The Cities of the Amorites - Joshua 13:10

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 in chapter thirteen and verse ten of Joshua we discover how Jehovah God said the inheritance included, “all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites” where we read, 

And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, 

unto the border of the children of Ammon;

The verse reads, “And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and all the cities” which means “and each, every and the whole of the dwelling places and towns” “of Sihon” or “belonging to Sihon whose name means ‘warrior’ and was the king of the Amorites at the time of the conquest and defeated by Moses in Transjordan” “king of the Amorites” which means “the royal ruler and leader belonging to the Amorites whose name means ‘a sayer’ and was one of the peoples of east Canaan and beyond the Jordan, dispossessed by the Israelite incursion from Egypt”, “which reigned in Heshbon” or “who ruled and had dominion within Heshbon whose name means ‘stronghold’ and was the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located on the western border of the high plain and on the border line between the tribes of Reuben and Gad”. Joshua or the writer shared how the tribes of “Reuben, Gad and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh” inherited the territory and dwelling places that were previously ruled by “Sihon” who was the royal leader of the “Amorites” and exercised dominion from “Heshbon”. 

 

The verse continues, “… unto the border of the children of Ammon;” Joshua or the writer added the words, “unto the border” which means “to the edge or boundary” “of the children of Ammon” or “belonging to the offspring and progeny belonging to Ammon whose name means ‘tribal’ and was a people dwelling in Transjordan descended from Lot through Ben-ammi”. Joshua or the writer shared how Jehovah God included the boundary of the offspring belonging to “Ammon” as the territory that “Reuben, Gad and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh” inherited on the eastern side of the Jordan River. (See Numbers 21:24-26)

When we think through the words in this verse, we discover more of the lands which were given to “Reuben, Gad and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh” by Jehovah God through “Moses” on the eastern side of the “Jordan River”. Each of these places were fulfillments of Jehovah God’s promise to “Israel”, and although “Reuben, Gad and one-half of the tribe of Manasseh” desired to have their inheritance on the east side of “Jordan”, they continued to be committed to helping the other tribes to obtain their allotments. God wants us all to inherit His forgiveness of sins and eternal life, and when we put our faith and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so that we too receive all that He desires to give to us. (See John 3:16; 16:10; Acts 1:8)

Next time we see how Jehovah God refers to how the inheritance included, “Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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