Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 12:5
And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
5. and in Salcah ] Identical with the town of Slkhad at the southern extremity of the Jebel Haurn. It was conquered by the Israelites, Deu 3:10. The town is of considerable size, two or three miles in circumference, surrounding a castle on a lofty isolated hill. “The country is stony and undulating; but the soil is rich, and traces of former cultivation are everywhere visible. The view from the top of the castle is extensive and strangely interesting. On the segment of the plain, extending from the south to the east, I counted the towns or large villages, none of them more than 12 miles distant, and almost all of them, so far as I could see by the aid of a telescope, still habitable like Sulkhad, but entirely deserted. Well may we exclaim with the prophet, as we look over this mournful scene of utter desolation, ‘Moab is confounded; for it is broken down; howl and cry; tell ye it in Arnon, that Moab is spoiled, and judgment is come upon the plain country upon Beth-gamul, and upon Beth-meon, and upon Kerioth, and upon Bozrah, and upon all the cities of the land of Moab, far or near’ (Jer 48:19-24).” Porter’s Handbook, 11. 522.
the border of the Geshurites ] Geshur was a little principality in the N.E. corner of Bashan, adjoining the province of Argob (Deu 3:14), and the kingdom of Aram or Syria (2Sa 15:8). Hither Absalom fled after the murder of Amnon (2Sa 13:37).
the Maachathites ] The people of Maacha dwelt on the south-west slope of Hermon at the sources of the Jordan (Deu 3:14).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 5. The border of the Geshurites] The country of Bashan, in the days of Moses and Joshua, extended from the river Jabbok on the south to the frontiers of the Geshurites and Maachathites on the north, to the foot of the mountains of Hermon.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The Geshurites, of which see Deu 3:14; Jos 13:13; 2Sa 13:37; 15:8.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And reigned in Mount Hermon,…. That is, over all the people that inhabited that mount or dwelt under it, Jos 11:17, and adjacent to it, of which mountain, [See comments on De 3:8] and
[See comments on De 3:9];
and in Salcah: which was a city belonging to the kingdom of Og, De 3:10;
and in all Bashan; or Batanea, a country famous for pasturage, Mic 7:14, and for fat cattle, Eze 39:18, and for oaks, Isa 2:13, frequently mentioned in Scripture:
unto the border of the Geshurites, and the Maachathites; which were two nations the Israelites never expelled, Jos 13:13; of which see De 3:14;
and half Gilead; which belonged to Og, as the other half did to Sihon, before observed, which was as follows:
the border of Sihon king of Heshbon; here the two kingdoms joined, even in the midst of Gilead, which was divided between them, but now wholly fell into the hands of Israel.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Jos 12:5 And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
Ver. 5. In mount Hermon. ] Which is conceived to be the utmost part of mount Gilead, joining mount Lebanon and Gilead together.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Hermon: Jos 12:1, Jos 11:3, Deu 3:8, Deu 3:9, Deu 4:47, Deu 4:48
Salcah: Jos 13:11, Deu 3:10
unto the: Deu 3:14, 1Sa 27:8, 2Sa 3:3, 2Sa 13:37, 2Sa 15:8, 2Sa 23:34, 2Ki 25:23
Reciprocal: Jos 13:2 – Geshuri Jdg 11:26 – Heshbon 2Sa 13:38 – General Jer 40:8 – Maachathite