Reading for October 22nd

Read Josh 17.1-13

In 17.1-13: Manasseh.

In verse 1: Elements of Manasseh tracing descent from Machir occupied territory eat of the Jordan.

In verse 2: Six clans traced descent through Manasseh's male heirs.

In verses 3-6: Five other clans descended from the female heirs of Manasseh, the daughters of Zelophehad.

Joshua fulfills the command of Moses reported in Num 27.1-11.

The south boundary parallels Ephiram's north boundary (16.6, 8).

In verses 11-12: Idealized boundaries did not always match the reality of tribal affiliation (compare 16.9).

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Reading for October 21st

Read Joshua 16.1-10
In 16.1-10: Ephraim.
In verses 1-3: As sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh together make up the Josephites.
Their south boundary is also the north boundary of Benjamin (18.12-13).
In verses 5-9: Ephraim's north boundary is traced from its center point, first eastward and southward from Michmethath (vv.6-7), then westward from nearby Tappuah (v.8).
In verse 10: Gezer remained Canaanite until under Solomon (1 Kings 9.16-17).
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Reading for October 20th

Read Joshua 15.20-63
In 15.20-63: The towns of Judah.
In verse 20: This description was taken from an authentic source cataloging the administrative districts of the kingdom of Judah.
The remainder of this list was first used to portray Benjamin (18.21-28).
In verses 21-32: Districts are grouped and labeled geographically.
The first district is in the south (v. 21; Heb., "the Negeb").
Each district concludes with an enumeration of towns, with their villages (v. 32).
In verses 33-44: Three districts are in the the lowland (Heb., "Shephelah").
In verses 45-47: This district of Philistine towns doe snot follow the pattern and was not part of the original source document.
In verses 48-60: Other districts are in the hill country.
In verses 61-62: One district is in the wilderness.
In verse 63: Jerusalem became part of Israel only under David (2 Sam 5.6-9).
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Reading for October 19th

Read Joshua 15.13-19
In 15.13-19: A land grant for Achsah.
In verses 13-15:This parallels the account given in 14.6-15.
In verses 17-18: Although Achsah prods her husband to ask for a field, nothing of this sort apparently happens.
In verse 19: Instead she herself goes on to request springs of water from her father.
because her land is arid and she calls the land of the Negeb (the Negeb is, arid territory).
Achsah's story (paralleled in Judg 1.10-15) explains why the Othniel clan controlled both Bebir and two springs associated with Hebron.
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Reading for October 18th

Read Joshua 15.1-12
In 15.1-12: The boundaries of Judah.
In verses 1-4: Judah's south border (running east to west) is similar to Num 34.3-6.
In verses 5-11: The north border with Benjamin is reported in great detail from east to west and coincides with 18.15-19.
Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 17th

Read Joshua 14.1-15
In 14.1-15: Prelude to land distribution.
In verse 1: Joshua is joined by the priest Eleazar because casting sacred lot was a priestly monopoly (Deut 33.8).
In verse 2: Distribution by lot confirms that the results as in accordance with divine will.
In verse 4: The total number of allotments comes out to twelve because Joseph gave rise to two tribes and Levi received no territory.
In verses 6-12: Celeb claims a special grant of territory based upon his honest and loyal behavior as a spy (vv. 7-8; Num 13) and the promise of Moses (v. 9).
He supports his case by reference to his great age and warlike vigor (vv. 10-11).
It was Israel's fear of the Anakim (vv. 12, 15) that had caused the original problem (Num 13.28).
Comments or Questions..

Reading for October 16th

Read Joshua 13.8-33
In 13.8-33: East of Jordan.
In verses 8-14: A general outline moves from south to north.
Aroer on the edge of the Wadi Arnon (v.9) form a boundary with Moab on the south.
Mount Hermon and the former kingdom of Og in Bashan mark off the north (vv. 11-12).
There are two exceptions: Gershur and Maacath remain as alien enclaves (v. 13) and the tribe of Levi receives no allotment (vv. 14, 33).
In verses 15-33: Reuben's territory is described by a line of extent drawn north from Aroer (v. 16) and a list of towns (vv. 17-20).
In verses 24-28: Gad lies to the north of Rueben.
Two boundary lines run northward from Hesbon and from Mahanaim (v. 26).
There is a short list of four towns in the first part of v. 27.
In verses 29-31: the clans of Manasseh eat of the Jordan occupy territory north and east of Gad.
Comments or Questions..