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，她的家中来了一名宾客，那是来自日内瓦的亨利 亚伯拉罕塞萨尔.马伦博士（（Henri Abraham Cesar Malan 1787 -1864)。马伦曾经是法国归正派教会的一名牧师，也是一位著名的圣诗诗人及作曲家。在其一生他总共写过一千多首圣诗，部分诗歌很早就被介绍到中国，特别为闽南语和台语教会喜爱，如「敬拜恩主」「献己与主」「天地创造都完备」「耶稣爱人恩典格外」「愿主上帝掌权」等。马伦不当牧师后经常前往欧洲各国旅行，这次就是在他利用英国停留期间来到夏洛蒂家里探访她的知名父亲。
时间到了1834年。那年位于伦敦布莱顿的圣玛丽教会(Chapel of St Mary)计画要创办一所女子学校，专门为那些传教士的孩子提供只需收取少量费用的高等教育。那所教堂是夏洛特的父亲在1826年以一万英镑买下来的，现在由她的哥哥亨利.艾略特（Henry V. Elliott）担任牧师。显然由教堂创办学校这是一项极具挑战的事工，因此教会还需要得到社会的支持和赞助。
在这里我想特别一提的是，曾经担任过美国11任总统的信仰顾问，被人称之为二十世纪最有影响力的大布道家葛培理牧师（William Franklin Graham 1918-2018）与这首诗歌的特殊关系。他本人1934年出生的城市名字与夏略蒂一样，也叫Charlotte；他16岁那年在他家乡北卡罗来纳州家乡的一次复兴会上，就是因为听到夏洛蒂的这首诗歌而被神呼召信主；在他成为著名传道人后，每当他举办布道会快结束时，他都会通过这首「照我本相」来呼召听众信主决志。他一生中曾经在全世界185个国家布道，听众多达2亿多人，有将近三百万人在这首诗歌的陪伴下因他呼召而归入主名下; 甚至在他晚年写完自己的回忆录后，就以这首诗歌的名字来作为这本自传的书名：《照我本相 ─ 葛培理自传》（见左图）。
有一位并非是基督徒的犹太人记者在葛培理去世后回忆起他亲身经历的葛培理在北卡州家乡夏洛特市体育场最后一场布道会的盛况：「当他在台上呼召时，他身后上千人的唱诗班开始唱起“Just As I Am”（照我本相）这首歌，接着台下成千上万的人从座位上站起来回应，口中一遍又一遍地唱着“上帝的羔羊啊，我来了，我来了”（中文翻译成“救主耶稣，我来，我来”）走到台前。我是一个犹太人，是一个自由主义者和一个生性持怀疑态度的记者，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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在这里我想特别一提的是，曾经担任过美国11任总统的信仰顾问，被人称之为二十世纪最有影响力的大布道家葛培理牧师（William Franklin Graham 1918-2018）与这首诗歌的特殊关系。他本人1934年出生的城市名字与夏略蒂一样，也叫Charlotte；他16岁那年在他家乡北卡罗来纳州家乡的一次复兴会上，就是因为听到夏洛蒂的这首诗歌而被神呼召信主；在他成为著名传道人后，每当他举办布道会快结束时，他都会通过这首「照我本相」来呼召听众信主决志。他一生中曾经在全世界185个国家布道，听众多达2亿多人，有将近三百万人在这首诗歌的陪伴下因他呼召而归入主名下; 甚至在他晚年写完自己的回忆录后，就以这首诗歌的名字来作为这本自传的书名：《照我本相 ─ 葛培理自传》（见左图）。
