RPG Adults
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE HERITAGE OF EPHRAIM
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 2
Joshua 16
Romans 14:16-19
“Let us therefore
follow after the things
which make for peace…”
THE DESCRIPTION OF THE HERITAGE OF EPHRAIM
This description of the heritage of Joseph is not as detailed as that of Judah’s, but it tells of the length and breadth of their heritage. Here is a comment by Matthew Henry:
The portions allotted to Ephraim and Manasseh are not so particularly described as those of the other tribes; we have only the limits and boundaries of them, not the particular cities in them, as before we had the cities of Judah and afterwards those of the other tribes. For this no reason can be assigned, unless we may suppose that Joshua being himself of the children of Joseph they referred it to him alone to distribute among them the several cities that lay within their lot, and therefore did not bring in the names of their cities to the great council of their princes who sat upon this affair, by which means it came to pass that they were not inserted with the rest in the books.
The division and allocation of the land was a big task. Families within each tribe, given their inheritance, had to be satisfied. The officers who assisted Joshua in this task were useful, because they were closer to the people and understood the needs of each family. They were also to settle disputes that might occur to ensure that there was peace in the whole process. Also, as indicated earlier, the Levites would be among them and their welfare rested on the tribe that they lived with.
Joshua 16 continues to describe the boundaries of Ephraim. It was from Atarothaddar to Bethhoron, and the border also went west to the Great Sea which was a natural boundary, like Jordan River in the east. The description of these allocations indicated an administrative exercise that went smoothly.
THOUGHT: God’s work is done decently and orderly.
PRAYER: Father, help me to administer my daily responsibilities with orderliness in the spirit of love.