Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 12:3
And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea on the east, the way to Beth-jeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdoth-pisgah:
3. and from the plain ] Rather, and the plain, the Arabah, i. e. the eastern part of the Jordan valley, as far as the Sea of Chinneroth.
the sea of Cinneroth ] So called after the city of this name. See above, ch. Jos 11:2. In the New Testament it is called ( a) the “Sea of Galilee” (Mat 4:18; Mat 15:29; Mar 1:16); ( b) the “lake of Gennesaret” (Luk 5:1); ( c) the “sea of Tiberias” (Joh 6:1; Joh 21:1); and sometimes ( d) simply “the sea.”
and unto the sea of the plain ] i. e. of the Arabah. While the Lake of Gennesareth forms the northern boundary of the eastern part of the Jordan valley, it is in like manner bounded on the south by the Salt Sea, i. e. the Dead Sea. Near which lay
Beth-jeshimoth ] = “the House of the Wastes.” It was one of the limits of the encampment of Israel before crossing the Jordan (Num 33:48-49).
under Ashdoth-pisgah ] See above, Jos 10:40.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 3. The sea of Chinneroth] Or Gennesareth, the same as the lake or sea of Tiberias.
The Salt Sea on the east] yam hammelach, which is here translated the Salt Sea, is understood by others to mean the sea of the city Melach. Where can we find any thing that can be called a salt sea on the east of the lake of Gennesareth? Some think that the lake Asphaltites, called also the Dead Sea, Sea of the Desert, Sea of Sodom, and Salt Sea, is here intended.
Beth-jeshimoth] A city near the Dead Sea in the plains of Moab.
Ashdoth-pisgah] Supposed to be a city at the foot of Mount Pisgah.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
To the sea of Chinneroth on the east; which words describe the situation not of the sea of Chinneroth, which was part of the western border of Sihons dominion, but of the plain, which is here said to lie eastward from the sea of Chinneroth, and also eastward from the Salt Sea, as it here follows. And this was indeed the situation of the plains of Moab, which are here spoken of, to wit, that they lay between the two seas, that of Chinneroth and the Salt Sea, and eastward to them both.
The sea of the plain; the Salt Sea is so called because it was a famous plain, pleasant and fruitful, before it was turned into a salt sea. From the south, or, on or towards the south.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And from the plain,…. Or rather, “and the plain”, the plains of Moab, which, before possessed by the Israelites, belonged to the kingdom of Sihon; and the plains of Jordan, which reached
to the sea of Cinneroth on the east; the same with the lake of Gennesaret, and sea of Tiberias, mentioned in the New Testament,
Mt 14:34:
and unto the sea of the plain; where stood the cities of the plain, Sodom, Gomorrah, c.
[even] the salt sea on the east the same with the dead sea, into which the plain the above cities stood on was converted:
the way to Bethjeshimoth; which was a place in the plains of Moab,
Nu 33:49;
and from the south under Ashdothpisgah; or the springs of Pisgah, which flowed from the mount of that name, De 3:17.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
3. [ From the plain The from here as in the previous verse, is confusing. The sense and connexion will be better seen in the following literal rendering of the Hebrew: And ( Sihon ruled) the plain, as far as the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and as far as the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, eastward, on the way toward Beth-jeshimoth, and from the south under the ravines of Pisgah. The plain is the Jordan valley on the east side from the Dead Sea to the Sea of Galilee.] The Salt Sea is so called because of the exceeding saltness of its waters twenty-six pounds of salt to one hundred of water; and a whole mountain ridge on its southwest shore is composed of rock salt. It is commonly called the Dead Sea because no living thing abides in its waters. It is thirteen hundred feet below the Mediterranean, and has no outlet. The Sea of Chinneroth was afterwards called the Sea of Galilee, Sea of Tiberias, and Lake of Gennesaret. See notes and cut at Mat 4:13. Beth-jeshimoth means house of desolations. It was a Moabite city in the desert at the northeastern extremity of the Dead Sea. Schwarz mentions a Beth-jisimuth as still existing in that locality, but the spot needs further examination.
Ashdoth-pisgah The ravines of Pisgah; the gorges at the foot or on the sides of the mountain through which the torrents flow. Comp. chap. Jos 10:40, note, and Deu 3:17. The hill Pisgah was opposite Jericho, on the mountains of Abarim, but no traces of the name have been met with in modern times in that locality. See on Deu 34:1.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Jos 12:3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, [even] the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:
Ver. 3. And unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea. ] Otherwise called the Dead Sea, or Lake Asphaltites; the water whereof is so thick, saith Josephus, than an ox, having all his legs bound, will not sink into it; and so pestiferous, that fowls flying over it fall down dead.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Chinneroth. See note on Jos 11:2.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
sea of Chinneroth: This inland sea, or rather lake, which drives its several names, the Lake of Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Lake of Gennesareth, from the territory which forms its western and south-western border, is computed to be between seventeen and eighteen miles in length, and from five to six in breadth. The waters of this lake, which are sweet and agreeable, lie in a deep basin, surrounded with lofty hills, except at the north and south, where it is a plain country or level. There is a current through the whole lake even to the shore; and the Jordan through it is discernible by the smoothness of the surface in that part. Its appearance from the north- western extremity is said by Mr. Buckingham to be exceedingly grand; but the barren aspect of the mountains on each side, and the total absence of wood, give a cast of dullness to the picture. Jos 11:2, Deu 3:17, Joh 6:1, Sea of Tiberias
the sea: Jos 3:16, Jos 15:2, Jos 15:5, Gen 14:3, Gen 19:25, Deu 3:17
Bethjeshimoth: Jos 13:20
the south: or, Teman
Ashdothpisgah: or, the springs of Pisgah, or, the hill, Num 21:20, Deu 3:17,*marg. Deu 4:49
Reciprocal: Deu 3:16 – river Jabbok Jos 13:27 – Chinnereth Jos 18:19 – the salt 1Ki 15:20 – Cinneroth Eze 47:19 – river Mat 15:29 – unto Luk 5:1 – the lake