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Joshua 14

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1 And these are what the sons of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the sons of Israel caused them to inherit.

2 By lot was their inheritance, as Jehovah commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and the half tribe.

3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe across the Jordan; and to the Levites He gave no inheritance in the midst of them.

4 For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, but cities to dwell in, and their suburbs* for their livestock and their substance.

5 As Jehovah commanded Moses, so the sons of Israel did, and they parted the land.

6 And the sons of Judah approached Joshua in Gilgal; and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezzite said to him, Thou knowest the word that Jehovah spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-barnea.

7 A son of forty years was I when Moses the servant of Jehovah sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy·​·out the land; and I returned him the word as it was with my heart.

8 And my brothers that went·​·up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I fully followed after Jehovah my God.

9 And Moses promised in that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy foot has trodden shall be for an inheritance to thee and to thy sons even·​·to eternity; for thou hast fully followed after Jehovah thy God.

10 And now, behold, Jehovah has caused me to live, as He spoke, these forty and five years since Jehovah spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness; and now, behold, I am today a son of five and eighty years.

11 As·​·yet I am as strong today as in the day that Moses sent me; as my power was then so is my power now, for war, and to go·​·out and to come·​·in.

12 And now, give me this mountain, of which Jehovah spoke in that day; for thou heardest in that day that the Anakim were there, and the cities are great and fortified; perhaps Jehovah will be with me, and I shall dispossess them as Jehovah spoke.

13 And Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

14 Therefore Hebron became an inheritance for Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezzite even·​·to this day, because he had fully followed after Jehovah, the God of Israel.

15 And the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba; he was the great man among the Anakim. And the land had quiet from war.

   


Thanks to the Kempton Project for the permission to use this New Church translation of the Word.

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Exploring the Meaning of Joshua 14

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

Joshua 14: The territories west of the Jordan, and Caleb’s inheritance.

This chapter tells how the land of Canaan would be distributed among the remaining nine-and-a-half tribes, which would be determined by drawing lots. The tribe of Levi, the priests of Israel, would not receive their own territory, but would be given cities to live in across the land. The tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph, were each recognized as a tribe of Israel to make the number of tribes receiving land equal twelve. Caleb and his people received Mount Hebron as a special inheritance, because he had fully and whole-heartedly followed the Lord God of Israel many years ago.

Casting lots was used in those days to decide many things, because people believed that the outcome showed the will of God. Lots were often sticks or stones, each marked with a symbol, which would be cast much like rolling dice. Then the result would be examined to make a decision. The spiritual meaning of casting lots is that we should allow the Lord to show us what is required, and believe that His providence extends over everything in our lives (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 10773). “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Proverbs 16:33).

The tribe of Levi, the third of the twelve sons of Jacob, had been set apart from the other tribes during their time in the wilderness; when the war cry “Who is on the Lord’s side?” was given before a battle, it was only the tribe of Levi who had responded. They were appointed as the priests of Israel for this dedication to God. Here, now, we are told that they are to live throughout the land (Arcana Caelestia 6998).

On a spiritual level, the Levites stand for the Lord’s presence throughout the whole of our life. Another way of putting this is that our spirit (and our life) is there throughout the whole of our body. And a third way of seeing this is that every part of our life should be guided by our love for the Lord. Other references to the Levites mention that all the people of Israel are to provide food and gifts for the Levites, reinforcing this same idea.

Caleb gets special treatment; he is given Mount Hebron as a new home for his people. Caleb and Joshua had been sent with 10 other men to spy out the land of Canaan 40 years earlier. They had given it a good report, and had - unsuccessfully - urged the Children of Israel to follow the Lord's leading and conquer the land at that time. Now, Caleb reminds Joshua about the Lord’s words to Moses regarding them, and Moses’ promise to give Caleb an inheritance. At the age of eighty-five, Caleb was still as strong as when spied out the land. He tells Joshua: “Now therefore, give me this mountain and the Lord will be with me to drive out the enemy” (Joshua 14:12). And it is given to him with a blessing from Joshua.

Mount Hebron is in the territory of Judah, west of the Dead Sea and south of what is now Jerusalem. Its name means ‘bound by a common bond’ or ‘accord’. Its spiritual meaning is that it brings diversity into unity, many into one, and for us, harmony in our spiritual life (Arcana Caelestia 3241[2]).

Caleb’s name means ‘bold, fearless, ferocious to enemies’. For us, Caleb is a picture of sureness and determination that to follow the Lord will always lead to success. Caleb never led Israel, but he acts as a right-hand-man to Joshua. Even though Joshua was the one to lead the children of Israel, there is still the need in each of us for Caleb’s enthusiasm, conviction and assurance to move forward with full confidence. His strength never left him, because he felt and lived the strength which the Lord gave him (see Swedenborg’s work, True Christian Religion 137[5]).

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Arcana Coelestia # 456

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456. Those who were the most well-versed have said that heavenly joy consisted in simply praising and blessing the Lord without performing good deeds of charity, and that this was an active life. They were told however that praising and blessing the Lord did not constitute such an active life, but was the outgrowth of that life, for the Lord has no need of any praises. They were also told that He wishes men to perform the good deeds of charity, and that in accordance with these they receive happiness from the Lord. But these very well-versed people were still unable to grasp any idea of joy, only of slavery, in the good deeds of charity. The angels testified however that such a life is absolute freedom, and that it is joined to indescribable happiness.

  
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Thanks to the Swedenborg Society for the permission to use this translation.