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英文原文
In this chapter we have, I. The setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh, Jos 18:1. II. The stirring up of the seven tribes that were yet unsettled to look after their lot, and the putting of them in a method for it, by Joshua, Jos 18:2-7. III. The distributing of the land into seven lots, by certain men employed for that purpose, Jos 18:8,9. IV. The determining of these seven portions to the seven tribes yet unprovided for by lot, Jos 18:10. V. The particular lot of the tribe of Benjamin, the borders of it, Jos 18:11-20. And the cities contained in it, Jos 18:21-28. The other six tribes we shall find well provided for in the next chapter.
1
The Tabernacle at Shiloh (1444 BC)
示罗的会幕（主前1444年）
¹ 以色列的全会众都聚集在示罗，把会幕设立在那里；那地在他们面前被制伏了。
在分地的故事之中，此处插入设立会幕的记载。会幕至今一直留在原处，即在营盘的中央；但如今，过去在旷野环绕它的四个方阵中，已有三个因犹大、以法莲、流便各支派迁往各自的产业而解散削弱，只剩下但支派一方仍完整；如今是将会幕本身迁入城中之时了。祭司和利未人在旷野中已多次照所受的指示拆卸、扛抬、再行支搭会幕（民4:5-33等）；但如今他们要一劳永逸地如此行——它的橛子不可再被拔出，它的绳索也不可再被折断（赛33:20）。请观察：
I. 会幕迁至、并在其中支搭的地方。那就是示罗——以法莲支派境内的一座城，但紧贴便雅悯的境界。无疑神自己以某种方式指引他们到此地，因为他曾应许要选择一处使他名得居住之地（申12:11）。最有可能的是，神借乌陵的审判在此事上表明了他的心意。选定此地，1. 是因为它在迦南地的中心——比耶路撒冷更近中央，因此更便于全以色列从各地前来聚集；会幕在旷野原在他们营盘的中央，如今也当在国家的中央——因为这是使全地成圣的所在，是在他们中间的荣耀。见诗46:5。2. 是因为它在约书亚所属的支派境内——他如今是他们的行政长官；将会幕设在他附近，既为他增荣、为他方便，也对那地有益。以色列的见证和审判的宝座本当同处（诗122:4,5）。3. 有人认为选定此地也有顾及其名的意思——示罗乃临终的雅各在预言中对弥赛亚的称呼（创49:10），而这预言在犹太人中无疑众所周知；会幕之设于示罗，给他们一个提示：雅各所说的那位示罗之中，这属世圣所的一切典章都将在一个更大、更完全的帐幕里得着成全（来9:1,11）。赖特Foot博士认为，会幕之所以设在此处而称为示罗，是因为此时那地的太平——正如日后他的圣殿设在撒冷——撒冷也是太平之意。
II. 设立会幕的庄严方式：全会众都聚集参与这盛典，向神的约柜——他同在的标记——致敬，并欢迎它定居于此。每一个以色列人都与此相关，因此众人都在此场合表明他们的喜乐和满足。见撒下6:15。会幕迁至示罗时，那些仍在营中的支派大概从吉甲拔营，在示罗四周安扎——因为每一个真以色列人都愿定居在神的会幕所定居之处。此处提及"那地在他们面前被制伏了"，为要表明这一带至少已被彻底征服，他们未遇抵抗，也不必忧虑危险，便以为此时当因神在他们一系列持续的得胜中所赐的福，向他献上感恩的承认。他们一到有了稳妥之地便首先顾念使约柜得以安居——这是他们在迦南得着舒适安居的好预兆。约柜在此延续约三百年，直到以利家的罪恶使约柜被弃、失落，又毁了示罗；示罗的废墟许久之后被用来作为耶路撒冷的警诫。你们只管到我的地方示罗去，察看我先前所行的（耶7:12；诗78:60）。
英文原文
The Tabernacle at Shiloh (1444 BC)
¹ And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
In the midst of the story of the dividing of the land comes in this account of the setting up of the tabernacle, which had hitherto continued in its old place in the centre of their camp; but now that three of the four squadrons that used to surround it in the wilderness were broken and diminished, those of Judah, Ephraim, and Reuben, by the removal of those tribes to their respective possessions, and that of Dan only remained entire, it was time to think of removing the tabernacle itself into a city. Many a time the priests and Levites had taken it down, carried it, and set it up again in the wilderness, according to the directions given them (Nu 4:5-33, etc.); but now they must do it for good and all, not one of the stakes thereof must any more be removed, nor any of the cords thereof broken, Isa 33:20. Observe,
I. The place to which the tabernacle was removed, and in which it was set up. It was Shiloh, a city in the lot of Ephraim, but lying close upon the lot of Benjamin. Doubtless God himself did some way or other direct them to this place, for he had promised to choose the place where he would make his name to dwell, De 12:11. It is most probable God made known his mind in this matter by the judgment of Urim. This place was pitched upon, 1. Because it was in the heart of the country, nearer the centre than Jerusalem was, and therefore the more convenient for the meeting of all Israel there from the several parts of the country; it had been in the midst of their camp in the wilderness, and therefore must now be in the midst of their nation, as that which sanctified the whole, and was the glory in the midst of them. See Ps 46:5. 2. Because it was in the lot of that tribe of which Joshua was, who was now their chief magistrate, and it would be both for his honour and convenience and for the advantage of the country to have it near him. The testimony of Israel and the thrones of judgment do well together, Ps 122:4,5. 3. Some think there was an eye to the name of the place, Shiloh being the name by which the Messiah was known in dying Jacob's prophecy (Ge 49:10), which prophecy, no doubt, was well known among the Jews; the setting up of the tabernacle in Shiloh gave them a hint that in that Shiloh whom Jacob spoke of all the ordinances of this worldly sanctuary should have their accomplishment in a greater and more perfect tabernacle, Heb 9:1,11. And Dr. Lightfoot thinks that the place where the tabernacle was set up was therefore called Shiloh, because of the peaceableness of the land at this time; as afterwards in Salem was his temple, which also signifies peaceable.
II. The solemn manner of doing it: The whole congregation assembled together to attend the solemnity, to do honour to the ark of God, as the token of his presence, and to bid it welcome to its settlement. Every Israelite was interested in it, and therefore all testified their joy and satisfaction upon this occasion. See 2Sa 6:15. It is probable those tribes that were yet encamped when the tabernacle was removed to Shiloh decamped from Gilgal and pitched about Shiloh, for every true Israelite will desire to fix where God's tabernacle fixed. Mention is made, on this occasion, of the land being subdued before them, to intimate that the country, hereabouts at least, being thoroughly reduced, they met with no opposition, nor were they apprehensive of any danger, but thought it time to make this grateful acknowledgment of God's goodness to them in the constant series of successes with which he had blessed them. It was a good presage of a comfortable settlement to themselves in Canaan, when their first care was to see the ark well settled as soon as they had a safe place ready to settle it in. Here the ark continued about 300 years, till the sins of Eli's house forfeited the ark, lost it and ruined Shiloh, and its ruins were long after made use of as warnings to Jerusalem. Go, see what I did to Shiloh, Jer 7:12, Ps 78:60.
2-10
Joshua Reproves the Unsettled Tribes (1444 BC)
约书亚责备尚未安居的支派（公元前1444年）
² 以色列人中尚有七个支派没有分得产业。 ³ 约书亚对以色列人说：耶和华你们列祖的神所赐给你们的地，你们懈怠不去得，要到几时呢？ ⁴ 你们每支派当派出三人，我要打发他们去，他们要起身走遍那地，按着各支派的产业把它描述下来，然后回到我这里。 ⁵ 他们要将地分作七份：犹大仍住在南方的境界上，约瑟的家仍住在北方的境界上。 ⁶ 你们要将这地分作七份，描述清楚，拿到我这里来，我好在这里为你们在耶和华我们神面前拈阘。 ⁷ 利未人在你们中间没有份，因为耶和华的祭司职任就是他们的产业；迦得、流便和玛拿西半支派，已经在约旦河东得着了耶和华仆人摩西所给他们的产业。 ⁸ 那些人就起身去了；约书亚吩咐那些去描述那地的人说：你们去走遍那地，把它描述下来，再回到我这里，我好在示罗为你们在耶和华面前拈阘。 ⁹ 那些人就去了，走遍那地，按着城邑把它分作七份，写在册子上，回到示罗营中约书亚那里。 ¹⁰ 约书亚就在示罗在耶和华面前为他们拈阘；约书亚就在那里按着以色列人的分，将地分给他们。
此处，I．约书亚责备那些尚未定居的支派，因他们不奋发图强、去取得神所赐之地的安身之所。尚有七个支派未得供应，虽确知必有产业，却不知在何处；看来他们对此并不大挂虑（书 18:2）。约书亚与他们理论（书 18:3）：你们懈怠要到几时呢？ 1．他们过于满足眼前的光景，宁可大家聚在一起生活——人越多越热闹——并且像巴别塔的建造者那样，不愿分散、解散了好同伴。他们所夺取城邑的掠物，足以供他们目前丰足地过活，于是他们把将来的念头抛诸脑后。也许犹大和约瑟这两个支派——他们已经在邻近之地得着了产业——慷慨款待那些尚未得供应的弟兄，于是他们在朋友家中从一家吃到另一家，对此不但不因被推迟而不满，反而十分惬意，懒得去自己家中。2．他们懒惰拖延。也许他们巴不得这事作成，却没有心去做，也不愿着手进行，虽然这事对他们自己的益处如此之大；正如懒惰人把手藏在怀里，甚至不肯放到口边。尚待分配的各处离得甚远，其中有些地方还在迦南人手中。他们若要去占领，必须重建或修缮城邑，必须赶着牛群羊群走远路，必须把妻儿带到陌生之地，这事非得费心费力、克服艰难不可；如此，看风的必不撒种，望云的必不收割（传 11:4）。当注意，许多人因表面上的艰难，就偏离了真实的本分，被挡在真实的安慰之外。神借着恩典已赐我们一块美地的所有权——天上的迦南，我们却懈怠不去取得；我们没有因信、因望、因圣洁的喜乐而进入那安息；我们也没有借着思念上面的事、把交通放在那里而活在天堂。这事在我们身上要到几时呢？我们这样挡了自己的光，为虚谎的虚空舍弃自己的福分，要到几时呢？约书亚感到这种耽延的不便：当他们疏于占领已被征服之地时，迦南人正在恢复力量和勇气，在他们手中尚未被取的地方加固自己；这将使他们全然被驱逐更加困难。他们若不乘胜追击，就会失去优势；因此约书亚如鹰搅动巢窝一般，激励他们去占领自己的份。只要他们肯尽自己的本分，他已准备好尽他的本分。
II．他为他们指明一条得以安居之路。
1．尚存之地必须丈量，对各城及其附属境界加以登记（书 18:4）。这要分为七份均等的份，尽量照他们对其真实价值的估计——他们当着眼于此，而不是单看城邑的数目和地的广度。犹大固定在示罗以南，约瑟固定在以北，以保护会幕（书 18:5），所以他们不必描述自己的境界，只描述那些尚未分配的境界。他给了一个理由（书 18:7）为何只可分作七份：因为利未人不可有属世的产业（如我们所说），只有他们的圣俸——这圣俸是世袭归于他们家族的：耶和华的祭司职任就是他们的产业；这是何等尊荣、何等舒适、何等丰盛的产业。迦得、流便和玛拿西半支派已经安置好了，不必再为他们操心。如今，(1.) 测量员是从那七个待供应的支派每支派中各出三人（书 18:4），共二十一人；他们大概为了更快办事——因为他们已耽误了时日——把自己分成三组，每组各支派一人，各负责一个测量区域。事情如此均平交托，免得在拟定七份时有所偏私，也免得引起丝毫嫌疑，使大家都满意自己受了公正的对待。(2.) 测量工作照此完成，呈报约书亚（书 18:8、9）。约瑟夫说这事作了七个月。我们当在其中注意：[1.] 受任者的信心与勇气：当时尚有大量迦南人留在那地，都如失去幼崽的母熊一般对以色列狂怒；这些测量员的事很快就会被知晓，他们除了被埋伏、被凶恶的窥伺者击破脑壳之外，还能指望什么呢？然而因顺服约书亚的命令，并倚靠神的大能，他们这样把自己的性命拿在手中，为国效力。[2.] 神善良的护理保护他们脱离所暴露于其中的种种死亡，使他们全都平安回到示罗营中。当我们在尽本分的路上，就是在全能者的特别保护之下。
2．既已丈量、并为七份之后，约书亚便要借着向神求问、并从祂得指示，断定哪一份当归哪个支派（书 18:6）：我好在这里——在会幕那里（因为这是圣事）——在我们神耶和华面前为你们拈阘；各支派当向祂举目，为所得境界的便利而感恩，并顺服其中的不便。我们在世上所有的，当承认是属神的财产，并在祂面前按公义、怜悯、并倚靠护理来处置。天上的迦南在一本书——就是圣经——中向我们描述出来，其中有足够的宅第和份量，足供神属灵的以色列众人。基督是我们的约书亚，把那地分给我们。我们当仰望祂，并向祂求问，好得着与众圣徒在光明中同得的产业。参约 17:2、3。
英文原文
Joshua Reproves the Unsettled Tribes (1444 BC)
² And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
³ And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
⁴ Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
⁵ And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
⁶ Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
⁷ But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
⁸ And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.
⁹ And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
¹⁰ And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.
Here, I. Joshua reproves those tribes which were yet unsettled that they did not bestir themselves to gain a settlement in the land which God had given them. Seven tribes were yet unprovided for, though sure of an inheritance, yet uncertain where it should be, and it seems in no great care about it, Jos 18:2. And with them Joshua reasons (Jos 18:3): How long are you slack? 1. They were too well pleased with their present condition, liked well enough to live in a body together, the more the merrier, and, like the Babel-builders, had no mind to be scattered abroad and break good company. The spoil of the cities they had taken served them to live plentifully upon for the present, and they banished the thoughts of time to come. Perhaps the tribes of Judah and Joseph, who had already received their inheritance in the countries next adjoining, were generous in entertaining their brethren who were yet unprovided for, so that they went from one good house to another among their friends, with which, instead of grudging that they were postponed, they were so well pleased that they cared not for going to houses of their own. 2. They were slothful and dilatory. It may be they wished the thing done, but had not spirit to stir in it, or move towards the doing of it, though it was so much for their own advantage; like the sluggard, that hides his hand in his bosom, and it grieves him to bring it to his mouth again. The countries that remained to be divided lay at a distance, and some parts of them in the hands of the Canaanites. If they go to take possession of them, the cities must be rebuilt or repaired, they must drive their flocks and herds a great way, and carry their wives and children to strange places, and this will not be done without care and pains, and breaking through some hardships; thus he that observes the wind shall not sow, and he that regards the clouds shall not reap, Ec 11:4. Note, Many are diverted from real duties, and debarred from real comforts, by seeming difficulties. God by his grace has given us a title to a good land, the heavenly Canaan, but we are slack to take possession; we enter not into that rest, as we might by faith, and hope, and holy joy; we live not in heaven, as we might by setting our affections on things above and having our conversation there. How long shall it be thus with us? How long shall we thus stand in our own light, and forsake our own mercies for lying vanities? Joshua was sensible of the inconveniences of this delay, that, while they neglected to take possession of the land that was conquered, the Canaanites were recovering strength and spirit, and fortifying themselves in the places that were yet in their hands, which would make the total expulsion of them the more difficult. They would lose their advantages by not following their blow; and therefore, as an eagle stirreth up her nest, so Joshua stirs them up to take possession of their lot. He is ready to do his part, if they will but do theirs.
II. He puts them in a way to settle themselves.
1. The land that remained must be surveyed, an account taken of the cities, and the territories belonging to them, Jos 18:4. These must be divided into seven equal parts, as near as they could guess at their true value, which they must have an eye to, and not merely to the number of the cities and extent of the country. Judah is fixed on the south and Joseph on the north of Shiloh, to protect the tabernacle (Jos 18:5), and therefore they need not describe their country, but those countries only that were yet undisposed of. He gives a reason (Jos 18:7) why they must divide it into seven parts only, because the Levites were to have no temporal estate (as we say), but their benefices only, which were entailed upon their families: The priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance, and a very honourable, comfortable, plentiful inheritance it was. Gad and Reuben, with half of the tribe of Manasseh, were already fixed, and needed not to have any further care taken of them. Now, (1.) The surveyors were three men out of each of the seven tribes that were to be provided for (Jos 18:4), one-and-twenty in all, who perhaps for greater expedition, because they had already lost time, divided themselves into three companies, one of each tribe in each company, and took each their district to survey. The matter was thus referred equally, that there might be neither any partiality used in making up the seven lots, nor any shadow of suspicion given, but all might be satisfied that they had right done them. (2.) The survey was accordingly made, and brought in to Joshua, Jos 18:8,9. Josephus says it was seven months in the doing. And we must in it observe, [1.] The faith and courage of the persons employed: abundance of Canaanites remained in the land, and all raging against Israel, as a bear robbed of her whelps; the business of these surveyors would soon be known, and what could they expect but to be way-laid, and have their brains knocked out by the fierce observers? But in obedience to Joshua's command, and in dependence upon God's power, they thus put their lives in their hands to serve their country. [2.] The good providence of God in protecting them from the many deaths they were exposed to, and bringing them all safely again to the host at Shiloh. When we are in the way of our duty we are under the special protection of the Almighty.
2. When it was surveyed, and reduced to seven lots, then Joshua would, by appeal to God, and direction from him, determine which of these lots should belong to each tribe (Jos 18:6): That I may cast lots for you here at the tabernacle (because it was a sacred transaction) before the Lord our God, to whom each tribe must have an eye, with thankfulness for the conveniences and submission to the inconveniences of their allotment. What we have in the world we must acknowledge God's property in, and dispose of it as before him, with justice, and charity, and dependence upon Providence. The heavenly Canaan is described to us in a book, the book of the scriptures, and there are in it mansions and portions sufficient for all God's spiritual Israel. Christ is our Joshua that divides it to us. On him we must attend, and to him we must apply for an inheritance with the saints in light. See Joh 17:2,3.
11-28
The Lot of Benjamin (1444 BC)
便雅悯的拈阘（公元前1444年）
¹¹ 便雅悯子孙按着宗族的拈阘出来了；他们拈阘之地的境界，是从犹大子孙和约瑟子孙中间出来的。 ¹² 他们北面的境界是从约旦起；境界往上到耶利哥的北边，又往西上到山地，直通到伯亚文旷野为止。 ¹³ 又从那里往南转到路斯，贴近路斯（就是伯特利）的旁边；境界又下到亚他录亚达，靠近下伯和仑南边的山。 ¹⁴ 境界又从那里往外延长，向西绕过海角，从伯和仑南边对面的山起，直通到基列巴力（就是基列耶琳，属犹大子孙的城）：这是西面。 ¹⁵ 南面是从基列耶琳的尽头起，境界往西出来，出到尼弗多亚的水泉； ¹⁶ 又下到欣嫩子谷前面山岭的尽头，就是利乏音谷北边的山岭；又下到欣嫩子谷，贴近耶布斯（耶路撒冷）的南边，又下到隐罗结； ¹⁷ 又往北延长，出到隐示麦，通到亚都冥坡对面的基利绿；又下到流便之子波罕的磐石； ¹⁸ 又向北通到亚拉巴对面的山岭，下到亚拉巴； ¹⁹ 又向北通到伯曷拉的对面；境界的尽头是盐海北边的海湾，就是约旦河的南端：这是南界。 ²⁰ 约旦河是它东面的境界。这便是便雅悯子孙按着宗族、四围的境界所得的产业。 ²¹ 便雅悯子孙按着宗族的城邑就是：耶利哥、伯曷拉、基底斯、 ²² 伯亚拉巴、洗玛临、伯特利、 ²³ 亚文、巴拉、俄弗拉、 ²⁴ 基非阿摩尼、俄弗尼、迦巴：共十二座城，还有属城的村庄。 ²⁵ 基遍、拉玛、比录、 ²⁶ 米斯巴、基非拉、摩撒、 ²⁷ 利坚、伊勒比勒、他拉拉、 ²⁸ 洗拉、以利弗、耶布斯（就是耶路撒冷）、基比亚、和基列：共十四座城，还有属城的村庄。这便是便雅悯子孙按着宗族所得的产业。
我们在此看见便雅悯支派的拈阘——护理如此安排，使它一面紧贴约瑟，因为便雅悯是约瑟的同母弟兄，又是年幼的便雅悯（诗 68:27），需要大约瑟的保护；然而他有一位更好的保护者，因为耶和华必终日遮蔽他（申 33:12）。另一面又紧贴犹大，使这一支派日后可与犹大联合，忠于大卫的宝座和耶路撒冷的圣殿。此处有：1．这一支派精确的境界和界限，我们不必在解释上过于细究。它既南有犹大、北有约瑟，便东有约旦、西有但。据说西界向西绕过海角（书 18:14），然而这一支派的拈阘没有一处靠近大海。帕特里克主教以为其意是：境界虽在远处，却与大海平行延伸。富勒博士则提议：此处既不称为大海，只称为海——而海常指任何湖泊或水池——或指基遍之池，这池可称为海的一个角或湾；它被称为基遍的大水（耶 41:12），并被这一支派的西界所环绕。2．这一支派中的具体城邑——并非全部，而是最重要的。此处列名二十六座。耶利戈列于首位，虽已被拆毁，且被禁止重建为有城门城墙的城邑，但它可被建造、有人居住为乡村，所以对这一支派并非无用。扫罗被立为王时以色列初次扎营的吉甲（撒上 11:15），也在这一支派之内。后来这地成为极不虔之地。何 9:15：他们一切的恶事都在吉甲。伯特利在这一支派之内——一处著名之地。虽然便雅悯归从大卫家，但伯特利看来却在约瑟家的占有之下（士 1:23-25），耶罗波安就在那里设立了他的一个牛犊。在这一支派内有基遍——所罗门时代初期设坛之处（代下 1:3）。又有基比亚——那使利未人之妾被污辱的臭名昭著之地。米斯巴，以及附近的撒母耳之以便以谢，又有亚拿突——耶利米之城，都在这一支派之内；耶路撒冷的北部也属此支派。保罗是这一支派的荣耀（罗 11:1；腓 3:5）；但他的地在哪里我们不知道：他寻求那更美的家乡。
英文原文
The Lot of Benjamin (1444 BC)
¹¹ And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
¹² And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
¹³ And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Beth-el, southward; and the border descended to Ataroth-adar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Beth-horon.
¹⁴ And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Beth-horon southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjath-baal, which is Kirjath-jearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
¹⁵ And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:
¹⁶ And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to En-rogel,
¹⁷ And was drawn from the north, and went forth to En-shemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,
¹⁸ And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:
¹⁹ And the border passed along to the side of Beth-hoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.
²⁰ And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
²¹ Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Beth-hoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
²² And Beth-arabah, and Zemaraim, and Beth-el,
²³ And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
²⁴ And Chephar-haammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
²⁵ Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
²⁶ And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
²⁷ And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
²⁸ And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
We have here the lot of the tribe of Benjamin, which Providence cast next to Joseph on the one hand, because Benjamin was own and only brother to Joseph, and was little Benjamin (Ps 68:27), that needed the protection of great Joseph, and yet had a better protector, for the Lord shall cover him all the day long, De 33:12. And it was next to Judah on the other hand, that this tribe might hereafter unite with Judah in an adherence to the throne of David and the temple at Jerusalem. Here we have, 1. The exact borders and limits of this tribe, which we need not be exact in the explication of. As it had Judah on the south and Joseph on the north, so it had Jordan on the east and Dan on the west. The western border is said to compass the corner of the sea southward (Jos 18:14), whereas no part of the lot of this tribe came near to the great sea. Bishop Patrick thinks the meaning is that it ran along in a parallel line to the great sea, though at a distance. Dr. Fuller suggests that since it is not called the great sea, but only the sea, which often signifies any lake or mere, it may be meant of the pool of Gibeon, which may be called a corner or canton of the sea; it is called the great waters of Gibeon (Jer 41:12), and it is compassed by the western border of this tribe. 2. The particular cities in this tribe, not all, but the most considerable. Twenty-six are here named. Jericho is put first, though dismantled, and forbidden to be rebuilt as a city with gates and walls, because it might be built and inhabited as a country village, and so was not useless to this tribe. Gilgal, where Israel first encamped when Saul was made king (1Sa 11:15), was in this tribe. It was afterwards a very profane place. Ho 9:15, All their wickedness is in Gilgal. Beth-el was in this tribe, a famous place. Though Benjamin adhered to the house of David, yet Beth-el, it seems, was in the possession of the house of Joseph (Jdg 1:23-25), and there Jeroboam set up one of his calves. In this tribe was Gibeon, where the altar was in the beginning of Solomon's time, 2Ch 1:3. Gibeah likewise, that infamous place where the Levite's concubine was abused. Mizpeh, and near it Samuel's Ebenezer, and also Anathoth, Jeremiah's city, were in this tribe, as was the northern part of Jerusalem. Paul was the honour of this tribe (Ro 11:1, Php 3:5); but where his land lay we know not: he sought the better country.
约书亚记第十八章
在本章中，I. 在示罗设立会幕，书 18:1。II. 约书亚激励那尚未得地的七个支派去留意自己的份，并为他们在得地的事上设立方法，书 18:2-7。III. 由特派人员将地分为七份，书 18:8,9。IV. 这七份地通过拈阄分给那尚未受分的七个支派，书 18:10。V. 便雅悯支派所得的特定份，及其疆界，书 18:11-20。以及其中所包括的城邑，书 18:21-28。其余六个支派的份，我们将在下一章看见都已得了妥善的分派。