While Israel Dwelt in Heshbon - Judges 11:26

In the book of Judges we learned how Jephthah asked the king of Ammon, ”Will not you possess that which Chemosh your god gives you to possess? So whomsoever the LORD our God shall drive out from before us, them will we possess. And now are you any thing better than Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab? did he ever strive against Israel, or did he ever fight against them”, and in chapter eleven and verse twenty-six of Judges, we learn how Jephthah shared about, “while Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns” where we read,

While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years? why therefore did you not recover them within that time?

The verse reads, “While Israel dwelt in Heshbon and her towns, and in Aroer and her towns, and in all the cities that be along by the coasts of Arnon, three hundred years?” The writer began with the words, “while Israel dwelt in Heshbon” which means “during the time Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob lived, inhabited and abided within Heshbon whose name means ‘stronghold’ and was the capital city of Sihon, king of the Amorites, located on the western border of the high plain and on the border line between the tribes of Reuben and Gad” “and her towns” or ”and her, Heshbon’s, villages”, “and in Aroer” which means “and within Aroer whose name means ‘ruins’ and was a city on the north bank of the river Arnon, the southern point of the territory of Sihon the king of the Amorites and later of Reuben; modern 'Arair'” “and her towns” or “and her, Aroer’s, villages”, “and in all the cities” which means “and within each, every and the whole of the dwelling places, habitations, abodes and towns” “that be along” or “that exist beside and next to” “the coasts of Arnon” which means “the circuits, edges and boundaries belonging to Arnon whose name means ‘rushing stream’ and was the river and surrounding valley in south Palestine which forms the border between Moab and the Amorites”, “three hundred years“ or “three hundred annual sets of days”?  The writer shared how “Jephthah” said the people of “Israel” lived within “Heshbon” and the surrounding villages, in “Aroer” and the surrounding villages and within every one of the dwelling places that were beside the boundaries of the “Arnon” river for three hundred annual sets of days. 

The verse continues, “why therefore did you not recover them within that time?” The writer added the words, “why therefore” which means “for what reason and cause wherefore, then and on this account, king of Ammon” “did you not recover them” or “in no way or manner snatch away, deliver and plunder them, the territories” “within that time” which means “in that three hundred annual sets of days”? The writer shared how “Jephthah” asked the “king of Ammon” for the reason that he did not attempt to snatch away the territories that “Israel” occupied within the “three hundred years” that they lived there. 

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how “Jephthah” continued to argue his points with the “king of Ammon” as he referred to the area in which “Israel” had been living for “three hundred” annual sets of days. He wondered for what reason the king did not attempt to seize those territories during that time. We can see how “Jephthah’s” words are escalating, and we shall continue to learn what his thoughts were in our next verses. For now, let us be mindful that God continued to oversee all these things, and He knew everything that was going to happen. God loves the people of Israel, and He was going to deliver them. He loves us too, and He will deliver us from the power of sin and death when we yield our lives to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and rose from the dead after three days. When we submit to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and equip us with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us to live in a manner that is pleasing to Him and trusts in Him for whatever our circumstances may be. (See John 3:16; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we learn how Jephthah says, “I have not sinned against you, but you do me wrong to war against me”, 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.”