Wednesday 2021.07.21
This afternoon I read the final three chapters of the book of Joshua, containing the account of the return of Reuben, Gad and half tribe of Manasseh from Shiloh on the west of the Jordan to Gilead and Bashan on the east.
Joshua 22:7 - 9 NIV
7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,
8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”
9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.
The last two chapters also contain an account of Joshua giving his final instructions, reminders, and warnings to the children of Israel to hold fast to worshipping Yehovah, to obey all His commandments, and not to turn to idolatry.
Before he died at the age of 110 years, Joshua led the Israelites to renew their covenant with Yehovah at Shechem (Joshua 24:25 - 27), a covenant which was first given through Moses at Sinai in the land of Horeb (Exodus 19 - 24), then renewed in the land of Moab (Deuteronomy 28 - 31) before Moses passed away.
Joshua 24:25 - 27 NIV
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws.
26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.
27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.”
