And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
Zelah, [the Septuagint omits] - (cf. 2 Samuel 21:14.) No trace of it has been found.
Eleph, х haa-'Elep (H507)] - the ox or cow, indicating the pastoral character of the place.
Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, х wªha-Yªbuwciy (H2983), the Jebusite; Septuagint, Iebous] - (see the note at Joshua 15:8.) The import of Jerusalem is, according to Reland ('Palaestina,' p. 832), Hengstenberg (Psalms 3:1-8:, p. 331), and Ewald ('Hebrew Grammar'), the peaceful possession; but according to Hofmann, the foundation of peace (cf. Genesis 31:51: see the note at 2 Samuel 5:9). Another derivation has been suggested from Luke 19:42.
Gibeath, [Septuagint, Gabaooth]. The three towns, Gibeon, Gibeah, and Geba, are all enumerated as belonging to Benjamin. The two latter are clearly distinguished, 1 Samuel 13:2-3. Gibeah of Benjamin (Tuleil el-Tul, the hill of the beans) was at least five miles north of Jerusalem, in the immediate vicinity of Gibeon and Ramah, with which, therefore, it might have been expected to be associated in this enumeration. But it is here in the construct state; and hence, it has been suggested that it should be joined to the following word, Gibeath-kirjath - i:e., the hill of Kirjath, namely, Kirjath-jearim. It is no fatal objection to this conjecture that it diminishes the number of cities. The Septuagint version shows plainly that the text here has been altered.
Fourteen cities with their villages. This second group of cities was situated in the southern part of the allotment.