Chepharhaammonai, Ophni and Gaba - Joshua 18:24

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 Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-four of Joshua we learn about, “Chepharhaammonai, Ophni, and Gaba” where we read,

And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:

The verse reads, “And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Chepharhaammonai” whose name means “village of the Ammonites” and was “a village in Benjamin”, “and Ophni” whose name means “moldy” and was “a town in Benjamin located 2.5 miles (4.5 km) northwest of Bethel, modern Jifna”, “and Gaba” whose name means “hill” and was “a city in Benjamin, modern Jeba which stand on the top of steep terrace hill, six mile or ten kilometers northeast of Jerusalem and three miles or five kilometers from Gibeah, on the edge of the Wadi Suweinit looking northward to the opposite village of ancient Mishmash, wonder Mukhmas”. Joshua or the writer added “Chepharhaammonai,  Ophni, and Gaba” to the list of “cities” that were given to the “tribe of Benjamin” within the promise land. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “twelve cities with their villages:” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “twelve cities” which means “twelve dwelling places or places of waking” “with their villages” or “alongside and accompanied by their, the twelve cities’, courts, settled abodes and towns”. Joshua or the writer shared how there were “twelve” dwelling places accompanied by their settled abodes that were distributed to the people of “Benjamin”. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn about three more locations which were part of “twelve cities” and their accompanying towns that were given to the “tribe of Benjamin” as an inheritance within the promise land. God provided for the people of “Benjamin”, and He desires to provide for us. 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, He made the way through faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and provided with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live according to that truth wherever He places us within the world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we learn about, “Gibeon, Ramah, and Beeroth”, 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".