Read Joshua 22.1-9
In 22.1-9: The eastern tribes return home.
In verse 4: Because rest has been achieved (21.44), the commitments made in 1.13, 15 can now be fulfilled.
Go to your tents reflects traditional language for the dispersal of the national assembly (1 Kings 12.16) or tribal militia.
In verse 7: Manasseh's situation is unique, with territory both east and west of the Jordan.
In verse 8: Sharing out the spoil of conquest corresponds to Israel's traditional custom (1 Sam 30.21-25).
Comments or Questions..
Monday, October 21, 2019
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Reading for October 28th
Read Joshua 21.1-45
In 21.1-45: Cities of the Levites.
In verse 2: Although Levi receives no allotment for agriculture, the tribe is assigned residence towns and grazing land.
For this command, see Num 35.2-8.
In verses 4-7: The levitical cities appear in four divisions.
Levi was divided into three clans, and the Kohathites were further subdivided into the descendants of Aaron (v. 4; the priests) and those of priestly descent.
In verses 13-19: The thirteen towns for the descendants of Aaron reflect an order source list.
The other three lists were created by collecting names from Joshua 13, 16-17, 19, and 20.
In verse 32: Because the source list (vv. 13-19) contained thirteen towns, Naphtali contributes only three towns instead of the usual four in order to achieve the ideal total of forty-eight (v. 41).
In verses 43-45: All has been achieved (v. 43) and all promises fulfilled (v. 45).
Rest on every side (v. 44) mans war has been replaced by peace (1.13, 15; 22.4).
Comments or Questions..
In 21.1-45: Cities of the Levites.
In verse 2: Although Levi receives no allotment for agriculture, the tribe is assigned residence towns and grazing land.
For this command, see Num 35.2-8.
In verses 4-7: The levitical cities appear in four divisions.
Levi was divided into three clans, and the Kohathites were further subdivided into the descendants of Aaron (v. 4; the priests) and those of priestly descent.
In verses 13-19: The thirteen towns for the descendants of Aaron reflect an order source list.
The other three lists were created by collecting names from Joshua 13, 16-17, 19, and 20.
In verse 32: Because the source list (vv. 13-19) contained thirteen towns, Naphtali contributes only three towns instead of the usual four in order to achieve the ideal total of forty-eight (v. 41).
In verses 43-45: All has been achieved (v. 43) and all promises fulfilled (v. 45).
Rest on every side (v. 44) mans war has been replaced by peace (1.13, 15; 22.4).
Comments or Questions..
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Reading for October 27th
Read Joshua 20.1-9
In 20.`-9: Cities of refuge.
In verses 2-3: Murders were avenged by a near relative of the victim, the avenger of blood (v. 5).
Easily accessible cities of refuge prevented any miscarriage of justice in cases of unintentional manslaughter (Num 35.13-28; Deut 19.1-13).
In verse 7-8: Cities are designated for six regions, three on each side of the Jordan.
Comments or Questions..
In 20.`-9: Cities of refuge.
In verses 2-3: Murders were avenged by a near relative of the victim, the avenger of blood (v. 5).
Easily accessible cities of refuge prevented any miscarriage of justice in cases of unintentional manslaughter (Num 35.13-28; Deut 19.1-13).
In verse 7-8: Cities are designated for six regions, three on each side of the Jordan.
Comments or Questions..
Friday, October 18, 2019
Reading for October 26th
Read Joshua 19.1-51
In 19.1-51: The other six lots.
In verses 1-9: Because its territory lies inside that of Judah (vv. 1, 9), Simeon has no boundary description.
Its towns are listed in two districts (vv. 2-6 and 7).
In verses 6-10: For Zebulun, a detailed boundary description (vv. 10-14) is followed by a town list (v. 15).
The south border is traced westward from Sarid (vv. 10-11), then eastward from the same town (v. 12).
The east border is given in v. 13 and the north border is v. 14.
In verses 17-23: Issachar is described by a town list (vv. 18-21) followed by a small portion of north boundary (v. 22).
In verses 24--31: The boundary description for Asher is confusingly mingled with items from a town list.
In verses 32-29: The boundary description for Naphtali (vv. 33-34) is followed by a town list (vv. 35-38).
In verses 40-48: Dan's move north to a new home is reported in Judges 18.
In verse 51: The priest Eleazar cast the lot at the tent of meeting, which emphasizes that all was done in accordance with the will of God.
Comments or Questions..
In 19.1-51: The other six lots.
In verses 1-9: Because its territory lies inside that of Judah (vv. 1, 9), Simeon has no boundary description.
Its towns are listed in two districts (vv. 2-6 and 7).
In verses 6-10: For Zebulun, a detailed boundary description (vv. 10-14) is followed by a town list (v. 15).
The south border is traced westward from Sarid (vv. 10-11), then eastward from the same town (v. 12).
The east border is given in v. 13 and the north border is v. 14.
In verses 17-23: Issachar is described by a town list (vv. 18-21) followed by a small portion of north boundary (v. 22).
In verses 24--31: The boundary description for Asher is confusingly mingled with items from a town list.
In verses 32-29: The boundary description for Naphtali (vv. 33-34) is followed by a town list (vv. 35-38).
In verses 40-48: Dan's move north to a new home is reported in Judges 18.
In verse 51: The priest Eleazar cast the lot at the tent of meeting, which emphasizes that all was done in accordance with the will of God.
Comments or Questions..
Thursday, October 17, 2019
Reading for October 25th
Read Joshua 18.11-28
In 18.11-28: The lot for Benjamin
In verses 12-13: Its boundaries are described in a counter-clockwise direction (vv. 11-20).
The north border parallels that of Ephraim (16.1-3).
In verses 15-19: The south border parallels 15.5-9 (Judah's north border) but is given in the reverse direction (west to East).
In verses 21-24: Benjamin's two districts come from the same source as those of Judah (15.21-62).
Benjamin was split by the breakup of Israel after Solomon's death (1 Kings 12).
This district describes towns located in the northern kingdom.
In verse 25-28: This district consists of towns located in the kingdom of Judah.
Comments or Questions..
In 18.11-28: The lot for Benjamin
In verses 12-13: Its boundaries are described in a counter-clockwise direction (vv. 11-20).
The north border parallels that of Ephraim (16.1-3).
In verses 15-19: The south border parallels 15.5-9 (Judah's north border) but is given in the reverse direction (west to East).
In verses 21-24: Benjamin's two districts come from the same source as those of Judah (15.21-62).
Benjamin was split by the breakup of Israel after Solomon's death (1 Kings 12).
This district describes towns located in the northern kingdom.
In verse 25-28: This district consists of towns located in the kingdom of Judah.
Comments or Questions..
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
Reading for October 24th
Read Joshua 18.1-10
In 18.1-10: Dividing the land into seven portions.
In verse 1: So far the process of dividing the land has taken place at Gilgal (14.6).
Now it abruptly moves to the sanctuary of Shiloh, where the Lord is present in the tent of meeting.
In verses 4-5: The remaining seven tribes will engage in a lottery for territory.
In preparation, the land is divided in equitable allotments by a representative commission.
In verse 6: The division is conducted fairly by sacred lot under the Lord's supervision (compare v. 10).
In verse 9: The result of the commission's work is a document (NRSV: book) delineating the divisions by towns.
This seems to describe the source used to create chs. 18-19, in which town lists play an important part.
Comments or Questions..
In 18.1-10: Dividing the land into seven portions.
In verse 1: So far the process of dividing the land has taken place at Gilgal (14.6).
Now it abruptly moves to the sanctuary of Shiloh, where the Lord is present in the tent of meeting.
In verses 4-5: The remaining seven tribes will engage in a lottery for territory.
In preparation, the land is divided in equitable allotments by a representative commission.
In verse 6: The division is conducted fairly by sacred lot under the Lord's supervision (compare v. 10).
In verse 9: The result of the commission's work is a document (NRSV: book) delineating the divisions by towns.
This seems to describe the source used to create chs. 18-19, in which town lists play an important part.
Comments or Questions..
Tuesday, October 15, 2019
Reading for October 23rd
Read Joshua 17.14-18.
In 18.14-18: More territory for Joseph.
In verses 14-15: Ephraim ans Manasseh together as the tribe of Joseph complain that they have too little land.
Joshua points out that their size gives them the resources to clear the highland forests.
In verse 16: Unsatisfied, they go on to lament that the military strength of the Canaanites keeps them from settling the plains.
In verses 17-18: The large population of Ephraim and Manasseh is actually not a problem, but an opportunity for an expansive future.
In addition to clearing the forests, they will eventually drive out the Canaanites.
Comments or Questions..
In 18.14-18: More territory for Joseph.
In verses 14-15: Ephraim ans Manasseh together as the tribe of Joseph complain that they have too little land.
Joshua points out that their size gives them the resources to clear the highland forests.
In verse 16: Unsatisfied, they go on to lament that the military strength of the Canaanites keeps them from settling the plains.
In verses 17-18: The large population of Ephraim and Manasseh is actually not a problem, but an opportunity for an expansive future.
In addition to clearing the forests, they will eventually drive out the Canaanites.
Comments or Questions..
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