What is the meaning of Joshua 19:47? Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them “Later, when the territory of the Danites was lost to them” (Joshua 19:47). • The tribe of Dan had already received a coastal allotment (Joshua 19:40-46), yet Judges 1:34 records that “the Amorites forced the Danites into the hill country.” • Their land was “lost” not because God failed, but because the tribe failed to drive out the occupants fully (Judges 2:21-23). • This statement underscores that partial obedience brings insecurity, whereas complete obedience secures what God has promised (cf. Deuteronomy 7:1-2). They went up and fought against Leshem • Faced with pressure, the Danites sent spies northward (Judges 18:1-8) and then “went up” to a fertile region near the headwaters of the Jordan. • The phrase shows initiative, yet it also reveals that they were still seeking what God had already granted elsewhere (Numbers 34:2 assigns each tribe land within Canaan proper). • God permitted the expedition, illustrating His sovereignty even over human detours (Proverbs 16:9). Captured it, and put it to the sword • “Captured it, and put it to the sword” (Joshua 19:47) echoes the conquest pattern (Joshua 6:21; Deuteronomy 20:16-18). • The people of Leshem (also called Laish, Judges 18:27) were “quiet and unsuspecting” (Judges 18:7), yet idolatrous and Canaanite in culture, falling under the judgment God had pronounced on the land’s inhabitants (Genesis 15:16). • The severity reminds believers that God’s holiness and promises are inseparable; sin’s judgment cannot be minimized (Romans 11:22). So they took possession of Leshem, settled there • Possession follows obedience to engage in battle (Joshua 21:43-45 affirms the Lord gave Israel all the land). • Settlement meant building, planting, and integrating the new territory into tribal life (Judges 18:28). • Even after earlier failure, God graciously allowed them to enjoy security once they acted in faith (Psalm 37:3-4). Renamed it after their father Dan • They “renamed it after their father Dan” (Joshua 19:47; Judges 18:29). • Naming proclaimed ownership and linked the site to covenant identity (Genesis 30:6 records Rachel naming her son Dan, “He has vindicated”). • The new name created a lasting memorial, yet Judges 18:30-31 notes the tribe soon set up an idolatrous shrine there, highlighting the danger of outward success without continued faithfulness (1 Corinthians 10:12). summary Joshua 19:47 records how the tribe of Dan, after failing to hold its original allotment, relocated north, conquered Leshem/Laish, and renamed it Dan. The verse affirms the literal unfolding of Israel’s tribal history, shows the consequences of incomplete obedience, and displays God’s patience in allowing His people a fresh start when they finally act in faith. While the Danites secured a new homeland, later events warn that true security rests not merely in possessing land but in steadfast devotion to the Lord who grants it. |
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