In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same”, and in chapter eleven and verse seventeen of the book of Joshua, we learn how Joshua also took, “from the mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon” where we read,
Even from the mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
The verse reads, “Even from the mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “even from the mount Halak” which means “indeed and also from the rising of the plain known as Halak whose name means ‘smooth’ and was a mountain in southern Judah which is the southern limit of Joshua's conquest; site unknown”, “that goes up to Seir” or “that rises and ascends toward Seir whose name means ‘hairy or shaggy’ and was the land of Edom, south of the Dead Sea”, “even unto Baalgad” which means “toward Baalgad whose name means ‘lord of fortune’ and was a city noted for Baal-worship, located at the most northern or northwestern point to which Joshua's victories extended” “in the valley” or “within the lowland or low country” “of Lebanon” which means “belonging to Lebanon whose name means ‘whiteness’ and was a wooded mountain range on the northern border of Israel” “under mount Hermon” or “beneath the rising of the plain known as Hermon whose name means ‘a sanctuary’ and was a mountain on the northeastern border of Palestine and Lebanon and overlooking the border city of Dan”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” also possessed the territory of the rising above the plain known as “Halak” that ascends to “Seir” and toward “Baalgad” which was located within the lowland belonging to “Lebanon” which was beneath the rising of the plain known as “Hermon”.
The verse goes on to say, “and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and all their kings” which means “and each, every and the whole of the royal rulers and leaders” “he took” or “he, Joshua, seized, overtook and captured”, “and smote them” which means “and struck, hit, beat and killed them, the kings”, “and slew them” or “and executed, killed and put them, the kings, to death”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Joshua” struck, killed and executed every one of the royal rulers in those areas.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how “Joshua” continued to overtake territories the promise land. God gave him the rising above the plain known as “Halak” that rose toward “Seir” and toward “Baalgad” which was located within the low country beneath the rising of the plain known as “Hermon”. He also captured their royal rulers and struck, killed and executed them. One by one “Joshua” and the people of “Israel” were gaining territory within the promise land just the way God said they would, and because He was with them, they were victorious. God wants us to be victorious as well, and when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of everyone and raised Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so we also may be victorious in this world and the next. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Romans 8:37)
Next time we learn how, “Joshua made war a long time with all those kings”, 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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