However, by studying the context, it is clear that its subject is Judah and not the "Lord." As long as Judah had faith in the Lord he was successful, but immediately he lost faith, his success was at an end. "Chariots of iron." What these were is uncertain. They were either composed chiefly of iron, or armed with iron scythes, like those of the Britons. They certainly formed an essential part in the mode of warfare in those times, because even Joshua dreaded them (Josh. xi., 6). V. 20. "The three sons of Anak." These were Sheshai, Ahiman, Talmai. V. 21. "Unto this day." This passage has been made use of to fix the date of writing the Book of Judges. V. 22. "The house of Joseph," ie., the tribe of Ephraim and Manasseh. "Bethel” (= house of God). Its modern name is Beetin. It lay on the borders of Ephraim and Benjamin and near Ai. It is noted for the following circumstances: 1. Abraham encamped here. (Gen. xii., 8.) - 2. Jacob's Vision of the Ladder, when on his way to Padan-aram (Gen. xxviii., 19; xxxv., 6; 3. Its inhabitants were engaged in the battle of Ai against Joshua (Joshua viii., 17). "Luz" (= separation, departure), or "Bethel," was in Benjamin's lot, though Ephraim and Manasseh seemed to have helped the Benjamites in gaining possession of it. V. 27. "Beth-shean, Taanach, Megiddo," were in Issachar but belonged to Manasseh. They had been assigned to Manasseh on account of the smallness of its own territory (Joshua xvii., 11). "Dor" (now Dandora or Jantura) was in Asher, but belonged to Manasseh. "Ibleam" was in Asher, or Issachar, but belonged to Manasseh. The ascent of Gur, the spot at which Ahaziah received his death wound from the soldiers of Jehu, was at Ibleam (2 Kings ix., 27). V. 29. "Gezer" (= dividing, sentence). This formed one of the landmarks on the south boundary of Ephraim between the lower Beth-horon and the Mediterranean, the western limit of the tribe. Its king, Horam, or Elam, coming to the assistance of Lachish, was killed with all his people by Joshua (Josh. x., 33; xii., 12). V. 31. "Accho" (= close, pressed together), i.e., Modern Acre. Situated about ten miles north of Mount Carmel. This city became very famous during the Crusades, and was frequently besieged, as may be seen from the following facts: 1191 A.D. Taken after a two years' siege by Richard I. of England. 1291 Re-taken by the Saracens when 60,000 Christians were either killed or sold as slaves. 1799 A.D. Unsuccessfully besieged by Napoleon Bonaparte. 1832 Captured for the Turks by the Egyptians. 1840 Retaken by an English fleet. "Zidon." Called Great Zidon in Josh. xi., 8. Its Hebrew name, "Tsidon," signifies "Fishing" or "Fishery." Its modern name is Saida. It is situated in the narrow plain between Lebanon and the sea. Tyre and Zidon were two very influential cities in early times. "Aphik." Most probably the same as Aphek in Josh. xiii., 4; xix., 30. Its present name is Afkah. V. 32. "But the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites." As seven out of the twenty-two towns of Asher (Josh. xix., 30) remained in the hands of the Canaanites, including such important places as Zidon and Accho, it is not stated here as in verses 29, 30, "that the Canaanites dwelt among them" but that "the Asherites dwelt among the Canaanites," thus showing that the Canaanites held the upper hand. For this reason the words "they became tributaries" (verses 30, 35) are also omitted. V. 33. "Beth-shemesh" (The house of the sun). The place where the sun was worshipped. It was situated in the tribe of Naphtali. (Josh. xix., 38.) It must not be confounded with the Beth-shemesh, the Levitical city, in the tribe of Judah. (Josh. xv., 10; xxi., 16. 1 Sam. vi., 13-20.) V. 34. "Amorites" (= Highlanders). These were the descendants of Hamor, the fourth son of Canaan (Gen. x., 16; xxxiii., 19), and they were one of the most powerful of the Canaanitish tribes. From Josh. xix., 40, we find that the territory allotted to the Danites was almost all in the plain. If they were driven out of this, they were excluded from their inheritance. This pressure, therefore, on the part of the Amorites must have been the reason of the Danites seeking an inheritance in the north. (See chap. xviii.) mountain). V. 35. "Mount Heres (= sun Some have supposed this to be identical with Ir-shemesh (= city of the sun) in Josh. xix., 41. "Aijalon" (= deer-ground). This was in Dan, and is the same as Ajalon (Josh. x., 12). Memorable for the miracle of Joshua in arresting the course of the sun and moon. was a Levitical city (Josh. xxi., 24). It "The hand of the house of Joseph," i.e., Ephraim and Manasseh, the most powerful of the tribes. They thus seem to have the assistance of their Danish brethren. V. 36. "The going up to Akrabbim." Called Maaleh-acrabbim in Josh. xv., 3; and the "ascent of Akrabbim" in Num. xxxiv., 4. "Akrabbim" ("scorpion height") was one of the sharply projecting line of cliffs south-west of the Dead Sea, which formed the southern boundary of Canaan (Josh. XV., 2, 3). EXAMINATION QUESTIONS. 1. Why was there no need of a successor to Joshua? 2. Which of the tribes was to take the lead in carrying on the work of Conquest? 3. What reason is there for supposing that Simeon and Judah would naturally act together against a common enemy? 4. Who was the commander in the war waged by Judah and Simeon ? 5. What other names had Hebron and Debir? Give their meaning. 6. What do the following words mean: Othniel, Caleb, Hormah, Bethel, Zidon, Beth-shemesh? 7. What may we say about the treatment of Adoni-bezek? 8. Name the lordships of the Philistines which are mentioned in this chapter. 9. Name the three sons of Anak. In what connection are they mentioned in this chapter? 10. Which tribes are meant by the "House of Joseph?" How did they act in the Conquest of Canaan? 11. What caused the Danites to emigrate and seek another inheritance ? 12. What do you know of the history of Accho in modern history? 13. Which of the Patriarchs had a remarkable vision at Bethel? 14. What do you know of Samson at Gaza? 15. What peculiarity is there in the conduct of Asher and Naphtali ? 16. Explain the following psssages : (i.) Come up with me into my lot, and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot. (ii.) Show us, we pray thee, the entrance into the city, and we will show thee mercy. (iii.) As I have done, so God hath requited me. (iv.) But the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem unto this day. (v.) But could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron. CHAPTER II. ANALYSIS. An angel of the Lord rebukes the people at Bochim, for their disobedience in not driving out completely the whole of the Canaanites. The condition of the people after Joshua's death. NOTES. "An angel,” ought to be "The angel." Who is meant by this angel is a question of dispute. Two answers have been offered (i.) That he was the same one as had appeared to Joshua at Gilgal, i.e., "Captain of the Lord's Host," viz., Christ himself. (ii.) That he was some earthly messenger or prophet, such as Phinehas or Joshua. We therefore give a few Both these answers have a good deal to be said in their favour. However, the balance of probability, in our opinion, certainly inclines towards the first. reasons in favour of the first. If he were a prophet he would have been so called. (See chap. vi., 8.) No prophet ever identifies himself so closely with God, as in the present case, but introduces his message with the words, "Thus saith the Lord." (Chap. vi., 8.) V. 1. "Came up from Gilgal to Bochim."-Which passage clearly establishes a connection between this appearance and that in Josh. v., 13. The Israelites had only just renewed the covenant of circumcision, when the angel appeared to Joshua at Gilgal. They were also about to attack the strong and fortified city of Jericho, by no means an easy task. Thus the angel's appearance to E |