Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah - Joshua 18:23

In the book of Joshua, we learned, ”Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-three of Joshua we learn about, “Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah” where we read,

And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,

The verse reads, “And Avim, and Parah, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Avim” whose name means  “ruins” and was “a people among the early inhabitants of Palestine located in the southwest corner of the seacoast”, “and Parah” whose name means “heifer-town” and was “a town in Benjamin”. Joshua or the writer added “Avim and Parah” to the dwelling places that were allotted to the “tribe of Benjamin”. 

 

The verse continues, “… and Ophrah, …” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and Ophrah” whose name means “fawn” and was “a town of Benjamin approximately five miles (8 km) east of Bethel”. Joshua or the writer added “Ophrah” to the places of wakening given to the people of “Benjamin”. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn about three more of the “cities” that were assigned to the “tribe of Benjamin”. “Avim, Parah and Ophrah” were places where the people of “Benjamin” were to raise their families and worship God. God loves the people of Israel, and He provided for them. He will provide eternally for us when we yield 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 surrender our lives to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, 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 in this world and the eternal world to come. (See John 3:16; 14:1-6; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Psalm 24:1)

Next time we learn about, “Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba”, 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".