Albert Barnes Commentary Joshua 15

The inheritance of the tribe of Judah is described first by its general boundaries on all four sides (Joshua 15:1–12); then reference is again made, for the sake of completeness, to the special inheritance of Caleb which lay within these boundaries (Joshua 15:13–20); and lastly, a list of the towns is given (Joshua 15:21–63). Consult the marginal references.

The stone of Bohan - This stone perhaps commemorated some deed of valor belonging to the wars of Joshua (compare 1 Samuel 7:12). The stone was erected on the slope of a hill (see the marginal reference), no doubt one of the range which hounds the Jordan valley on the west. But its exact site is wholly uncertain.

The going up to Adummim - Rather, “the ascent or pass of Adummim” (Compare to Joshua 15:3, margin), on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Its name signifies “red” and is explained by Jerome as attributed to the frequent bloodshed there by robbers. This road is the scene of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Possibly the name may be due to some aboriginal tribe of “red men,” who held their ground in these strongholds after the invaders had driven them from the rest of the country.

En-shemesh - That is, “fountain of the sun;” undoubtedly the one now called “the Fountain of the Apostles,” about two miles from Jerusalem, and the only well on the road to Jericho.

En-rogel - That is, “fountain of the fullers” near the walls of Jerusalem. It was here that Jonathan and Ahimaaz concealed themselves after the rebellion of Absalom, in order to obtain news for David, and here Adonijah gave a feast to his adherents in preparation for an attempt on the crown (Compare to the marginal references). It is probably the modern “Fountain of the Virgin,” the only real spring near Jerusalem, from which the Pool of Siloam is supplied. Others identify it, less probably, with the “Well of Job,” situated where the valleys of Kedron and Hinnom unite.

The valley of the son of Hinnom - This valley begins on the west of Jerusalem at the road to Joppa, and turning southeastward around the foot of Mount Zion joins the deeper valley of Kedron on the south of the city. It was in this ravine, more particularly at Tophet in the more wild and precipitous part of it toward the east, that the later kings of Judah offered the sacrifices of children to Moloch (2 Chronicles 28:3; 2 Chronicles 33:6, etc.).

After these places had been defiled by Josiah, Tophet and the whole valley of Hinnom were held in abomination by the Jews, and the name of the latter was used to denote the place of eternal torment (Matthew 5:22). The Greek term Gehenna (γεέννα geenna) is in fact formed from the Hebrew הנם גיא gay' hı̂nnôm, “valley of Hinnom.” Hinnom is regarded either as the name of some ancient hero, or as an appellative (“groaning” or “moaning”), bestowed on the spot because of the cries of the victims offered here to Moloch, and of the drums with which those cries were drowned.

The valley of the giants - Rather “the plain of Rephaim.” This plain, named after an ancient and gigantic tribe of the land (Genesis 14:5), lies southwestward of Jerusalem, and is terminated by a slight rocky ridge forming the brow of the valley of Hinnom. The valley is fertile (Isaiah 17:5) and broad, and has been on more than one occasion the camping ground for armies operating against Jerusalem (2 Samuel 5:18; 2 Samuel 5:22; 2 Samuel 23:13).

Nephtoab is probably the modern “Ain Lifta,” two miles and a half northwestward of Jerusalem; and Mount Ephron is conjecturally connected with the city Ephrain (2 Chronicles 13:19) or Ophrah (Joshua 18:23).