of Gad, was sorely shaken by Hazael king of Syria, 2 Kings 10. 33. and afterward dislodged and carried into captivity, twenty years before the general captivity of the ten tribes by the king of Assyria, 1 Chron. 5. 26.
Secondly, The lot of the tribe of Gad, v. 24··28. This lay north of Reuben's lot; the country of Gilead lay in this tribe, so famous for its balm, that it is thought strange indeed if there be no balm in Gilead, and the cities of Jabesh-Gilead, and Ramoth-Gilead, which we often read of in scripture. Succoth and Peniel, which we read of in the story of Gideon, were in this tribe; and that forest which is called the wood of Ephraim, (from the slaughter Jephthah made there of the Ephraimites,) in which Absalom's rebellious army was beaten, while his father David lay at Mahanaim, one of the frontier-cities of this tribe, v. 26. Sharon was in this tribe, famous for Roses. And within the limits of this tribe lived those Gadarenes, that loved their swine better than their Saviour, fitter to be called Gargashites than Israelites.
Thirdly, The lot of the half-tribe of Manasseh, v. 29··31. Bashan, the kingdom of Og, was in this allotment, famous for the best timber, witness the oaks of Bashan, and the best breed of cattle, witness the bulls and rams of Bashan. This tribe lay north of Gad, reached to mount Hermon, and had in it part of Gilead. Mizpeh was in this half-tribe, and Jephthah was one of its ornaments; so was Elijah, for in this tribe was Thisbe, whence he is called the Tishbite, and Jair was another. In the edge of the tribe stood Chorazin, honoured with Christ's wondrous works, but ruined by his righteous woe for not improving them.
Lastly, Twice in this chapter it is taken notice of, that to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance, v. 14. 33. for so God had appointed, Numb. 18. 20. If they had been appointed to a lot entire by themselves, Moses would have served them first, not because it was his own tribe, but because it was God's, but they must be provided for in another manner; their habitations must be scattered in all the tribes, and their maintenance brought out of all the tribes, and God himself was the portion both of their inheritance and of their cup, Deut 10. 9.—18. 2.
CHAP. XIV.
Here is, I. The general method that was taken in dividing the land, v. 1..5. II. The demand Caleb made of Hebron, as his by promise, and therefore not to be put into the lot with the rest, v. 6..12. III. And Joshua's grant of that demand, v. 13..15. This was done at Gilgal, which was as yet their head-quarters.
1.AND these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them. 2. By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe. 3. For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them. 4. For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. 5. As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
The historian, having in the foregoing chapter given an account of the disposal of the countries on the other side Jordan, now comes to tell us what they did with the countries in the land of Canaan. They were not conquered to be left desert, a habitation for dragons, and a court for owls, Isa. 34. 13. No. The Israelites that had hitherto been closely encamped in a body, and the greatest part of them such as never knew any other way of living, must now disperse themselves to replenish these new conquests. It is said of the earth, God created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited, Isa. 45. 18. Canaan would have been subdued in vain, if it had not been inhabited. Yet every man might not go and settle where he pleased, but as there seems to have been in the days of Peleg an orderly and regular division of the habitable earth among the sons of Noah, Gen. 10. 25, 32. so there was now such a division of the land of Canaan among the sons of Jacob. God had given Moses directions how this distribution should be made, and those directions are here punctually observed. See Numb. 33. 53, &c.
I. The managers of this great affair, were Joshua the chief magistrate, Eleazar the chief priest, and ten princes, one of each of the tribes that were now to have their inheritance, whom God himself had nominated (Numb. 34. 17, &c.) some years before, and it should seem, they were all now in being, and attended this service, that every tribe having a representative of its own, might be satisfied that there was fair dealing, and might the more contentedly sit down by its lot.
II. The tribes among whom this dividend was to be made, were nine and a half. 1. Not the two and a half that were already seated, v. 3. though perhaps now that they saw what a good land Canaan was, and how effectually it was subdued, they might some of them repent their choice, and wish they had now been to have their lot with their brethren, upon which condition they would gladly have given up what they had on the other side Jordan; but it would not be admitted, they had made their election without power of revocation, and so must their doom be, themselves have decided it, they must adhere to their choice. 2. Not the tribe of Levi, that was to be otherwise provided for. God had distinguished them from, and dignified them above, the other tribes, and they must not now mingle themselves with them, nor cast in their lot among them, for that would entangle them in the affairs of this life, which would not consist with a due attendance on their sacred function. But, 3. Joseph made two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, pursuant to Jacob's adoption of Joseph's two sons, and so the number of the tribes was kept up to twelve, though Levi was taken out, which is intimated here, v. 4, The children of Joseph were two tribes, therefore they gave no part to Levi, they being twelve without him.
III. The rule by which they went, was the lot, v. 2. The disposal of that is of the Lord, Prov. 16. 33. It was here used in an affair of weight, and which could not otherwise be accommodated to universal satisfaction, and it was used in a solemn religious manner as an appeal to God, by consent of parties. In dividing by lot, 1. They referred themselves to God, and to his wisdom and sovereignty, believing him fitter to determine for them, than they for themselves, Ps. 47. 4, He shall choose our inheritance for us. 2. They professed a willingness to abide by the determination of it; for every man must take what is his lot, and make the best of it.
