Secondly, That husbands and wives should mutually advise, and jointly agree about that which is for the common good of their family; and much more should they concur in asking of their heavenly Father the best blessings, those of the upper springs. Thirdly, That parents must never think that lost, which is bestowed upon their children for their real advantage, but must be free in giving them portions as well as maintenance, especially when they are dutiful. Caleb had sons, 1 Chron. 4. 15. and yet gave thus liberally to his daughter. Those parents forget themselves and their relations, who grudge their children what is convenient for them, when they can conveniently part with it.
20. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families. 21. And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah, toward the coast of Edom southward, were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur, 22. And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah, 23. And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan, 24. Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth, 25. And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor, 26. Amam, and Shema, and Moladah, 27. And Hazar-gaddah, and Heshmon, and Beth-palet, 28. And Hazar-shual, and Beer-sheba, and Bizjothjah, 29. Baalah, and Iim, and Azem, 30. And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah, 31. And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah, 32. And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages: 33. And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah, 34. And Zanoah, and En-gannim, Tappuah, and Enam, 35. Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah, 36. And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages: 37. Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdal-gad, 38. And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel, 39. Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon, 40. And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish, 41. And Gederoth, Beth-dagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages: 42. Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, 43. And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, 44. And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages. 45. Ekron with her towns and her villages: 46. From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages: 47. Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof: 48. And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh, 49. And Dannah, and Kirjath-sannah, which is Debir, 50. And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim, 51. And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages: 52. Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean, 53. And Janum, and Beth-tappuah, and Aphekah, 54. And Humtah, and Kirjath-arba (which is Hebron,) and Zior; nine cities with their villages: 55. Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah, 56. And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah, 57. Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages: 58. Halhul, Beth-zur, and Gedor, 59. And Maarath, and Beth-anoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages: 60. Kirjath-baal (which is Kirjath-jearim,) and Rabbah; two cities with their villages: 61. In the wilderness, Beth-arabah, Middin, and Secacah, 62. And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and En-gedi; six cities with their villages. 63; As for the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto, this day.
We have here a list of the several cities that fell within the lot of the tribe of Judah, which are mentioned by name, that they might know their own, and both keep it, and keep to it, and might, neither through cowardice nor sloth, lose the possession of what was their own, nor through covetousness, seek the possession of what was not their own. The cities are here named, and numbered in several classes, which they then could account for the reason of, better than we can now. Here are, 1. Some that are said to be the uttermost cities toward the coast of Eden, v. 21··32. Here are thirty-eight named, and yet said to be twenty-nine, v. 32. because nine of these were afterward transferred to the lot of Simeon, and are reckoned as belonging to that, as appears by comparing ch. 19. 2, &c. therefore those only are counted, (though the rest are named,) which remained to Judah. 2. Others that are said to be in the valley, v. 33. are counted to be fourteen, yet fifteen are named; but it is probable, that Gederah, and Gederothaim were either two names, or two parts, of one and the same city. 3. Then sixteen are named without any head of distinction, v. 37··41. and nine more, 42··44. 4. Then the three Philistine cities, Ekron, Ashdod, and Gaza, v. 45··47. 5. Cities in the mountains, eleven in all, v. 48··51. nine more, v. 52··54. ten more, v. 55··57. six more, v. 58, 59. then two, v. 60. and six in the wilderness, a part of the country not so thick of inhabitants as some others were.
Now here, (1.) We do not find Bethlehem, which was afterward the city of David, and was ennobled by the birth of our Lord Jesus in it. But that city, which at the best was but little among the thousands of Judah, Mic. 5. 2. except that it was thus dignified, was now so little as not to be accounted one of the cities, but perhaps was one of the villages not named. Christ came to give honour to the places he was related to, not to receive honour from them. (2.) Jerusalem is said to continue in the hands of the Jebusites, v. 63, for the children of Judah could not drive them out, through their sluggishness, stupidity and unbelief; had they attempted it with vigour and resolution, we have reason to think God would not have been wanting to them, to give them success; but they could not do it, because they would not. Jerusalem was afterward to be the holy city, the royal city,
Vol. ii.—K
