that jearim is the word omitted. The Hebrew word for cities, which in the original text follows Kirjath, has almost an exact resemblance to jearim and was no doubt mistaken for it. That is the reason why jearim was omitted, and Kirjath stands alone.

Note. All the difference is, that jearim has one letter more than the other, and that the smallest in the Hebrew alphabet. This letter is so small, that it is used by the Savior in the phrase, "one jot or tittle," to represent something very diminutive. The reader can compare

ערים – יערים .for himself the two words alluded to

We

It may be replied to what is said above, that Kirjathjearim belonged to Judah, and not to Benjamin; and therefore it could not be the name here intended. reply that Jerusalem belonged to Benjamin, and not to Judah; and yet it is given on the Judah list, and is the last name on that list, as Kirjath is the last on the list of Benjamin. Both were border towns, and were considered in some sense as belonging to both tribes. It is not, however, properly Kirjath-jearim that is here claimed by Benjamin, but simply the hill or high place—the Gibeath of Kirjath-jearim, where the ark was kept for twenty years, and therefore a sacred place. But as the latter belonged to Benjamin, as much as Jerusalem did to Judah, it may be considered by implication, as here claimed. And this indeed is necessary to make up the

round about: these cities to Baalath beer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon, according to their families.

9. Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance

of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.

It was ascertained that Judah had received a larger inheritance than was consistent with the rights of the other tribes. And therefore Simeon has his portion from that of Judah. It was located in the south part of Judah's inheritance, and embraced the towns here named. On the Judah list, nearly all are found with the first class, and there described, as on the border of Edom. Among these cities is Beersheba, that was the most southern town in Judah; and also Ziklag, that was one of the most western, and once belonged to the Philistines. And bordering on Edom, the tract of country must have reached nearly or quite to the Dead Sea eastward. From these circumstances it is evident that Simeon had a narrow strip of land, running across the country on the south of Judah's inheritance.

All the most important towns, belonging to Simeon, have been noticed in another place. We think there are good reasons for believing that Sheba, the name that follows Beer-sheba, is a repetition of the last half of the latter name. To the reasons for this opinion already given, we would add that the number of names requires that this should be omitted. Leave it out and the true number thirteen remains. Another list of the towns of Simeon, in Chron. iv. 28–32, contains one or two new names; but Sheba is omitted, and thus our view is confirmed.

The cities of Simeon are divided into two classes. The first class, of thirteen, is taken from the first class of Judah, consisting of twenty-nine. The second class of four is taken two of them from the first class of Judah; and the other two from another class. Of these four, Ain and Ashan were cities of the priests, and are placed on the list of Levitical cities, belonging to Judah. They

represent each other on two different lists; and probably one was a Levitical city for a time, and then the other.

ZEBULUN.

JOS. XIX.

10. And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun, according to their families; and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid.

11. And their border went up towards the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam:

12. And turned from Sarid east ward, towards the sun-rising, unto the border of Chisloth tabor and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,

13. And from thence passeth

on along on the east to Gittah-he pher, to Ittah-kazin, and goeth out to Remmon-methoar, to Neah

14. And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon; and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthah-el;

15. And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Beth-lehem: twelve cities with their villages.

16. This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun, according to their families, these cities with their villages.

Most of the cities of Zebulun are given in describing the boundary of the tribe. A few only are added that are not in the boundary. The number of names in all is eighteen; but the writer tells us that twelve only belonged to Zebulun. The rest may have been rivers, fountains, or localities of some other kind; or they may have been cities belonging to other tribes, adjoining that of Zebulun. One is described as a valley, namely, Jiphthah-el.

Bethlehem is one of the names; but we must not confound it with the birth-place of David, and of Jesus, which was Beth-lehem-Judah. The sea alluded to in verse 11th was the Mediterranean. It will be observed that the border went up toward the sea, but not to it. No part of the territory of Zebulun reached to the sea. It may be added here, as a circumstance that has an important bearing on our understanding of this description of boundaries, that to the sea, and to the west, are the same in the Hebrew; and we do not doubt that sometimes one meaning has been mistaken for the other. That

the Mediterranean sea lay on the west of Palestine, reaching nearly as far south, and much farther north, gave rise to this usage. As the Mediterranean sea is north of Egypt, in that country to the sea and to the north have the same meaning.

To get an accurate idea of the boundaries of the tribes, one must study thoroughly the forms of expression that are employed in these descriptions, as they are used in the Hebrew. Even then some things will be uncertain.

ISSACHAR.

JOS. XIX.

17. And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar, according to their families.

18. And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,

19 And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,

20. And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,

nim, and En-haddah, and Bethpazzez.

22. And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.

23. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar, according to their families, the cit 21. And Remeth, and En-gan-ies and their villages.

The location of this inheritance is known from some of the places named around it, some of which retained the same names in the early days of the Church, and are mentioned by Eusebius, Jerome, and others; and some are even now known under the same names.

'ASHER. JOS. XIX.

24. And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher, according to their families.

25. And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,

26. And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihor-libnath;

27. And turned toward the sunrising to Beth-dagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of

Jiphthah-el, towards the north side of Beth-emek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand;

28. And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon:

29. And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea, from the coast to Achzib;

30. Ummah also, and Aphek,

and Rehob: twenty and two cities | the tribe of the children of Asher, with their villages. according to their families, these cities with their villages.

31. This is the inheritance of We know the general location of Asher, by some of the names given in the description, that have been noted in profane history, as well as sacred, from the earliest ages. Tyre, Sidon, and Carmel are names that will be recognized at once. Their identity is not doubted, and their history is familiar to all who read.

The valley of Jiphthah-el was on the border of Zebulun; (v. 14); and the same valley is now named as the limit of the portion of Asher. The two tribes must have joined in this valley. Asher was on the sea, and Zebulun was a short distance back from the sea.

All important names will be found in the chapter on the Geography of Palestine, and may be readily found by consulting the Geographical Index.

Twenty-two cities are the number belonging to Asher. The number of names is slightly in excess of this; and therefore some of them must be other localities besides cities, or cities belonging to other tribes. Carmel was a mountain, Jephthah-el was a valley. There was a river Kanah; and the name may denote a river in this passage. Rehob is mentioned twice; and it is hardly reasonable to suppose that more than one is included in the number of cities. The other may have been a district, or a city on the border belonging to another tribe. With these changes, we still have the twenty-two cities remaining.

NAPHTALI.

JOS.

82. The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.

83. And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings theoeof were at Jordan:

34. And then the coast turneth

XIX.

westward to Aznoth-tabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan towards the sunrising.

35. And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,