From the North, Enshemesh and Geliloth - Joshua 18:17

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families” which included how “the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel”, and in chapter eighteen and verse seventeen of Joshua we learn that the border, “was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth” where we read,

And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,

The verse reads, “And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth,…” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and was drawn from the north” or “and was delineated, extended, outlined and traced out separate and apart from the northern direction”, “and went forth” which means “and proceeded, exited and was lead out” “to Enshemesh” or “toward Enshemesh whose name means ‘fountain of the sun’ and was a spring on the boundary of Judah on the south and Benjamin on the north”, “and went forth toward Geliloth” which means “and proceeded, exited and was lead out to Geliloth whose name means ‘circuits’ and was a place on Judah and Benjamin's border”. Joshua or the writer shared how the boundary was delineated from the northern direction toward “Enshemesh” and “Geliloth”. 

 

The verse continues, “… which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben, …” Joshua or the writer added the words, “which is over against” which means “that is in front, opposite and in the sight of” “the going up of Adummim” or “the rising belonging to Adummin whose name means ‘ruddy one or quieted ones”, “and descended to the stone of Bohan” which means “and went down to the marble or hewn rocks belonging to Rohan whose name means ‘thumb’ and was a Reubenite who set a boundary stone between Judah and Benjamin” “the son of Reuben” or “the male offspring and progeny belonging to Reuben whose name means ‘behold a son’ and was the eldest son of Jacob by Leah”. Joshua or the writer shared how the boundary was in the sight of the rising bellowing to “Adummim” and went down to the hewn rock belonging to “Bohan” who was the male offspring belonging to “Reuben”. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn more about the boundaries to the land distributed to the “tribe of Benjamin”. The border line was delineated from the northern direction, toward “Enshemesh” and to “Geliloth” that is within the front of “Adummim” and went down to the hewn rock of “Bohan” who was the male offspring belonging to “Reuben”. All of these boundaries were known by Jehovah God, and He was fulfilling His word to give the promise land to the people of Israel. God desires to give us salvation from our sins through 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 yield to Him 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 live in the world in a manner that pleases and gives honor to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Jude 1:24-25; Revelation 4:11)

Next time learn how the border, “passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward”, 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".