Joshua 18-21

Joshua 18-21

We have seen that some of the tribes did not do exactly as they were supposed to in taking their inheritance. Some allowed other nations to co-exist with them, which had been forbidden. Now the remaining seven tribes are still with Joshua, and they have not yet gone into their lands. Joshua questions them as to why they had not yet done so, and it appears as if the blame lies on them. By what Joshua says, it seems as if they were being lazy. The land had been given to them, and it was not up to Joshua to send them in. Seeing their hesitation, however, Joshua took charge again. He sent three men from each tribe into the land to divide it up. He understood that it was their responsibility and not his. So they divided up their own land, and then Joshua cast lots to see which tribe got which portion.

Again, the best way to read this section that describes their inheritances is to find a map as a guide. I get lost in the names of the cities and boundaries because I do not know the geography of Israel that well. Joshua 18-19 outlines the land that belonged to Benjamin, Simeon (who found their inheritance in Judah), Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan. Finally, Joshua received his inheritance. Like Caleb, he had been faithful in his report to Moses more than 45 years prior to this point. As a result, he too was given the land of his choice. So after all the tribes had received their inheritance, Joshua chose his own place to settle. At this point, the land was completely divided out.

After the tribes received their inheritances, the cities of refuge and the cities for the Levites had to be identified. Joshua 20 alludes back to the time in which Moses had told Israel the purpose of the cities of refuge. They were the places that people could go to if they had accidentally killed someone. They were not for those who had purposefully murdered someone, and if they tried to take refuge, they would be killed. This was God’s provision for those who had such accidents. Whereas there was a law specifically against murder, God understood that in the fallen world, these accidents would happen as well. Not wanting those people to suffer “harsh consequences” for their accidents, he provided these cities of refuge for them.

Finally, Joshua 21 outlines the 48 cities that the Levites received. Although they did not have an inheritance unto themselves, since their inheritance was their service in the priesthood, each tribe was expected to give up cities for them. So the Levites were scattered throughout all of Israel so that they could perform the priestly duties for all 12 tribes. So at the end of Joshua 21, Israel was finally settled in the Promised Land. The long journey that began in the middle of Exodus when Israel first left Egypt was finally over. They had received the land that God had promised Abraham back in Genesis 12. He had promised to provide for them every step of the way, and He came through for them just as He promised (just as He always comes through for any of His children). They had made mistakes along the way, but in every battle they went into, God gave them the victory just as He had promised. What lesson can be learned from this long story? God always keeps His promises!

Matt