John Calvin Commentary Joshua 15:1

"And the lot for the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families was unto the border of Edom, even to the wilderness of Zin southward, at the uttermost part of the south." — Joshua 15:1 (ASV)

I have already stated beforehand that I would not be very precise in describing the location of places and in discussing names. This is partly because I admit that I am not well acquainted with topography or regional geography, and partly because great effort would yield little benefit for the reader. Indeed, perhaps most readers would struggle and become confused without gaining any benefit.

Regarding the subject at hand, it should be noted that the lot of the tribe of Judah is not only located on elevated ground—the very elevation of the territory indicating the dignity of the future kingdom—but a similar foreshadowing is given by it being the first lot drawn.

They begin to divide what had already been acquired by military force. The names of the ten tribes are placed in the urn. Judah is chosen over all the others. Who does not see that it is raised to the highest rank so that the prophecy of Jacob may be fulfilled?

Then, within the limits established here, it is well known that there were rich pastures and vineyards celebrated for their productivity and the excellence of their wines. In this way, while the lot corresponds with Jacob's prophecy, it is perfectly clear that this did not happen by chance; the holy patriarch had only spoken what was dictated by the Spirit.

If any are more knowledgeable about locations, a more detailed investigation will be pleasant and useful to them. But so that those who are less informed do not find it tiresome to read unknown names, let them consider that they have gained knowledge of considerable value, provided they remember the facts to which I have briefly and summarily referred:

The tribe of Judah was placed on elevated ground so that it might be more prominent than the others, until the scepter should arise from it; a region of fruitful vineyards and rich pastures was assigned to his descendants; and finally, all this was done so that all the people might recognize that there was nothing accidental in the drawing of a lot that had been foretold three centuries earlier.

Besides, it is easy for those without specialized knowledge to infer from the extensive area described that the territory thus allocated to one tribe was very large. For although some reduction later occurred, its territories always remained the largest.

However, it is necessary to remember what I previously observed: the lot only determined that the boundary of the descendants of Judah was to be adjacent to the land of Edom and the Wilderness of Zin, and that their boundary, in another direction, was to be the River of Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea. Those who had been selected to divide the country proceeded according to their best judgment in apportioning the amount of territory allotted to the number of their people, without extending their boundaries any further. They followed the same method in other cases, as proximity or other circumstances required.

Any error they made did not at all affect the overall validity of their decision. For as they were not ashamed to partially retract any division that might have been made without sufficient consideration, so the people, in turn, acknowledging that the dividers had acted in the matter with the strictest good faith and honesty, submitted more willingly to whatever they determined. Thus, despite any particular error, their general arrangements were fully implemented.

It is worthwhile to make one remark about the city Jebus, which was later named Jerusalem. Although it had already been chosen by God's secret counsel to be His sanctuary and the seat of the future kingdom, it nevertheless remained in the enemy's possession until the time of David.

This long exclusion from the place on which the sanctity, excellence, and glory of the rest of the land were founded was a clear manifestation of the divine curse, inflicted to punish the people for their sluggishness. This was because it was virtually the same as if the land had been deprived of its principal dignity and ornament.

But on the other hand, God's wonderful goodness was evident in this: the Jebusites, who from the long reprieve given them seemed to have established themselves most firmly, were at last uprooted and driven out from their secure position.