Archive for category: GAMEtime Sharing

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 19:24-39.  Let’s go!

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.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 19:1-9.  Let’s go!

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.

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 18:11-20.  Let’s go!

Joshua 18:11-20 (NIV) 
11  The lot came up for the tribe of Benjamin, clan by clan. Their allotted territory lay between the tribes of Judah and Joseph:
12  On the north side their boundary began at the Jordan, passed the northern slope of Jericho and headed west into the hill country, coming out at the desert of Beth Aven.
13  From there it crossed to the south slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) and went down to Ataroth Addar on the hill south of Lower Beth Horon…….

On verses 11-20:  According to scholars, the tribes of Judah and Joseph were rivals, even though they were all part of the nation of Israel.  Interestingly, the lot is cast and Benjamin ends up getting the land right “between the tribes of Judah and Joseph” (v11).  In this way the tribe of Benjamin acted as a buffer between the two rivaling tribes, Judah and Joseph.

It reminds me of the role that Jesus plays in our lives.  When we were enemies of God because of our sin, Jesus stepped in the middle and acted as the buffer between us and God. 

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s GAME passage is Joshua 17:11-18.  Let’s go!

Joshua 17:11-18 (NIV) 
11  Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth). 
12  Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 
13  However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely. ……

On verses 11-18:  The tribe of Manasseh was supposed to drive out the Canaanites from the land they had been allotted, but the Canaanites were too strong for them (v12).  Eventually when they are able to subdue the Canaanites, rather than driving them out as Deuteronomy 20:16-18 commanded, they subjected them to forced labour instead (v13).  Then the people of Joseph (i.e. the tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim together) approach Joshua, complaining that Joshua has given them too little land for a people as numerous as them (v14).  Joshua turns their complaint into a challenge for them:  “if you are so numerous, then go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there” (v15).  The people of Joseph further complain to Joshua that they are scared of the Canaanites who live in that area and their iron chariots (v16).  Joshua encourages them, telling them that they are numerous, powerful and capable of taking that land (v17-18).

Hi GAMErs,

Today’s passage is Joshua 16:1-10.  Let’s go!

Joshua 16:1-4 (NIV) 
1  The allotment for Joseph began at the Jordan of Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, and went up from there through the desert into the hill country of Bethel. 
2  It went on from Bethel (that is, Luz), crossed over to the territory of the Arkites in Ataroth, 
3  descended westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, ending at the sea. 
4  So Manasseh and Ephraim, the descendants of Joseph, received their inheritance.

On verses 1-4:  Verses 1-4 describe the territory allotted to the tribe of Joseph, which was located in the centre of Canaan.  According to scholars, the land allotted to Joseph was arguably the most fertile and the most beautiful part of the promised land.   In the verses that follow (verses 4-10 as well as all of Joshua 17) we read of how this land was divided between Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph’s two sons whose descendants are treated as two separate tribes of Israel named after Manasseh and Ephraim.