Turning Toward Aznothtabor - Joshua 19:34

In the book of Joshua, we learned how the territory within the promise land was being given to the tribes of Israel, and “the sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families. And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan”, and in chapter nineteen and verse thirty-four of Joshua we learn, “then the coast turns westward to Aznothtabor” where we read, 

And then the coast turns westward to Aznothtabor, and goes out from there to Hukkok, and reaches to Zebulun on the south side, and reaches to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.

The verse reads, “And then the coast turns westward to Aznothtabor, and goes out from there to Hukkok, and reaches to Zebulun on the south side, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and then the coast” which means “and at that place the edge, circuit and boundary” “turns westward” or “rotates and revolves to a western direction” “to Aznothtabor” whose name means “peaks of Tabor” and was “a pair of hills on Naphtali’s border”, “and goes forth from there” which means “and proceeds and extends separate and apart from there, Aznothtabor” “to Hukkok” whose name means “appointed” and was “a town on the boundary of Naphtali” “and reaches to Zebulun” or “and stretches forth and extends to Zebulun whose name means ‘exalted’ and was the tenth of the sons of Jacob, sixth and last of Leah; progenitor of Zebulun” “on the south side” which means “in the southern direction”. Joshua or the writer shared how the edge of the land given to the “tribe of Naphtali” rotated in a western direction to “Aznothtabor” and proceeded apart from that place to “Hukkok” and was extended to “Zebulun” in the southern direction.

 

The verse goes on to say, “… and reaches to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “and reaches to Asher” which means “and stretches forth and extends to Asher whose name means ‘happy’ and was the tribe descended from Asher” “on the west side” or “upon the edge in the western direction”,  “and to Judah” which means “and to Judah whose name means “praised” and was “the tribe descended from Judah the son of Jacob” “upon Jordan” or “on 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)” “toward the sunrising” which means “in the eastern direction of the coming up of the sun”. Joshua or the writer shared how the boundary of the territory given to the “tribe of Naphtali” extended to “Asher” in the western direction and to “Judah” on the “Jordan” river in the east where the sun comes up in the morning. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn more about the border that surrounded the land given to the people of “Naphtali”. “Aznothtabor, Hukkok, to Zebulun and Asher in the west to Judah and in the western direction on the Jordan in the east” were to be places where Jehovah God would be first in the lives of the people of “Naphtali”. As they lived and worshiped God in these places, they would be blessed by Him, and in a similar manner when we receive God's Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the grave after three days, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and bless us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and empower us to live according to that truth so our lives are blessed while we live in a manner that is pleasing to Him. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we learn how, “the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth”, 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".