In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua made war a long time with all those kings”and in chapter eleven and verse nineteen of Joshua, we learn how, “there was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel” where we read,
There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel,
save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.
The verse reads, “There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “there was not a city” which means “there did not exist one dwelling place or town” “that made peace” or “that fashioned, accomplished and produced calm, tranquility and quietness” “with the children of Israel” which means “alongside, unto and toward the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer shared how there did not exist a dwelling place or town who formed calm, tranquility or a peace-treaty with the offspring belonging to “Israel”.
The verse goes on to say, “… save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “save the Hivites” which means “except for the Hivites whose name means ‘villagers’ and was the sixth generation of descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham, who were living in northern Canaan near Mount Hermon at the time of the conquest” “the inhabitants of Gibeon” or “the dwellers, abiders and inhabitants belonging to Gibeon whose name means ‘hill city’ and was a Levitical city of Benjamin, modern 'el-Jib', which lies five miles or eight km from Jerusalem”: “all other they took in battle” which means “each, every and the whole of the additional people they, the offspring of Israel, seized, captured and over took while warring and fighting against them”. Joshua or the writer shared how the “Hivites” from “Gibeon” formed a peace-treaty with Israel, and every other group “Israel” conquered in war.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how there did not exist a single dwelling place who formed a “peace-treaty” with the offspring of “Israel” other than the “Hivites” from “Gibeon”. (See Joshua 9:3-27) God instructed “Joshua” to completely destroy these places and their leadership, and only because the “Hivites” from “Gibeon” deliberately deceived them, “Israel” formed a peace-treaty with them. God desires to make a “peace-treaty” with us through His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life, equip us with His Holy Spirit and empower us to live in a peaceful manner within His presence for all the days of our lives.
Next time we learn how, “it was of the LORD to harden their hearts”, 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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