The Border to the End of the Mountain - Joshua 18:16

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 south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah”, and in chapter eighteen and verse sixteen of Joshua we learn how, “the border came down to the end of the mountain” where we read,

And 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,

The verse reads, “And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the border” or “and the edge, circuit and boundary” “came down to the end of the mountain” which means “descended to the edge or extremity belonging to the rising above the plain or hill country” “that lies before the valley” or “that rests in front or in the presence of the vale, lowland or low country” “of the son of Hinnom” which means “belonging to the male offspring and progeny belonging to Hinnom whose name means ‘lamentation’ and was a spring or source of water on the boundary of the territories of Judah and Benjamin; located northwest of Jerusalem”. Joshua or the writer shared how the boundary descended to the extremity belonging to rising above the plain that rests in front of the lowland belonging to the male offspring of “Hinnom”. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… 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,” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and which is in the valley” which means “and that exists within the vale, lowland or low country” “of the giants” or “belonging to the huge human beings” “on the north” which means “in the northern direction”, “and descended to the valley of Hinnom” or “and came down toward the vale, lowland or low country belonging to Hinnom whose name means ‘lamentation’ and was a spring or source of water on the boundary of the territories of Judah and Benjamin; located northwest of Jerusalem”, “to the side of Jebusi on the south” which means “toward the edge belonging to Jebusi whose name means ‘threshing place’ and were the descendants of the third son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem”, “and descended to Enrogel” or “and went down toward Enorgel whose name means ‘fount of the fuller’ and was a place near Jerusalem on the border between Judah and Benjamin and from which the permanent source of the pool of Siloam comes”. Joshua or the writer shared how the border of the land given to the people of “Benjamin” also was within the lowland belonging to the huge people in the northern direction and went down to the vale belonging to “Hinnom” as well as to the edge belonging to “Jebusi” in the southern directions and downward to “Enrogel”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we see how there were specific boundary lines to the property assigned to the “tribe of Benjamin”. All of these delineations were known and designed by Jehovah God, and it was His pleasure to provide them to His people. God knows us as well, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be resurrected from the grave after three days. When we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and provide us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth within the boundaries He has in mind for us in the world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Ephesians 1:18)

Next time we learn how the border, “was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth”, 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".