From Chinneroth to the Sea - Joshua 12:3

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east, Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon”, and in chapter twelve and verse three of Joshua we discover  how Israel defeated their foes,  “from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain” where we read, 

And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:

The verse reads, “And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and from the plain” which means “and apart from the desert steppe or wilderness” “to the sea of Chinneroth” or “unto the large body of water known as Chinneroth, Cinneroth or Chinnereth whose name means ‘harps’ and was the early name of the Sea of Galilee” “on the east” which means “in the eastward direction” , “and unto the sea” or “and to the large body of water” “of the plain” which means “belonging to the desert steppe or wilderness”. Joshua or the writer said “Joshua” and the army of “Israel” defeated their enemies from the desert wilderness to the “Chinneroth Sea” in the eastward direction to the large body of water belonging to the desert wilderness. 

 

The verse continues, “… even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:” Joshua or the writer added the words, “even the salt sea” which means “also and indeed to the large body of water with powdery, pulverized and dissolved salt” “on the east” or “in the eastward direction”, “the way to Bethjeshimoth” which means “the road, distance, journey and direction toward Bethjeshimoth whose name means ‘house of desolation’ and was a place in Moab given to the tribe of Reuben”; “and from the south” or “and apart from the southern direction”, “under Ashdothpisgah” which means “beneath Ashdothpisgah whose name means foundation or slope”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” and the army of “Israel” also seized the territory toward the large body of water filled with salt and on the traveled road toward “Bethjeshimoth” and from the southern direction beneath “Ashdothpisgah”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover more of the territory that “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” possessed within the promise land. From the desert wilderness to the “Chinneroth Sea” in the eastward direction, to the large body of water in the desert wilderness which was the large body of water filled with dissolved “salt” in the eastern direction to the traveled road toward “Bethjeshimoth” and beneath “Ashdothpisgah” in the southern direction. This wide area of territory was captured and overtaken by “Joshua” and the army of “Israel”, and city by city and land by land were overtaken by them. God gave “Israel” this promise land, and because He loves them, He provided for them. God loves us, and His desire is to have a personal relationship with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and give us His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live in victory over foes and territories that are in opposition to Him.

Next time we discover how Israel defeated their foes from, “the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".