The Jebusites - Joshua 15:63

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 “Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,  and Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages: Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages. In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah, and Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages”, and in chapter fifteen and verse sixty-three of Joshua we learn what happened with, “the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem” where we read,

As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.

The verse reads, “As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “as for the Jebusites" which means “in reference to and concerning the Jebusites who were descendants of Jebus 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”, “the inhabitants of Jerusalem” or “the dwellers and abiders belonging to Jerusalem whose name means ‘teaching of peace’ and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split”, “the children of Judah” which means “the offspring and progeny belonging to Judah whose name means ‘praised’ and was the tribe who descended from Judah the son of Jacob” “could not drive them out” or “were unable, without power and did not have the ability to seize, dispossess or take possession of them, the Jebusites, separate and apart from Jerusalem”. Joshua or the writer shared how the offspring of “Judah” were unable to dispossess the dwellers in “Jerusalem” from their city. 

 

The verse continues, “but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “but the Jebusites” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover the descendants of Jebus 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” “dwell with the children of Judah” or “live, abide and remain alongside the offspring and progeny belonging to Judah whose name means ‘praised’ and was the tribe who descended from Judah the son of Jacob” “at Jerusalem” which means “in the city of Jerusalem whose name means ‘teaching of peace’ and is the chief city of Palestine and capital of the united kingdom and the nation of Judah after the split” “unto this day” or “to the very sunrise to sunset of this writing”. Joshua or the writer shared how the people of “Jebus” remained living within the city of “Jerusalem” alongside the offspring of “Judah” to “day” of the writing of this passage. 

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn through Joshua or the writer that not everyone of the pagan people within the promise land was removed. The “Jebusites” who were descendants of “Jebus” lived within “Jerusalem”, and the offspring of “Judah” were unable to remove them. For this reason the “Jebusites” lived with the offspring of “Judah” in the city of “Jerusalem” unto that current “day”. God wants to remove all sin and error from our lives, and 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 belief and faith in Him as our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and give us the ability to live in keeping with that truth so that our lives are pleasing to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we begin a new chapter and see how, “the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho”, 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".