Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

The wilderness of Beth-aven - This was the same as Beth-el; but this name was not given to it till Jeroboam had fixed one of his golden calves there. Its first name signifies the house of God; its second, the house of iniquity.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And their border on the north side was from Jordan,.... Which was the eastern boundary of the tribe, and hence proceeded from east to west, and formed its northern border, which is described in like manner as the lot of the children of Joseph, Joshua 16:1,

and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side; from Jordan it went to the north of Jericho, and so took in that place, which was within the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:21,

and went up through the mountains westward; the mountains that were on the north of Jericho; for, as Strabo says^F9Geograph. l. 16. p. 525. , Jericho was surrounded with mountains, see Joshua 2:16; through these mountains the coast went on towards the western border of the tribe:

and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven: a place near Bethel and Ai, to which there was a wilderness adjoining, see Joshua 7:2; here ended the northern border.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

A place distinct from, but near unto Beth-el, as may be gathered from Joshua 16:1.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

12.Their border on the north side was identical with the south border of Ephraim, (Joshua 16:1-10,) as far as Lower Beth-boron.

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

Bethaven, or Bethel. Josephus says, (Antiquities v. 3,) that the territory of Benjamin extended as far as the Mediterranean: but it only went to Ataroth, ver. 13. (Menochius)

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

mountains = hill country.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Jericho

2:1; 3:16; 6:1; 16:1

the wilderness

7:2; Hosea 4:15; 5:8; 10:5