In the book of Joshua, we learned how Jehovah God said, “This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages, and Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families. And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities”, and in chapter thirteen and verse thirty-one of Joshua we learn about, “half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan”, where we read,
And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan,
were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
The verse reads, “And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and half Gilead” which means “and one-half of Gilead whose name means ‘rocky region’ and was a mountainous region bounded on the west by the Jordan, on the north by Bashan, on the east by the Arabian plateau, and on the south by Moab and Ammon; sometimes called 'Mount Gilead' or the 'land of Gilead' or just ‘Gilead'. Divided into north and south Gilead”, “and Ashtaroth” or Astaroth whose name means “star” and was a city in Bashan east of the Jordan given to Manasseh, “and Edrei” whose name means “goodly pasture” and was “a chief city of Bashan, north of Jabbok river”, “cities of the kingdom of Og” or “dwelling places and towns belonging to the royal rule and dominion 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” which means “within Bashan whose name means ‘fruitful’ and was “was a district east of the Jordan known for its fertility which was given to the half-tribe of Manasseh”. Joshua or the writer shared how one-half of “Gilead” as well as “Ashtaroth” and “Edrei” which were dwelling places within the dominion of “Og” located in “Bashan” were given to the “half-tribe of Manasseh” on the eastern side of the “Jordan River”.
The verse goes on to say, “… were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “were pertaining unto the children” which means “were relevant and concerning to the offspring and progeny” “of Machir” or “belonging to Machir whose name means ‘sold’ and was eldest son of Manasseh by an Aramite or Syrian concubine and progenitor of a large family” “the son of Manasseh” which means “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Manasseh whose name means ‘causing to forget’ and was the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh”, “even to the one half” or “also and indeed unto half” “of the children” which means “pertaining to the offspring and progeny” “of Machir” or “belonging to Machir whose name means ‘sold’ and was eldest son of Manasseh by an Aramite or Syrian concubine and progenitor of a large family” “by their families” which means “according to their, the offspring of Machir’s, kinsmen and kindred”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan” were relevant to the offspring of “Machir” who was the eldest male progeny belonging to “Manasseh”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn more about the territory that was given to the “half tribe of Manasseh”. One half of “Gilead” as well as “Ashtaroth and Edrei” which were dwelling places within the royal reign of “Og” in “Bashan” became the possession of “Machir” who was “Manasseh’s” oldest son. Territory by territory and land by land God was distributing the conquered areas to the tribes of “Israel” just as He promised, and because one-half of the “tribe of Manasseh” desired to have their inheritance on the eastern side of the Jordan River, the above mentioned areas were given to them. Jehovah God also has an inheritance of forgiveness of sins and eternal life for everyone who yields to 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 put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to empower us to live according to that truth so that our ways will be pleasing to Him and we shall receive from Him everything He desires to give to us as an eternal inheritance. (See John 16:13; Acts 1:8; Colossians 1:12; Ephesians 1:18)
Next time we see how, “these are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance”, 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".
No comments:
Post a Comment