R. Inheritance
of the other tribes (chapters 18 and 19).
The Israelites moved the
tabernacle from Gilgal to Shiloh.
There was a second division of the land. People were sent to travel through the
land, to draw up maps and then to cast lots to divide the land to the rest of
seven tribes.
1. Why
delay in obtaining the land? (3)
a.
The other tribes delayed in obtaining the land,
probably because they did not agree or were not satisfied with the division of
the land. More probably they were used to the idyllic life of the nomads, and
were reluctant to risk battling the Canaanites to conquer the land.
b.
Joshua commanded three from each tribe to survey
the land, to draw up maps and to divide the land into seven parts, casting lots
before God to distribute the promised land of God to the seven tribes (4-10).
2.
The land
of Benjamin (11-28).
a.
The land
of Benjamin was at the north of Judah,
south of Joseph, and between the 2 major tribes of Judah
and Ephraim, playing a mediating role (Isa ).
b.
There were twenty-six towns received by
Benjamin, including the famous Jerusalem.
c.
Benjamin was the second son of Rachel. Jacob
once prophesized he to be a ravenous wolf that will devour its prey. His
descendants were warriors and good at battle (Gen 49:27, Judg
3:15-30, 20:7; 1 Chr 8:40).
d.
Moses prophesized that he will dwell in safety
by the Lord, who shelters him all the day long, and he will dwell in between
His shoulders (Deut 33:12). Jerusalem
belonged to Benjamin, but was built as the capital of Judah.
The holy temple was situated here. It was indeed sheltered all day long; a
place of safe dwelling.
3.
The land
of Simeon (19:1-9).
e.
Simeon was the second son of Jacob and Leah. He
conspired with Levi to kill the people of Shechem,
taking revenge for his sister Dinah. He was hence cursed by Jacob to live divided among the house of Jacob and scattered in Israel
(Gen 49:7).
f.
The land
of Simeon was received from the territory
of Judah, because Judah
received too much land. Hence Simeon obtained seventeen towns from Judah
(1, 9).
g.
The Simeonites were not
few in numbers. Nonetheless, during the second census at the plain of Moab,
they became the smallest tribe, probably due to the incident at Shittim (Num ,
26:12-14, 25:6-8, 14).
h.
After the demise of King Solomon, the kingdom
was divided, Simeon was settled among Judah
(2 Chr 15:9). Till the years of King Hezekiah, the Simeonites migrated eastward and took some land from the Hamites and Amalekites;
fulfilling Jacob’s prophecy (1 Chr -43).
4.
The land
of Zebulun
(-16).
i.
Zebulun was the youngest
son of Jacob and Leah (Gen 30:20).
j.
Zebulun’s territory
was at the north, spreading westward from Asher to the GreatSea, eastward from Naphtali to the Sea of Galilee. It
was a fertile land of twelve towns.
k.
Jacob blessed that Zebulun
shall dwell by the haven of the sea, and shall become a haven for the ships, his border shall adjoin Sidon (Gen 49:13). Moses also
blessed: “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, for
you shall feast on the abundance of the seas and the treasures hidden in the
sand” (Deut 33:18, 19). Actually, Zebulun’s territory
was not by the sea, the blessing was referring to the wealth obtained from the
seas, through trade, product and catches, and not essentially boundaries.
5.
The land
of Issachar
(-23).
a.
Issachar was the third
son of Leah (Gen 30:17, 18).
b.
Issachar’s territory
was among Zebulun, Naphtali,
and Manasseh. It was a wide and fertile plain of Jezreel,
the land of Samaria
in the New Testament, with sixteen towns within.
c.
Jacob prophesized: Issachar
is a strong donkey, lying down between two burdens; He saw that rest was good,
and that the land was pleasant; He bowed his shoulder to bear a burden, and
became a band of slaves (Gen 49:14, 15). Moses prophesized: “Rejoice, Issachar in your tent” (Deut 33:18)
(a)
Issachar’s territory was
most tranquil, living by farming—a quiet life.
6.
The land
of Asher (-31)
d.
Asher was the second son born to Jacob by his
servant Zilpah (Gen 30:13).
e.
Asher’s inheritance was the plain of Acco by the sea, extending from Mount Carmel
to Tyre
and Sidon,
with twenty-two towns within.
f.
Jacob prophesized: “Bread from Asher shall be
rich, and he shall yield royal dainties” (Gen 49:20). Moses prophesized: “Most
blessed of sons is Asher; let him be favored by his brothers, and let him bathe
his feet in oil” (Deut 33:24).
(a)
Asher’s inheritance is a fertile land, yielding
abundant olive oil.
7.
The land
of Naphtali
(-39).
g.
Naphtali was the
youngest son of Rachel’s servant, Bilhah (Gen 30:8).
h.
Naphtali’s territory was between Asher and river Jordan,
adjoining Zebulun and Issachar
in the south. The Sea of Galilee was within its fertile
land, so were its nineteen towns.
i.
Jacob prophesized: “Naphtali
is a deer let loose, and he uses beautiful words” (Gen 49:21). Moses
prophesized: “Naphtali is abounding with the favor of
the LORD, and is full of his blessing; he will inherit southward to the lake” (Deut
33:23).
(a)
Naphtali was full of
God’s favor, with rich land and bountiful produce. When the Lord came, Galilee
was an important area of His ministry (cf. Matt -16).
8.
The land
of Dan (-48).
j.
Dan was the son born of Rachel’s servant Bilhah.
k.
Dan’s territory was west of Benjamin, a plain by
the sea between Ephraim and Judah. They were forced to live in the hills
because they failed to drive out the Canaanites (Judg
).
l.
Jacob prophesized: “Dan shall be a serpent by
the way, a viper by the path, that bites the horse's
heels, so that its rider shall fall backward” (Gen 49:17). Moses prophesized: “Dan
is a lion’s cub, springing out of Bashan”
(Deut 33:22).
(a)
Danites searched for
land of dwelling, attacked Laish, and killed its
inhabitants. They changed the name of Laish to Dan,
and took the idols served after in priest Micah’s house (Judg
18).
(b)
After the kingdom was divided, Jeroboam built
the golden calves at Dan; plunging the people into sin (1 Kgs
-53).
9.
The inheritance of Joshua (49-51).
m.
The Israelites gave Joshua Timnath
Serah as his inheritance, according to God’s command
and Joshua’s request. He then built up the town and settled there.
n.
Joshua was a faithful leader, successor to Moses
who led the people to victory in battles and divided the inheritance for all
the tribes. Eventually only he received a small town Timnath
Serah as his inheritance, according to God’s command.
