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(^143) Ephraim numbered 32,500 and half Manasseh 26,350 men capable of bearing arms
(Numbers 26:34, 37), or, both together, 58,850, while Judah numbered 76,500, and
even Dan and Issachar respectively 64,400 and 64,300.
(^144) The Authorized Version renders the last clause of ver. 18: "though they have iron
chariots, and though they be strong." The true rendering is not "though," but "for." Most
commentators regard this as an irony, implying that it needed such strong tribes as the
sons of Joseph! But I regard it as rather a covert appeal to their faith - "just because it is
so, ye shall drive them out."
(^145) Shiloh means rest.
(^146) So literally.
(^147) According to Josephus, it took seven months; according to the Rabbis, seven years.
It need scarcely be said, that both suppositions are equally void of foundation. Josephus
also imagines, that there was only one deputy from each tribe - or seven in all - to
whom he adds three men expert in surveying (Ant. v. 1, 20, 21).
(^148) Considering that Joshua was himself a descendant of Joseph, his reply to the
complaints of his tribe showed the more clearly his uprightness and fitness for his
calling.
(^149) Of the six cities of refuge three were west of the Jordan: Kadesh (Naphtali - north),
Shechem (Ephraim - center), and Hebron (Judah - south); three east of the Jordan:
Bezer (Reuben - south), Ramoth (Gad - center), and Golan (Manasseh - north). The
number of cities assigned to the Levites (thirty-five) cannot be regarded as too large.
The second census gave the number of male Levites at 23,000. This, with a
proportionate number of females, has been calculated to give a population of about
1300 for each of the thirty-five towns. Besides, it should be remembered, that the
Levites were not the sole inhabitants of such towns. This should also be taken into
account in regard to the assignment of thirteen cities to the descendants of Aaron,
although their number has been computed at the time at two hundred families. Probably
this is exaggerated, even admitting that as Aaron's two sons had 24 descendants (1
Chronicles 24), the next generation might have numbered 144 males, and the next again
(at the time of Joshua) between 800 and 900 descendants. But, irrespective of this, the
law had to provide not for that period, but for all time to come.
(^)