The Lot of Joseph - Joshua 16:1

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 “in the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah, and Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages: 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”, and in chapter sixteen and verse one of Joshua we learn how, “the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho” where we read,

And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,

The verse reads, “And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the lot" which means “and the recompense, share or portion” “of the children of Joseph” or “belonging to the offspring and progeny belonging to Joseph whose name means ‘Jehovah has added’ and was the eldest son of Jacob by Rachel” “fell from Jordan” which means “departed, stretched forth and proceeded apart from Jordan whose name means ‘descender’ and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)” “by Jericho” or “beside or alongside Jericho whose name means ‘its moon’ and was a city five miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and seven miles (11.5 km) north of the Dead Sea and the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan”, “unto the water of Jericho” which means “to the refreshing water belonging to Jericho whose name means ‘its moon” “on the east” or “in the eastern direction". Joshua or the writer shared how the portion of land allotted to the offspring of the “tribe of Joseph” was from the “Jordan” river beside “Jericho” to the flowing waters belonging to “Jericho” in an eastern direction. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “… to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “to the wilderness” which means “to the uninhabited pasture and desert land” “that goes up from Jericho” or “and proceeds forth and ascends separate and apart from Jericho whose name means ‘its moon’ and was a city I’ve miles (8 km) west of the Jordan and seven miles (11.5 km) north of the Dead Sea and the first city conquered by the Israelites upon entering the promised land of Canaan” “throughout mount Bethel” which means “over, all around and in every part of the rising above the plain known as Bethel whose name means ‘house of God’ and was a place in south country of Judah, not far from Beersheba and Ziklag”. Joshua or the writer shared how the land allotted to the “tribe of Joseph” spread all over the uninhabited desert place that ascends from “Jericho” to the rising above the plain known as “Bethel”. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we begin to learn of the portion of the promise land that was provided to the offspring of “Joseph”. “Joseph’s” land stretched from the “Jordan” river that was alongside of “Jericho”, to the flowing water in the eastern direction of “Jericho” to the desert plain that ascends from “Jericho” and all over the mountain known as “Bethel”. God was fulfilling His word to provide a place to live for the “tribe of Joseph”, and He will fulfill His promise of forgiveness of sins, everlasting life and equipping us with His Holy Spirit when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days. God loves everyone, and when we put our faith and trust in Him as our “Savior and Lord”, we can be assured that He will fulfill His promises just as He did with the people of “Joseph”. (See John 3:16: 16:13; Acts 1:8; Colossians 2:2)

Next time we learn how the border of Joseph, “goes out from Bethel to Luz”, 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".