ScriptureJoshua 19:32-3932 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali according to its clans:33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the large tree in Zaanannim,passing Adami Nekeb and Jabneel to Lakkum and ending at the Jordan. 34 The boundary ran west through Aznoth Tabor and came out at Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west and the Jordan[c] on the east. 35 The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh,Edrei, En Hazor, 38
Iron, Migdal El, Horem, Beth Anath and Beth Shemesh. There were nineteen towns and their villages.
39 These towns and their villages were the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali, according to its clans.ObservationThis is a continuation of Chapter 18s allotments of the inherited land. These particular versus cover the allotment attributed to Naphtali.Understanding
If you’re anything like me, these chapters are difficult to read and engage with…but I find that as I did into the details, read the commentaries and such, this is just another reminder of how
God is ALWAYS at work in the details.
Matthew Henry’s commentary states, “Naphtali lay furthest north of all the tribes, bordering on Mount Libanus. The city of Leshem, or Liash, lay on the utmost edge of it to the north, and therefore when the Danites had made themselves masters of it, and called it Dan, the length of Canaan from north to south was reckoned from Dan to Beersheba. It had Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah upon Jordan, probably a city of that name, and so distinguished from the tribe of Judah on the east. It was in the lot of this tribe, near the waters of Merom, that Joshua fought and routed Jabin,
ch. 11:1 . etc. In this tribe stood Capernaum and Bethsaida, on the north end of the sea of Tiberias, in which Christ did so many mighty works; and the mountain (as is supposed) on which Christ preached,
Mt. 5:1”
So, whereas I would probably skim through a chapter like this, the digging in is where we learn more of Christ’s story and how the areas that he walked and people that were present during his life came to be.
In the verses prior, we learn of Asher’s allotment…perhaps another ramble of facts, but commentary shares that “Anna the prophetess, who was a constant resident in the temple at the time of our Saviour’s birth (
Lu. 2:36)” was from there.
Every piece of the Bible is intentionally included for a reason.
So many times I’ve skimmed through things like land allotments and genealogies and considered them boring; but taking time to study the Bible is teaching me that these details are actually but valuable pieces of information that give context and meaning and history to the greatest story on Earth – God sending His Son so that we may spend eternity with Him.
Life ApplicationDear God, thank you for always being at work in the details. I’m so grateful that you forever see the “big picture” and our place in it. May I be quick to follow your lead and your will in ways big and small so that the bigger picture of bringing your salvation to everyone we know and love. May I remember that even the seemingly inconsequential moments of the day could actually be a part of someone else’s story of ultimately encountering Jesus. Amen.To check out the discussion or to join in click here.- Rei
