Jos 13:15-23 | Clarke

Joshua 13:15-23

Verse 17

Bamoth-baal - The high places of Baal, probably so called from altars erected on hills for the impure worship of this Canaanitish Priapus. Verse 18

Jahaza - A city near Medeba and Dibon. It was given to the Levites, 1Chr 6:78.

Kedemoth - Mentioned Deu 2:26; supposed to have been situated beyond the river Arnon.

Mephaath - Situated on the frontiers of Moab, on the eastern part of the desert. It was given to the Levites, Jos 21:37. Verse 19

Kirjathaim - This city, according to Eusebius, was nine miles distant from Medeba, towards the east. It passed from the Emim to the Moabites, from the Moabites to the Amorites, and from the Amorites to the Israelites, Gen 14:6; Deu 2:20. Calmet supposes the Reubenites possessed it till the time they were carried away by the Assyrians; and then the Moabites appear to have taken possession of it anew, as he collects from Jer 48:1 etc., and Eze 25:9 etc.

Sibmah - A place remarkable for its vines. See Isa 16:8, Isa 16:9, Jer 48:32.

Zareth-shahar, in the mount of the valley - This probably means a town situated on or near to a hill in some flat country. Verse 20

Beth-peor - The house or temple of Peor, situated at the foot of the mountain of the same name. See Num 25:3. Verse 21

The princes of Midian - See the history of this war, Num 31:1, etc.; and from that place this and the following verse seem to be borrowed, for the introduction of the death of Balaam here seems quite irrelevant. Verse 23

The cities and the villages - By villages, חצרים chatserim, it is likely that moveable villages or tents are meant, such as are in use among the Bedouin Arabs; places where they were accustomed to feed and pen their cattle.