Read Joshua 21 and 22 at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph divisions for today’s chapters are:
Jos 21:1-2 {p} The LORD commanded that the Levites be given cities to dwell in
Jos 21:3-4 {s} Aaron (Kohathites): 13 cities from Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin
Jos 21:5 {s} Kohathites: 10 cities from Ephraim, Dan, and ½ Manasseh
Jos 21:6 {s} Gershon: 13 cities from Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, ½ Manasseh
Jos 21:7 {s} Merari: 12 cities from Reuben, Gad, Zebulun
Jos 21:8 {p} Israel gave these cities to the Levites
Jos 21:9-12 {s} Judah and Simeon gave Aaron Hebron
Jos 21:13-16 {s} Judah and Simeon gave 9 cities to Aaron
Jos 21:17-19 {s} Benjamin gave 4 cities to Aaron + Aaron received 13 cities
Jos 21:20-22 {s} Ephraim gave 4 cities to Kohath
Jos 21:23-26 {s} Dan gave 4 cities + ½ Manasseh 2 cities + Kohath received 10 cities
Jos 21:27 {s} ½ Manasseh (east) gave 2 cities to Gershon
Jos 21:28-29 {s} Issachar gave 4 cities to Gershon
Jos 21:30-31 {s} Asher gave 4 cities to Gershon
Jos 21:32-33 {s} Naphtali gave 3 cities + Gershon received 13 cities
Jos 21:34-35 {s} Zebulun gave 4 cities to Merari
Jos 21:36-42 {s} Reuben 4 cities + Gad 4 cities + Merari 12 cities + Levites = 48 cities
Jos 21:43-45 {p} The LORD gave Israel the land + He fulfilled all His promise
Jos 22:1-6 {p} Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh released to return to their possession
Jos 22:7-8 {p} The blessing of Joshua on Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh
Jos 22:9-12 {p} 2-1/2 tribes built an altar at the Jordan + Israel heard of it
Jos 22:13-20 {s} Phinehas asked them: What are you doing, rebelling against the LORD?
Jos 22:21-29 {p} 2-1/2 tribes answered: It is a witness between you and us
Jos 22:30-34 {p} It pleased the children of Israel + the Altar of Witness that the LORD is God
And the strong themes:
Jos 21:1-2 {p} The LORD commanded that the Levites be given cities to dwell in
Jos 21:3-8 {sx4+p} The tribes gave cities for the Levites
Jos 21:9-45 {sx11+p} The tribes tithed 48 cities to the Levites for God fulfilled His promise to Israel
Jos 22:1-8 {p+p} Reuben, Gad, half Manasseh released + blessed to return to their inheritance
Jos 22:9-12 {p} 2-1/2 tribes built an altar at the Jordan + Israel heard of it
Jos 22:13-29 {s+p} 2-1/2 tribes answered Phinehas: It is a witness between you and us
Jos 22:30-34 {p} It pleased the children of Israel + the Altar of Witness that the LORD is God
“So the LORD gave to Israel all the land of which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they took possession of it and dwelt in it. The LORD gave them rest all around, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers. And not a man of all their enemies stood against them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. Not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel. All came to pass.” Jos 21:43-45
The passage is a repeating element in a chiastic structure:
1a) Jos 21:43-45, The LORD gave Israel all the land He promised their fathers + not one word failed;
1b) Jos 22:1-8, Reuben, Gad, half Manasseh receive Joshua’s commendation and blessing;
1c) Jos 22:9-12, Reuben, Gad, half Manasseh built an altar at the Jordan;
central axis) Jos 22:13-20, Phinehas asked them, What are you doing, rebelling against the LORD?
2c} Jos 22:21-29, Reuben, Gad, half Manesseh explain the altar at the Jordan;
2b) Jos 22:30-33, Reuben, Gad, half Manasseh receive Phinehas’ commendation and blessing;
2a) Jos 22:34, The altar of witness: For it is a witness between us that the LORD is God.
Look at the A pairs. The altar that the children of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh built, they named Witness, for it was a witness between the 2-1/2 tribes and the 9-1/2 tribes that the LORD is God. And what is also a witness that the LORD is God, is that the LORD gave to Israel all the land He promised their fathers; not a word failed of any good thing which the LORD had promised their fathers, but all came to pass.
When Abram was 75 years old, God began promising him land and children (in 1921 BC, according to Floyd Nolen Jones in The Chronology of the Old Testament). When he was 100 years old, Isaac was born – 25 years later. Then in 1491 BC, Moses led the children out of Egypt, 430 years after Abram first received his promise. Add 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, plus five years of warfare for the land: in 1445 BC, Joshua divided the land among the 12 tribes for an inheritance. 476 years had passed, more or less, or ten generations of men; however YHVH fulfilled His promise down to the last word, and all came to pass.
Elohiym, the Creator of heaven and earth, is the faithful God who keeps His word in every particular! Not a single word fails of anything which He promises to Israel, to you and to me, but all shall come to pass!
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