So the Promised Land, across the Jordan, was divided amongst the children of Israel.
And the Lord God gave to Israel all the land that he had sworn to give to their fathers: and they possessed it and dwelt in it. And he gave them peace from all the nations round about: and none of their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their dominion. Not so much as one word, which he had promised to perform unto them, was made void, but all came to pass.
Ironic isn’t it that it was taken by siege and not grown organically? So too was America taken from the natural inhabitants.
I (God) delivered them into your hands, and you possessed their land, and slew them… And you passed over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho… And I gave you a land, in which you had not labored, and cities to dwell in which you built not, vineyards and olive yards, which you planted not.
Part of the children of Israel, two-and-one-half tribes did what they promised to do and returned home to the other side of the Jordan with Josue’s blessing:
Josue to Ruben, Gad and Manasses: You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: you have also obeyed me in all things, neither have you left your brethren this long time, until this present day, keeping the commandment of the Lord your God. Therefore, as the Lord your God hath given your brethren rest and peace, as he promised, return, and go to your dwellings, and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan; yet so that you observe attentively, and in work fulfil the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: that you love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep all of his commandments, and cleave to him, and serve him with all your heart, and with all your soul. And Josue blessed them, and sent them away, and they returned to their dwellings.
With much substance and riches, you return to your settlement, with silver and gold, brass and iron, and variety of raiment: divide the prey of your enemies with your brethren.
And the minute something is split from one into two there is the opportunity for comparison, for judgement, for fear and jealousy, isn’t there?
A seemingly just gesture to the Lord was interpreted on various levels and in various ways:
And when they were come to the banks of the Jordan, in the land of Chanaan, they (Ruben, Gad and Manasses) built an altar immensely great near the Jordan.
And when the children of Israel had heard of it… had built an altar in the land of Chanaan, upon the banks of the Jordan, over against the children of Israel, they all assembled in Silo, to go up and fight against them…
Thus saith all the people of the Lord: What meaneth this transgression? Why have you forsaken the Lord the God of Israel, building a sacrilegious altar, and revolting from the worship of him? …only depart not from the Lord, and from our society, by building an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God…
Answered the princes of the embassage of Israel: The Lord, the most mighty God, the Lord, the most mighty God, he knoweth, and Israel shall understand: If with the design of transgression we have set up this altar, let him not save us, but punish us immediately… to morrow your children will say to our children: What have you to do with the Lord the God of Israel? The Lord hath put the river Jordan for a border between us and you… but as a testimony between us and you, and our posterity and yours, that we may serve the Lord, and that we may have a right to offer both holocausts, and victims and sacrifices of Peace offerings: and thet your children to morrow may not say to our children: You have no part in the Lord….
We split but we are still part of the original covenant with God, no lesser than our brothers on the other side of the Jordan
Those of the other side of the Jordan in the Promised. And had heard this, they were satisfied: and they admitted most willingly the words of the children of Ruben, and Gad, and the half tribe on Manasses… Now we know the Lord is with us, because you are not guilty of this revolt, and you have delivered the children of Israel from the hand of the Lord… And the saying pleased all that heard it. And the children of Israel praised God, and they no longer said that they would go up against them, and fight, and destroy the land of their possession… called the altar which they had built, Our testimony, that the Lord is God.
And that was only a river! Think of seven continents and the vast oceans in between today! Boy, do we need technology and God’s love, compassion, grace, patience and understanding!
And then like Moses, Josue becomes old and ends up dying like the rest of us human beings. Moses, Josue—my curiosity is piqued as to who will take over leadership of Israel in the Promised Land. I probably should know the answer but I don’t. I am intrigued by the reading of the Old Testament and how it will be bridged to modern times or at least times that I can relate to in history that I know and am familiar with.
Josue: “I am old, and far advanced in years, (and I am going into the way of all the earth), and you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you… and many nations remain, the Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised you. Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them neither to the right hand nor to the left, lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them; but cleave ye unto the Lord your God: as you have done until this day. And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations that are great and strong, and no man shall be able to resist you. One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised. This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the Lord your God!
Josue: “But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships, know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, and a stumbling-block at your side, and snakes in your eyes, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you… when you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God.””
This, in my opinion is Old Testament thinking to the Jewish people at the time, not directed to the Gentiles or later Christians relative to the Jewish people—whatever—that was then and now is now—where New Testament thinking of love and acceptance of self and neighbors prevails!
And the Book of Josue ends with a dialogue between Josue and the people. Somehow it seems to forebear the dialogue of us supposedly Christians and Pontus Pilate that ends with us demanding the crucifixion of Christ.
Josue: Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and most sincere heart: and put away the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord… you have your choice… as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
People: God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods… we will serve the Lord, for he is our God.
Josue: “You will not be able to serve the Lord: for he is a holy God, And mighty and jealous, and will not forgive your wickedness and sins.”
People: “No, it shall not be so as thou sayest, but we will serve the Lord.”
Josue: “You are witnesses, that you yourselves have chosen you the Lord to serve him.”
People: “We are witnesses.”
Josue: “Now therefore put away strange gods from among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel.”
People: “We will serve the Lord our God, and we will be obedient to his commandments.”
Josue therefore on that day made a covenant, and set before the people commandments and judgments in Sichem. And he wrote all these things in the volume of the Lord: and he took a great stone, and set it under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the Lord.
And after these things Josue the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord died, being a hundred and ten years old…
And the pendulum, the heart compass always points to us–what is before our eyes; what is our testimony to God going to be?
Day 79: Reading The Bible with a TROML Perspective; What is Before Our Eyes; What is Our Testimony to God?
Read and inspired by the Old Testament, The Book of Josue Chapters 21-24 (END)
Bible Notes:
This Book is so called, because it was written in large part by Josue and is a history of the Jews under his rule. It records the Jewish conquest of the Promised Land, its final distribution, and the last address and death of Josue.
Josue Chapter 21: Cities for the Levites; Cities for the children of Caath; Cities for the children of Gerson; Cities for the children of Merari; Forty-eight cities to the Levites; Peace comes to the Israelites.
And the children of Israel gave to the Levites the cities and their suburbs, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, giving to every one by lot. (13+10+12+9+4 = 48)
All the cities were ten, with their suburbs, which were given to the children of Caath, of the inferior degree.
All the cities of the families of Gerson, were thirteen, with their suburbs.
All the cities of the children of Merari by their families and kindreds, were twelve.
So all the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight, with their suburbs, each distributed by the families.
And the Lord God gave to Israel all the land that he had sworn to give to their fathers: and they possessed it and dwelt in it. And he gave them peace from all the nations round about: and none of their enemies durst stand against them, but were brought under their dominion. Not so much as one word, which he had promised to perform unto them, was made void, but all came to pass.
Josue Chapter 22: Josue dismisses Ruben, Gad, and Manasses; Ruben, Gad, and Manasses depart; Ruben, Gad, and Manasses build an altar; The other tribes are offended; Ruben, Gad, and Manasses explain their altar; Friendship among the tribes is restored.
Josue to Ruben, Gad and Manasses: You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: you have also obeyed me in all things, neither have you left your brethren this long time, until this present day, keeping the commandment of the Lord your God. Therefore, as the Lord your God hath given your brethren rest and peace, as he promised, return, and go to your dwellings, and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan; yet so that you observe attentively, and in work fulfil the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you: that you love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep all of his commandments, and cleave to him, and serve him with all your heart, and with all your soul. And Josue blessed them, and sent them away, and they returned to their dwellings.
With much substance and riches, you return to your settlement, with silver and gold, brass and iron, and variety of raiment: divide the prey of your enemies with your brethren.
And when they were come to the banks of the Jordan, in the land of Chanaan, they built an altar immensely great near the Jordan.
And when the children of Israel had heard of it… had built an altar in the land of Chanaan, upon the banks of the Jordan, over against the children of Israel, they all assembled in Silo, to go up and fight against them…
Thus saith all the people of the Lord: What meaneth this transgression? Why have you forsaken the Lord the God of Israel, building a sacrilegious altar, and revolting from the worship of him? …only depart not from the Lord, and from our society, by building an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God…
Answered the princes of the embassage of Israel: The Lord, the most mighty God, the Lord, the most mighty God, he knoweth, and Israel shall understand: If with the design of transgression we have set up this altar, let him not save us, but punish us immediately… to morrow your children will say to our children: What have you to do with the Lord the God of Israel? The Lord hath put the river Jordan for a border between us and you… but as a testimony between us and you, and our posterity and yours, that we may serve the Lord, and that we may have a right to offer both holocausts, and victims and sacrifices of Peace offerings: and that your children to morrow may not say to our children: You have no part in the Lord….
…had heard this, they were satisfied: and they admitted most willingly the words of the children of Ruben, and Gad, and the half tribe on Manasses… Now we know the Lord is with us, because you are not guilty of this revolt, and you have delivered the children of Israel from the hand of the Lord… And the saying pleased all hat heard it. And the children of Israel praised God, and they no longer said that they would go up against them, and fight, and destroy the land of their possession… called the altar which they had built, Our testimony, that the Lord is God.
Josue Chapter 23: Josue as an old man counsels obedience; Punishments for disobedience to God.
Josue: “I am old, and far advanced in years, and you see all that the Lord your God hath done to all the nations round about, how he himself hath fought for you… and many nations remain, the Lord your God will destroy them, and take them away from before your face, and you shall possess the land as he hath promised you. Only take courage, and be careful to observe all things that are written in the book of the law of Moses: and turn not aside from them neither to the right hand nor to the left, lest after that you are come in among the Gentiles, who will remain among you, you should swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them; but cleave ye unto the Lord your God: as you have done until this day. And then the Lord God will take away before your eyes nations that are great and strong, and no man shall be able to resist you. One of you shall chase a thousand men of the enemies: because the Lord your God himself will fight for you, as he hath promised. This only take care of with all diligence, that you love the Lord your God!
Gentiles—of or relating to any people not Jewish; Christian, as distinguished from Jewish; Mormon Church, not Mormon; heathen or pagan; (of a linguistic expression) expressing nationality or local origins; of or relating to a tribe, clan, people, nation, etc.
Josue: “But if you will embrace the errors of these nations that dwell among you, and make marriages with them, and join friendships, know ye for a certainty that the Lord your God will not destroy them before your face, but they shall be a pit and a snare in your way, and a stumbling-block at your side, and snakes in your eyes, till he take you away and destroy you from off this excellent land, which he hath given you… when you shall have transgressed the covenant of the Lord your God.””
I am going into the way of all the earth…
Josue Chapter 24: Josue recalls former blessings of God; People told to choose between God and idols; The people choose to serve the true God; The people promise obedience; Josue renews the covenant; Death of Josue and Eleazar.
Josue: Thus saith the Lord the God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old on the other side of the river, there the father of Abraham, and Nachor: and they served strange gods. And I took your father Abraham from the borders of Mesopotamia: and brought him into the land of Chanaan… and gave him Isaac; and to him I gave Jacob and Esau. And I gave to Esau mount Seir for his possession: but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt with many signs and wonders. And I brought you and your fathers out of Egypt… and brought the sea upon them, and covered them (Egyptians)… beyond the Jordan… I delivered them into your hands, and you possessed their land, and slew them… And you passed over the Jordan, and you came to Jericho… And I gave you a land, in which you had not labored, and cities to dwell in which you built not, vineyards and oliveyards, which you planted not.
Josue: Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him with a perfect and most sincere heart: and put away the gods which your fathers served in Mesopotamia and in Egypt, and serve the Lord… you have your choice… as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.
People: God forbid we should leave the Lord, and serve strange gods… we will serve the Lord, for he is our God.
Josue: “You will not be able to serve the Lord: for he is a holy God, And mighty and jealous, and will not forgive your wickedness and sins.”
People: “No, it shall not be so as thou sayest, but we will serve the Lord.”
Josue: “You are witnesses, that you yourselves have chosen you the Lord to serve him.”
People: “We are witnesses.”
Josue: “Now therefore put away strange gods from among you, and incline your hearts to the Lord the God of Israel.”
People: “We will serve the Lord our God, and we will be obedient to his commandments.”
Josue therefore on that day made a covenant, and set before the people commandments and judgments in Sichem. And he wrote all these things in the volume of the Lord: and he took a great stone, and set it under the oak that was in the sanctuary of the Lord.
And after these things Josue the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord died, being a hundred and ten years old… Elezar also the son of Aaron died…
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