Joshua 19:24-39 (NIV)
24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher, clan by clan.
25 Their territory included: Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph,
26 Allammelech, Amad and Mishal. On the west the boundary touched Carmel and Shihor Libnath.
27 It then turned east toward Beth Dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Iphtah El, and went north to Beth Emek and Neiel, passing Cabul on the left.
28 It went to Abdon, Rehob, Hammon and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.
29 The boundary then turned back toward Ramah and went to the fortified city of Tyre, turned toward Hosah and came out at the sea in the region of Aczib,
30 Ummah, Aphek and Rehob. There were twenty-two towns and their villages.
31 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher, clan by clan.
On verses 24-31: These verses describe the territory given to the tribe of Asher. Asher’s long territory ran along the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea.
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就在夏洛蒂得病第二年五月初的一天，她的家中來了一名賓客，那是來自日內瓦的亨利 亞伯拉罕塞薩爾.馬倫博士（（Henri Abraham Cesar Malan 1787 -1864)。馬倫曾經是法國歸正派教會的一名牧師，也是一位著名的聖詩詩人及作曲家。在其一生他總共寫過一千多首聖詩，部分詩歌很早就被介紹到中國，特別為閩南語和臺語教會喜愛，如「敬拜恩主」「獻己與主」「天地創造都完備」「耶穌愛人恩典格外」「願主上帝掌權」等。馬倫不當牧師後經常前往歐洲各國旅行，這次就是在他利用英國停留期間來到夏洛蒂家裏探訪她的知名父親。
時間到了1834年。那年位於倫敦布萊頓的聖瑪麗教會(Chapel of St Mary)計畫要創辦一所女子學校，專門為那些傳教士的孩子提供只需收取少量費用的高等教育。那所教堂是夏洛特的父親在1826年以一萬英鎊買下來的，現在由她的哥哥亨利.艾略特（Henry V. Elliott）擔任牧師。顯然由教堂創辦學校這是一項極具挑戰的事工，因此教會還需要得到社會的支持和贊助。
在這裏我想特別一提的是，曾經擔任過美國11任總統的信仰顧問，被人稱之為二十世紀最有影響力的大佈道家葛培理牧師（William Franklin Graham 1918-2018）與這首詩歌的特殊關係。他本人1934年出生的城市名字与夏略蒂一样，也叫Charlotte；他16歲那年在他家鄉北卡羅來納州家鄉的一次復興會上，就是因為聽到夏洛蒂的這首詩歌而被神呼召信主；在他成為著名傳道人後，每當他舉辦佈道會快結束時，他都會通過這首「照我本相」來呼召聽眾信主決志。他一生中曾經在全世界185個國家佈道，聽眾多達2億多人，有將近三百萬人在这首詩歌的陪伴下因他呼召而歸入主名下; 甚至在他晚年寫完自己的回憶錄後，就以這首詩歌的名字來作為這本自傳的書名：《照我本相 ─ 葛培理自傳》（見左圖）。
有一位並非是基督徒的猶太人記者在葛培理去世後回憶起他親身經歷的葛培理在北卡州家鄉夏洛特市體育場最後一場佈道會的盛況：「當他在臺上呼召時，他身後上千人的唱詩班開始唱起“Just As I Am”（照我本相）這首歌，接著台下成千上萬的人從座位上站起來回應，口中一遍又一遍地唱著“上帝的羔羊啊，我來了，我來了”（中文翻譯成“救主耶穌，我來，我來”）走到臺前。我是一個猶太人，是一個自由主義者和一個生性持懷疑態度的記者，但在那一刻我仍然被震撼吸引住了。」
Joshua 19:10-16 (NIV)
10 The third lot came up for Zebulun, clan by clan: The boundary of their inheritance went as far as Sarid.
11 Going west it ran to Maralah, touched Dabbesheth, and extended to the ravine near Jokneam.
12 It turned east from Sarid toward the sunrise to the territory of Kisloth Tabor and went on to Daberath and up to Japhia.
13 Then it continued eastward to Gath Hepher and Eth Kazin; it came out at Rimmon and turned toward Neah.
14 There the boundary went around on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Iphtah El.
15 Included were Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah and Bethlehem. There were twelve towns and their villages.
16 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of Zebulun, clan by clan.
On verses 10-16: These verses describe the land allotment given to the tribe of Zebulun.
Nearing his death, Jacob spoke these prophetic words over his son Zebulun in Genesis 49:13: “Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships; his border will extend toward Sidon.” We see the fulfillment of Jacob’s prophetic words here, as the land given to Zebulun extends to the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the Sea of Galilee on the east. Though not a large land, this region would later on be graced by the presence of the Lord Jesus, who would spend significant time around the Sea of Galilee (see Isaiah 9:1).
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Joshua 19:1-9 (NIV)
1 The second lot came out for the tribe of Simeon, clan by clan. Their inheritance lay within the territory of Judah.
2 It included: Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,
3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem,
4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah,
6 Beth Lebaoth and Sharuhen–thirteen towns and their villages;
7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether and Ashan–four towns and their villages–
8 and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath Beer (Ramah in the Negev). This was the inheritance of the tribe of the Simeonites, clan by clan.
9 The inheritance of the Simeonites was taken from the share of Judah, because Judah’s portion was more than they needed. So the Simeonites received their inheritance within the territory of Judah.
On verses 1-9: These verses describe the land allotment given to the tribe of Simeon. Notice that Simeon’s land allotment was taken from Judah’s portion (v9, also v1b). Why is that? Verse 9 gives one reason: “because Judah’s portion was more than they needed”. What can we learn from this? Whenever you have excess (more than you need), be wise and generous with that excess. Don’t hoard it all for yourself but use it to serve others’ needs.
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Joshua 18:21-28 (NIV)
21 The tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan, had the following cities: Jericho, Beth Hoglah, Emek Keziz,
22 Beth Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
23 Avvim, Parah, Ophrah,
24 Kephar Ammoni, Ophni and Geba–twelve towns and their villages.
25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
26 Mizpah, Kephirah, Mozah,
27 Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
28 Zelah, Haeleph, the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeah and Kiriath–fourteen towns and their villages. This was the inheritance of Benjamin for its clans.
On verses 21-28: Here we get a list of the cities that were included in the land that the tribe of Benjamin received. Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes of Israel and the amount of land it was given reflected its smaller size. Yet notice that this small tribe was given “the Jebusite city (that is, Jerusalem)” (v28), which centuries later would become the capital and most important city in Israel. Also, later on God would select Saul, the first king of Israel, from this land and this tribe of Benjamin, “the smallest tribe of Israel” (1 Samuel 9:21). It’s a reminder to me that size is not necessarily an indicator of importance, and that God is able to use, honour and exalt you regardless of your size or background.
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在這裏我想特別一提的是，曾經擔任過美國11任總統的信仰顧問，被人稱之為二十世紀最有影響力的大佈道家葛培理牧師（William Franklin Graham 1918-2018）與這首詩歌的特殊關係。他本人1934年出生的城市名字与夏略蒂一样，也叫Charlotte；他16歲那年在他家鄉北卡羅來納州家鄉的一次復興會上，就是因為聽到夏洛蒂的這首詩歌而被神呼召信主；在他成為著名傳道人後，每當他舉辦佈道會快結束時，他都會通過這首「照我本相」來呼召聽眾信主決志。他一生中曾經在全世界185個國家佈道，聽眾多達2億多人，有將近三百萬人在这首詩歌的陪伴下因他呼召而歸入主名下; 甚至在他晚年寫完自己的回憶錄後，就以這首詩歌的名字來作為這本自傳的書名：《照我本相 ─ 葛培理自傳》（見左圖）。
