—likely over 100 years old, considering the conquest and survey of the land took about seven years to complete. He died at the age of 110 (Joshua 24:29). As the leader responsible for allocating Canaan among the tribes of Israel, his advanced age provided a reason for him to immediately discharge this duty.

2-6. This is the land that still remains to be acquired—this section briefly notes the districts yet unsubdued by the Israelites. First, there was the entire country of the Philistines—a narrow tract stretching about 60 miles along the Mediterranean coast—and the Geshurites to its south (1 Samuel 27:8). Both included the area from Sihor, a small brook near El-Arish, which marked the southern boundary of Canaan, to Ekron, the most northerly of the five chief lordships or principalities of the Philistines.

3, 4. The second division of unconquered country comprised all the land of the Canaanites and Mearah—the cave that is beside the Sidonians—a mountainous region in Upper Galilee known for its caves and fastnesses—up to Aphek, now Afka; eastward, in Lebanon—to the borders of the Amorites—a portion of the northeastern territory that had belonged to Og.

5. The third district that remained unsubdued was all the land of the Giblites—their capital being Gebal or Bylbos (Greek), on the Mediterranean, 40 miles north of Sidon—and all Lebanon, toward the rising sun—that is, Anti-libanus; the eastern ridge, which has its proper termination in Hermon—entering into Hamath—the valley of Baalbec.

6, 7. All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim—that is, all the Sidonians and Phoenicians—will I drive out (Deuteronomy 2:23). The fulfillment of this promise was conditional; if the Israelites proved unfaithful or disobedient, they would not subdue these districts. Although the inhabitants were subjected to the power of David and Solomon, the Israelites never possessed them.

8. Only divide it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance—the historian here resumes the main subject of this chapter, which is the order of God to Joshua to make an immediate allotment of the land. The method of distribution by lot was the best way to prevent discontent and charges of arbitrary or partial conduct on the part of the leaders. This system had been announced in the life of Moses (Numbers 33:54) as the method according to which allocations to each tribe should be made, leading the people to acknowledge God as the proprietor of the land and having the entire right to its disposal.

9. With whom—Hebrew, "him." The antecedent is evidently Manasseh, not the half-tribe just mentioned, but the other half; for the historian breaks off to describe the possessions beyond Jordan already assigned to Reuben, Gad, and the half of Manasseh (see Numbers 32:1; Numbers 32:33; also see Deuteronomy 3:8-17). It was wise to put these boundaries on record in case of any misunderstanding or dispute arising about the exact limits of each district or property.