RPG Adults
THE HERITAGE OF THE TRIBE OF SIMEON
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13
Joshua 19:1-9
Psalm 33:1-9
“For the word of the LORD is right;
and all his works are done in truth.”
THE HERITAGE OF THE TRIBE OF SIMEON
When the tribe of Benjamin had received their inheritance, there were yet six tribes that needed to be allocated their inheritance. Joshua 19 records that Eleazar the priest and Joshua cast lots in Shiloh to identify the lot of each of the remaining tribes. They followed the description of the land that the task force had prepared. Each of the tribes received their heritage. This marked the end of assigning the inheritance to Israel, and fulfilled God’s promise totally.
Joshua 19 begins with the tribe of Simeon. This tribe was not given a new heritage but was accommodated within the tribe of Judah. There were specific locations accorded to them. This was not random allocation. Joshua and Eleazar cast lots and the part fell onto the tribe of Simeon. Since it was God who assigned the heritage of each, it must therefore also agree with His eternal decree.
Before Simeon became a tribe (while the father of the tribe was still alive), the nature of their heritage was already described. The prophetic utterances of Jacob spelt out a disaster for Simeon and Levi (Gen 49:7). It referred to an earlier incident at Shechem after they had come from Haran. They blackmailed the family of Shechem and slew them. Their actions were against the wishes of their father and were indeed very cruel (Gen 34:20-31). These were the acts of two individuals, but the curse followed their descendants. For Simeon, the scattering that Jacob had spoken about was fulfilled in their heritage. (It was also fulfilled on a positive note in the case of Levi because the Levites were assigned spiritual duties. Thus, it was necessary for them to be assigned residence among all the tribes of Israel. They were thus scattered.) The number of cities that were given to Simeon was thirteen and these cities are listed in Joshua 19:1-9. They were thus assimilated. It had probably never occurred to the sons of Jacob then that the utterances of their father would have these far-reaching implications. As it was within God’s plan, it came to pass as accurately as God had intended.
THOUGHT: God always moves with purpose and plan.
PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for the harmony of Thy revelations.