Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 18:12
And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
12. And their border on the north side ] The northern boundary of Benjamin mainly coincided with the southern boundary of Ephraim.
from Jordan ] Commencing from the Jordan on the east, their boundary ascended to the mountains west and north-west of Jericho as far as “the wilderness of Beth-aven,” i.e. the bare and rocky heights to the east and north of Michmash. The situation of Beth-aven has been already described, above, ch. Jos 7:2.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 12. The wilderness of Beth-aven.] This was the same as Beth-el; but this name was not given to it till Jeroboam had fixed one of his golden calves there. Its first name signifies the house of God; its second, the house of iniquity.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
A place distinct from, but near unto Beth-el, as may be gathered from Jos 16:1.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And their border on the north side was from Jordan,…. Which was the eastern boundary of the tribe, and hence proceeded from east to west, and formed its northern border, which is described in like manner as the lot of the children of Joseph, Jos 16:1;
and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side; from Jordan it went to the north of Jericho, and so took in that place, which was within the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:21;
and went up through the mountains westward; the mountains that were on the north of Jericho; for, as Strabo says i, Jericho was surrounded with mountains, see Jos 2:16; through these mountains the coast went on towards the western border of the tribe:
and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven: a place near Bethel and Ai, to which there was a wilderness adjoining, see Jos 7:2; here ended the northern border.
i Geograph. l. 16. p. 525.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
12. Their border on the north side was identical with the south border of Ephraim, (Jos 16:1-10,) as far as Lower Beth-boron.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
I do not think it necessary to detain the Reader with many observations on these verses. The principal things to be noticed concerning Benjamin’s lot, are the spots which were made memorable in them; and the more illustrious persons, which in the after ages of the church sprang out of Benjamin. Jericho, and Gilgal, and Mizpah, and Jebusi, (which is Jerusalem) and Gibeah of Benjamin, and more especially Bethel; these are names of places very familiar to the Reader of the Holy Bible, and well known from the remarkable circumstances connected with them. And when we recollect that Jeremiah, and the apostle Paul, were of this tribe, we cannot but feel interested concerning Benjamin. Jer 1:1 ; Phi 3:5 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 18:12 And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven. Jos 18:13 And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which [is] Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that [lieth] on the south side of the nether Bethhoron. Jos 18:14 And the border was drawn [thence], and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that [lieth] before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which [is] Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this [was] the west quarter.
Ver. 12-14. See the notes above on chap. 15,16.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
mountains = hill country.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jericho: Jos 2:1, Jos 3:16, Jos 6:1, Jos 16:1
the wilderness: Jos 7:2, Hos 4:15, Hos 5:8, Hos 10:5
Reciprocal: Jos 8:15 – by the way Jos 18:21 – Jericho 1Sa 13:5 – Bethaven Joh 11:54 – Ephraim