Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
The Possessions of the Two Tribes and a Half. - Vv. 15-23. The tribe of Reuben
received its inheritance in the south-namely, the territory from Aroër in the Arnon
valley, and from Ar in that valley, onwards, and the plain (table-land) by Medeba (see
v. 9), with Heshbon the capital and her towns, i.e., the towns dependent upon it, in the
plain. Heshbon , almost in the centre between the Arnon and the Jabbok, was situated
upon the border of the inheritance of the Reubenites, and was ceded to the Gadites,
who gave it up to the Levites (Josh 21:39; 1 Chron 6:66: see at Num 32:37). Dibon ,
called Dibon of Gad in Num 33:45, because the Gadites had built, i.e., fortified it,
was on the south of Heshbon, only an hour from Aroër, on the Arnon (v. 9). Bamothbaal
, also called Bamoth simply (Num 21:20; Isa 15:2), is to be sought for on the
Jebel Attarus (see at Num 21:20). It was thence that Balaam saw the end of the
Israelitish camp (Num 22:41). Bethbaal-meon , the present ruin of Myun , threequarters
of an hour S.E. of Heshbon (see at Num 32:38). Jahza , where Sihon was
defeated, was to the east of Medeba, according to the Onom.; and Dibon was on the
border of the desert (see at Num 21:23). Kedemoth , on the border of the desert, to the
north-west of Kalaat Balua, is to be sought on the northern bank of the Balua, or
upper Arnon (see at Num 21:13). Mephaath , where there was a garrison stationed
(according to the Onom. ) as a defence against the inhabitants of the desert, is to be
sought for in the neighbourhood of Jahza, with which it is always associated (Jer
48:21). Kedemoth and Mephaath were given up to the Levites (Josh 21:37; 1 Chron
6:64).
Joshua 13:19-22
And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,
Kirjathaim , where Chedorlaomer defeated the Emim, is probably to be found in the
ruins of et-Teym , half an hour to the west of Medaba (see at Gen 14:5). Sibmah
(Num 32:38), according to Jerome (on Isa 16:8), only 500 paces from Heshbon,
appears to have hopelessly disappeared. Zereth-hashachar , i.e., splendor aurorae ,
which is only mentioned here, was situated "upon a mountain of the valley."
According to v. 27, the valley was the Jordan valley, or rather (according to Gen
http://207.44.232.113/~bible/comment/ot/k&d/josh/jos80.html (1 of 2) [13/08/2004 01:18:19 p.m.]