Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Judges 1:35
But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
35. would dwell ] See Jdg 1:27 note.
mount Heres ] i.e. ‘mount of the sun,’ probably the same as Ir-shemesh, i.e. ‘city of the sun’ Jos 19:41, and Beth-shemesh, i.e. ‘temple of the sun’ 1Ki 4:9, both names occurring along with Ayyalon and Shaalbim in these passages. The site may be identified with the mod. ‘Ain-shems, in the W. e-arr, opposite ar‘a (Zorah).
Aijalon ] Jos 10:12; Jos 19:42 (in Dan), the mod. Yl, on the S. side of the broad ‘valley of Ayyalon,’ now called Merj (‘meadow of’) ibn ‘Umar, 14 m. W. of Jerusalem. According to the Chronicler the town was occupied by Benjamin 1Ch 8:13, fortified by Rehoboam 2Ch 11:10, and taken from Ahaz by the Philistines ib. 2Ch 28:18. The Amarna tablets mention it as Aialuna (nos. 173 and 180 ‘fields of A.’), and Shishak (1Ki 14:25) enumerates it among the conquered cities of Judah, Aiyurun = Ayyalon (Mller, As. u. Eur., p. 166).
Shaalbim ] Cf. Jos 19:42, 1Ki 4:9. The situation of the mod. Selbt is suitable, but the names are dissimilar.
prevailed ] lit. ‘was heavy,’ as 1Sa 5:6; 1Sa 5:11. The house of Joseph, i.e. the Northern Kingdom, whose boundaries reached these towns, reduced them to forced labour. They became Israelite possessions, however, before the division of the kingdoms, 1Ki 4:9; 1Sa 6:12 ff. (Beth-shemesh).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 35. The Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres] They perhaps agreed to dwell in the mountainous country, being unable to maintain themselves on the plain, and yet were so powerful that the Danites could not totally expel them; they were, however, laid under tribute, and thus the house of Joseph had the sovereignty. The Septuagint have sought out a literal meaning for the names of several of these places, and they render the verse thus: “And the Amorites began to dwell in the mount of Tiles, in which there are bears, and in which there are foxes.” Thus they translate Heres, Aijalon, and Shaalbim.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Of the house of Joseph, i.e. of the Ephraimites, who helped their brethren the Danites against the Amorites, and that with good success.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim,…. And they would not suffer the Danites to dwell in the valley, a fruitful and delightful part of their country, terrifying them with their iron chariots, which in the vale they could make use of to great advantage; so neither would they let them dwell alone in the mountainous part of their tribe, but would dwell with them, particularly in three places mentioned: where Mount Heres was is not certain; it signifies the “sun”; very probably it had its name from the worship of the sun on it, or from the sun standing still near it; for Aijalon, where that miracle was wrought, is next mentioned. Perhaps it might be near to Timnathheres, which was in Mount Ephraim, Jud 2:9; since Ephraim assisted in making these places tributaries; of the two cities, Aijalon and Shaalbim, see Jos 19:42;
yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries; or “the hand of [it] became heavy” x; by which it does not clearly appear whether the hand of Joseph was made heavy, and to hang down, by the Amorites; or whether it was heavy upon them, and so prevailed over them, as our version; but the Septuagint puts it out of doubt, reading the words,
“and the hand of the house of Joseph was heavy upon the Amorites;”
the Ephraimites being near to the tribe of Dan, and observing how they were pressed by the Amorites, took up arms in their favour, and obliged the Canaanites of the above places to become tributaries to the Danites.
x “et aggravata est manus”, V. L. Paginus Montanus.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(35) Mount Heres.(See Jdg. 1:33.) Cheres is used for the sun in Job. 9:7. The Vatican Codex of the LXX. has the strange rendering, in the mountains of potsherds (comp. the Monte Testacclo at Rome), and Jerome follows them in reading for . The Alexandrian Codex renders it, the mountain of the myrtle-grove, reading Haras.
Aijalon.The name means gazelles, and is still preserved in the name Yalo, a village on the south side of the beautiful valley, Merj Ibn Omeir. It is mentioned in the story of the battle of Beth-horon (Jos. 10:12), and as a scene of the defeat of the Philistines by Saul (1Sa. 14:31). It was a Levitical town (Jos. 21:24).
Shaalbim.The name means jackals (comp. Jdg. 15:4; and Hazar-shual, Jos. 15:28; and Shalim, 1Sa. 9:4). The LXX. render this and Aijalon by where the bears and foxes are. Not far off is Zeboim, i.e. Hynas.
Yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed.This may imply that when Dan was unable to dislodge the Amorites they were effectually aided by the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. Hence the LXX. render it, The hand of the house of Joseph was heavy on the Amorites. (Comp. 1Sa. 5:6; Psa. 32:6.)
Tributaries.Not to Dan, but to their conquerors, the Ephraimites; so that the assistance rendered by the house of Joseph to their weak brother was, at the best, somewhat selfish, although it enabled Dan to hold the sea-coast (Jdg. 1:17).
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
35. Mount Heres ( sun mountain) is supposed to be another name for Ir-shemesh, ( the sun town,) identified in Ain Shems. Perhaps it was some eminence or range of hills in the vicinity of Ain Shems. See Jos 15:10.
Aijalon See on Jos 10:12.
Shaalbim No trace of any name resembling this is found in the vicinity of Yale or Ain Shems.
House of Joseph See note on Jdg 1:22.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ But the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributary.’
These Amorites occupied extensive lands (but not as sole occupants) going from Aijalon in the north to Akkrabim, below the Dead Sea, in the south, so they could call on extensive help. Mount Heres is unknown, although many relate it to Bethshemesh. It means the mountain of the sun and was probably thus associated with idol worship. Aijalon was a town built on a hill, commanding from the south the entrance to the valley of Aijalon. It was thus on the main trade route between Mesopotamia and Egypt and was of great importance. Shaalbim was a town near Aijalon (see 1Ki 4:9; Jos 19:42 (Shaalabbin); 2Sa 23:32 (Shaalbon)). It is therefore understandable that the Amorites should fight desperately to keep them.
“Yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed (‘was heavy”), so that they became tributary.’ This may have been after Dan had migrated north. Thus what Dan could not do, Ephraim accomplished. The Amorites were not invincible. But again Ephraim were disobedient, for instead of driving them out they made them tributary. Their desire for tribute was greater than their love for Yahweh.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
hand. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6, by which the hand is put for the power exerted by it,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Aijalon: Jdg 12:12, Jos 10:12
Shaalbim: Jos 19:42, 1Ki 4:9
prevailed: Heb. was heavy
Reciprocal: Jos 17:13 – put the Jos 19:47 – the coast Jdg 1:33 – became 1Ki 9:21 – levy
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1:35 But the Amorites would dwell in mount Heres in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the {o} hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became tributaries.
(o) Meaning, when he was stronger than they.