Глава 13

1. Areas of the land of Canaan not conquered by the Israelites. 8. General outline of the East Jordan country, which fell to two and a half tribes. 14. Special inheritance of the tribe of Levi. 15. Borders and most important cities of the inheritance of the Reuben tribe. 24. Borders and cities of the inheritance of the tribe of Gad. 29. Borders and cities of the inheritance of the half-tribe of Manasseh 33. The highest inheritance of the tribe of Levi. Joshua 13:1. When Jesus grew old and entered into old age, then the Lord said to him: you have grown old, you have entered old age, and there is still a lot of land left to inherit. Both the entry into the land of Canaan (Joshua 1:2) and its transfer to the people of Israel are carried out by special divine command. The Lord points to the advanced age of Joshua, who, as one might think, was already 85 years old (Joshua 14:10), as the reason for this command. Since the Israeli leader had reached old age, he therefore had to, despite the incompleteness of the conquest (Joshua 13:2–6), begin to divide the land of Canaan between the Israelite tribes, which should serve as the fulfillment of the divine promise of giving this land to the people (Joshua 13:7). The word “elderly” was added by Russian translators for greater emphasis. Joshua 13:2. This land remains: all the districts of the Philistines and all the land of Geshur [and Canaanite]. Joshua 13:3. From Sihor, which is in front of Egypt, to the borders of Ekron to the north, five rulers of the Philistines are considered Canaanite: Gaza, Ashdod, Ascalon, Gath, Ekron and Avite; The enumeration of unconquered areas begins in the southwest, with the Philistine coast, on which were located the five districts or individual regions listed below. Called next to the Philistine districts (literally) “all Gessuria” (Hebrew “kol gaggeshuri” - about Γεσουρι according to the Alexandrian list), of course, different from the border of Geshur (Joshua 12:5; 2 Sam. 15:8), the region lying south of the Philistine coast, the inhabitants of which are mentioned in 1 Samuel 27:8. The words “[and Canaanite]” are added in accordance with the Greek-Slavic translation; In making this addition, the Greek translators had in mind other unconquered areas, which are indicated in Joshua 13:4-6. The land of the Philistines and Geshur extended from south to north “from Sihor, which is in front of Egypt to ... Ekron.” The name “Sihor” (in Hebrew “shikhor”, which means “muddy, dark”), is taken by LXX as a common noun and conveyed through ἀοικήτου, hence the Slavic “from the uninhabited” land, of course. This word is also translated into a common noun by Blessed Jerome (and fluvio turbido - “from a muddy river”), but is referred not to the earth, but to the river, which, of course, is in this place. Sihor refers to the “stream of Egypt,” which served as the southern border of the land of Canaan and currently bears the name “Wadi el-Arish” (see Numbers 34:5). Ekron, according to the Greek-Slavic translation "Ekron", belonged to Judah (Joshua 15:11,45), and then to the tribe of Dan (Joshua 19:43), the northernmost of the 5 Philistine cities, was located on the site of the present village of Aker, east of Jamnia (Holy Land, II, 180). “Considered to be Canaanite...”, i.e. the possessions of these princes, although their population was not of Canaanite origin (Gen. 10:14), are part of the land of Canaan and belong to the possessions of the Israelites. For Gaza and then Gath, see Joshua 11:22. “Askelon” was conquered after the death of Joshua (Judges 1:18), but not for long (1 Samuel 6:17). It was located on the very shore of the Mediterranean Sea, about 20 versts north of Gaza. In its place there remained extensive ruins along with the wall surrounding it. Since the last destruction in 1270, “no human habitation has arisen from its ruins” (Holy Land, II, 2021), in fulfillment of ancient prophecies (Zech. 9:5; Zeph. 2:4). "Abwei", or, literally from Hebrew, Avvei; this was the name of the ancient people who “lived in villages as far as Gaza” (Deut. 2:23), enslaved by the Philistines, but retaining their existence until the time of Joshua. Where his possessions were located, an indication of this is the initial saying of Joshua 13:4: “to the south” (in Hebrew “mitgeman”, according to the Greek-Slavic translation “from Teman”), if this saying is combined with the final words of Joshua 13:3, for which there are sufficient grounds. Such grounds are, firstly, the evidence of ancient translations: Greek LXX, Latin and Syriac, in which the expression “from Teman” is placed in close connection with the name Abbea 117, and, secondly, the fact that when referring the chapters “to the south” to Joshua 13:4, a geographically incomprehensible expression is obtained, since the latter would speak about the entire land of Canaan, located south of the Philistine coast and together with that to the north of it, where “Meara of Sidon” was located (Joshua 13:4). By “all the land of Canaan to the south” we can here refer to the southernmost part of Canaan (the so-called Negev), the conquest of which is spoken of in Joshua 10:40 and Joshua 11:16 (“took ... the whole land of midday”). In this southern part there could, of course, be some area that was not conquered, but the expression “to the south... the whole land of Canaan” (Joshua 13:4) could not be used about it. The incomprehensibility of this expression in a geographical sense prompts us to admit, contrary to the accepted division of this place into verses, the correctness of the ancient translations and, in accordance with them, to attribute the expression to the south to Joshua 13:3, and the Aabites are depicted by the biblical writer as living south of the Philistine coast, in the desert, extending from it further “to Sihor ... before Egypt.” Joshua 13:4. to the south is all the land of Canaan from Meara of Sidon to Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites, From the south of the land of Canaan, the biblical narrator turns to the north, where he points to the entire “land of Canaan” (in Hebrew “Gak-Kenaani”), or Canaanite, which was not conquered under Joshua, by which is meant the coastal strip of land in the northern part of Canaan, occupied by the Canaanites or Phoenicians, who in other places (Josh. 5: 1, 11: 3, cf. Numbers 13:30, etc.) are depicted as living by the sea “From Meara of Sidon to Aphek”: literally from Hebrew. "and Meara Sidonian." The Hebrew word "meara" means "cave", "depression"; in this common sense it is used in Joshua 10:18 (“to the opening of the cave”). In this place, according to the translation of Blessed Jerome (et Maara Sydoniorum), it is taken as the proper name of the area. Meara of Sidon refers to a district in the Lebanese Mountains, which is famous for the numerous caves located in it. It is located east of Sidon and is currently called Mugar (cave) Jetzin. “Aphek” is a city in the Lebanese mountains, which the Greeks called Afok, northeast of Beirut, at the source of the river. Adonis. It was assigned to the inheritance of the tribe of Asher (Joshua 19:30), but the former inhabitants were not expelled (Judges 1:30). Currently, on its site is the village of Afka with the ruins of the ancient church of Adonis, distinguished by its beautiful location (Holy Land, II, 574–575). Joshua 13:5. also the [Philistine] land of Gevla and all Lebanon to the east of the sun from Baal-Gad, which is near Mount Hermon, to the entrance to Hamath. The region to the north of Aphek also remained unconquered, called the “land of Gevla” (in the Hebrew text Givli, in the Greek spelling Γαλιαθ, Γαβλι, in the Slavic Bible “Gavli”) from the city of Ebal located in it, which the Greeks called Byblos. The inhabitants of Ebal, as skilled stonemasons and shipbuilders, are mentioned in 1 Kings 5:18, Ezek.27:9. It was located north of Beirut and was located on a high cliff jutting into the sea. In its place is now the poor village of Jebeil with the ruins of an ancient city. The word “[Philistine]” transferred from the Slavic Bible finds its counterpart in many Greek copies, but it is absent in the Hebrew text and the translation of Blessed Jerome; This additional word does not contribute to the understanding of this place; rather, it can lead to a misconception about the place where the land of “Gevla” was located. The entire region of the Lebanon Mountains, located east of Ebal and stretching from south to north from Baal-Gad (see Joshua 11:17) or Banias “to the entrance to Hamath,” was also unconquered. “Hamath” (in Hebrew Chamat, among Greek writers - Epiphania) was located on the Orontes River, north of Hermon or Anti-Lebanon. In ancient times, Hamath was the capital of a special kingdom. The expression “before entering Hamath” (Judges 3:3; 1 Kings 8:65, etc.), repeatedly used in the Old Testament books, served to designate the general southern border of the kingdom of Hamath, which was the northern border of the land of Israel (2 Chronicles 7:8). Joshua 13:6. I will drive out all the inhabitants of the mountains from Lebanon to Misrefoth Maim, all the Sidonians, from before the children of Israel. So divide it as an inheritance for Israel, as I commanded you; Joshua 13:7. divide this land as an inheritance to the nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh [from Jordan to the great sea to the west, give it to them; the great sea will be the limit]. Here ends the presentation of the divine command to Joshua begun in Joshua 13:1 and the promise is given that all the inhabitants of the mountainous country stretching from Lebanon - in the northeast - to Misrefoth Maim (Joshua 11:8) - in the southwest, named after the main city in it "Zidonians", will be expelled from it. Therefore, Joshua is commanded to “divide” these unconquered areas, i.e. to give by lot to the people of Israel for possession in accordance with previous commands (Josh. 1:6; Deut. 3:28). Joshua 13:7 contains a more precise indication of who and what land should be divided. It is “this land” that is commanded, which extends “[from the Jordan to... the great]”, i.e. Mediterranean, sea, divided “as an inheritance”, i.e. into hereditary property (according to the Hebrew text “nahalat”, in the LXX χληρον ομια) to nine tribes and half the tribe of Manasseh. Although the words “[from the Jordan to the sea... will be] the limit” are absent from the Hebrew text and from the translation of Blessed Jerome, the evidence of the LXX translation, in the oldest and many later copies of which they are found, deserves full attention in view of the fact that these words are required by the content of this place. The expression “they divided the land” needs clarification due to the fact that the previous verses (Joshua 13:2–6) speak only about unconquered areas, and not generally about the West Jordan country that was subject to division. The words “from the Jordan to the sea...” read in the Greek lists provide this clarification, presenting a more precise definition of the land to be divided as precisely lying between the Jordan and the sea. In the ancient Slavic translation they were found equally, and were omitted only by the Ostrog reference books on the basis, probably, of the Complutensian Polyglot 118. Joshua 13:8. And the tribe of Reuben and Gad, with the other half of the tribe of Manasseh, received their inheritance from Moses beyond the Jordan towards the east [of the sun], as Moses the servant of the Lord gave them, Joshua 13:8, according to the Greek-Slavic translation, begins with words that are not readable in the current Hebrew text: ταῖς δὲ δύο φυλαῖς καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει Μανασση 119 - “two tribe and half-tribe of Manasseh." These words, read in the ancient Slavic translation 120, must belong to the text of the book, as can be seen from its current Hebrew text, according to which the initial word of this verse quite clearly indicates the omission of several previous words in it. According to the interlinear translation from Hebrew, it begins with the words: with him (“immo”) “Ruben and Gadovo... received”... With whom “with him”? According to the Hebrew text, Joshua 13:7 ends with the words: “half the tribe of Manasseh.” But the expression “with him” cannot apply to this half of the tribe, which had to receive its inheritance in the West Jordanian country, since it was not with this West Jordanian half-tribe of Manasseh that the Reuben and Gad tribes received their inheritance; and with the other, East Jordanian, which was not named in the previous verse. As a result, the expression “with him” among biblical scholars who follow the Hebrew text 121 is recognized as “inaccurate” and is replaced by the words “with the other half of the tribe of Manasseh.” The LXX translation eliminates the need for such, at least a free, translation, presenting the above words, not preserved in the current Hebrew text, in which the half-tribe of Manasseh is named, which is implied in the words “with him.” In the Slavic translation this “with him” is not conveyed, although in Alexander. in the list it is read following the above words of the Greek translation τοῖς μετ` αὑτου τῷ Ρουβὴν καὶ Γαδ - “those who are with him, Reuben and Gad.” It is clear that the above words of the Greek translation (two-tribal and half-tribe of Manasseh), preceding the expression “with him,” are omitted in the current Hebrew text, as a result of which, when translated literally, the result is clearly incorrect speech, forcing the translators to modify and complete the Hebrew text. Joshua 13:9. from Aroer, which is on the bank of the stream Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the stream, and all the plain of Medeva to Divo; See Joshua 12:2. “The plain of Medeva to Divon” is the name given to the plateau (in Hebrew “Mishor”, hence the Slavic “Misor”) on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, stretching from the north - “from Medeva” - to the south - “to Divon”. The city of Medeva is 2 hours away from Heshbon (Joshua 13:10). Currently, on the site of Medeva there are vast, beautiful ruins, which the Arabs call Madaba. "Divon" - south of Medeva an hour's journey from Arnon - is now also a ruin, retaining its ancient name. Near these ruins in 1868, the German traveler Klein found a remarkable ancient monument with an inscription of the Moabite king Mesha, a contemporary of the Israeli king Joram and the Judah king Jehoshaphat, written in Phoenician characters 122. Joshua 13:11. also Gilead and the region of Geshur and Maah, and all Mount Hermon and all Bashan as far as Salcha, Gilead generally refers to the East Jordanian country south and north of Jabbok (now Zerka), the constituent parts of which are currently called “Squirrel” between Jabbok and Arnon and Jebel Ajlun, between Jabbok and Yarmuk (Sheriat el-Mandgur). The regions of Geshur and Maah (about it, see Joshua 12:5) are referred here to the possessions of the East Jordanian tribes, but in reality they did not belong to them (Joshua 13:13). Joshua 13:12. the entire kingdom of Og of Bashan, who reigned in Astaroth and Edrei. He remained one of the Rephaim whom Moses defeated and drove out. For Ashtaroth and Edrei, see Joshua 12:4. Joshua 13:14. Only he did not give inheritance to the tribe of Levi: the sacrifices of the Lord God of Israel are his inheritance, as the Lord told him. [This is the division that Moses made among the children of Israel according to their tribes on the plains of Moab beyond the Jordan, opposite Jericho]: Moses did not give the tribe of Levi a special hereditary possession (Deut. 18:1–2) in accordance with the divine command (in Numbers 18:20–21). “Sacrifices of the Lord” generally refer to gifts offered to the Lord, such as: sacrifices in the proper sense, burned on the altar (Lev.1:9,13, etc.) and in the non-proprietary sense, such as: tithes, firstfruits (Num.18:21; Lev.27:30), showbread (Lev.24:7). The word "sacrifice" is not read in most Greek lists, as well as in the Slavic translation; according to the Greek-Slavic translation “The Lord God of Israel gave their inheritance” does not agree with the indicated passages of the book of Numbers and Deuteronomy. The words “[This is the division that Moses made to the children of Israel... opposite Jericho]” are absent in the Hebrew text, but are read in the lists of the LXX translation and in the Slavic Bible. They obviously represent the title for the subsequent division of the East Jordan country between two and a half tribes and were, in all likelihood, in the ancient Jewish text, which was used by LXX, as some of the Western Christian commentators admit 123. The expression “according to their tribes” is absent in the ancient Greek lists. Joshua 13:15. Moses gave inheritance to the tribe of the sons of Reuben according to their families: Joshua 13:16. their border was Aroer, which is on the bank of the stream Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the stream, and the whole plain near Medeba, Joshua 13:17. Heshbon and all the cities thereof that are in the plain, and Dibon, Hamoth-Baali Beth-Baal-Meon, See Joshua 12:1–2,13:9. "Bamoth-Baal" (height of Baal) was located on the eastern side of the Dead Sea, near its northern tip; it served as the place from which Balaam saw the Israeli camp located on the Moabite plain, opposite Jericho (Num. 25:1); Its very location has not been established with precision. The city of “Beth-Baal-Meon” (in the Slavic Bible “houses of Beelmoni”) was located on the northern side of the Zerka Main stream, about 6 versts from Medeva (see Joshua 13:9) on the site of extensive currently uninhabited ruins called Main. Joshua 13:18. Jaaz, Kedemoth and Mephaath, The place of “Iaatsa” (in the Slavic Bible “Iassa” according to the Alexandrian list) has not been established; according to Eusebius (under the name Ἰεσσα) this city was located between Medeva and Divus (Divon); some 124 point to the ruins of Mugatel-el-Gai on the south side of Aroer, near Arofa, as the site of Jaatza. “Kedemoth” was located in the desert that bore his name (Deut. 2:26), along the upper reaches of the Arnon (Num. 21:13), “on the edge of the Syrian-Arabian desert,” not far from the road to Mecca 125; but its location has not been determined with precision. The position of "Mephaath", which was a Levitical city (Josh. 21:37), and during the time of Roman rule (according to Eusebius: Μηφααθ) a guard post, is also unknown at the present time. Joshua 13:19. Kiriathaim, Sibma and Zereph-Shahar on Mount Emek, “Kiriathaim” was located, according to Eusebius, 10 Roman miles (14 versts) from Medeva, in what is now Kereyat, as the ruins are called, south of Mount Aparus and Wadi Zerka. The place of "Sivma", located at the direction of Blessed Jerome (in the interpretation of the book of the prophet Isaiah 16:8) 500 steps from Heshbon 126, is unknown at the present time. “Tseref-Shahar” (in the Slavic Bible “Sarf and Sior”, according to the Alexandrian list) “on Mount Emek” (in the Slavic Bible “Enak”, according to the Alexandrian list) is indicated by some at the site of the ruins of Tsar, east of the Dead Sea, south of the wadi Zerka Malen. Joshua 13:20. Beth-peor and the places at the foot of Pisgah and Beth-jeshimoth, “Beth-Peor” was located near Mount Peor (in Hebrew “Peor”), which makes up the northern peak of the Abarim ridge, near the Moabite plain, according to Eusebius (Βεθφογορ) “7 Roman miles up” (east) “from Libias” (“Beth-Garam” Joshua 13:27). For the places “at the foot of Pisgah and Beth Jeshimoth,” see the commentary on Joshua. 12:3. Joshua 13:21. and all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses slew, as well as the leaders of Midian: Ebiah, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land; The princes of Midian, who lived in the kingdom of Sihon, are mentioned in Numbers. 31:8. Joshua 13:24. Moses also gave inheritance to the tribe of Gad, the sons of Gad, according to their families: Joshua 13:25. their border was Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon as far as Aroer, which is before Rabbah, The lot of the tribe of Gad lay generally north of Reuben. Jazer, named in the first place, is indicated in the place of ruins, bearing the names Sir and Khirbet Cap, west of Philadelphia (see Josh. 13:25), 10 Roman miles from which Jazer is indicated by Eusebius. “All the cities of Gilead”, i.e. cities of the southern half of Gilead, south of the Jabbok River (Deut. 3:16). “And half the land of the children of Ammon to Aroer, which is before Rabbah”: of course, that part of the Ammonite land that Sihon owned and which after his defeat passed to the Israelites; the land of the Ammonites, which they owned at that time, was forbidden for the Israelites to touch (Deut. 2:19). Aroer named here was different from the city of the same name near the river. Arnon (Joshua 13:16), but his position is not determined; presumably it is indicated to the west of Rabbah, the former capital of the Ammonites, which bore the name of Philadelphia and is now a vast ruin called Amman, on the southern tributary (Nar Amman) of the upper Jabbok. Joshua 13:26. and the land from Heshbon to Ramathmizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the borders of Debir, This indicates the extent of the possessions of the tribe of Gad from the south (from Heshbon; Joshua 13:17) to the north (“to Ramath Mitzpah”). This city is usually recognized as the same as Ramoth in Gilead, named in Joshua 20:8 and 21:38, which was located, according to Eusebius (Ραμωθ), 15 Roman miles west of Philadelphia. Its place is considered for the most part to be the present city of Es-Salt on Mount Oshe south of Jabbok. But this geographical definition is not generally accepted: others assign it other places, generally north of Es Salt. "Vetonim" is most likely indicated in the place of ruins called Batne to the west of Es Salt. "And from Mahanaim to the borders of Debir". "Mahanaim", which received its name from the patriarch Jacob (Gen. 32:2), was located on the north side of the stream Jabbok (Gen. 32:22); but its very place has not been determined with certainty. However, the opinion accepted by some modern biblical scholars 127 that it was located on the site of the present village of Makhne, halfway between Jabbok and Jarmuk, is not without probability. The significant distance between Mahne and Jabbok is consistent with the narrative (Gen. 32:13–22) about the patriarch’s journey from Mahanaim to Jabbok during the day. Mahanaim belonged to the tribe of Gad (Joshua 21:38). The location of "Davir" (in Hebrew "Lidevir") is unknown. Joshua 13:27. and in the valley of Beth-Garam and Beth-Nimra and Succoth and Zaphon, the remnant of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon; its border was the Jordan to the sea of ​​Hinnereth beyond the Jordan to the east. The western border of the inheritance of the tribe of Gad was the Jordan Valley, in which the 4 cities named here were located. "Beth-Garam", according to the Slavic Bible "Bifaram", named by Herod Antipa Julia in honor of the wife of Augustus, was located opposite Jericho. The hill with its ruins is called the city of Tell or Beig Garan. Beth-Nimra was located, according to Eusebius (Βηθναβραν), 5 Roman miles from Libya, to the north. Its ruins are called Nimrin. The position of Succoth on the eastern side of the Jordan and Tzaphon has not been established. The cities given to the tribe of Gad are called the remnant of the kingdom of Sihon, since a significant part of the latter was already given to the tribe of Reuben. About the “sea of ​​Hinnereth” see Joshua 11:2. Joshua 13:29. Moses also gave inheritance to half the tribe of Manasseh, which belonged to half the tribe of the sons of Manasseh, according to their tribes; The words “who belonged to half the tribe of the sons of Manasseh,” repeating what is said in the initial words of this verse, are read in the Hebrew text, but are not found in the LXX translation according to its oldest copies, as well as in the Slavic Bible. Joshua 13:30 . their border was: from Mahanaim all Bashan, the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the villages of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities; When describing the inheritance of the half-tribe of Manasseh, the biblical writer first indicates the southern border point - Mahanaim and then the most important northern part of its possessions - Bashan (Joshua 12:5), as the kingdom of Og was called before its conquest by the Israelites, after which it became known as “the villages of Jairus” (Deut. 3:14). Joshua 13:31. and half of Gilead and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og of Bashan, [were given] to the sons of Machir the son of Manasseh, half of the sons of Machir, according to their families. Here, in particular, that half of Gilead is indicated, which is more precisely designated by the capital cities “Astaroth and Edrei” located in it, i.e. the northern one, which was received by the older generation of the tribe of Manasseh, called by the name of their ancestor Machirov, in contrast to other generations who also descended from him (Num. 26:29–32), but bore the names of other closest ancestors. The northern part of Gilead was given to the Machirov generation, as they took a particularly active part in its conquest (Numbers 32:39; Joshua 17:1). In the Alexandrian list, according to its phototypical photograph, the end of Nav.13 and the beginning of Nav.13 read καὶ τῷ Ευαίῳ ἐκ Θαιμαν καὶ πάσῃ γῇ Χανααν. Here the word Θαιμαν is separated from the following words πάση γῇ by a dash or dot, constituting in Alexander. the list has only one punctuation mark. The dot placed in printed editions of the Greek text before ἐκ Θαιμαν belongs to the publishers who divide it in relation to the accepted division into verses. The direct connection of the words: to the south with the end of Joshua 13 is also clearly expressed in the translation of Blessed Jerome Ad meridiem vero sunt Hevaii - “and to the south of Evea.” According to other commentators (eg Keil. Iosua, 105), this passage is also translated in the Syrian Peshito. This is how the beginning of verse 8 is read in the Alexandrian and ancient Vatican (except for δὲ δύο, absent in the latter) and other lists. V. K. Lebedev, p. 236: “Let two be divided into a great tribe and half the tribe of Manasseh.” Keil, Iosua, 107; Dillmann, Numeri Iosua. 511. For a translation of this monument into Russian with an explanation, see “Christian Reading” of 1870, where articles by Prof. D. A. Khvolson “Newly discovered monument to the Moabite king Mesha.” A. Dillman in the above comment. Tristram, Bible places, 369. Tristram. Bible places, 340 and others. You might be interested in: