To the River Kanah - Joshua 17:9

In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim”, and in chapter seventeen and verse nine of Joshua we learn how, “the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river” where we read,

And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:

The verse reads, “And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh:” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and the coast” or “and the edge, border and boundary” “descended unto the river Kanah” which means “went down to the flowing water known as Kanah whose name means ‘reed’ and was a stream flowing into the Mediterranean Sea that marked the boundary between Ephraim on the south and Manasseh on the north”; “southward of the river” or “in a southern direction belonging to the flowing stream”: “these cities of Ephraim” which means “the dwelling places and places of waking belonging to Ephraim whose name means ‘double ash-heap: I shall be doubly fruitful’ and was the “second son of Joseph, blessed by him and given preference over his first son, Manasseh” “are among the cities” or “exist in the midst and middle of the dwelling places and places of waking” “of Manasseh” which means “belonging to Manasseh whose name means ‘causing to forget’ and was the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh”. Joshua or the writer shared how the border of “Manasseh” also went down to the flowing stream belonging to “Kanah” whereby the dwelling places existed in the midst of “Manasseh” .

 

The verse goes on to say, “the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “the coat of Manasseh” which means “the edge, border and boundary belonging to Manasseh whose name means ‘causing to forget’ and was the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh” “also was on the north side of the river” or “even so and indeed existed on the edge in the northern direction belonging to the flowing waters”, “and the outgoings of it” which means “and the ends, extremities and edges” “were at the sea” or “existed at the large body of water, the Mediterranean Sea”. Joshua or the writer shared how the border belonging to “Manasseh” even so and indeed was in the northern direction belonging to the flowing waters, and the extremity of the boundaries were at the Mediterranean Sea. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn more about the boundaries that surrounded the land which was given to the “tribe of Manasseh”. Their border went down from the “Kanah river” to it’s southern end and became the dwelling places belonging to “Ephraim” in “Manasseh’s” midst. The boundary belonging to “Manasseh” existed upon the northern edge of the flowing waters whose ravine emptied into the Mediterranean Sea. All of this territory was given to the “tribe of Manasseh” and the “tribe of Ephraim” lived within their area. God knew where He wanted every one of these “tribes of Israel”, and when we surrender our lives to His Son Jesus who was crucified on the cross and was raised from the dead after three days 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 empower us to live as His witnesses wherever He places us in this world. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8)

Next time we learn, “Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's”, 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".