SERIES G --- THE PROMISED LAND --- LESSON 13

VICTORY WON

EAST OF THE JORDAN RIVER

From Joshua 12:1-6

These are the kings whom the Israelites defeated, whose land they occupied east of the Jordan River, from the valley of the Arnon River northward to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern desert:

1 -- King Sihon of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. His kingdom was from Aroer, on the edge of the Arnon Valley and from the middle of that valley to the Jabbok River, the boundary of the Ammonites. It also included the half of Gilead north of the Jabbok River and the Arabah that reached from the Dead Sea and Mount Pisgah on the south to the western shores of the Sea of Galilee on the north.
2 -- King Og of Bashan, one of the last of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei. The boundaries of his kingdom were from Mount Hermon on the north to Salecah and Bashan on the east, to the borders of the Geshurites and Maacathites on the west and south to the northern half of Gilead bordering on King Sihon’s territory. Moses and his people had conquered these people and Moses gave the territory to the tribe of Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

THE CONQUEST OF THE LAND

WEST OF THE JORDAN RIVER

From Joshua 12:7-24

Joshua and his army conquered the following kings west of the Jordan River. The territory reached from Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, west of Mount Seir. After conquering the land, Joshua divided it among the tribes of Israel that did not settle east of the Jordan. This territory included the hill country, the lowland, the Arabah, the slopes and the wilderness. Its peoples included the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. The thirty-one kings and their cities included Jericho, Ai near Bethel, Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, Eglon, Gezer, Debir, Geder, Hormah, Arad, Libnah, Adullam, Makkedah, Bethel, Tappuah, Hepher, Aphek, Lasharon, Madon, Hazor, Shimron-meron, Achshaph, Taanach, Megiddo, Kedesh, Jokneam in Carmel, Dor in the coast of Dor, Gilgal and Tirzah.

THE LAND YET TO BE CONQUERED

From Joshua 13:1-13

The years passed and Joshua became an old man. One day Adonai spoke to him. ‘There is still much land to be conquered, but you are getting old,’ Adonai said. ‘The lands which have not been conquered include the lands of the Philistines, the Geshurites, the five cities of the Philistines; Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; as well as the lands of the Canaanites which lie from the brook of Egypt to the southern boundary of Ekron. It also includes the lands of the Avvite to the south and other Canaanite lands to the north, from Mearah, which belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek by the boundary of the Amorites. There is also the land of the Gebalites and all Lebanon from Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath. ‘I will now drive out the Sidonians before the Israelites in the mountains from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim. As you divide the land for a permanent possession, include this part as a division among the nine tribes and one of the half-tribes of Manasseh as I have commanded you to do.’ The Levites did not receive an inheritance of land. The tribes of Reuben and Gad, as well as the other half-tribe of Manasseh, had already received their inheritance from Moses on the eastern side of the Jordan River. Their inheritance was from Aroer, adjoining the valley of the Arnon River, as well as the city in the centre of the valley, to the plain between Medeba and Dibon. It included the cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, who reigned at Heshbon to the Ammonite border, as well as Gilead and the land of the Geshurites and Maacathites and Mount Hermon, all of Bashan to Salecah and all of the kingdom of Og, king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and Edrei and was one of the last of the Rephaim. Moses had driven out the Rephaim, but because the people of Israel had not driven out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, they are still there today.

THE WAY THE LAND WAS DIVIDED

EAST OF THE JORDAN RIVER

From Joshua 13:14-33

The tribe of Levi was the only one which did not receive part of the land. Their support came from the offerings given to Adonai. The land itself was divided among the other tribes according to the number of people in each. The land for the tribe of Reuben stretched northward from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley past the city in the middle of the valley to the plain beyond Medeba. Some of the cities of the plain in this territory included Heshbon, Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-baal-meon, Jahaz, Kedlemoth, Mephaath, Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth-shahar on the hill overlooking the valley, Beth-Peor, the slopes of Mount Pisgah and Beth-Jesimoth. There were also cities on the tableland. King Sihon’s kingdom was part of the inheritance of Reuben. He was the king whom Moses defeated, along with his chiefs, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba. Balaam the son of Beor was also killed along with the other Midianites. The western border of Reuben’s territory was the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. The land given to the tribe of Gad included Jazer, the cities of Gilead and half of the land of the Animonites, as far as the city of Aroer which is near Rabbah. It went from Heshbon to Ramath-mizpeh and Betonim and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir. The following places were in the valley: Beth-haram, Beth-nimrah, Succoth, Zaphon and the rest of King Sihon’s kingdom. The western border was the Jordan River northward to the Sea of Galilee, then turning to the east. The land given to the half-tribe of Manasseh, which they received according to the number of people in the tribe, went northward from Mahanaim, including all Bashan, which had been the kingdom of King Og. It also included the sixty tent-cities of Jair of Bashan. Half of Gilead, as well as Ashtaroth and Edrei were given to half of the descendants of Machir, Manasseh’s son. This is the way Moses divided the land on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River to the east of Jericho. Moses gave no land to the Levites, for he told them that Adonai was their inheritance.

COMMENTS

THE CANAAN LANDSCAPE

After many years of fighting, organized resistance to Joshua and the people of Israel was crushed. Now it was time to divide the land which YHVH had Promised His people and for Israel to claim their inheritance. Canaan was small enough to fit into a corner of Egypt’s vast empire. Even so, compared to Egypt’s flat plateaus, it contained a striking variety of landscapes. In the east the Jordan River slowly twisted down from the snowfields of Mount Hermon, through the Jordan Rift Valley. The scenery here changed so quickly that every few miles the gorge had a special name. Desert-like canyons and dangerous waterfalls gave way to a small tropical flood plain, before the Jordan descended to the Dead Sea, hundreds of feet below sea level. The forested mountains of Upper Galilee eased into the smaller hills and valleys of Lower Galilee. Below the Jezreel Valley were the high mountains of Samaria, covered with millions of wild flowers. The unusually rich soil supported not only fruit, but also livestock famed for their milk and meat. Farther south the land became increasingly hostile. In Judah water was scarce and the rugged mountains were almost impossible to cross. Even more desolate were the deserts of Judah, cruel wastelands of barren rock disturbed only by occasional dust storms. Less than thirty-five miles west, sea breezes maintained the mild climate of the Shephelah, blessed with plentiful springs and wells. Farther west, fields and olive groves ripened near sand dunes that stretched inland several miles from the sea. Canaan was a Promised Land of beauty, plenty and challenge

Whether your life seems completely uneventful or you are undergoing extreme hardship, every day brings opportunities for spiritual growth. The keys to overcoming trials and becoming who God already knows you to be are humility, prayer, worship, and actively looking for whatever needs to be done.

With Bryan Barnes of Growing In Torah.

Yesterday we talked about hope. Today I wanted to talk about trust, and did you know that the SAME WORD is used in today's verse? To hope is cling, but that's what trust is, too! I thought that was really cool, and I hope it means a lot to you, too.
https://archive.aweber.com/new....sletter/awlist642586

On this date in history, 02/07/1961: The United States embargo against Cuba begins. #otd #tdih #coldwar

https://rumble.com/v28b8me-eur....opean-central-bank-p

SMALL STRAWS by MARSHA BURNS
When you get overwhelmed, stop and relax. Quiet your mind and emotions and listen carefully for My still small voice. I will show you what you need to know to navigate this maze of confusion. Refuse to allow condemnation to become part of your process. You are acceptable in My sight, and I have not condemned you. John 3:18 He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Thought for Today: Tuesday February 07:

Adonai’s main desire is to reveal Himself to you and in order to do so, He gives you abundant Grace. He gives you the experience of enjoying His Presence. He touches your heart and His touch is so delightful that, more than ever, you are drawn inwardly to Him.

SERIES G --- THE PROMISED LAND --- LESSON 12

NORTHERN COALITION

THE CONQUEST OF HAZOR

From Joshua 11

King Jabin of Hazor soon heard about Joshua’s victories and sent word to a number of other kings; King Jobab of Madon, the king of Shimron, the king of Achshaph, the kings of the hill country in the north, the kings of the Arabah south of Chinneroth, the kings of the lowland, those in the region of Dor on the west, the kings of Canaan east and west, the kings of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites and kings of the Hivites who lived by the foot of Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah. Soon vast armies from all of these kings arrived at the Springs of Merom. There were great armies of men, horses and chariots; so many that they seemed as the sands on the seashore. A camp was set up at the Springs of Merom from which the battle against Israel would be waged. ‘Don’t be afraid of them,’ Adonai told Joshua. ‘By this time tomorrow, you will have conquered them. You will hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.’ Joshua and his forces made a surprise attack at the Springs of Merom. Before long, Israel had defeated all of this vast army, chasing the troops as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim and the Valley of Mizpah to the east. They continued destroying the forces until there was no one left. Then Joshua did what Adonai had Commanded: he hamstrung the horses and burned the chariots. When he returned, Joshua captured Hazor and killed its king. It was an important victory, for Hazor had once been the capital of all these kingdoms. All of the people of Hazor were destroyed and then the city was burned. One by one, Joshua captured all the other cities represented in that great battle, along with their kings and destroyed all their people, as Moses the servant of Adonai had commanded. However, Joshua did not burn any city that was built on a mound, except Hazor. All of the cattle and valuable goods were captured to be used by the Israelites, but the people were destroyed. Adonai had Commanded Moses and Moses had commanded Joshua about these things, so Joshua did as Adonai had said. Joshua became the victor over that land, the hill country and the Negeb, the land of Goshen, the lowlands, the Arabah and the hill country and lowlands of Israel, from Mount Halak; near Seir, as far as Baal-gad in the Valley of Lebanon at the foot of Mount Hermon. It took seven years, but Joshua destroyed all of these kings and their kingdoms. Not one city, except the Hivites at Gibeon, was given a peace treaty; all kings and their cities were destroyed. Adonai caused these enemy kings to want to fight Israel so that they might be destroyed, receiving no mercy. This was all done according to the Instructions Adonai had given to Moses. Joshua also defeated the Anakim, descendants of Anak, whose cities were throughout the mountain country at Hebron, Debir, Anab and the mountain country of Judah and Israel. He destroyed all of these cities and peoples. The Anakim were completely destroyed, except a few who were in Gaza, Gath and Ashdod. Joshua conquered the entire land as Adonai had Commanded Moses. Then he gave it to Israel for an inheritance, dividing it among the tribes as planned. At last, the land had rest from war.

COMMENTARY

THE BATTLE OF THE WATERS OF MEROM AND HAZAR

The kings of northern Canaan assembled a great army. They had many war chariots, the tanks of the ancient world. Although Israel had none, YHVH gave His people victory. [Burn the chariots and hamstring the war horses,] YHVH Commanded. The people of Adonai must always depend on Him, not on military superiority. When the king of Hazor summoned the rulers of northern Canaan to join him in his stand against the Israelites, the response was overwhelming. They crowded into the nearby village of Merom with horses, chariots and foot soldiers numbering in the thousands. For several anxious years these leaders had watched Joshua conquer and settle many villages in the south. Now they were determined that the Israelite threat would reach no farther. Hazor must have seemed a logical place to rally against the Israelites. For centuries it had been the centre of political power in Canaan. The city was also an important stop on the main international road through the land. Ancient caravans on the long trek from Babylonia to Egypt passed directly through Hazor, building it into an influential trade centre. Although Hazor’s strength had faded by King Jabin’s time, it remained the largest city in Canaan. The huge armies assembled near Hazor were too certain of their victory. Joshua’s swift attack swept through the troops, leaving few survivors and crippling the chariot horses. Hazor itself burned to the ground. The ruin was so complete that much of the city was never resettled. With this devastating blow, the Israelites made a major gain in their control of Canaan.