The sons of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan were given their inheritance by lot from Joshua and Eleazar in Joshua 19. I continue to find it interesting how all these tribes are laid out throughout the promised land. It is easy to just read these chapters and not see anything that stands out because I have no knowledge of the region or cities. In the midst of these verses describing the dividing of the land the sons of Simeon and Dan inheritances stood out.
The sons of Simeon received their inheritance from a portion of the territory which had been given to the sons of Judah had because it was too large for them. Why was it necessary to keep the cities occupied? Did the land and cites need to be occupied because they needed to be defended and maintained?
The sons of Dan received a territory but that increased because they fought the inhabitants of the land. Why do some of the sons of Israel drive out the inhabitants of the land and others choose not to? It is important to remember the word’s God spoke through Moses in Numbers 33:54-56, “You shall inherit the land by lot according to your families; to the larger you shall give more inheritance, and to the smaller you shall give less inheritance. Wherever the lot falls to anyone, that shall be his. You shall inherit according to the tribes of your fathers. But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land from before you, then it shall come about that those whom you let remain of them will become as pricks in your eyes and as thorns in your sided, and they will trouble you in the land in which you live. And as I plan to do to them, so I will do to you.” It is clearly told that if the sons of Israel do not drive out the inhabitants of the land they inherit it will become a stumbling block and a thorn in their side. The place where the sons of Israel dwelt and lived needed to be free from stumbling blocks but the inhabitants that were left were left there caused problems. How does this apply to our lives to day? What things have you allowed into your house? Are these things a prick in your eye or a thorn in your side? The things that dwell within our lives need to be cast out just as the sons of Israel needed to cast out the inhabitants of the land.
The cities of refuge which were discussed in Numbers and Deuteronomy are established in Joshua chapter 20. I still find encouragement and amazement when I think about a city of refuge. The word refuge is not used too often in the culture today. What do you take refuge in? The image that fills my mind when I think of refuge is a warm blanket that I am wrapping around myself. I think the one thing that I take refuge in is Jesus Christ. He is the true place that I will find rest, peace, and hope for tomorrow.
