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, “God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse thirty of Joshua we learn what happened, “when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard”, where we read,
And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.
The verse reads, “And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “and when Phinehas the priest” which means “and at the time and moment Phinehas whose name means ‘mouth of brass’ and was the son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron; his zealousness for the Lord averted a plague on Israel and gained him the promise of the Lord of an everlasting priesthood in his family and a spiritual leader and ruler of Israel”, “and the princes of the congregation” or “and the lifted up chiefs, captains and leaders belonging to the assembly or gathered people of Israel” “and heads of thousands of Israel” which means “and the top, summit, upper part and principal rulers pertaining to thousands of the people of Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”, “which were with him” or “who existed as alongside and accompanied Phinehas”. Joshua or the writer referred to the time that “Phinehas, the princes and the rulers of “thousands” of people in Israel accompanied “Phinehas” and did the following.
The verse continues, “… heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.” Joshua or the writer added the words, “heard the words” which means “were given the faculty for hearing, perceiving and understanding” “that the children of Reuben” or “that the offspring and progeny belonging to Reuben whose name means ‘behold a son’ and was the eldest son of Jacob by Leah and the progenitor of the tribe Reuben” “and the children of Gad” which means “and the offspring and progeny belonging to Gad whose name means ‘troop’ and was the seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and full brother of Asher and the progenitor of the tribe of Gad” “and the children to Manasseh spoke” or “and the offspring and progeny belonging to Manasseh whose name means ‘causing to forget’ and was the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh, uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “it pleased them” which means “it, the sayings of Reuben, Gad and one half tribe of Manasseh, caused them, Phinehas and those with him, to be amended, diligently pleased, made glad and joyful”. Joshua or the writer shared how “Phinehas” and those with him understood the explanation of the Reubenites, Gadites and one-half the tribe of Manasseh and were glad and joyful over their words.
When we meditate upon the words in this verse, we learn how the words of the Reubenites, Gadites and one-half the tribe of Manasseh appeased and satisfied “Phinehas, the ten princes and the people who were with them”. It was necessary for the Reubenites, Gadites and one-half the tribe of Manasseh to give an explanation because of the conclusion that was made by “Phinehas, the ten princes and the congregation of Israel”. God wants us to be faithful and loyal to Him and His ways. He knows we have a propensity to sin which leads to separation from Him and eventual death. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield our lives 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 to help us keep His ways and never stray from His purpose and plan. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)
Next time we learn how Phinehas and those with him say, “This day we perceive that the LORD is among us”, 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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