In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twelve of Joshua we learn how, “their border on the north side was from Jordan” where we read,
And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
The verse reads, “And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and their border” or “and their, the tribe of Benjamin’s, edge, circuit and boundary” “on the north side” which means “in the corner or edge in the northern direction” “was from Jordan” or “existed separate and 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)”; “and the border” which means “and the edge, circuit and boundary” “went up to the side of Jericho” or “rose and ascended toward the corner or edge belonging to 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” “on the north side” which means “in the edge or corner in the northern direction”. Joshua or the writer shared how the boundary of the territory given to the “tribe of Benjamin” was from the “Jordan” river and arose alongside the edge of “Jericho” in the northern direction.
The verse goes on to say, “… and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and went up” which means “and rose and ascended” “through the mountains westward” or “moving from one side to the other in the risings above the plains and range of mountains in the western direction”; “and the goings out thereof” which means “and the border, extremity and end” “were at the wilderness” or “existed in the uninhabited land, pasture and open field” “of Bethaven” which means “belonging to Bethaven whose name means ‘house of vanity’ and was a city east of Bethel, site unknown”. Joshua or the writer shared how the boundary to the territory given to the “tribe of Benjamin” ascended in between the risings above the plain in the western direction, and the extremities of the boundary was in the desert plains belonging to “Bethaven”.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn more about the boundaries of the land that was apportioned to “the tribe of Benjamin”. Not only was their northern boundary from the “Jordan” river, but it arose to the edge of “Jericho” in the north as well, and ascended in between the risings of the plains in a western direction whose extremities were in the desert plain of “Bethaven”. Although we may not be personally aware of these boundaries, God was, and He knew exactly where He wanted the people of “Benjamin” to be. He knows our lives as well, and because we all have sin in our lives, (See Romans 3:23) and those sin lead to death, (See Romans 6:23) He sent His Son Jesus to be crucified on the cross in our place and was raised from the dead after three days. When we surrender 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 give us the ability to live according to that truth so our lives will be pleasing to Him wherever we are in the world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time Joshua or the writer says, “the border went over from there toward 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".
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