Joshua 19:10-23.  Both of theses territories are in the north, north of the territory given to Manasseh.  Zebulun’s territory was west of the Sea  of Galilee bud did not touch it.  Their territory included hill country from about the ridge line of the central hills down their west side to the coastal plain.  Their south-western border flowed into the Jezreel Valley (You might remember that valley from the book of Judges.  It’s the place where the battle of Gideon started.  Issachar’s territory was south-east of Zebulun’s and south of the Sea of Galilee.  It also included part of the Jezreel Valley (the wider eastern portion) and extended to the Jordan River in the east.

In Genesis 49 the blessing or prophecy of Jacob concerning Zebuln is interesting because it says Zebulun shall dwell at the sea shore, it shall be a haven for ships, and his border shall be toward Sidon.  None of these is literally true, Zebulun was in the middle of the land.  But remember that Zebulun’s territory flowed down into the Jezreel valley.  That would have been the major east-west path from the Mediterranean to the Jordan and farther inland.  In Judges 4 when the land was invaded Zebulun was prominent in the battle (Judges 4:4,10).  In Judges 5:12-18 we see that they fought fiercely (v. 18).  And in Judges 5:14 we see that they carried the commander’s staff.  The reference to Sidon in Genesis 49 is to a leading Philistine city.  The Philistines were sea people who would have controlled much of the sea trade.  Sidon was far to the north of the coast where the Jezreel Valley connects with it (around 50 miles).  Overall from these various sources I think se see a people whose influence was as leaders.  They did not own the coast, as we will see it belonged to Asher in that area, but they had great influence in the region.  The Hebrew words translated “their border shall be toward Sidon” are “flank or side” and “Sidon”, two words.  To me the total picture of that is Sidon being off to the side, sidelined in the region.

The prophecy in Genesis 49:14 about Issachar tells us that there future was one of servitude or slavery.  Their land was in the fertile but well traveled Jezreel Valley, the Canaanites that were not displaced became a constant source of trouble for them.  Unlike Dan who gave up and moved north (Judges 18), Issachar stuck it out.  And when the opportunity came they fought fiercely too (Judges 5:15). The reference to donkey could also reflect the trade that went through the Jezreel Valley.  Perhaps they wpent a lot of time moving goods through there.  It is clear from Genesis 49 though that they were not in charge.

What stood out to me most in today’s reading was the reference to family.  At the beginning and end of each description was the fact that the land was allotted by family.  It seems that the basic unit in the society was the family.  Family is an important concept in the Bible.  Later, in the New Testament, it is used as an example of believer’s relationship to God and each other.  Sometimes in our culture we place way too much emphasis on individuals.  Everything is about me.  In the law the land remained in the “family”.  If it was sold (actually it could only be leased) it had to be returned at the end of each 50 year period.  Land was “sold” based on the number of years to the next “Jubilee” (every 50 years) (Leviticus 25).  But notice that it was the family’s land.  We need to remember that we are a part of something much bigger and that at the head of it all is God.  Jacob was the leader of his family at the time and he gave his “blessing” to his sons.  Some would become leaders others hard working “donkeys”.  Later when the land was given out by God, it was given in such a way that honored Jacob’s “prophecies”.  The sovereignty of God is a complex mix of His power and wisdom and knowledge and the freedoms and responsibilities He has given us.  In that mix families play a big part.  We need to honor our fathers and mothers and we need to honor God.  We need to work hard at what ever God gives us to do, whether it’s moving furniture or moving men.  Just like the land, your life, your gifts, your abilities, your personality, your passions, and your experiences are from God use them for His family today.  Lord help me be a faithful part of your family each day.  Let me take the blessings you have given me and be a blessing to those around me.  Let it not be about me but about Your family and You.

Joshua 18:21-19:9.  Today’s reading starts where we left off yesterday with Benjamin.  Yesterday we read bout Benjamin’s border and today we see the cities within that border that they received.  As I mentioned yesterday Benjamin’s territory was tucked in between Judah and Manasseh/Ephraim.  It started at the Jordan River on the east and when about half way across Israel toward the Mediterranean Sea.  The part by the river was near (but not exactly the same place) where the Israelites had originally entered the land.  I do not know everything about the geography of Israel but it looks to me that if you crossed the Jordan River anywhere near it’s southern end and then wanted to go up to Jerusalem that you would have to go through Benjamin’s territory.  I know in Jesus day that Jesus traveled several times between the north and south of Israel.  Sometimes he would travel through the hills west of the river and sometimes he would travel along the river or on the east side.  Most Jews traveled along the east side of the river (but that’s another story).  I would think that the river would be the easier route.  Jerusalem eventually became the capital of the nation and the center of worship (the Temple which replaced the Tabernacle was built there).

In Genesis 49 when Jacob was blessing the different tribes he talked about Benjamin being a “ravenous wolf that devours it’s prey in the morning and in the evening divides the spoil”.  The mention of morning and evening is often a way of saying all day long.  Wolves really don’t have spoil that is more of a military word for the treasures you get when you win a war.  The whole blessing for Benjamin looks more like a prophecy about them being warriors.  It is also interesting that they divide the spoil.  To me that is an idea of caring and sharing.  I do not know how Jacob’s prophetic blessing worked out entirely but I do know that there were some exceptional warriors from Benjamin and the first king of Israel, Saul.  Also if you read through Judges with us you would know that Benjamin was the tribe that was involved in the horrible episode with the concubine (Judges 20).  When their own brothers (the other tribes) fought with them they held off 400,000 troops with an army of 26,000.

The next part of today’s reading also has a connection with the “blessing” in Genesis 49.  Levi and Simeon were two brothers that had a sister.  Their sister was raped by the son of a king of a neighboring tribe (This was back in the days of Jacob not during the time of Joshua.  Way before the Israelites owned the land).  The king wanted to make peace but Levi and Simeon wanted revenge.  Eventually they killed all the men of the city that the king ruled.  Jacob was not very happy about the bad blood this made between him and his neighbors.  His “blessing” of Simeon and Levi was that they would be scattered and divided.  Levi’s portion truly was scattered, as we will see later.  In today’s reading we see the allotment to Simeon.  Simeon’s allotment was completely with in the borders of Judah (Joshua 19:1, 9).  Really only cities and related land is described here so in a sense they too were scattered.

One thought that I had yesterday but didn’t include comes from the part of the story about moving the Tabernacle.  We need to remember that any written history is incomplete.  That doesn’t mean it is wrong, there is just always more going on that is written down.  History books are not movie cameras and even if they were they only show certain angles.  There were two million Israelites and we do not know every story of every one of them.  The angle that God is shooting in the Bible is the history about saving our relationship with Him.  It is salvation history.  You can read more about this in “The Old Testament Connection”.  The facts that are included are to show that history.  That is why information about Yahweh is in this book and not so much about other so called gods.  That is why the story about Abraham and his family is included but not the stories of millions of other families.  That is why the tribes of Judah and Joseph get more attention and more stuff, because they have a special purpose.  I do construction work and have a lot of tools.  It’s not because I am better or more important that the next guy that is just what I need to do my job.  I have a friend that owns a backhoe (tractor), I would love to own a backhoe (maybe a midget one).  But I do not need a backhoe and it would be a big expense for no real reason.  I can do most of my digging with a shovel.  Sometimes I rent a small tractor.  When I d bigger jobs I need to call my friend and share the work with him.  God doesn’t play favorites he gives us all what we need.  As we continue to look at the allotment to the seven remaining tribes we need to remember that God is loving them and taking care of them too.  And the allotments seem to be fitting who these tribes were (See Genesis 49:28 where he used the mouth of Jacob to show this).  The fact that they are even included in this history shows how interested and involved God is in each person’s life, even if their story doesn’t get specifically told in the Bible.  Look at the fact that theses tribes all got God’s specific attention as the land was given out.  God didn’t say, “OK the rest of you just divide up the left-overs.”  The lot was cast for them just like it was for the “more important” tribes.  God loves all of his children.  God loves all people so much that Jesus died for every single human being (1 John 2:2), even the ones who would never pick up their gift.  And God even knew that as He was paying for the gift there on the cross.  How sad that must have been for Jesus to have paid for something he knew some would never pick up.  Wow.  God thank you for giving me your attention (Psalms 8:4, 144:3).  Thank you for loving me.  Thank you for the gift of salvation.  Thank you for tell me this story, the whole story, the salvation story.  Help me share this story with others.  Let me show them the gift you have for them.  Help the gift show in my life in a way that makes others want it too.  Thank You Lord.