Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar - Joshua 13:19

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families. And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba. Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon, and Jahazah, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath, …”, and in chapter thirteen and verse nineteen of Joshua we learn about, “Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar” where we read,

And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,

The verse reads, “And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshaha …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Kirjathaim” whose name means  “two cities” and was a city east of the Jordan in Moab, “and Sibmah” or Shebam or Shibmah or Sibmah whose name means “fragrance” and was one of the towns in the pastoral district on the east of the Jordan in Moab; allotted to the tribes of Reuben and Gad”, “and Zarethshaha” whose name means “splendor of the dawn” and was “a town in Reuben”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshaha” were among the cities which were conquered by “Israel” and possessed by the tribe of Reuben. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… in the mount of the valley, …” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “in the mount” which means “within the rising above the plain or hill country” “of the valley” or “belonging to the vale, lowland or open country”. Joshua or the writer shared how the area occupied by the tribe of Reuben included the territory in the rising of the plain and the lowland. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we discover more of the places distributed by “Moses” to the tribe of Reuben. City by city and territory by territory God was providing space for the tribe of Reuben to live and raise their families. God loves the people of Israel, and He provides for them. He loves us as well, and He proved His love when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and raised Him 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 according to that truth so that we too will inherit all He desires to give us.  

Next time we learn how Jehovah God shares about, “Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth”, 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".