
Text -- Joshua 15:8 (NET)




Names, People and Places, Dictionary Themes and Topics



collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per phrase)
Wesley: Jos 15:8 - -- Properly; for the line went from Jordan and the salt sea, to the higher grounds nigh Jerusalem; and therefore the line is said to go down, Jos 18:16, ...
Properly; for the line went from Jordan and the salt sea, to the higher grounds nigh Jerusalem; and therefore the line is said to go down, Jos 18:16, because there it takes a contrary course, and goes downward to Jordan and the sea.

A very pleasant place, but afterward made infamous.

Of the city of the Jebusites, which was anciently called Jebussi.

Wesley: Jos 15:8 - -- It may seem hence, that Jerusalem properly, or at least principally, belonged to Benjamin; and yet it is ascribed to Judah also; either because a part...
It may seem hence, that Jerusalem properly, or at least principally, belonged to Benjamin; and yet it is ascribed to Judah also; either because a part of the city was allotted to Judah; or because the Benjamites desired the help and conjunction of this powerful tribe of Judah, for the getting and keeping of this most important place. And when the Benjamites had in vain attempted to drive out the Jebusites, this work was at last done by the tribe of Judah, who therefore had an interest in it by the right of war; as Ziglag which belonged to the tribe of Simeon, being gotten from the Philistines by David, was joined by him to his tribe of Judah, 1Sa 27:6.
Clarke: Jos 15:8 - -- The valley of the son of Hinnom - Who Hinnom was is not known, nor why this was called his valley. It was situated on the east of Jerusalem; and is ...
The valley of the son of Hinnom - Who Hinnom was is not known, nor why this was called his valley. It was situated on the east of Jerusalem; and is often mentioned in Scripture. The image of the idol Molech appears to have been set up there; and there the idolatrous Israelites caused their sons and daughters to pass through the fire in honor of that demon, 2Ki 23:10. It was also called Tophet, see Jer 7:32. When King Josiah removed the image of this idol from this valley, it appears to have been held in such universal execration, that it became the general receptacle of all the filth and impurities which were carried out of Jerusalem; and it is supposed that continual fires were there kept up, to consume those impurities and prevent infection. From the Hebrew words

Clarke: Jos 15:8 - -- The same is Jerusalem - This city was formerly called Jebus; a part of it was in the tribe of Benjamin; Zion, called its citadel, was in the tribe o...
The same is Jerusalem - This city was formerly called Jebus; a part of it was in the tribe of Benjamin; Zion, called its citadel, was in the tribe of Judah

Clarke: Jos 15:8 - -- The valley of the giants - Of the Rephaim. See the notes on Gen 6:4; Gen 14:5; Deu 2:7, Deu 2:11. On this subject, a very intelligent clergyman favo...
The valley of the giants - Of the Rephaim. See the notes on Gen 6:4; Gen 14:5; Deu 2:7, Deu 2:11. On this subject, a very intelligent clergyman favors me with his opinion in the following terms: -
"The boundary between Judah and Benjamin went up from the valley of Hinnom on the east to the top of the hill southward, leaving Jebusi (or Jerusalem) to the northwest adjoining to Benjamin. This mount (Jebusi) lay between the two tribes, which the Jebusites possessed till the time of David. At the 63d verse here, it is said Judah could not drive out these people; and in Jdg 1:21, the same is said of the Benjamites. Each tribe might have attacked them at various times. There were various mounts or tops to these hills. Mount Zion and Moriah, where the temple stood, was in the tribe of Judah; Psa 78:68, Psa 78:69; Psa 87:2. "In Deu 33:12 it is said of Benjamin, the Lord shall dwell by him, i.e., near him, or beside his borders, between his shoulders; the line might be circular between the two hills or tops so as in part to encompass Mount Zion in the tribe of Judah, on which the temple stood. Benjamin’ s gate, (mentioned Jer 37:12, Jer 37:13; Jer 38:7), was the gate leading out of the city, into the tribe of Benjamin. So the gate of Ephraim, (2Ki 14:13), was a gate which led towards the tribe of Ephraim. We give names to roads, etc., in the same way now. "Mount Calvary, (which was on the outside of the gate), seems to have been in the tribe of Benjamin. Query. Whether Calvary or Golgotha was so called from skulls being scattered about there, (as say some), or rather from the figure of the rock being shaped like a man’ s skull, with one face of it nearly perpendicular? I incline to this latter opinion. I believe the Jews did not suffer human bones, even of malefactors, to lie about."- J. C.
TSK -> Jos 15:8
TSK: Jos 15:8 - -- valley of the son : A valley near to Jerusalem. Jos 18:16; 2Ki 23:10; 2Ch 28:3; Jer 7:31, Jer 7:32, Jer 19:2, Jer 19:6, Jer 19:14
the Jebusite : Jos 1...
valley of the son : A valley near to Jerusalem. Jos 18:16; 2Ki 23:10; 2Ch 28:3; Jer 7:31, Jer 7:32, Jer 19:2, Jer 19:6, Jer 19:14
the Jebusite : Jos 15:63, Jos 18:28; Jdg 1:8, Jdg 1:21, Jdg 19:10
valley of the giants : Situated apparently west of Jerusalem and mount Moriah. Jos 18:16; 2Sa 5:18, 2Sa 5:22; Isa 17:5, the valley of Rephaim

collapse allCommentary -- Word/Phrase Notes (per Verse)
Barnes -> Jos 15:8
Barnes: Jos 15:8 - -- The valley of the son of Hinnom - This valley begins on the west of Jerusalem at the road to Joppa, and turning southeastward round the foot of...
The valley of the son of Hinnom - This valley begins on the west of Jerusalem at the road to Joppa, and turning southeastward round the foot of Mount Zion joins the deeper valley of Kedron on the south of the city. It was in this ravine, more particularly at Tophet in the more wild and precipitous part of it toward the east, that the later kings of Judah offered the sacrifices of children to Moloch (2Ch 28:3; 2Ch 33:6, etc.). After these places had been defiled by Josiah, Tophet and the whole valley of Hinnom were held in abomination by the Jews, and the name of the latter was used to denote the place of eternal torment Mat 5:22. The Greek term Gehenna (
The valley of the giants - Rather "the plain of Rephaim."This plain, named after an ancient and gigantic tribe of the land Gen 14:5, lies southwestward of Jerusalem, and is terminated by a slight rocky ridge forming the brow of the valley of Hinnom. The valley is fertile Isa 17:5 and broad, and has been on more than one occasion the camping ground for armies operating against Jerusalem 2Sa 5:18, 2Sa 5:22; 2Sa 23:13.
Poole -> Jos 15:8
Poole: Jos 15:8 - -- The border went up properly, for the line went from Jordan and the Salt Sea, to the higher grounds nigh Jerusalem; and therefore the line is said to ...
The border went up properly, for the line went from Jordan and the Salt Sea, to the higher grounds nigh Jerusalem; and therefore the line is said to go down , Jos 18:16 , because there it takes a contrary course, and goes downwards to Jordan and the sea.
Hinnom a very pleasant place, but afterwards made infamous, 2Ki 23:10 .
Of the Jebusite i.e. of the city of the Jebusites , which was anciently called Jebusi , Jos 18:28 Jud 19:10 .
The same is Jerusalem: it may seem hence, and from Deu 33:12 Jos 18:28 Jud 1:21 , that Jerusalem, properly, or at least principally, belonged to Benjamin; and yet it is ascribed to Judah also here, Jos 15:63 , and elsewhere, either because a part of the city was allotted to Judah; or because the Benjamites needed or desired the help and conjunction of this powerful tribe of Judah, for the getting and keeping of this most important place. And when the Benjamites had in vain attempted to drive out the Jebusites, this work was at last done by the tribe of Judah, who therefore had an interest in it by the right of war; as Ziklag, which belonged to the tribe of Simeon, being gotten from the Philistines by David, was adjoined by him to his tribe of Judah, 1Sa 27:6 .
Haydock -> Jos 15:8
Haydock: Jos 15:8 - -- Ennom. Hebrew, Ge-ben-Hinnom, or simply Ge-ennom, whence Gehanan has probably been formed. In this vale, children were immolated to Moloc: the beat...
Ennom. Hebrew, Ge-ben-Hinnom, or simply Ge-ennom, whence Gehanan has probably been formed. In this vale, children were immolated to Moloc: the beating of drums, to hinder their lamentations from being heard, caused it perhaps to be called Tophet. It was to the east of Jerusalem, (Calmet) inclining to the south. (Haydock) ---
Northward. The valley extends south to Bethlehem. (Josephus, [Antiquities?] vii. 10.) Her David gained a great victory, 2 Kings v. 23. (Calmet) ---
Woods. This explanation is added by St. Jerome. (Haydock) ---
The ark remained at this city for some time, 1 Kings xv. 6. It was 10 miles north of Jerusalem.
Gill -> Jos 15:8
Gill: Jos 15:8 - -- And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom,.... Which belonged to a man of that name formerly; and was near Jerusalem, placed by Jerom ...
And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom,.... Which belonged to a man of that name formerly; and was near Jerusalem, placed by Jerom l to the east of it; but Reland m rather thinks it is to the south. It was infamous for the sacrifices of children to Moloch in it, by burning them, or causing them to pass through fire: hence, in allusion to it, hell fire is often in the New Testament called "Geenna", Mat 5:22 Luk 12:5; this border from the salt sea, and from Jordan, is all along said to "go up", because from hence to Jerusalem was an ascent, that lying on higher ground:
unto the south side of the Jebusite; of the place the Jebusite inhabited:
the same is Jerusalem; which was formerly called Jebus, from the inhabitants of it; yea, Jebusi, as here, and so may intend not the inhabitants, but the place, see Jos 18:28; and here the Jebusites lived, at least in some part of it, until the time of David, 2Sa 5:6,
and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward: which is generally supposed to be the mount Moriah:
which is at the end of the valley of the giants, northward: the valley of Rephaim, as it is called 2Sa 5:18, and here Mount Moriah, as it was to the west of the valley of Hinnom, it was to the north of the valley of Rephaim; which valley, as Josephus n says, was not far from Jerusalem, twenty furlongs from it. Some late travellers o tell us it lies in the way from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, and is not above two hours' ride from the former. From this account it appears, as Jarchi remarks, that Jerusalem was not within the line, and was not in the border of Judah, but of Benjamin, which tribe lay to the north of Judah: it seems indeed to have been one part of it in the tribe of Judah, and the other in the tribe of Benjamin; though the Jews frequently say it did not belong to either tribe.

expand allCommentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

expand allCommentary -- Verse Range Notes
TSK Synopsis -> Jos 15:1-63
TSK Synopsis: Jos 15:1-63 - --1 The borders of the lot Judah.13 Caleb's portion and conquest.16 Othniel, for his valour, hath Achsah, Caleb's daughter, to wife.18 She obtains a ble...
MHCC -> Jos 15:1-12
MHCC: Jos 15:1-12 - --Joshua allotted to Judah, Ephraim, and the half of Manasseh, their inheritances before they left Gilgal. Afterwards removing to Shiloh, another survey...
Matthew Henry -> Jos 15:1-12
Matthew Henry: Jos 15:1-12 - -- Judah and Joseph were the two sons of Jacob on whom Reuben's forfeited birth-right devolved. Judah had the dominion entailed on him, and Joseph the ...
Keil-Delitzsch -> Jos 15:1-12
Keil-Delitzsch: Jos 15:1-12 - --
Boundaries of the inheritance of the tribe of Judah . - Jos 15:1. Its situation in the land. " And there was (i.e., fell, or came out; cf. Jos 16:1...
Constable: Jos 13:1--21:45 - --II. THE DIVISION OF THE LAND chs. 13--21
Chapters 13-24 describe how Joshua divided the land and the results of ...

Constable: Jos 15:1-63 - --3. Judah's inheritance ch. 15
The tribe of Judah probably received first consideration in the te...
