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(^126) Literally: "from Shichor, in the face of Egypt," or rather "from the black (river) to
the east of Egypt." This was the brook Rhinocorura, the modern el-Arish.
(^127) Left untranslated (Mearah) in the Authorized Version. The cave, which is east of
Sidon, still serves as a hiding-place to the Druses.
(^128) The modern Afkah, on a terrace of Mount Lebanon, by the principal source of the
river Adonis, in a lovely situation.
(^129) The explanation of this is doubtful. Possibly it means: as far east as the territory of
Og, king of Bashan, which formerly belonged to the Amorites.
(^130) Hamath, a district in Syria, with a capital of the same name on the Orontes.
(^131) The particle "and," put in italics in our Authorized Version, is not in the text of
Joshua 13:6. The clause, "all the Sidonians" is explanatory, not additional.
(^132) With the register of the defeated kings (Joshua 12) the first part of the Book of
Joshua ends, and Part 2 begins with ch. 13.
(^133) Although geographical details may seem dry to some, they are most important for
the proper understanding of the Bible narrative. They may also be made alike
interesting and spiritually useful, if the history of these places is traced in the various
passages of Scripture where they are mentioned.
(^134) The children of Joseph were counted two tribes.
(^135) In connection with this we may note the curious and undesigned evidence, that we
have in the text the real and original allotment of the land by Joshua himself. As so
often, it is derived from an objection suggested. For there are strange divergencies in
the sacred text. In describing the lots of Judah and of Benjamin, the boundaries are
accurately marked, and a complete list of cities is given; in those of Ephraim and half
Manasseh there is no register of cities; in those of Simeon and Dan only lists of cities:
in those of the other tribes evidently an incomplete tracing of boundaries and lists of
cities. Now when we consider the history, we conclude that this is just what we would
have expected in a contemporary document. Joshua 15, 16 assigns a definite portion to
Judah; ch. 17 to Ephraim and half Manasseh, about which, however, they complain as
being partly occupied by Canaanites whom they dared not attack (vs.16). Hence in their
case there is no register of cities. On the other hand, the lot of Benjamin, being between
Judah and Joseph (18:11), was completely occupied, and the register is complete. The
(^)