(25) Their border.--The border of Asher on the west is the Mediterranean. On the east of Asher lies the tribe of Naphtali, but most of the towns named in these verses lie well within the territory of Asher. The northern end of the territory of this tribe lies beyond the limits of the Ordnance Survey, for it reaches "unto great Zidon" (Joshua 19:28). The southern boundary is said to be Carmel (Joshua 19:26), but no town is identified south of Cabul (Kab-l, south-east of Akkah, sheet 5).

The towns identified are as follows:--

(25) El B'aneh, EL-Yasif or Kefr Yasif (sheet 3).

(26) Khurbet-el-Am-d, and M'aisleh (? Kh.-Muslih) (sheet 3).

Shihor-libnath (river of glass), the river Belus (sheet 5).

(27) Beth-dagon (Tell-' Da-k), near the mouth of the Belus.

Neiel.--(Y'Ar-n, sheet 5).

Cabul.--(Kab-l, south-east of Akkah, sheet 5).

(28) Hebron.--(Abdon, Kh.-Abdeh, sheet 3). Hammon (El Hama, sheet 3).

Kanah (south-east of Tyre, sheet 1).

(29) Tyre.--(es-S-r, sheet 1). Hosah ('Ozziyeh, sheet 1). Achzib (es-Zib, sheet 3, on the coast). (See Joshua 15:44 for another place of same name.) Ummah (Kh.-Almah, north of Achzib).

Verse 25. - Helkath. A Levitical city (Joshua 21:31; 1 Chronicles 6:75, where it is called Hukok).

19:17-51 Joshua waited till all the tribes were settled, before he asked any provision for himself. He was content to be unfixed, till he saw them all placed, and herein is an example to all in public places, to prefer the common welfare before private advantage. Those who labour most to do good to others, seek an inheritance in the Canaan above: but it will be soon enough to enter thereon, when they have done all the service to their brethren of which they are capable. Nor can any thing more effectually assure them of their title to it, than endeavouring to bring others to desire, to seek, and to obtain it. Our Lord Jesus came and dwelt on earth, not in pomp but poverty, providing rest for man, yet himself not having where to lay his head; for Christ pleased not himself. Nor would he enter upon his inheritance, till by his obedience to death he secured the eternal inheritance for all his people; nor will he account his own glory completed, till every ransomed sinner is put in possession of his heavenly rest.And their border was Helkath,.... Helkath seems to be the same with Hukok, 1 Chronicles 6:75; and according to Masius it lay ten or twelve miles above Ptolemais:

and Hali, of which we read nowhere else.

and Beten is by Jerom (h) called Bathne, and was in his time a village by the name of Bethebem, eight miles from Ptolemais to the east. Reland (i) seems to think it might be the Ecbatana of Pliny (k), which he speaks of as near Mount Carmel, and not far from Ptolemais:

and Achshaph was a royal city, whose king was taken by Joshua; see Gill on Joshua 11:1.

(h) De loc. Heb. fol. 89. H. (i) Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 2. p. 617. (k) Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 19.