ON LAND TENURE IN ANCIENT TIMES. 201 
springs’) added asa “blessing”’ (v. 19), points unmistakably to this, 
for no one knows better than my critic the inestimable value of even 
a single Palestine spring, and how unlikely it is that more springs 
than one, both on the upper and lower ground, would be given to 
one man in his separate holding! But nothing is more natural 
than to suppose that these springs, fowr at least, were sought and 
given to be enjoyed in common by Othniel and Achsah’s Village- 
Community. This equally explains the gift of Hebron to Caleb 
in Joshua xiv. 6-15, and of Timnath-Serah to Joshua in Joshua 
xix. 49, 50. 
And now, finally, as to the one and only distinct reference to 
sadeh tenure under the law. This one passage consists of five 
short verses in all (Numbers xxvi. 53-56), of which we have a 
brief repetition, still more in favour of the view I take, in 
Numbers xxxiii. 54. Concerning this passage my critic says first, 
‘‘T think that, according to the Law of Moses, it was intended 
that every man was to receive an inheritance.’ But when giving 
the passage quoted in support of this opinion, my critic immedi- 
ately limits “every man”’ to “individuals of full age (20 years, 
see verses 4 and 51), stated in verse 51 to be 601,730).” This 
excludes all men under 20 years of age. But the number of the 
men who were to inherit, if the 601,730 were all, is still further 
limited, as will be seen from verse 2. There it is said, “ Take 
the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, 
from 20 years old and upwards, throughout their father’s house, 
all that are able to go to war in Israel.” And, in verse 4, this is 
said to be done ‘‘from 20 years old and upwards; as the Lord 
commanded Moses.” The command here referred to is given in 
Numbers i. 1: “‘ And Jehovah spake unto Moses . . . Take ye the 
sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel... from 
20 years old and upward all that are able to go forth to war in 
Israel.” From this it is clear that only able-bodied warriors over 
20 years of age were numbered—the host, or army. In the Hast 
men marry early, even from 12 years of age, and the astonishing 
increase of Israel in Egypt seems absolutely to require this expla- 
pation. There must have been, therefore, at their entrance into 
Canaan a very large number of men with small families between 
the ages, say, of 16 and 20, and surely, some at least—and those 
princes and heads of houses—infirm by reason of age, for though, 
it is true, none, except Joshua and Caleb, were then above 60, many 
must have been about that age. Ail these,if my critic’s hypothesis 
is true, received no inheritance at all, and, if we agree with the first 
