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Jošua 18

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1 Sabrala se zajednica sinova Izraelovih u Šilo, i ondje razapeše Šator sastanka. Sva im se zemlja pokorila.

2 Ali ostade među sinovima Izraelovim još sedam plemena koja nisu primila svoje baštine.

3 Tada im reče Jošua: "Dokle ćete oklijevati da pođete i zaposjednete zemlju koju vam je dao Jahve, Bog vaših otaca?

4 Izaberite po tri čovjeka iz svakoga plemena, a ja ću ih poslati da popišu svu zemlju za diobu. Kad se vrate k meni,

5 razdijelit ću zemlju na sedam dijelova. Neka Juda ostane na svome području na jugu, a Josipov dom neka ostane u svome kraju na sjeveru.

6 A vi raspišite zemlju na sedam dijelova i donesite mi amo da bacim ždrijeb za vas ovdje pred Jahvom, Bogom našim.

7 Leviti neće imati dijela među vama jer je svećeništvo Jahvino njihova baština; a Gad, Ruben i polovina plemena Manašeova primili su svoju baštinu na istočnoj strani Jordana - onu koju im je dao Mojsije, sluga Jahvin."

8 Spreme se ti ljudi na put, a Jošua zapovjedi onima koji su pošli popisati zemlju: "Idite i obiđite svu zemlju i opišite je, pa se onda vratite k meni da bacim ždrijeb ovdje pred Jahvom u Šilu."

9 Odoše oni ljudi, prođoše zemljom i u knjigu popisaše sve gradove u sedam dijelova, pa se vratiše k Jošui u tabor u Šilu.

10 A Jošua baci za njih ždrijeb u Šilu pred Jahvom i ondje razdijeli Jošua zemlju sinovima Izraelovim po njihovim dijelovima plemenskim.

11 I pade ždrijeb na pleme sinova Benjaminovih po njihovim porodicama: utvrdi se da je njihov dio između dijela sinova Judinih i sinova Josipovih.

12 Sjeverna im se međa protezala od Jordana te išla uza sjeverni obronak Jerihona, uspinjala se sa zapada na goru i završavala se u pustinji Bet-Avenu.

13 Odatle je išla k Luzu, k južnom obronku Luza, to jest Betela; spuštala se zatim u Atrot-Adar, kraj brda koje je južno od Donjeg Bet-Horona.

14 Međa se dalje savijala i okretala sa zapada prema jugu, od gore koja se diže nasuprot Bet-Horonu s juga, i svršavala se kod Kirjat Baala, danas Kirjat Jearima, grada sinova Judinih. To je zapadna strana.

15 Južna se strana počinjala od granice Kirjat Jearima, pa se pružala na zapad k vrelu Neftoahu;

16 potom se spuštala međa do kraja gore koja je prema dolini Ben-Hinomu, na sjeveru refaimske nizine, silazila zatim u dolinu Hinom uz Jebusejski obronak i dosegla do izvora Rogela.

17 Zatim se savijala od sjevera te izlazila na En-Šemeš i doticala Gelilot, koji se diže prema Adumimskom usponu, i silazila na Kamen Bohana, sina Rubenova.

18 Prolazila je zatim obronkom sa sjeverne strane prema Bet-Haarabi i silazila do Arabe.

19 Dalje je tekla međa uz obronak Bet-Hogle prema sjeveru i svršavala se na sjevernom Jeziku Slanog mora, do južnog kraja Jordana. To je južna međa.

20 Jordan je pak bio međa s istočne strane. To je baština sinova Benjaminovih, s njihovim međama unaokolo po porodicama njihovim.

21 Gradovi plemena sinova Benjaminovih po porodicama njihovim jesu: Jerihon, Bet-Hogla, Emek Kesis;

22 Bet-Haaraba, Samarajim, Betel;

23 Avim, Para, Ofra;

24 Kefar Haamona, Ofni i Gaba: dvanaest gradova s njihovim selima.

25 Gibeon, Rama, Beerot;

26 Mispe, Kefira i Mosa;

27 Rekem, Jirpeel, Tarala;

28 Sela Haelef, Jebus (to je Jeruzalem), Gibat i Kirjat: četrnaest gradova s njihovim selima. To je baština sinova Benjaminovih po porodicama njihovim.

   

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Exploring the Meaning of Joshua 18

Napsal(a) New Christian Bible Study Staff, Julian Duckworth

Joshua 18: The rest of the land is divided up among the 7 remaining tribes, and the tribe of Benjamin receives its lot.

After several chapters covering the allocation of the land for Reuben, Gad, Judah, Ephraim and Manasseh, there were still seven tribes to be provided for. Before this was done, Joshua gathered these seven tribes together and told them to choose three men from each tribe. These men went and surveyed the region, divided up all the land and cities into seven parts, and recorded everything in a book. Then they came back to Joshua, who cast lots to decide where the seven remaining tribes would live.

The first of the seven allocations was for the tribe of Benjamin. Benjamin was the youngest of the sons of Jacob, and he was a full brother to Joseph. Their mother, Rachel, whom Jacob had loved so much, died giving birth to Benjamin.

The city of Jerusalem was first allocated to Benjamin, but in time became more associated with Judah. In fact, these were the two tribes which later made up the kingdom of Judah, as opposed to the ten northern tribes forming the kingdom of Israel. Benjamin’s territory included the cities of Jericho, Ai and Gibeon, all of which had been significant soon after Israel crossed the River Jordan. Saul, the first king of Israel, was a Benjamite.

This story about surveying the land represents our need to know things as they truly are. This could mean many things: for example, exploring the idea of heaven, or hell, or life in this world, or a spiritual teaching such as providence. It might be to learn about justice and compassion, or true freedom. It may be our need to look honestly within ourselves and recognize some of our self-centred ways (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 1612).

The Israelite’s findings about the land were recorded in a book, which really would have been a scroll. This is like our ‘book of life’, in which everything about us down to the least detail is preserved so that in eternity, we shall know who we are (see Swedenborg’s Apocalypse Explained 199). Joshua drew lots so the Lord’s will would be clear to the people of Israel.

The spiritual meaning of Benjamin needs some careful explanation. Technically, it means ’the spiritual of the celestial’, and this is our ability to understand the reason for the most loving experiences we can have. It is heightened thinking joining with heightened feeling. Benjamin was the youngest son, the special brother of Joseph, who stands for the Lord (Arcana Caelestia 4585).

With this in mind, it is useful to know that Bethlehem, the town where Jesus was born, lay in the territory of Benjamin. Bethlehem’s name means ‘house of bread’ giving us the idea of nourishment for our physical and our spiritual lives. God came into the world to bring us the food of heaven and nourishment from the Word, so that we may fight our evils and choose what is good (Arcana Caelestia 6247, 4594).