Tag Archive | Dividing the Land

Journaling through the Bible Chronologically in 2025, Day 86

Mar27
Day 86.  Reading Joshua 16 – 18. 
 

Now … into the History of Israel – post-Moses.

Will the new leadership change the Nation?

What did you learn today about God’s faithfulness?

Joshua 16.

Today’s chapters continue with the distribution of the Promised Land to the tribes of Israel after the LORD helped Joshua and the armies to defeat them.

The duel tribe of “Joseph” (Ephraim & Manasseh) receives their inheritance. First Ephraim’s portion is described. It was a large section from the Jordan River at Jericho almost to the  “Great Sea.”  The last verse in the chapter says, “However, they DID NOT drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so those people lived among them. but (like Gibeon) they were made to do forced labor.”

Joshua 17.

Then the other half of Joseph’s tribe – Manasseh – was given their land. Manasseh gets a lot of land because they were a large tribe.  They already received a huge portion on the East side of the Jordan. Now, continuing on the West side all the way to the Great Sea, they received more.

Again the scripture comment is, “Yet the people of Manasseh could not take possession of some of the cities, but the Canaanites persisted in dwelling in the land. Now when the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor … but did not utterly drive them out.“

(All this is setting up the tribes for trouble later. God said to drive them ALL out and He would help them. God Knew the worship practices of the Canaanites would be a strong temptation to the Jews.)

Later the duel tribes of Joseph came to Joshua saying they did not have enough land.  Joshua told them to go into the hill country/forest and clear more land, and also to drive out the Canaanites in the plains.  Okay, okay, they DID have chariots of Iron, but Joshua was not moved.  “You shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have chariots of iron, and though they are strong!“

(Way to lead, Josh!!)

Joshua 18.

Now the rest of the smaller tribes were to get their portions. Joshua set up a tent at Shiloh, got out the maps.  He called three men each (spies) from the remaining seven tribes and told them to go out and write a description of the land and bring it back. The remaining land would then be divided (by lots) accordingly into seven portions.

So they went out and wrote the descriptions “in a book” and returned. And Joshua cast lots for them before the LORD.

Benjamin was first and got the prime piece of land dead center in the land between Judah and Ephraim. Nestled at the bottom of their portion, on the boarder with Judah, was Jerusalem.  This “City of Gold” now ruled by the Jebusites, would one day be Israel’s capital, with God dwelling there in their midst in the magnificent Temple that King Solomon would build.

Benjamin also got the cities of Jericho, Bethel, Gibeon, Ramah, Mizpeh, and Gibeah (actually, 14 cities in all). And he got a finger hold of the Dead Sea, right at the top.

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Tomorrow the remaining 6 tribes will get their allotment, and Commander Joshua will finally get HIS special land grant from the LORD. 

 

 

 

 

 

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 86

Mar26

    Day 86 —  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, we have established a “habit.” So, CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the third month so far! Praise God!

   Day 86 – Joshua 16 – 18 (Ephraim & Manasseh, Complaints, Benjamin)

In Chapters 16 & 17, Joshua and the men continue to divide up the land of Canaan for each tribe, small or super large. Joseph’s tribe is split into Ephraim and Manasseh. Half of the Manasseh tribe had already inherited land on the EAST side of the Jordan, but on the WEST, the other half was lumped together with Ephraim. They did not like that.  Joshua let these tribes figure it out between themselves. And so the WEST half-tribe seems to have gotten a very large area, running from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.

Sadly, all the Canaanite people were NOT driven out for both Ephraim and the two halves of Manasseh. (These Canaanites were very strong and had iron chariots.)  They remained a source of pagan influence, even though the tribes forced them to do forced labor.

In Chapter 18, Joshua and Israel set up the Tabernacle at Shiloh before the remaining land was allotted.  Joshua was annoyed with the remaining tribes. “How long will you put off going in to take possession of the Land, which the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?”  He told them to take three men from each tribe and spy out the remaining land. Joshua would then allot those places to the remaining seven tribes.

So the men went “up and down in the land” and wrote descriptions.  Then they returned, and Joshua used the “lot” to determine who should go where. Benjamin was between Judah (in the South) and Ephraim/Manasseh in the North, bordering on the North side of Jerusalem. (Judah had the South side.)

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(We will see tomorrow that Simeon—a very small tribe—was also allotted their portion within Judah, whose allotment was too large for them, at that time.)

Much later in Israel’s history, we will see these tribes facing off against each other in a kind of Civil War when Solomon’s son tore the kingdom in two. (The 9 in the North were called Ephraim or Israel, and the 3 in the South were called Judah.)

#2024GOAL – Reading Through The Bible Chronologically, day 68

Mar8

    Day 68—  Now that we’ve passed Day 66, it’s 100% likely that we have established a “habit.” So CELEBRATE our habit of daily Bible reading! We are in the THIRD month so far! Praise God!

   Day 68 – Numbers 33 – 34 (Israel’s journey, Tribal boundaries)

Before entering the Promised Land, Moses takes time to document Israel’s journey so for, since they left Egypt, and to review what they are to do once they cross the boarder. (Chapter 33)

Many of the places he mentions are familiar, but quite a few are not, especially in the final 38 years of just wandering around the desert until all the older generation dies. Forty times, Moses writes of Israel, “they set out from” and “they camped at.”  What a tedious journey of packing up and setting up, all resulting from their disobedience.  (How often have I also endured long trials as a result of deciding MY way instead of GOD’s way?)

At the end of the chapter the LORD reminds Moses to repeat His instructions about entering the land of Canaan.  “You shall DRIVE OUT ALL the inhabitants of the land from before you, and DESTROY ALL their figures and images, and DEMOLISH ALL their high places.” And then they could enjoy the Land that God promised them.

BUT “If you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then those of them whom you let remain shall be as BARBS IN YOUR EYES and THORNS IN YOUR SIDES, and will trouble you.  (Let’s see how that works out when we get to the book of Joshua.)

Next, in Chapter 34, God tells Moses the boundaries of the Land He has Promised them – South, West (Mediterranean Sea), North, and East (the shoulder of the Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Dead Sea). God also allows the 2.5 tribes to inherit the hill country of Gilead, and the lands of Ammon and Moab on the East of the Jordan River.

The LORD also names  Eleazar the priest, and Joshua as the two who will divide the land up by lot according to the size of each tribe.  A head man from each tribe is also named to help in the allotments.

It sounds so exciting!  They will soon enter and conquer their Promised Land and find where they all will live! (And no longer camp & move.)  But first, a lot of work, lessons, and refinement must be endured. Are they up for it?