John Calvin Commentary Joshua 13:2

"This is the land that yet remaineth: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;" — Joshua 13:2 (ASV)

This is the land, etc. The ancient boundaries long ago fixed by God are recalled, so that Joshua and the people may be fully persuaded that the covenant made with Abraham would be fulfilled in every part. Therefore, they are instructed to make it their study to acquire the parts still remaining to be possessed. The inference will be appropriate if we make a practical application of this perseverance to what is required of us, namely, to forget the things which are behind, and reach forth unto those that are before, and press toward the mark for the prize of our high calling (Philippians 3:14). For it would be of no use to run in the race without endeavoring to reach the goal.

The boundary began with a river separating Egypt towards the sea from the Holy Land—most probably the river Nile, as we interpret it according to the prevailing opinion, or a small stream that flowed past the town of Rhinocornea, believed by many to be Raphia or Raphane. It is indeed beyond dispute that the inheritance of the people beginning in that region was adjacent to Egypt.

But although I have followed the opinion of the majority of commentators, that the boundaries were not extended further than to the less cultivated and somewhat desert land, lest greater proximity might have been injurious by leading to too close familiarity with the Egyptians, I by no means repudiate a different opinion.

The third verse raises a question. After it is said that the territories towards the sea-coast were five, a sixth is added, namely, that of the Avites. Some think that it is not counted among the five because it was an insignificant province. But I would have my readers consider whether there may not be an indirect antithesis between a free people, their own masters, and five territories ruled by sovereigns. Hence the Avites, being in different circumstances, are mentioned separately, the plural number being used for the sake of distinction. In the enumeration of the sovereignties, they are not arranged in the order of their dignity or opulence, but the first place is given to Aza because of its nearness to Egypt, and the same remark applies to Ashdod and the others.

The Septuagint translators, according to their usual custom, employ the Greek γ (gamma) to express the Hebrew ע (ain), and thus give the name of Gaza to that which in Hebrew is Aza, in the same way as they convert Amorrha into Gomorrha. This sufficiently exposes the mistake of those who suppose that its name is Persian and derived from its resources because Cambyses, when about to carry on war in Greece, made it the depot of his treasures.

But as in Acts, (Acts 8:26), Luke speaks of Gaza which is desert, it appears that a city of the same name was built near it, but on a different site. Ashdod is the same as that which the Greeks called Azotus. The whole of this tract, which is either on the sea-coast or verging towards it, extends as far as Sidon. And there are some who think that the Phoenicians were once masters of both Gaza and Azotus.

How far Lebanon extends is sufficiently known. For it sometimes includes Mount Hermon; and on account of its length, part of it is also named Antilibanus. The reader will find the subject of Mount Hermon considered in Deuteronomy 4. Towards the east is Hamath, which is also Antioch of Syria.