How did Israel's obedience in Joshua 14:5 reflect God's commands to Moses? “So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided the land.” Setting the Scene - After years of conquest, Israel stands ready to apportion Canaan. - Joshua, Eleazar the priest, and tribal leaders oversee the process (Joshua 14:1). - The inspired writer pauses in v. 5 to connect what is happening to what God said decades earlier. What God Had Already Told Moses - Divide the land “by lot.” - Size of inheritance proportional to tribe’s population. - Everyone receives territory “according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.” Numbers 32:18-22; Deuteronomy 3:12-18 - Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh receive land east of the Jordan, provided they fight for their brothers. - West-Jordan allocation reserved for the remaining nine-and-a-half tribes. - Specific boundaries named. - Leaders from each tribe appointed to supervise the allotment. Numbers 18:20-24; 35:1-8 - Levites receive no territorial allotment, only cities scattered among the tribes. How Israel’s Actions Matched Moses’ Instructions - They used “lot casting” (Joshua 18:6, 10), just as Numbers 26:55-56 required. - Population still mattered: larger tribes received broader regions (Joshua 17:14-18). - Ephraim and Manasseh were treated as separate tribes, reflecting Jacob’s adoption formula and Moses’ census lists (Numbers 26:28-37). - Levi was excluded from land grants, consistent with Numbers 18 and 35. - Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh retained their eastern inheritance exactly as Moses had covenanted (Joshua 13:8-12). Key Parallels at a Glance • Command: “Divide the land by lot” (Numbers 26:55) Action: Lots cast before the LORD (Joshua 18:6). • Command: “To a larger tribe give a larger inheritance” (Numbers 26:54) Action: Joseph’s descendants request more; Joshua enlarges their share (Joshua 17:14-18). • Command: “These are the ones whom the LORD commanded to apportion” (Numbers 34:17) Action: The same tribal leaders appear in Joshua 14-19 fulfilling that role. • Command: “No portion or inheritance shall be yours in the land” (Numbers 18:20) Action: Levites later receive forty-eight cities, not territory (Joshua 21). Lessons for Believers - God’s instructions do not expire; decades later they remain the standard. - National blessing flows from corporate obedience: Israel’s unity in submitting to the lot prevented strife. - Faithfulness in details—down to excluding Levi and honoring Joseph’s sons—confirms that every word from God is intentional and trustworthy (Matthew 5:18). - Obedience precedes rest; only after honoring Moses’ directives could Israel “rest from war” (Joshua 14:15). |
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