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Isus Navin 14

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1 A ovo je što dobiše nasledstvo sinovi Izrailjevi u zemlji hananskoj, što razdeliše u nasledstvo Eleazar sveštenik i Isus sin Navin i poglavari porodica otačkih po plemenima sinova Izrailjevih,

2 Žrebom deleći im nasledstvo, kao što zapovedi Gospod preko Mojsija, među devet plemena i polovinu plemena.

3 Jer Mojsije dade nasledstvo dvema plemenima i polovini plemena s ove strane Jordana, a Levitima ne dade nasledstvo među njima.

4 Jer sinova Josifovih behu dva plemena: Manasijino i Jefremovo, i Levitima ne daše deo u zemlji, osim gradova u kojima će živeti i podgrađa njihovih za stoku njihovu i za blago njihovo.

5 Kako beše zapovedio Gospod Mojsiju, tako učiniše sinovi Izrailjevi i podeliše zemlju.

6 A sinovi Judini dođoše k Isusu u Galgal, i reče mu Halev sin Jefonijin Kenezej: Ti znaš šta je kazao Gospod Mojsiju sluzi Božjem za me i za te u Kadis-Varniji.

7 Bilo mi je četrdeset godina kad me posla Mojsije sluga Gospodnji iz Kadis-Varnije da uhodim zemlju, i javih mu stvar, kako mi je bilo u srcu.

8 A braća moja što iđoše sa mnom uplašiše srce narodu; ali se ja jednako držah Gospoda Boga svog.

9 I zakle se Mojsije onaj dan govoreći: Zaista zemlja po kojoj si hodio nogama svojim, dopašće tebi u nasledstvo i sinovima tvojim doveka; jer si se sasvim držao Gospoda Boga mog.

10 A sada, eto, sačuva me Gospod u životu, kao što je rekao; ima većčetrdeset i pet godina kako to reče Gospod Mojsiju, kad Izrailj iđaše po pustinji; i sad, eto, ima mi danas osamdeset i pet godina.

11 I danas sam jošte krepak, kao što sam bio kad me je Mojsije slao; krepost mi je i sad onakva kakva je bila onda za boj i da odlazim i dolazim.

12 Zato daj mi sada ovu goru, za koju je govorio Gospod u onaj dan; jer si čuo u onaj dan da su onde Enakimi i gradovi veliki i tvrdi; da ako bude Gospod sa mnom, te ih isteram, kao što je Gospod kazao.

13 I Isus ga blagoslovi, i dade Hevron Halevu sinu Jefonijinom u nasledstvo.

14 Zato pripade Hevron Halevu sinu Jefonijinom Kenezeju u nasledstvo do današnjeg dana, jer se jednako držao Gospoda Boga Izrailjevog.

15 A ime Hevronu beše pre Kirijat-Arva, a Arva beše velik čovek među Enakimima. I zemlja počinu od rata.

   

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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]).