In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families” which included among others “sixteen cities with their villages: Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan, and Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib, and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages: Ekron, with her towns and her villages”, and in chapter fifteen and verse forty-six of Joshua we learn about,“from Ekron even unto the sea” where we read,
From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
The verse reads, “From Ekron even unto the sea, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “from Ekron" which means “separate and apart from Ekron whose name means “emigration or torn up by the roots” and was “the most northerly of the five principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan”, “unto the sea” which means “to the large body of water known as the ‘sea’ or Mediterranean Sea”. Joshua or the water said the territory that was apart from “Ekron” to the Mediterranean Sea was also apportioned to the “tribe of Judah”.
The verse continues, “… all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:” Joshua or the writer added the words, “all that lay near Ashdod” which means “each, every and the whole that was a part or portion close to Ashdod whose name means ‘powerful’ and was a major Philistine city on the Mediterranean Sea west from Jerusalem, modern Esdud”, “with their villages” or “alongside and accompanied by their, Ashdod’s, settled abodes and towns” Joshua or the writer also included every part of the territory that was close to “Ashdod” and it’s settled abodes to be among the places given to the people of “Judah”.
When we consider the words in this verse, we discover another area that was given to the people in the “tribe of Judah”. “Ekron” and all the territory toward the Mediterranean Sea, as well as the land close to Ashdod and it’s towns” was granted to “Judah”. This vast area of land was to be utilized by the people of “Judah” to live and give honor to Jehovah God. All of these places belong to God, (See Psalm 24:1) and by living in them in a manner that is pleasing to Him, God would bless the people of “Judah”. God wants us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him, and when we receive His Son Jesus who came into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and to empower us to live according to that truth so that we live in a way that blesses Him and seeks to bear witness of Him to the world. (See John 3:16; John 16:13; Acts 1:8; 17:28; Revelation 4:11)
Next time Joshua or the writer shares about, “Ashdod, Gaza, the river of Egypt and the great sea”, 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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