Joshua 13:3

“From Sihor, which [is] before Egypt, etc.] Which Jarchi and Kimchi interpret of the river Nile, and so that river is called, (<240218>Jeremiah 2:18); it seems to have this name from the waters of it being black and turbid; and hence it was called by the Greeks “Melas”; and by the Latins “Melo”; though it is thought, that not properly the river itself is here meant, which did not reach to the borders of Palestine, but a branch of it, a rivulet from it, for so a traveller f272 writes, “in a journey of about five days from Gaza towards Egypt, the hithermost arm of the Nile is received by the sea, and is commonly called Carabus?” even unto the borders of Ekron northward: that is, from the…”

“also the Avites: From [on] the south--The two clauses are thus connected in the Septuagint and many other versions. On being driven out (Deu 2:23), they established themselves in the south of Philistia. The second division of the unconquered country comprised”

“Sihor is derived from a root signifying “to be black,” and is suitable enough as an appellative of the Nile Isaiah 23:3. Here it most probably stands for “the river of Egypt” (Numbers 34:3 note), the modern “Wady el Arish”. Ekron (“Akir”) lay on the northern boundary of Judah Joshua 15:11, and was actually conquered by the men of that tribe Judges 1:18, though assigned in the allotment of the land to Dan Joshua 19:43. It seems to have fallen again into the hands of the Philistines in the days of the Judges 1 Samuel 5:10, was reconquered by Samuel (compare 1 Samuel 7:14), but figures in subsequent times as a Philistine city only (compare 1 Samuel 17:52; 2 Kings 1:2, 2 Kings 1:16, etc.). Lords…”

“Counted to the Canaanites - That is, which though now possessed by the Philistines, who drove out the Canaanites the old inhabitants of it, Deu 2:23; Amo 9:7, yet is a part of the land of Canaan, and therefore belongs to the Israelites. The Avites - Or, the Avims, as they are called, Deu 2:23, who though they were expelled out of their ancient seat, and most of them destroyed by the Caphtorims or Philistines, as is there said, yet many of them escaped, and planted themselves not very far from the former. Joshua 13:4”

“13:3 The stream of Shihor probably marked the traditional boundary between Canaan and Egypt, bisecting the northern Sinai Peninsula. • The Philistine territory included five main cities: Gaza, Ashdod, and Ashkelon were on the Mediterranean coast, and Gath and Ekron were a few miles inland. • The Philistines displaced the Avvites (Deut 2:23).”

“Sihor: Jer 2:18 which is counted: Gen 10:15-19; Num 34:2-14 five Lords: Jdg 3:3; Sa1 6:4, Sa1 6:16, Sa1 6:17; Zep 2:4, Zep 2:5; The Philistine were not descended from Canaan, but from Mizraim, the son of Ham; (compare Gen 10:6 with Jos 13:13); yet they were numbered with the Canaanites in this distribution. Avites: Deu 2:23, Avims Joshua 13:4”