Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 13:25
And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that [is] before Rabbah;
24 28. The Possession of the Tribe of Gad
25. their coast was Jazer ] or Jaazer. We first hear of it in possession of the Amorites, and as taken by Israel after Heshbon, and on their way from thence to Bashan (Num 21:32). At present it is identified with Szr, or Seir, nine Roman miles west of Ammn, and about 12 from Heshbon. For coast see above, Jos 13:16.
all the cities of Gilead ] i.e. of the southern part of Gilead, which belonged to the kingdom of Sihon, for the other half, on the north of the Jabbok, which was governed by king Og, was allotted to the half tribe of Manasseh.
half the land of the children of Ammon ] i.e. that portion of the land which had been taken from them by the Amorites under Sihon, for the Israelites were not allowed to attack the land of the Ammonites themselves (Deu 2:19; Jdg 11:13 sq.).
unto Aroer ] i.e. unto Aroer of Gad (Num 32:34), not the Aroer near the Arnon (of Jos 13:16), that is before Rabbah, the capital of the Ammonites, famous ( a) in the history of Jephthah (Jdg 11:33), and ( b) in the history of David (2Sa 24:5).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 25. Half the land on the children of Ammon] This probably was land which had been taken from the Ammonites by Sihon, king of the Amorites, and which the Israelites possessed by right of conquest. For although the Israelites were forbidden to take the land of the Ammonites, De 2:37, yet this part, as having been united to the territories of Sihon, they might possess when they defeated that king and subdued his kingdom.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
All the cities of Gilead, i.e. all the cities of note and eminency; all cities properly so called, which it seems lay in that part of Gilead; and so this may well agree with Jos 13:25, where half the country of Gilead is said to be given to the Manassites; but there is no mention of any cities there.
Half the land of the children of Ammon; not of that which now was theirs, for that they were forbidden to meddle with, Deu 2:9, but of that which was anciently theirs, but taken from them by the Amorites, Num 21:26, from whom the Israelites took it, Jdg 11:15.
Unto Aroer, the border between them and Moab.
Rabbah, the chief city of the Ammonites, 2Sa 11:1; 12:26,27.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And their coast was Jazer,…. Their southern coast; of Jazer, see Nu 21:32; where it is called Jaazer, and is mentioned in
Isa 16:8; and in Jer 48:32, where it is spoken of as a city of Moab, as it was in the days of those prophets:
and all the cities of Gilead; which lay in those parts, for the whole was not given to this tribe, half of Gilead was given to the half tribe of Manasseh, Jos 13:31;
and half the land of the children of Ammon; not what then belonged to them, but what had been taken from them by the Amorites; and which Israel taking from them, had a right to retain, though they were forbid meddling with any of their land in present possession; see De 2:19
Jud 11:13;
unto Aroer that [is] before Rabbath; Aroer was a city of Moab, situated on the river Arnon, Jos 13:9; and stood over against Rabbath, a city of the Amorites, since called Philadelphia, the same that Joab took,
2Sa 12:26; though Reland thinks n, that according to the situation of these cities another Aroer must be here meant, and which belonged to the Amorites.
n Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 583.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
25. Jazer Written also Jaazer. It was an important city, having dependent villages, (Num 21:32,) and giving its name to the surrounding country, “the land of Jazer.” Num 32:1. It was one of the four cities of Gad assigned to the Levites. Jos 21:39. Jeremiah (Jer 48:32) speaks of the “sea of Jazer,” which may have been some lake or pool in the vicinity. Burckhardt, Van de Velde, and others, identify it with a ruined town called Seir or Sir, some twelve miles north of Heshbon.
All the cities of Gilead That is, of the southern portion of Gilead, for the northern was given to Manasseh. Jos 13:31.
Half the land of the children of Ammon The country between the Arnon and the Jabbok. See Jdg 11:13, note. This ancient possession of the children of Lot Israel captured, not of Ammon, but of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who had previously taken it out of the hand of the king of Moab.
Num 21:26. Yet it retained the name of its ancient owners.
Aroer that is before Rabbah That is, Aroer is before or in front of Rabbah to one who advances towards Rabbah from the Jordan. This Aroeris supposed by many to be identical with the ruined site Ayra, which Burckhardt discovered about seven miles southwest of es-Salt, and nearly half way between the Jordan and Rabbah. Rabbah was the great city and capital of the Ammonites, and is called in Deu 3:11 Rabbath of the children of Ammon, and here Og’s great iron bedstead was preserved. But as Israel was not to meddle with the children of Ammon, (Deu 2:19,) Rabbah was not disturbed, nor included in the territory of Gad. It was afterwards besieged and taken by David. 2Sa 12:29. Its ruins are known under the modern name of Amman, about twenty-two miles east of the Jordan.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jos 13:25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that [is] before Rabbah;
Ver. 25. Half the land of the children of Ammon. ] Which Sihon had taken from them. See Jdg 11:15 Num 21:6 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
their coast: Num 32:35
Jazer: A city near a brook of the same name, now called Wady Szyr; and probably the present Szyr occupies its site.
half: Num 21:26-30, Deu 2:19, Jdg 11:13-27
Rabbah: Deu 3:11, 2Sa 11:1, 2Sa 12:26, Eze 21:20, Amo 1:14
Reciprocal: Num 32:1 – Jazer Jos 22:9 – the country of Gilead Jdg 5:17 – Gilead 1Ch 6:81 – Jazer Isa 16:8 – Jazer Jer 49:2 – Rabbah Oba 1:19 – Benjamin
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 13:25. All the cities of Gilead All the cities of eminence; all the cities properly so called, which lay in that part of Gilead; and thus what is here assured may well agree with Jos 13:31, where half the country of Gilead is said to be given to the Manassites, for there is no mention of any cities being there. Half the land of the children of Ammon Not of that which was now theirs, for that the Israelites were forbidden to meddle with; but of that which was anciently theirs, till taken from them by the Amorites, from whom the Israelites took it. Aroer The border between them and Moab. Rabbah The chief city of the Ammonites.