Zelah, Eleph and Jebusi - Joshua 18:28

In the book of Joshua, we learned, ”Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, and Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, and Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah”, and in chapter eighteen and verse twenty-eight of Joshua we learn about, “Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem” where we read,

And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.

The verse reads, “And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and Zelah” whose name means “a rib” and was “a city in Benjamin containing the family burial place of Saul”, “Eleph” whose name means “thousand” and was “a city in the territory of Benjamin”, “and Jebusi” whose name means “descendants of Jebus” and was “descendants of the third son of Canaan who lived in or around the site of Jebus, the early name for Jerusalem”, “which is Jerusalem” or “that exists as 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”, “Gibeath” whose name means “hill” and was “a city of Benjamin”, “and Kirjath” whose name means “city of forests” and was “a city on the northern boundary of Judah and on the western and southern boundaries of Benjamin”. Joshua or the writer added “Zelah, Eleph, Jebusi - Jerusalem, Gibeath and Kirjath” to the list of “cities” that were assigned to the “tribe of Benjamin”. 

 

The verse goes on to say, “fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “fourteen cities” which means “fourteen dwelling places or places of waking” “with their villages” or “alongside and accompanied by their, the fourteen cities’, settled abodes and towns”. Joshua or the writer shared how there were “fourteen” dwelling places accompanied by their settled abodes that were given to the clan of “Benjamin”. 

When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn about more of the locations that were designated as living quarters for the “tribe of Benjamin”. God provided these places within the promise land even as He said, and He has given us promises as well. God said He would forgive the sins and grant eternal life to everyone who will put their faith and trust in His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was raised from the dead after three days. (See John 3:16; 1 John 1:9) God is faithful to keep His word, and even as the people of “Benjamin” received their inheritance, so we too may gain that which God has promised to all who believe. (See Titus 1:2)

Next time we begin a new chapter and learn how, “the second lot came forth to Simeon”, 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".