What role did Moses play in dividing the land among the tribes of Israel? Setting the Scene - Israel has crossed the Jordan. The conquest is underway, but much of the land still needs to be assigned tribe by tribe. - Joshua 14:3 pauses to remind us of groundwork already laid: “For Moses had given the inheritance to the two and a half tribes beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he had given no inheritance among them.” - The verse looks back to Moses’ earlier actions and instructions that now shape every remaining allocation. Moses’ Hands-On Decisions East of the Jordan - Personally negotiated and granted territory to: • Reuben (Numbers 32) • Gad (Numbers 32) • The half-tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 32:33) - Numbers 32:33 records it plainly: “So Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh… the land together with its cities and the territory surrounding them.” - By finalizing these eastern inheritances, Moses effectively reduced the number of tribes still needing land west of the Jordan to nine-and-a-half. Moses’ Instructions for the Rest of Canaan - Dividing by lot, not by opinion: “But the land shall be divided by lot; they shall receive it according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.” (Numbers 26:55) - Balance between tribe size and borders: the larger tribes received larger portions (Numbers 26:54). - Appointment of leadership for the task: “These are the names of the men who are to allot the land… Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.” (Numbers 34:17-18) - Designation of a prince from each tribe to serve on the allocation council (Numbers 34:19-29). The Levites—A Special Case Moses Clarified - No territorial block granted. Instead, “The LORD is his inheritance” (Deuteronomy 18:2). - Cities dispersed throughout Israel: “Command the Israelites to give the Levites cities to live in from the inheritance they possess.” (Numbers 35:2) - Joshua 14:3 echoes Moses’ directive, reminding readers that this unique arrangement originated with Moses. Why Moses’ Role Matters in Joshua 14 - Ensures continuity. Joshua isn’t improvising; he is carrying out a plan Moses already put in place. - Highlights obedience to God’s Word given through Moses—every boundary line traces back to commands received in the wilderness. - Sets a theological tone: the land is God’s gift, administered through divinely chosen leaders, not human ambition. Key Takeaways - Moses acted as God’s authorized steward, laying down both the specific eastern inheritances and the overarching process for the western ones. - His commands about casting lots, appointing leaders, and exempting the Levites governed everything Joshua and Eleazar now do. - Joshua 14:3 is a concise reminder that the division of the land was already scripted by Moses under God’s direction—Joshua is faithfully finishing what Moses faithfully began. |
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