In the book of Joshua, we learned how Eleazar’s son Phinehas and ten princes asked the tribe of Reuben, Gad and one-half the tribe of Manasseh, “What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD” … “and they answered among other words, “the LORD has made Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad; you have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-seven of Joshua we learn how they proposed how the altar, “may be a witness between us” where we read,
But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, You have no part in the LORD.
The verse reads, “But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “but that it may be a witness” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover that it, the altar, might exist as a testimony evidence” “between us, and you” or “among and in the midst of us, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh, and you, the people of Israel”, “and our generations after us” which means “and our, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh’s, relatives living at future periods”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh told Phineas and the ten princes that the “altar” they built was to be an evidence and testimony among them and the people of Israel including the ones in the future.
The verse goes on to say, “… that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings;” Joshua or the writer continued with the words, “that we might do the service” which means “so we, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh, can perform and produce the ministry, labor and work” “of the LORD before him” or “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God in front and in the presence of him, Jehovah God” “with our burnt offerings” which means “alongside and accompanied by our, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh’ smoking ascents and offerings”, “and with our sacrifices” or “and alongside and accompanied by our, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh’s, covenant and passover offerings”, “and with our peace offerings” which means “and alongside and accompanied by our, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh, requital, alliance and friendship offerings”. Joshua or the writer shared how the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh said they would only use the “altar” as a witness and not for “separate burnt offerings, sacrifices or peace offerings”.
Finally the verse says, “that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.” Joshua or the writer concluded this verse with the words, “that your children” which means “so your, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh’s, offspring and progeny” “may not say to our children” or “might not utter, declare and proclaim to our, the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh’, offspring and progeny” “in time to come” which means “within the future”, “You have no part in the LORD” which means “you, Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh, do not have a portion or share within Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God”. Joshua or the writer ended this verse by sharing how the offspring and progeny of the people of Israel might not be able to declare in the future that the offspring and progeny belonging to the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh do not possess any possession or ownership in Jehovah God.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh continued to explain the reason for building the “altar” to Phinehas, the ten princes and the congregation of Israel. This was not an “altar” to replace or substitute for the sacrifices and offerings that were presented by the priests in Israel, but was to be a testament to those who observed it that the Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh were also a part of Israel and would not alienate their children.
Next time we learn how the Reubenites, Gadites and one half tribe of Manasseh say, “therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come”, 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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