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Isus Navin 18

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1 I sabra se sav zbor sinova Izrailjevih u Silom i onde namestiše šator od sastanka, pošto pokoriše zemlju.

2 Ali još beše sinova Izrailjevih sedam plemena, kojima ne bi dato nasledstvo.

3 I Isus reče sinovima Izrailjevim: Dokle ćete oklevati, te ne idete i uzmete zemlju koju vam je dao Gospod Bog otaca vaših?

4 Izaberite između sebe po tri čoveka iz svakog plemena, pa neka se dignu i prođu zemlju, i neka je prepišu na nasledstva svoja, pa onda neka dođu k meni.

5 I neka je razdele na sedam delova; Juda će ostati u svojim međama s juga, i dom će Josifov ostati u međama svojim sa severa.

6 A vi prepišite zemlju na sedam delova, i donesite amo k meni, da bacim žreb za plemena vaša ovde pred Gospodom Bogom našim.

7 Jer Leviti nemaju dela među vama, jer je sveštenstvo Gospodnje njihovo nasledstvo; a Gad i Ruvim i polovina plemena Manasijinog primiše nasledstvo svoje s one strane Jordana na istoku, koje im dade Mojsije, sluga Gospodnji.

8 Tada ustaše ljudi i pođoše; a Isus zapovedi ljudima koji odoše da prepišu zemlju govoreći: Idite i prođite zemlju i prepišite je, pa onda dođite k meni, te ću baciti žreb za vas ovde pred Gospodom u Silomu.

9 I odoše ljudi i prođoše zemlju i prepisaše je u knjigu, selo po selo, na sedam delova; potom se vratiše k Isusu u logor, u Silom.

10 I Isus baci žreb za njih u Silomu pred Gospodom, i onde podeli Isus zemlju među sinove Izrailjeve po delovima njihovim.

11 I izađe žreb za pleme sinova Venijaminovih po porodicama njihovim, i dođe međa dela njihovog među sinove Judine i sinove Josifove.

12 I bi im međa sa severa do Jordana, i ona ide pokraj Jerihona sa severa i pruža se na goru k zapadu, i izlazi u pustinju Vet-Aven;

13 A odatle ide ta međa do Luza, s južne strane Luzu, a to je Vetilj, i silazi do Atarot-Adara pokraj gore koja je s juga Vet-Oronu donjem.

14 Otuda izlazi međa i savija se pokraj mora k jugu od gore, koja je prema Vet-Oronu na jug, i izlazi na Kirijat-Val, a to je Kirijat-Jarim, grad sinova Judinih. To je zapadna strana.

15 A južna strana od kraja Kirijat-Jarima, i izlazi ta međa k zapadu, pa ide na izvor vode Neftoje,

16 I silazi ta međa nakraj gore koja je prema dolini sina Enomovog, a u dolini rafajskoj k zapadu, i ide preko doline Enomove pokraj Jevuseja k jugu, i silazi na izvor Rogil;

17 Potom se obrće od severa i ide na En-Semes, a otuda ide na Galilot, koji je prema gori adumimskoj, i silazi na kamen Voana sina Ruvimovog;

18 Otuda ide stranom koja je prema Aravi k severu i silazi u Aravu;

19 Potom ide pokraj Vet-Ogle k severu i udara u zaliv slanog mora sa severne strane do kraja Jordana na jugu. To je južna međa.

20 A Jordan je međa s istočne strane. To je nasledstvo sinova Venijaminovih s međama njihovim unaokolo po porodicama njihovim.

21 A gradovi plemena sinova Venijaminovih po porodicama njihovim jesu: Jerihon i Vet-Ogla i Emek-Kesis,

22 I Vet-Arava i Semarajim i Vetilj,

23 I Avin i Fara i Ofra,

24 I Hefar-Amona i Ofnija i Gava; dvanaest gradova sa selima svojim;

25 Gavaon i Rama i Virot,

26 I Mispa i Hefira i Mosa,

27 I Rekem i Jerfail i Tarala,

28 I Sila, Elef i Jevus, a to je Jerusalim, Gavat, Kirijat; četrnaest gradova sa selima svojim. To je nasledstvo sinova Venijaminovih 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).