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Josué 14

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1 Esto pues es lo que los hijos de Israel tomaron por heredad en la tierra de Canaán, lo cual les repartieron Eleazar sacerdote, y Josué hijo de Nun, y los principales de los padres de las tribus de los hijos de Israel.

2 Por suerte se les dio su heredad, como el SEÑOR lo había mandado por Moisés, que diese a las nueve tribus y a la media tribu.

3 Porque a las dos tribus, y a la media tribu, les había Moisés dado heredad del otro lado del Jordán; mas a los levitas no dio heredad entre ellos.

4 Porque los hijos de José fueron dos tribus, Manasés y Efraín; y no dieron parte a los levitas en la tierra, sino ciudades en que morasen, con sus ejidos para sus ganados y rebaños.

5 De la manera que el SEÑOR lo había mandado a Moisés, así lo hicieron los hijos de Israel en el repartimiento de la tierra.

6 Y los hijos de Judá vinieron a Josué en Gilgal; y Caleb, hijo de Jefone cenezeo, le dijo: Tú sabes lo que el SEÑOR dijo a Moisés, varón de Dios, en Cades-barnea, tocante a mí y a ti.

7 Yo era de edad de cuarenta años, cuando Moisés siervo del SEÑOR me envió de Cades-barnea a reconocer la tierra; y yo le referí el negocio como lo tenía en mi corazón;

8 mas mis hermanos, los que habían subido conmigo, menguaron el corazón del pueblo; empero yo cumplí siguiendo al SEÑOR mi Dios.

9 Entonces Moisés juró, diciendo: Si la tierra que holló tu pie no fuere para ti, y para tus hijos en herencia perpetua; por cuanto cumpliste siguiendo al SEÑOR mi Dios.

10 Y ahora El SEÑOR me ha hecho vivir, como él dijo, estos cuarenta y cinco años, desde el tiempo que el SEÑOR habló estas palabras a Moisés, que Israel ha andado por el desierto; y ahora, he aquí soy hoy de edad de ochenta y cinco años;

11 y aun hoy estoy tan fuerte como el día que Moisés me envió; cual era entonces mi fuerza, tal es ahora, para la guerra, y para salir y para entrar.

12 Dame, pues, ahora este monte, del cual habló el SEÑOR aquel día; porque tú oíste en aquel día que los anaceos están allí, y grandes y fuertes ciudades. Por ventura el SEÑOR será conmigo, y los echaré como el SEÑOR ha dicho.

13 Josué entonces le bendijo, y dio a Caleb hijo de Jefone a Hebrón por heredad.

14 Por tanto Hebrón fue de Caleb, hijo de Jefone cenezeo, por heredad hasta hoy; porque cumplió siguiendo al SEÑOR Dios de Israel.

15 Mas Hebrón fue antes llamada Quiriat-arba; porque Arba fue un hombre grande entre los anaceos. Y la tierra tuvo reposo de las guerras.

   

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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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Joshua 14

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1 And these are the countries which the children 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 children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

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

3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea.

7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.

8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

10 And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.

11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

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

14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.