Commentary on the Book of Joshua John Calvin
COMMENTARY ON JOSHUA
59. And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:
59. Et Maarath, et Bethanoth, et Elthecon: urbes sex, et villae earum.
60. Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:
60. Ciriath-baal, ipsa est Ciriathjearim, et Rabba: urbes duae, et villae earum.
61. In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,
61. In deserto, Beth-arabah, Middin, et Sech-acha,
62. And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.
62. Et Nibsan, et urbs salis, et Engedi: urbes sex, et villae earum.
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.
63. Porro Jebusaeos habitatores Jerusalem non potuerunt filii Jehuda expellere: itaque habitavit Jebusaeus cum filiis Jehuda in Jerusalem usque ad diem hanc.
Here we have a narrative of what plainly appears from the book of Joshua to have taken place subsequent to the death of Joshua; but lest a question might have been raised by the novelty of the procedure, in giving a fertile and well watered field as the patrimony of a woman, the writer of the book thought proper to insert a history of that which afterwards happened, in order that no ambiguity might remain in regard to the lot of the tribe of Judah. First, Caleb is said, after he had taken the city of Hebron, to have attacked Debir or Ciriath-sepher, and to have declared, that the person who should be the first to enter it, would be his son-in-law. And it appears, that when he held out this rare prize to his fellow-soldiers for taking the city, no small achievement was required. This confirms what formerly seemed to be the case, that it was a dangerous and difficult task which had been assigned him, when he obtained his conditional grant. Accordingly, with the view of urging the bravest to exert themselves, he promises his daughter in marriage as a reward to the valor of the man who should first scale the wall.
It is afterwards added that Othniel who was his nephew by a brother, gained the prize by his valor. I know not how it has crept into the common