(The view expressed in this blog are my own and should not be taken as inspired in any way.)
Deuteronomy 3:12–20, “And this land, which we possessed at that time, from Aroer, which is by the river Arnon, and half mount Gilead, and the cities thereof, gave I unto the Reubenites and to the Gadites. And the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, being the kingdom of Og, gave I unto the half tribe of Manasseh; all the region of Argob, with all Bashan, which was called the land of giants. Jair the son of Manasseh took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashanhavothjair, unto this day. And I gave Gilead unto Machir. And unto the Reubenites and unto the Gadites I gave from Gilead even unto the river Arnon half the valley, and the border even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon; The plain also, and Jordan, and the coast thereof, from Chinnereth even unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, under Ashdothpisgah eastward. And I commanded you at that time, saying, The LORD your God hath given you this land to possess it: ye shall pass over armed before your brethren the children of Israel, all that are meet for the war. But your wives, and your little ones, and your cattle, (for I know that ye have much cattle,) shall abide in your cities which I have given you; Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren, as well as unto you, and until they also possess the land which the LORD your God hath given them beyond Jordan: and then shall ye return every man unto his possession, which I have given you.”
Moses was still reminding Israel of the many things that had happened to them while they were travelling for Egypt to the place where they were at the border of the Promised Land. The area known as Gilead or Bashan was a fertile land and good for people with stock. Two and half tribes had decided that they wanted to stay on that side of the river and Moses reminded them that he, as the Lord’s appointed leader, had allocated portions of this land to various tribes and clans. However, these people were not to rest there and discourage the rest of Israel from taking possession of the Promised Land. They were to settle their families and then come, as armed soldiers, with the rest of Israel while they invaded and conquered the Promised Land. They would not be free to return to their own place until the invasion was complete.
No comments:
Post a Comment