Today's Reading:

Joshua 19
Joshua 20
Joshua 21
Joshua 22

The Israelites have mostly completed the mission from God to conquer and settle in the Promised Land. Joshua praised the Transjordan tribes for their faithful obedience in their help with the battles, then blessed them and sent them home. The tribes were given vast wealth, livestock, silver, gold, and spoils from their enemies. They then departed in peace. God’s provisions and rest were given to all of His people after the years of wandering in the Wilderness and fighting battles, fulfilling His promise with generosity.

 

Joshua continued the casting of lots for the allotments of land to the 12 tribes. Yesterday, Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh received their portions. The remaining tribes were now divided, which could be tedious to read about the borders and cities. There are great maps available online that will show an overview of the land allotments online. For future reading, it is important to note where the Transjordan tribes are located, and that the land allotments of Judah and Simeon become combined to be known as the Southern Kingdom of Judah. While all the northern tribes, Reuben, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, Zebulun, Issachar, Ephraim, Manasseh, and Dan became known as the Northern Kingdom of Israel.

• Simeon- was given the desert including Beersheba within the land allotment of Judah as they had more land than needed. They will eventually be absorbed by Judah, which fulfills Jacob’s prophecy about Simeon being scattered (Genesis 49).
• Zebulun- had a lush green area. Note the city of Bethlehem is not the same Bethlehem where Jesus was born. This land was just north of Manasseh.
• Issachar- was southwest of the Sea of Galilee and included Mount Tabor. The city of Jezreel had a palace for King Ahab, where Naboth’s vineyard was located and where Queen Jezebel met her end during the revolt let by Jehu. (1 Kings 21, 2 Kings 9-10).
• Asher- was given a long northern area of land that bordered the Mediterranean Sea coastline that stretched up to Tyre.
• Naphtali- bordered Asher’s land inland and included the mountains and city of Hazor and Beth-Shemesh. Here the Canaanites were not driven out fully. In the New Testament times, the cities of Capernaum and Bethsaida were located here.
• Dan- was a small coastal area that separated Manasseh in the north from Judah in the south. This land was later lost to them when they attacked Leshem/Laish. They failed to secure their land allotment because of the Ammonites and Philistines.
• Joshua- was granted his own land allotment in the hill country of Ephraim as the city of Timnath-serah, like Caleb was given Hebron due to the generosity of the Israelites.

God instructed Joshua to have the Israelites pick 6 of the 48 cities to be designated for cities of refuge, where people could flee while awaiting trial. They chose three on the west side of the Jordan River and three on the east side. The rest of the 48 cities were given to the Levites, which included pastureland for their flocks. These cities were divided among the three main Levite clans: the Kohathites, Gershonites, and Merarites. Remember that each of these clans had specific duties for carrying the tabernacle and its holy articles.

Now that the Promised Land was claimed, Joshua blessed and sent the Transjordan tribes (Reuben, Gad, and ½ of Manasseh) back to their allotted land on the east side of the Jordan to Gilead. He thanked them for their faithfulness during the conquest. Along the way, the tribes built an altar near the river. Phinehas, the son of the high priest Eleazar, and 10 chief men went to see why they would disobey the Lord and build the altar. The Transjordan tribes told them to seek God about where the 2-1/2 tribe’s hearts were aligned, as it was with Him. The Transjordan tribes built the altar in fear that the Jordan River would cause a division in the future. Afraid that Israel’s descendants would say that they could not worship the Lord at the tabernacle, as they were outsiders to the Promised Land. A civil war was diverted, and the altar was left as a witness between the tribes. God’s faithfulness shone as unity was put first. Instead of division and war between His chosen people, communication brought peace.

Have you ever started a “war” over a misunderstanding like the Israelites, and what saved the day was simply someone asking, “Wait, what just happened?” How has clear communication turned a potential argument into peace within your own life or relationships?

Today's Discussion question: 

Have you ever started a “war” over a misunderstanding like the Israelites, and what saved the day was simply someone asking, “Wait, what just happened?” How has clear communication turned a potential argument into peace within your own life or relationships?

 
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