Joshua 19:5

And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:1-9 The men of Judah did not oppose taking away the cities within their border, when convinced that they had more than was right. If a true believer has obtained an unintended and improper advantage in any thing, he will give it up without murmuring. Love seeketh not her own, and doth not behave unseemly; it will induce those in whom it richly dwells, to part with their own to supply what is lacking to their brethren.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The inheritance of Simeon was taken out of the portion of Judah, which proved on experience to be larger than the numbers of that tribe required. The Simeonite territory is described by its towns, of which fourteen were in the Negeb, and four others Joshua 19:7 partly in the Negeb and partly in "the valley." On the narrow confines here assigned to Simeon, and its insignificant position altogether among the Twelve tribes, see Deuteronomy 33:6 note.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 19

Jos 19:1-9. The Lot of Simeon.

1. the second lot came forth to Simeon—The next lot that was drawn at Shiloh, gave the tribe of Simeon his inheritance within the territory, which had been assigned to that of Judah. The knowledge of Canaan possessed by the Israelites, when the division of the land commenced, was but very general, being derived from the rapid sweep they had made over it during the course of conquest; and it was on the ground of that rough survey alone that the distribution proceeded, by which Judah received an inheritance. Time showed that this territory was too large (Jos 19:9), either for their numbers, however great, to occupy and their arms to defend, or too large in proportion to the allotments of the other tribes. Justice therefore required (what kind and brotherly feeling readily dictated) a modification of their possession; and a part of it was appropriated to Simeon. By thus establishing it within the original domain of another tribe, the prophecy of Jacob in regard to Simeon was fulfilled (Ge 49:7); for from its boundaries being not traced, there is reason to conclude that its people were divided and dispersed among those of Judah; and though one group of its cities named (Jos 19:2-6), gives the idea of a compact district, as it is usually represented by map makers, the other group (Jos 19:7, 8) were situated, two in the south, and two elsewhere, with tracts of the country around them.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Ziklag,.... Another of the cities of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:31,

and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah; or Hazarsusim, as in 1 Chronicles 4:31; the one signifies a chariot house, and the other a court or stable for horses, which made Bochart conjecture (a), that they were places where Solomon kept his chariots and horses; but it should be observed that these were the names by which these places went in the times of the old Canaanites; and seem to me rather where some of their kings had their horses and chariots; or rather where there were temples dedicated to the horses and chariots of the sun; see 2 Kings 23:11.

(a) Hierozoic. l. 2. c. 9. col. 158.

Geneva Study Bible

And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

5. 9. Ziklag] See ch. Joshua 15:31, identified by Rowlands and Wilton (Negeb, p. 209) with Asloodg or Kasloodg; (a) Achish bestowed the town upon David; (b) here David resided upwards of one year and four months (1 Samuel 27:7; 1 Samuel 30:14; 1 Samuel 30:26); (c) here he received the news of Saul’s death (2 Samuel 1:1; 2 Samuel 4:10); 10. Beth-marcaboth = “house of chariots,” and 11. Hazar-susah = “village of horses,” appear to be the old names of Madmannah and Sansannah (see ch. Joshua 15:31). These names indicate, remarks Dean Stanley, “that they were stations of passage, like those which now are to be seen on the great line of Indian transit between Cairo and Suez,” we recognise in them “the dêpots and stations for the ‘horses’ and ‘chariots,’ such as those which in Solomon’s time went to and fro between Egypt and Palestine.” Sinai and Palestine, p. 160;

Joshua 19:5

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Beersheba: see at Joshua 15:28. Sheba is wanting in the Chronicles, but has no doubt been omitted through a copyist's error, as Shema answers to it in Joshua 15:26, where it stands before Moladah just as Sheba does here. - On the names in Joshua 19:3-6, see the exposition of Joshua 15:28-32. - The sum total given in Joshua 19:6, viz., thirteen towns, does not tally, as there are fourteen names. On these differences, see the remarks on Joshua 15:32.