45. Beth-shean, etc. All these towns, except Dor, were in the plain of Esdraelon (see Map vI.). They were valuable to the Canaanites because they commanded the caravan route between Egypt and Assyria, which brought them much profit. 58. the forest, i.e. the wooded hills adjoining Mount Carmel. 59. Perizzite is not the name of a tribe, but (like the modern Egyptian fellahin) means the peasants of the rural districts. Rephaim is the general name for the scattered remnants of a former race of giants.' Different clans of them were called Anakim, Emim, Zuzim, etc. 71. seven tribes. See introduction. 77. describe, literally 'write down' or 'register.' We should rather say survey. 82. cast lots. The sacred lot was cast by a priest in front of the ephod, or image of Jehovah. It was supposed that the result showed what His will was. 86. Shiloh. See Map v. (at the top). 92. before God, i.c. at the ancient sanctuary for which Shechem had long been famous, and which was now made a temple of Jehovah. In Lesson IX. 110 Jacob is said to have erected an altar there; and in Lesson IX. 122 the oak by Shechem' is mentioned as a well-known sacred tree. 94. the River, i.e. the Euphrates. 95. they served other gods. These are mentioned in Lessons VIII. and IX. 105. when they cried out unto me, I put darkness, etc., is what we should expect. But the Hebrew writers, when reporting a speech, often drop into the third person. 112. fought against Israel. There is no account of this war in the Pentateuch; and Judges 11. 25 expressly says that Moab did not fight against Israel. So there is some mistake. 117. I sent the hornet. The same phrase is used in Exod. 23. 28 and Deut. 1. 44. We do not know whether it is to be understood literally of a plague of hornets, or as a metaphor to express the terror which fell upon the inhabitants at the approach of Israel. 124. and in Egypt, i.e. most of the Israelites when in Egypt were idolators. We 138. Joshua made a covenant with the people. This does not mean that the two parties to the covenant were Joshua and the Israelites, but that Joshua and the people made a covenant with Jehovah. may suppose the ceremony to be similar to that which is described in Lesson xx. 1-16. Observe how frequently such covenants are mentioned. Almost every important crisis in the early history of Israel is marked by a covenant. See Lessons II. 117 (Noah), III. 89 (Abraham), IX. 45-66 (Jacob), xx. 1-16 (Moses). 141. a great stone, i.e. a sacred pillar or obelisk, such as was found in every high place. the oak. A sacred tree (or pole to represent a tree) was a necessary part of the equipment of a high place. This particular tree must have been famous, for it is mentioned in Gen. 33, 20, 35. 4; Deut. 11. 31; Judges 9. 6. sense. 144. it hath heard. Probably the writer meant this in a poetical But in primitive times men believed that spirits dwelt in stones. 151. Timnath-serah is also called Timnath Heres. See Map v. |