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(^117) It seems even to have been practiced by the Byzantine emperors long after the
Christian era. See the reference given, Bynaeus in Kid's Commentary, p. 81.
(^118) Such as Gezer (10:33), Hebron, and Debir (14:12; 15:13-17; comp. Judges 1:10-15).
Masius rightly observes, that in this expedition Joshua had rather rapidly swept over the
south of Palestine than permanently and wholly occupied the country.
(^119) Of course not the province of that name in Egypt, but a district in the south of Judah,
probably deriving its name from the town of that name (15:51).
(^120) Jabin seems to have been the title of the kings of Hazor (Judges 4:2).
(^121) Hazor in the mountains, north of Lake Merom, was afterwards rebuilt, and again
became the seat of royalty (Judges 4:2; 1 Samuel 12:9). Thence Sisera issued against
Israel.
(^122) The locality of these three places has not been ascertained; but they seem to have
been in the neighborhood of Hazor.
(^123) There were several places throughout the land bearing the name of "Mizpeh" or
"view." This Mizpeh was probably the modern village Mutulleh, which also means
"prospect," situated on a hill two hundred feet high, north of Lake Merom, whence there
is a splendid view.
(^124) This we gather from Joshua 14:10. From it we learn that forty-five years had elapsed
since the spies returned to Kadesh. But as thirty-eight of these were spent in the
wanderings in the wilderness, it follows that the wars for the occupation of Canaan must
have lasted seven years.
(^125) In Joshua 11:21 a distinction is made between "the mountains of Judah" and "the
mountains of Israel." This, strange as it may sound, affords one of the undesigned
evidences of the early composition of the Book of Joshua. "When Judah entered on his
possession," observes a German critic, "all the other tribes were still in Gilgal (14:6;
15:1). Afterwards, when Ephraim and Manasseh entered on theirs, all Israel, except
Judah, were camped in Shiloh (16:1; 18:1), these two possessions being separated by
the still unallotted territory which later was given to Benjamin (18:11). What more
natural than that 'the mountain' given to the 'children of Judah' should have been called
'the mountain of Judah,' and that where all the rest of Israel camped, 'the mountain of
Israel,' and also 'the mountain of Ephraim' (19:50; 20:7), because it was afterwards
given to that tribe?"
(^)