The NT Jacob reminds us, “the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (Jas 1:20). Before we think about the tribal allotment to Simeon (Jos 19:1-9), a little history might help. Jacob had just received a new name after wrestling with the Lord at Jabbok—Israel, a prince with God. But at Shechem, […]
Benjamin, the younger brother of Joseph, was last in line with eleven big, blustery siblings. Benjamin’s territory was small to begin with, 25 miles from the Jordan River to the neighboring tribe of Dan, and 12 miles north to south. It was one of the smallest regions distributed and grew even smaller in time. In […]
After a seven-year war, “the land was subdued” (Jos 18:1) so the tabernacle was set up at Shiloh. Shiloh, in the mountains now claimed by Ephraim, is almost exactly halfway between the northern border at Mount Hermon and the southern border at the Negev. There, we read, “the whole congregation of the children of Israel […]
“That the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works but of Him who calls” (Rom 9:11). Following the listing of Judah’s land, “the lot fell to the children of Joseph” (Jos 16:1), apportioned to Ephraim (ch 16) and Manasseh (ch 17). A large section east of the Galilee had already been […]
Not interested? It happens to be the most important real estate anywhere on planet Earth! Not surprisingly, Joshua 15 first describes the royal tribe’s land, the tribe of Judah. The chapter is intersected with a story about Caleb, his daughter, and his son-in-law (vv 13-19). It’s an eye-opener, but we’ll leave it until the book […]
Read More… from May 10, 2023 — The Territory For The Royal Tribe
How ironic: “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours” (Lk 20:14). “Their inheritance was by lot” (Jos 14:2). What seemed to be random was the way God used men to enact His will: “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the […]
As Willie McVey put it, “Woe betide any son of Anak who crossed Caleb’s path that day!” With all the provisos regarding the tribal territories out of the way, we read, “Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal. And Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him: ‘You know the […]
As much as we like to plan our lives, God’s unexpected adjustments tune things to the best outcome. At long last, after 400 years, God’s promise to Abraham at Mamre was to be fulfilled: “But in the fourth generation they shall return here” (Gen 15:16). So we read, “These are the areas which the children […]
Look at a tribal map of Israel. Nowhere does it say, “Levi.” How could they possibly have the best part? Joshua 13 lays out the territory still to be cleared of the Canaanite demon-worshipers, then describes the land holdings of the two-and-a-half tribes east of the Jordan. But before we survey the land disbursed to […]