Question III. How many Southern cities of Juda were there?

The text answers (v. 32): all the cities [are] 29, and their villages. But if we gather the names which are in the text from v. 21 to this [v.] 32, [there] will seem to be many more cities — and indeed, according to R. Isaiah’s reckoning, 36; according to the 70 and our [Vulgate], 37; according to [that] of other Rabbis, 38. This knot in that reckoning the Rabbis try to loose — and Junius, following them — [by saying] that 29 were “of the tribe of Juda,” but the others, which are here added, [were] “nine Simeonite [cities].” But since [it is] only of the Judaic tribe [that] here [there] is treatment, and not even a little word of the Simeonite portion is thrown in, is not this response absurd? If someone should recount another’s goods, and — denoting all one by one through a reckoning — should pass over some in the true sum, and say [that] it happens for this reason, because they are to be [the goods] of this or that [person], of whom [there] was no mention — would not the reckoner be held unskilled [and] ridiculous? But Abulensis says the Hebrew “text” [is] corrupt, and [that] in it and all the others, for “29” should be put “39.” But this plank [is] to be seized only in the utmost shipwreck [= as a last resort]. [It is] rather to be said [that] in the words of the text those words too, “and their villages,” are to be regarded. For the cities recounted are indeed only 29; but with them [there are] the rest of their villages — which, [being] indeed larger and more famous, yet not girt with walls, the 70 call “κώμας [kōmas],” the Hebrew text “chaserim,” the French “bourgs,” the Germans “Flecken” or “Marcken,” the Spanish “los corrales,” as [is] here noted by the Spaniard Arias.