Monday, November 12, 2012

Napthali’s Land

Joshua 19:32-39

“The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. 

And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan: And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.

 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth, And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor, Jos 19:37 And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor, And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.

 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.” (Joshua 19:32-39)

Naphtali received the land to the east of Asher, from the border of Issachar, just south of the Sea of Galilee north along the Jordan river feeding the Sea of Galilee adjacent to the half tribe of Manasseh’s land  to the northern most tip of present day Israel.  While it was as large as Asher’s land, there were only nineteen city states.

The region comprised of Zebulon, Issachar, Asher and Naphtali would be known in Roman times as Galilee.


Dan’s Lot
Joshua 19:40-48

“And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. 

And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh, And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, Jos 19:43 And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, Jos 19:45 And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon, And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.” (Joshua 19:40-46)

Dan was the last tribe selected, and they were given the rest of  the area separating Judah from Ephraim and Manasseh, including some of the Philistine lands.  It reached from the border of Benjamin’s land to the Mediterranean and north to the boundary of Manasseh along the Kanah river.

“And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.” (Joshua 19:47)

Deciding they needed more land than they had received, Dan sent an expedition to the northern tip of Naphtali, along the Jordan rive and conquered the city state of Leshem, renaming it Dan and claiming it.

“This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.” (Joshua 19:48) 

They owned a total of nineteen city states.


Joshua’s Portion
Joshua 19:49-51

“When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them: According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein. 

These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.” (Joshua 19:49-51)

Unlike many leaders throughout history, Joshua did not simply take a place for himself.  After fifty years of service to his people, it was only fair that he receive an equal share among them.  He requested and was given the city of Timnathserah in the Ephraim’s land, among his own tribe.  He rebuilt the city and lived there for the rest of his life.

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