Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
Jerusalem, upon a ridge on the south of Wady Aly ( Rob. Bibl. Res. pp. 154-5).
Karem , now Ain Karim , a large flourishing village two hours to the wets of
Jerusalem, with a Franciscan convent dedicated to John the Baptist in the middle, and
a fountain ( Rob. ii. p. 141; Bibl. Res. p. 271). Galem , a different place from the
Gallim on the north of Jerusalem (Isa 10:30), has not yet been discovered. Baither ,
now a small dirty village called Bettir or Bittir , with a beautiful spring, and with
gardens arrange din terraces on the western slope of the Wady Bittir, to the southwest
of Jerusalem ( Rob. Bibl. Res. p. 266). Manocho , possibly the same place as
Manachat (1 Chron 8:6), has not been found.
Verse 60. The sixth group of only two towns, to the west of Jerusalem, on the
northern border of the tribe of Judah. - Kirjath-baal , or Kirjath-jearim , the present
Kureyet el Enab; see at v. 9, and Josh 9:17. Rabbah ( Ha-rabbah , the great) is quite
unknown.
Verse 61,62. The towns in the desert of Judah , which ran along the Dead Sea from
the northern border of Judah (vv. 6, 7) to Wady Fikreh on the south, and reached to
the districts of Maon, Ziph, Tekoah, and Bethlehem towards the west. This tract of
land is for the most part a terrible desert, with a soil composed of chalk, marl, and
limestone, and with bald mountains covered with flint and hornstone, and without the
slightest trace of vegetation on the side bordering on the Dead Sea (see v. Schubert ,
Reise, iii. pp. 94, 96; Rob. ii. pp. 202, 475, 477). Yet wherever there are springs even
this desert is covered with a luxuriant vegetation, as far as the influence of the water
extends ( Seetzen , ii. pp. 249, 258); and even in those parts which are now
completely desolate, there are traces of the work of man of a very ancient date in all
directions ( Rob. ii. p. 187). Six towns are mentioned in the verses before us. Betharabah:
see at v. 6. Middin and Secaca are unknown. According to Knobel, Middin is
probably the ruins of Mird or Mardeh , to the west of the northern end of the Dead
Sea ( Rob. ii. p. 270).
Verse 62. Nibsan , also unknown. The city of salt (salt town), in which the Edomites
sustained repeated defeats (2 Sam 8:13; Ps 60:2; 2 Kings 14:7; 1 Chron 18:12; 2
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