Joshua 19:7

Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

19:1-9 The men of Judah did not oppose taking away the cities within their border, when convinced that they had more than was right. If a true believer has obtained an unintended and improper advantage in any thing, he will give it up without murmuring. Love seeketh not her own, and doth not behave unseemly; it will induce those in whom it richly dwells, to part with their own to supply what is lacking to their brethren.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Thirteen - Fourteen names have been given. The error is probably due to the use of letters for numbers, which has led to many similar mistakes in other places (see Joshua 15:32).

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 19

Jos 19:1-9. The Lot of Simeon.

1. the second lot came forth to Simeon—The next lot that was drawn at Shiloh, gave the tribe of Simeon his inheritance within the territory, which had been assigned to that of Judah. The knowledge of Canaan possessed by the Israelites, when the division of the land commenced, was but very general, being derived from the rapid sweep they had made over it during the course of conquest; and it was on the ground of that rough survey alone that the distribution proceeded, by which Judah received an inheritance. Time showed that this territory was too large (Jos 19:9), either for their numbers, however great, to occupy and their arms to defend, or too large in proportion to the allotments of the other tribes. Justice therefore required (what kind and brotherly feeling readily dictated) a modification of their possession; and a part of it was appropriated to Simeon. By thus establishing it within the original domain of another tribe, the prophecy of Jacob in regard to Simeon was fulfilled (Ge 49:7); for from its boundaries being not traced, there is reason to conclude that its people were divided and dispersed among those of Judah; and though one group of its cities named (Jos 19:2-6), gives the idea of a compact district, as it is usually represented by map makers, the other group (Jos 19:7, 8) were situated, two in the south, and two elsewhere, with tracts of the country around them.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Ain, Remmon,.... Of the two first, which were cities of Judah; see Gill on Joshua 15:32,

and Ether, and Ashan; of the two last; see Gill on Joshua 19:42,

four cities and their villages; Ain, Remmon, therefore, could not be one city, at this time, as it seems to have been in the times of Nehemiah, Nehemiah 11:29; or otherwise there would have been but three cities.

Geneva Study Bible

Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. Second Group. 1. Ain = an “eye” and also in the vivid imagery of the East, a spring or natural burst of living water, always distinguished from the artificial “well” or “tank” = Beer or Bor. It generally occurs in combination with other words, defining the locality as En-gedi, En-gannim, En-hakkore, En-rogel. In two cases it stands alone, (a) here, and (b) in Numbers 34:11. Mr Wilton (Negeb, pp. 229–234) would here also connect it with the next name; 2. Remmon, as the name of a single city, Ain or En-Remmon = the spring of the pomegranate, and in the catalogue of the places re-occupied by the Jews after the return from the Captivity the two are joined, and appear in our Version as En-Rimmon, see Nehemiah 11:29; Nehemiah 3. Ether, see ch. Joshua 15:42 Van de Velde heard of a Tel Athar in the desert country below Hebron; 4. Ashan, see above, ch. Joshua 15:42.

Joshua 19:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Ain and Rimmon were in the south land (Joshua 15:32), Ether and Ashan in the lowlands (Joshua 15:42).