In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God told Joshua, “divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh, with whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them. From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon, and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon. And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twelve of Joshua we discover how Jehovah God refers to how the inheritance included, “all the kingdom of Og in Bashan” where we read,
All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.
The verse reads, “All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “all the kingdom of Og” which means “each, every and the whole portion of the dominion and royal reign belonging to Og whose name means ‘long-necked’ and was the Amorite king of Bashan and one of the last representatives of the giants of Rephaim” “in Bashan” or “within Bashan whose name means ‘fruitful’ and was a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh”, “which reigned in Ashtaroth” which means “that counseled, advised and ruled within Ashtaroth or Astaroth whose name means ‘star’ and was false goddesses in the Canaanite religion, usually related to fertility cult within a city in Bashan east of the Jordan and given to Manasseh” “and in Edrei” or “and within Edrei whose name means ‘goodly pasture’ and was a chief city of Bashan, north of Jabbok river” “who remained of the remnant” which means “that were left over, survived and continued to be alive pertaining to the remainder, rest and other part” “of the giants” or “belonging to the huge sized people”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God included the entire dominion which belonged to “Og” within “Bashan” who ruled within “Ashtaroth” and “Edrei” that continued to live and were among the survivors belonging to the huge sized people.
The verse continues, “for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “for these” which means “because, since and on account that these, the people of Og and the giants” “did Moses smite” or “Moses, whose name means drawn out and was the prophet, lawgiver and leader of the exodus, struck, hit, beat and killed”, “and cast them out” which means “and seized, dispossessed, disinherited and took possession of them, the people of Og and the giants”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God reminded “Joshua” about “Moses” striking and killing the people of “Og” and the “giants” and possessing their lands.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how Jehovah God was enumerating the places on the eastern side of the “Jordan River” that were inherited by the “Reubenites, Gadites and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh”. “Og” and his territory in “Bashan” were overtaken by “Moses” and the people of Israel even though there were “giants” among them. (See Deuteronomy 3:10-11) Compared to God Almighty, no man is a “giant”, and He easily defeated what may have been a great obstacle for “Israel”. God’s provision and protection for “Israel” was manifested over and over again as they traveled through the wilderness, and He protected and provided for them again in the promise land. God will also be our provision and protection when we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the grave 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 help us live according to that truth so that our ways are pleasing to Him and we receive all the inheritance that He has won in advance for us.
Next time we learn how, “the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites”, 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".
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