Which God Do You Serve?

"Therefore, fear the Lord and worship Him in sincerity and truth. Get rid of the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and worship יהוה. But if it doesn’t please you to worship יהוה, choose for yourselves today the one you will worship: the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my family, we will worship יהוה."Joshua 24:14-15 CSB

definition

worship[1]

verb

1. : to honor or show reverence for as a divine being or supernatural power
2. : to regard with great or extravagant respect, honor, or devotion

What does it mean to worship?
The CSB uses "worhsip to describe Joshua's allegiance to God, while the KJV uses the word "serve." The original Hebrew is עָבַד, which mostly translates to "serve." This firmly cements worship and allegiance to God to actions

Biblical examples of worship/serving

• The same word is used in Genesis 14:4 and Genesis 15:13-14; here it is in reference to enslavement and bondage
• Exodus 3:12
• Exodus 20:5;9 - used to condemn idolatry and also a reference to work when it comes to the Sabbath
• Exodus 23:24-25
• Psalm 100:2 - "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing"

So, who are these other gods? How do we choose? What is the importance of Joshua 24:14-15?
To identify the idols God has commanded us to stay away from, we must first define the words "god," "deity," and "idol," so that we can recognize them both in Biblical times and in modern times. Does it have to be personified? Can one person make something a god (re: do numbers matter)?

definition idol[3] noun : an object of extreme devotion : a representation or symbol of an object of worship broadly: a false god a: a likeness of something b: obsolete: PRETENDER, IMPOSTER : a false conception : FALLACY : a form of appearance visible but without substance

definition god[4] noun a: the being perfect in power wisdom, and goodness, who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe b: Christian Science: the incorporeal divine principle ruling over all as eternal spirit : infinite Mind : a being or object believed to have more than natural attributes and powers and to require human worship specifically: one controlling a particular aspect or part of reality : a person or thing of supreme value : a powerful ruler

definition deity[5] noun a: the rank or essential nature of a god : DIVINITY b: capitalized: GOD sense 1, SUPREME BEING : a god (see GOD entry 1 sense 2) or goddess : one exalted or revered as supremely good or powerful

Idols and false gods in the Bible

Tammuz	Sumerian god	fertility god	Ezekiel 8:14
Ba'al	Canaanite god	sun god	Numbers 25; Judges 2:13
Chemosh	Moabite god	"the subduer"; required human sacrifices	Numbers 21:29; Judges11:24
Ashtoreth	Canaanite god	consort of Ba'al	1 Kings 11:5; Judges 2:13
Dagon	Philistine god	1/2 fish; 1/2 man; water god	1 Samuel 5; Judges 16:23
Marduk	Babylonian god	fertility god; had 50 names	Jeremiah 50:2
Molech	Ammonite god	other names: Molech, Milcom, Molek	Leviticus 18:21; 2 Kings 23:10
Zeus	Greek god	ruling god in Greek mythology	Acts 14:12
Hermes	Greek god	god of trade and trickery; son of Zeus	Acts 14:12
Artemis	Greek goddess	goddess of the hunt and moon; Zeus' daughter	Acts 19:24-28

Are there modern gods/goddesses that we should beware of?

• We have a tendency to make our own gods (think, The Gold Calf from Exodus 32)
• We turn objects into gods (eg., phones, jobs, etc.)
• We idolize people, specifically celebrities

Who was the first false god? Why did people start worshipping it?

Why are idols a thing?

• The first instance of man turning away from God (יהוה) is in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve listened to the serpent
• The serpent is the devil (Revelation 12:9; 20:2)
• His goal is to be like the Most high God (Isaiah 14:12-14)

definition

αντι[6]

preposition

over against, opposite, instead of, in place of

• The antichrist, mentioned in 1 John 2:19,22; 4:3 and 2 John 1:7, is taking it one step further in trying to replace God (יהוה) by taking the place of Christ.
• God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are Truth
• Satan, antichrist, and the beast are the devil's deception

Examples of things/ideas/people replacing God (יהוה) in our society today

• Thinking a man is infallible and has the power to forgive sins (eg. the Pope and priests)
• Traditions in the church
• One World Religion / Coexist ideology

Biblical warnings

• 1 Timothy 4; 6 - The Great Apostasy; deceiving spirits, doctrine of demons, lies/hypocrisy
• 2 Peter 2 - Destructive Doctrines; false teachers, false prophets
• Matthew 7:15 - False prophets compared to wolves in sheep's clothing
• Matthew 24:11,24 - False prophets/christs deceive the world
• Acts 13:6-12 - Outing a false prophet
• 2 Corinthians 11:1-21 - Warning about another Jesus being preached
• Colossians 2:18 - Worship of angels
• 1 John 4:1 - Test the spirits to know if they are true or false
• Revelation 13:14 - deception of the antichrist
• Revelation 19:20 - deception of the antichrist

My actual notes for the show

Angels and spirits are not all working for God (יהוה). Either way, we may mistake them for gods and those not on God's (יהוה) side will allow you to worship them.

References

1. "worship". Merriam-Webster Dictionary; visited December 2019
2. "Strong's H5647". Blue Letter Bible; visited December 2019
3. "idol". Merriam-Webster Dictionary; visited December 2019
4. "god". Merriam-Webster Dictionary; visited December 2019
5. "deity". Merriam-Webster Dictionary; visited December 2019
6. "Strong's G473". Blue Letter Bible; visited December 2019

Forced Love Isn't Love

Season 1 Episode 37

But if it doesn’t please you to worship the Lord, choose for yourselves today: Which will you worship—the gods your fathers worshiped beyond the Euphrates River or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living? As for me and my family, we will worship the Lord.” Joshua 24:15 CSB

Countless people try to force the love of God on people they meet, but love isn't something that's forced. It's something given freely, an offer that can accepted or rejected. The damage we cause by trying to force people into a relationship with God is deadly, so let's talk about it.

References and Footnotes

Proverbs 22:6

Matthew 10

At birth, you're supposed to be head first, face down. I was head first, face up.

Lessons Learned: Before There Was Google Maps...

The book of Joshua was kind of like reading Google Maps in text form, but it turned out to be interesting. This post summarizes what I gleaned from the book of Joshua.

The book of Joshua is basically Google Maps put into words... Initially, it seems boring, which probably explains why most of us skip the passages that just list cities. The only thing I could remember from the book of Joshua was the Battle of Jericho. Despite hearing "as for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord" all the time, I had no idea this was a quote from Joshua (see Joshua 24:15). Once I saw the lists of cities, I knew this was one of the books I probably skimmed instead of read as a child. However, this time I was determined to get some meaning out of it. As I was reading the list of cities, I thought, "why would God preserve this?"; it had to have some significance. When the book of Joshua was written, there was no Google Maps for the Israelites to look up and check the boundaries, they had to be written out. Perhaps an physical map was made at some point, but during a hostile takeover, I doubt the Israelites had time to draw an accurate picture of the land and annotate it. Furthermore, a pictorial map isn't easy to memorize (unless you have a photographic memory). The lists in Joshua could be memorized easily so that each tribe knew where their boundaries were. Following this train of thought, I tried to place some of the locations on a modern map; I must say, this made it much more interesting. It's amazing to see that many of the cities have the same names today, as well as, to see how the names have changed. In addition, it helps put some perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that is ongoing.

Because the U.S. is mostly Christian, the U.S. generally supports Israel and most Christians don't question this. Interestingly, when reading Joshua, you can clearly see that only an obedient Israel is able to take the Promised Land. According to the Bible, Israel shouldn't need the U.S. or the U.N. or anyone else; all they had to do was be obedient to God. He would give them the ability to conquer and keep the Promised Land. Note, when God initially commanded them to take the the land, He also commanded them to drive everyone else out. God knew that the Canaanites would tempt the Israelites to adultery. The Israelites did not follow this command, something that is mentioned throughout Joshua, and indeed, they fell into idolatry (which is covered in Judges). Greed overcomes the Israelites, so they keep the Canaanites around to pay tribute, i.e. to be exploited for money. Eventually, part of the land was taken by the Philistines (Palestinians). While Israel regains control of the land off and on, they are unable to maintain it due to their disobedience. This is basically the same thing that is being done today—Israel is still exploiting the another nation, this time the people of Palestine, for money.

Now, I'm not saying that the Israeli's should go kill the Palestinians. The Palestinians were not in Canaan when God told Israel to empty it of its inhabitants and thus, they would be considered the same as any other "stranger" in the land. All throughout the Books of Law Israel was told not to oppress strangers in the land, but to treat them decently. Furthermore, Israel made its decision when they chose to crucify Jesus and confirmed it when they stoned Stephen. That was the end of Israel as the chosen people; after that the Word of God was preached to Gentiles, which includes the Palestinians. As such, it is the body of Christ that has become God's "chosen people." So, from a Christian perspective, not only are the Palestinians equally able to accept Jesus and enter the kingdom of God, but without accepting Jesus and the New Testament, it's impossible for the Jews to follow the law; they have no Temple to perform the sacrifices. There are prophecies that people believe require Israel to be a nation, but I'll talk about that when we get there. At the moment, I think the Promised Land was a gift God gave that Israel never truly accepted so they lost it. More importantly, I think in order to understand the issue in our world today, we should have a good understanding of Joshua.

Many of the famous Biblical Cities such as Bethlehem and Jericho are located in the West Bank. It was interesting to see so many cities whose names have not changed and are in not in Jewish controlled territories. For example, the capital of Jordan is a city called Amman, in the same location Joshua places the sons of Ammon and their capital city. Also in Jordan is a city called Dhiban, in the same general proximity as the Biblical city of Dibon that was given to the tribe of Reuben. I discus many such cities in the posts covering the passages in which they were mentioned. This definitely made the read more enjoyable. Here in the Americas, our countries and cities are very young and the history of the Native American tribes that the land was stolen from was destroyed, so it's quite impressive that a city like Jerusalem has been in existence for over 4,000 years. For each additional city that amazement doubles! There's a lot of history contained in that region and Joshua was a nice introduction to that history.
Top

Israel over the years
Photocredit: University of Texas Library

Joshua 23&24: The Last Days of Joshua

Joshua addresses Israel one last time, they reaffirm their faith in God, and we see the fulfillment of a promise made in Egypt.

Introduction

The final chapters of the book of Joshua conclude both the life of Joshua and the life of Eleazar. Joshua had completed his mission, so he called the people of Israel together to hear his final speech.
Top

Final Words to Israel

Joshua reminds the Israelites that they are to love God and follow His commands; numerous times in both Testaments of the Bible are we told that if we love God we will follow His commandments, so it's not surprising that this would be part of Joshua's final message. Joshua warns the people that if they follow pagan traditions or marry the people of pagan nations, both of which they wind up doing, they will be unable to keep the land.

Photocredit: Etsy/ASentimentalSeason

And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.Joshua 24:15 KJV

Joshua summarizes the history of the Israelites, from the time before Abraham to the present. In this, he reveals to us that Abraham's ancestors worshipped false gods. This leads Joshua to offer a choice to the Israelites. They could follow the false idols of their ancestors before Abraham, the false idols of the Canaanite religions, or follow the real God. He cautions them that there would be no turning back once they had decided. One of the most used and well known quotes comes from this part of Joshua's speech—the last part of Joshua 24:15.

The people of Israel agree to follow God, once again, and make a covenant to do so (this time at Shechem). Here, Joshua erects a marker to act as a witness of their covenant. We will revisit the city of Shechem in Judges.
Top

Deaths and Burials

Joshua 24 concludes with the death of Joshua and Eleazar.
Top

Joshua

Joshua dies at 110 years old and is buried at the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah. At his death, he is blessed with the title servant of the Lord, like Moses. This is consistent with a person's death being more important than his or her birth (see Ecclesiastes 7:1).
Top

Joseph

In Genesis, Joseph tells the Israelites when they left Egypt to enter the Promised Land, they were to take his bones with them and bury him in the Promised Land. As promised, the Israelites do just that. Joseph's remains are buried in Shechem. Jacob had purchased this same land in Genesis 33:19.
Top

Eleazar

The final death and burial discussed in Judges 24 is that of Eleazar. Eleazar was the son of Aaron and served as Israel's high priest after his father died. Like Joshua, he was buried near Mount Ephraim, but was buried in a location that "pertained to Phinehas his son." Likely, this means land Phineas was in charge of.
Top

Joshua 22: East vs. West

After coming together to take the land, the Israelites almost tore themselves apart...

Introduction

The Israelites almost had a civil war during the early days of the nation, which could be a foreshadowing of their eventual split into the Northern Kingdom and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. However, unlike the eventual split and the civil war of the U.S., the initial squabble was not between the north and the south, but the east and west.
Top

Fulfillment of the Oath

Now that all of the tribes had an inheritance, Joshua considered the tribes of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh successful at fulfilling their oath to march into battle until Israel possessed the land. Thus, the 2 and a half tribes are dismissed to return to their inheritances east of the Jordan. They are given spoils of war to take with them and share amongst the members of their tribe back home. When they return to the east, they build a grand altar; this is what sparks the confrontation.
Top

Declaring War

When the residents of the west see this grand altar, they are furious and ready to declare war. In preparation for the war, they send Phineas, son of Eleazar and presumably the acting high priest, along with 10 princes from the tribes to negotiate with the eastern tribes. As an aside, I'd like to point out that despite their misgivings about the altar, the eastern tribes did not rush into war; instead, they used a diplomatic approach first.

The issue was that sacrifices were only to occur at the altar specified by God, which was in the tabernacle at Shiloh (in the west). The western tribes feared the eastern tribes were positioning themselves to disobey God and begin sacrificing animals in an unauthorized location or possibly to an idol. This would have brought the wrath of God on the entirety of Israel. As such, the western tribes recognized it as their duty to prevent such a thing from happening.
Top

Misunderstandings

The eastern tribes quickly deny the western tribes' accusation. They reveal that the altar they constructed was meant to serve as a sign of unity and link them to the western tribes. Since they resided outside of the promised land, they desired a symbol marking their land as God's land. The tribes explained that in the future, when generations asked about their relationship to those to the west, they could show that they worshipped the same God. The eastern tribes decried any desire or intention of sacrificing on the altar. This explanation pleased the western Israelites greatly. Upon settling the matter, the tribes of Reuben and Gad named the altar Ed, which meant witness.
Top

Joshua 20&21: Levite Cities

These two chapters cover Levite cities as well as the cities of refuge (which were all Levite cities).

Introduction

Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.Exodus 32:26 KJV

The Levites were not given an inheritance, but that didn't mean they were left homeless and at the mercy of the other tribes. Instead the Levites were given cities throughout each territory. Theologically, this makes sense, as the Levites had proven their desire to serve God and keep Israel on the path to righteousness (after the golden calf incident in Exodus 32). Sprinkling them throughout the nation should have insured each region a group of Levites to assist and advise on religious matters. While a single lamp can light a whole room, a rotten apple can spoil the whole bunch. That is to say, the Levites were not immune to corruption and over time, we will see them fall to sin as well (see Malachi 2:7-9).

I think there is a parallel to be made between the Levite's situation and modern day, particularly due to the influx of "prosperity preaching." When Moses asked for people to stand for God and against sin, it was the Levites who stood. The Levites were blessed and favored by God; He counted them as the firstborn of Israel, a position of honor and prestige. Furthermore, they were the only ones allowed to touch and care for the holy items of God's tabernacle. It is obvious that they were revered and special in the text, but we often glance over this detail about them not receiving land. Everyone who continued partying when Moses asked for servants of God inherited large expanses of land, while those who did as God commanded were merely given cities in the aforementioned people's territory. God had a purpose and a plan for the Levites; His decision to withhold territory in favor of individual cities was not a condemnation of the tribe despite how it may seem to us. When we claim our inheritance in the kingdom of God, there is no need for worldly inheritances. This is important to remember and keep in perspective as we navigate the world today.
Top

Cities of Refuge

Joshua 20 reiterates the purpose of a the cities of refuge, which were introduced in Numbers 35 and discussed in Deuteronomy 19. In short, the cities were to be a safe haven for people who had accidentally killed someone. Until the person's trial (and after depending on the results of the trial), they were permitted to stay in the city of refuge without fear of any avenger's retribution. In Joshua 20, we learn the added tidbit that the person was to declare their situation at the gate upon entering the city.

Six cities of refuge were designated, three on each side of the Jordan. West of the Jordan, the three cities were Kedesh (in Naphtali's territory), Shechem (in Ephraim's territory), and Kirjatharba/Hebron (in Judah's territory). East of the Jordan, the cities of refuge were Bezer (in Reuben's territory), Ramoth (in Gad's territory), and Golan (in Manasseh's territory). These cities were strategically located, per command, to given refugees a chance to escape to the city before an avenger took his life.
Top

Meanings of the Cities

Many of the cities and names given throughout the Bible have distinct meanings corresponding to their origin or purpose. The cities of refuge follow this pattern. Below is a table containing the name of each city and what it meant in ancient Hebrew. I have found that different sources cite different (but usually similar) meanings.

City Refuge	Meaning
	IRC[1]	BBC[2]	BTTB[3]	MacDuff[4]
Kedesh	Holy place	Holiness	Sanctify or to make holy	Holy
Shechem	—	Strength	Burden bearer	Shoulder
Kirjatharba/Hebron	Fellowship	Fellowship	Fellowship	Fellowship
Ramoth	High place	Uplifting	Raised up or exalted	Exaltation
Golan	Enclosure for captives	Happiness	To rejoice (possibly to deliver or pass away)	Joy
Bezer	Strong hiding place	Safety	Fortified	Stronghold

These meanings describe our salvation through Jesus. Jesus is holy, and makes us holy when we submit to Him. He carried our burden and gives us strength. Through Him we can fellowship with God, our Father. He brings us happiness and safety. Bridge to the Bible connects the rules pertaining to the cities of refuge to salvation as well!^[3] The cities of refuge housed people who had accidentally murdered someone, whereas Jesus is "the city of refuge" for those of us who commit any accidental sin. When the slayer entered the city of refuge he had to declare his intent; similarly, when we accept Jesus as our Saviour and thus enter His protection, we declare our faith in Him. The people of the city were required to take care of the slayer while he was in the city, just as followers of Christ are to take care of one another. Further, the city of refuge was only temporary—the slayer was to leave when the high priest died—while Jesus' city of refuge is eternal since He will never die.
Top

Other Levite Cities

The Levites were given cities according to the families of Levi's sons: Kohath, Gershon, and Merari. In addition, the descendants of Aaron were also given cities.
Top

Cities for Aaron

The descendants of Aaron are given 13 cities located across the tribal territories of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. One of these 13 cities was to be shared with Caleb. In this city, Caleb received the main city with Aaron receiving the suburbs. One of the cities of refuge—Hebron—was among the 13 cities given to Aaron.
Top

Cities for the Sons of Kohath

The Kohathites, which would have included Aaron and his descendants, was given the first lot for the Levites. Aaron's descendants' cities are listed first in the text, however. The Kohathites (minus Aaron's descendants), receive 10 cities. These cities are located in the territories belonging to the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and Manasseh. Shechem, the city of refuge in Ephraim, is given to the Kohathites.
Top

Cities for the Sons of Gershon

The sons of Gershon are given 13 cities; among these 13 cities are two cities of refuge: Golan and Kedesh. The Gershonites' cities are located in the territories of east Manasseh, Issachar, Asher, and Naphtali.
Top

Cities for the Sons of Merari

Those descended from Merari were given 12 cities. These cities where located in the territories of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun. The final two cities of refuge—Ramoth and Bezer—were given to this group.
Top

Promise Fulfilled

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Joe retsf

God kept His promise to bring the Israelites to the land and defeat nations, however, Israel didn't always fall through with their end of the bargain, namely getting rid of the Canaanites or following God's commands. This may be why the kingdom never acquired all of the Promised Land.
Top

References

1. Morris, Henry M., PhD. "Cities of Refuge". Institute for Creation Research. 2016
2. MacDonald, William. Believers Bible Commentary. pg. 254. 1980
3. "6 cities of refuge". Bridge to the Bible. 2016
4. MacDuff, John. The Cities of Refuge: Or, the Name of Jesus. A Sunday Book for the Young. 1874

Joshua 18&19: Dividing the Land (Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Napthali, and Dan)

The final 7 tribes are given their allotments of land.

Introduction

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

Once the tribes of Judah, Manasseh, and Ephraim receive their inheritance, the Israelites move the tabernacle to Shiloh, where it stays for quite some time. The other 7 tribes still hadn't claimed any land for themselves, so Joshua orders them to each send 3 men to go out and describe the land. The land described was then divided amongst them. The process of dividing the land consisted of Joshua casting lots before God (at the tabernacle). Note, the description of the land was recorded in a book; this book is likely a lost book as there was no reason to preserve it.
Top

The Tribe of Benjamin

The inheritance of Benjamin was just north of the tribe of Judah's and south of the tribe of Ephraim. With this territory, Benjamin inherited the cities of Jericho, Geibeon, Jerusalem, among many others. Jerusalem, which is also listed in the cities given to Judah, was likely a border city for the two tribes. Since in the passage on Judah's inheritance we are told that Jerusalem had not been captured yet, it may have been understood that whichever tribe secured it could have it.

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

Top

Simeon

As mentioned in a previous post, Simeon's inheritance was within the tribe of Judah's territory. They were given this land because the inheritance given to Judah proved to be too much for their tribe. The most well known city listed for Simeon is Beersheba, known as Be'er Sheva today;^[1] in total, 17 cities are named. Note as discussed in the post describing Judah's inheritance, we can compare the list of cities in Joshua 15:21-32 and find 8 cities that are duplicated with exact spelling (Azem, Ain, Beersheba, Eltolad, Hazarshul, Hormah, Moladah, and Ziklag). Counting the cities in Joshua 15 gives me 36 (if you consider Hazor is mentioned 3 times). However, there are sources that suggest the four cities mentioned in Joshua 15:25 are actually on two cities (Hazor-hadattah and Kerioth-hezron), both of which were used to differentiate between the city of Hazor mentioned in Joshua 15:23.^[2] Counting this way would give us 37 cities, implying the 8 duplicate cities make up the difference between the 37 listed and the given total of 29. Most scholars are unsure how many cities are actually listed. A second suggestion for the clarification, which makes more sense to me, is that some of the locations are actually villages or hamlets opposed to walled cities.^[3][4]
Top

The Tribe of Zebulun

Within the passage outlining the territory of Zebulun, 12 cities are listed. This tribe received a landlocked portion west of Galilee. Despite being the fourth largest tribe, Zebulun receives one of the smallest inheritances. This could be because he was the youngest of Leah's sons, or it could have been a measure of the tribe's faith. Those who had faith in God (like Joshua and Caleb) were not afraid to go out and conquer the land, while those who were lacking in faith were afraid. Possibly this is what constrained their inheritance.

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

Personally, I look at it as a reminder to count your blessings. Zebulun may not have inherited as much territory as Manasseh or Judah, but he was counted among God's people and received at least something in the promised land.
Top

The Tribe of Issachar

Issachar is given 16 cities; this land is south of the sea of Galilee, between the Jordan River and Zebulun. Issachar, who was the third largest tribe, also receives a small allotment compared to Judah and Manasseh.
Top

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

The Tribe of Asher

Asher is given a coastal inheritance, bordering the Mediterranean. The western portion of Manasseh bordered them to the south was. Zebulun and Naphtali bordered Asher to the east. Asher receives the city of Tyre, as well as a city called Cabul, which is later given to the king of Tyre. Note that the city of Tyre was not the same as the kingdom; according to the maps of ancient Israel during this time, the kingdom of Tyre is north of Asher's territory.
Top

The Tribe of Naphtali

The inheritance of Naphtali was located east of Asher and west of the Sea of Galilee. East Manasseh was on Naphtali's eastern border. The southern border was shared by the tribe of Zebulun. A total of 19 cities are named in the passage discussing the borders of Naphtali.
Top

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

The Tribe of Dan

The inheritance of Dan is sandwiched between Judah and Ephraim. Dan receives coastal territory with the Mediterranean bordering it to the west. The tribe of Dan is unable to hold on to their inheritance and by the time of Judges, will have lost at least a portion of land (see Judges 1:34).
Top

Joshua Inherits

Once each tribe was given an inheritance, the people of Israel gave Joshua an inheritance. Joshua's territory was Timnath-serah, which is modern day Khirbet-Tibnah. This city is located in the West Bank today.^[5][6]
Top

Prophecy Fulfilled?

In Genesis, Jacob blesses his sons; some of these blessings predict the land specific tribes will inherit. GotQuestions.org has an article with more information on this.
Top

References

1. "Beersheva". Jewish Virtual Library. 2016
2. Cayce, Ken. "Joshua Chapter 15". Discover Books of The Bible. 2016
3. "Joshua 15:32". Bible Hub. 2016
4. Gills, John. "Joshua 15:32". Bible Study Tools. 2016
5. "Khirbet Tibnah". Wikipedia. 2016
6. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 397-398. 2014

Joshua 16&17: Dividing the Land (Ephraim and Manasseh)

The lot for Joseph is divided between Ephraim and the remaining half of Manasseh.

Introduction

Joshua divides Joseph's lot for both the tribe of sons (Ephraim and the other half of Manasseh). Though Manasseh was the eldest, Ephraim's portion is given first. Manasseh still receives the largest portion of the two and possibly overall (only Judah's territory appears to be larger).
Top

The Tribe of Ephraim

Ephraim is given territory to the northwest of the Dead Sea. The territory Ephraim receives is much smaller than that of Manasseh. The only water source they seem to have in their borders is the Yarkon River. "The sea" is mentioned in Joshua 16:6, so depending on the location of Michmethah, perhaps there is a coastal city. Like Judah, there is a city in the territory the men of Ephraim didn't fully conquer: Gezer. The people of Gezer are not driven out or killed, but instead are forced to served as tribute to Israel. Scholars suggest that the Israelites spared the inhabitants not out of mercy, but out of covetousness and greed.^[1][2]
Top

The Tribe of Manasseh

Manasseh received a huge portion of the land, especially when you include the land east of the Jordan. Manasseh's son Machir is described as a man of war; he must have been a leader in the battles against Gilead and Bashon. Likely, this is why he received the land east of the Jordan. The western part of Manasseh is located southwest of East Manasseh, north of Ephraim extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean in between the Sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. Manasseh's western lot is divided into 10 portions. One of these portions is given to the daughters of Zelophehad, who were given permission to inherit ensuring Zelophehad's name continued. The back story for these women is given in Numbers 27. Looking at the map and back to Joshua 12:24, it is interesting to see that at least one town appears to have been named after Zelophehad's daughter Tirzah, just as Gilead was named for Machir's son.

Like Ephraim, Manasseh does not drive out all of the Canaanites.
Top

Extra Land

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

Ephraim and Manasseh complain about having only one lot split between them. Joshua tells them to take the mountain and the land of the Perizzites as well. The men of the tribes are afraid and doubt their ability to conquer the Perizzites who are said to be giants with iron chariots. Joshua reminds them that if they have faith in God, they will be successful.
Top

References

1. Henry, Matthew. "Joshua 16". Bible Study Tools. 2014
2. Gills, John. "Joshua 16:10". Bible Study Tools. 2014

Joshua 14&15: Dividing the Land (Judah)

The allotment for the tribe of Judah is given, as well as, a special request for Caleb. All the names and places listed in the Bible seem useless until you start locating them on a map!

Introduction

The tribe of Judah was the largest of the tribes according to the census in Numbers 26; they were also given the first lot of land to the west of the Jordan. Before all is said and done, however, part of their inheritance is given to the tribe of Simeon as it is too much for them to maintain (see Joshua 19:1,9). Also outlined in Judah's inheritance is the inheritance of Caleb.
Top

Caleb's Inheritance

Caleb was one of the 12 spies Moses sent into the Promised Land just after the Israelites fled Egypt. When all the other spies turned against God and convinced the Israelites not to enter the Promised Land, Caleb and Joshua were the only spies to believe God would deliver them as promised. This action gained both men favor in the eyes of God. Caleb and Joshua were the only people form the original generation to enter the promised land; they are also the only two men to receive an inheritance by name. (Aaron's children also receive a special portion, but they receive individual cities as the Levites do not receive an inheritance).

For his inheritance, Caleb requests the mountain on which God spoke and receives the land of Hebron for his inheritance, which is also known as Kirjatharba.^[1][2][3] This city is designated as a city of refuge and the suburbs are given to Aaron (see Joshua 21:11-13).
Top

Conquering the Land

Caleb asks for land that apparently hasn't been conquered, yet. Once again we see his faith in God. At 85 years old, Caleb is still ready and able to go to battle in the name of God. Joshua 15:13-19 continues that fate of Caleb in taking the land of Hebron. He comes against the sons of Anak: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai. Archeologists have proven these names to be unique to the time period of Joshua's conquest of Canaan.^[4] With God leading him, Caleb is able to drive them out of the land and take possession of his inheritance.
Top

Caleb Gives His Daughter In Marriage

Caleb also seeks to conquer the city of Debir, also known as Kirjathsepher. He tells the men that whomever conquers the city can have his daughter, Achsah, as a wife. It is Caleb's nephew Othniel who succeeds at this task and claims Achsah as his wife. Othniel goes on to become the first judge of Israel. Achsah persuades Othniel to ask Caleb for more land as her inheritance/dowry plus water resources. Caleb obliges and grants the couple the field Achsah has asked for, as well as, the springs of water.

Marriage has changed a lot since Caleb's day. Achsah didn't have a choice in whom she would marry; it is clear that her dad made that decision for her. However, the man had to prove his worth to gain her hand. In today's society where looks, sparks, and other fleshly desires play such heavy roles in selecting a partner, it seems a quite foreign and almost cruel the way marriage was handled in the olden days. The father chose Achsah's husband not because her opinion was worthless, but because he had an obligation to ensure his daughter's wellbeing. Men selected husbands for their daughters based on the man's qualifications to provide and protect. This is highlighted in Caleb's actions. Othniel couldn't just show up with some flowers, look handsome, and woo Achsah with a sonnet to get her hand. Othniel had to prove to Caleb he was the best man to care for Achsah but conquering a whole city. It may seem odd given the culture of the society we live in, but remember one of the leading causes of divorce in the US is money related (i.e. rooted in providing for the family).^[7][8][9] Knowing that everything is taken care of in terms of basic needs (roof over your head, food, etc.) leaves a couple one less thing to stress about, and the feeling of security allows for a stronger bond between the two.
Top

The Tribe of Judah's Inheritance

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

As the largest tribe, Judah receives a large portion of land. Joshua 15 provides both a general outline and a list of cities to describe their inheritance. Roughly speaking, the border extended from the southernmost border of Israel upward, to the northernmost point of the Dead Sea and from the Dead Sea west to the Mediterranean Sea. Within this territory was the city of Jesus' birth (Bethlehem) and death (Jerusalem). The city of Jerusalem is listed as a territory for both the tribes of Judah and Benjamin, likely it is a border for one and belonged to the other. However, the city was occupied by the Jebusites until the time of King David.

A total of 84 cities are listed for Judah. However, it is interesting counting the cities as they are listed. For each passage delineating a tribe's inheritance, cities the tribes are meant to occupy as well as cities that served as borders (not meant for occupation) are given. In the case of Judah, we are also given the names of cities that will eventually be given to Simeon. This leads to confusion at Joshua 15:32, which tells us 29 cities have been listed when we can count 38 in the list. If you compare the list given for the tribe of Simeon in Joshua 19, you will see that exactly 9 cities match. Likely this is why the actual total is less than the list given.

An interesting fact about the inheritance of Judah can be viewed on today's map. Just west of Jerusalem is a city called Nahshon. Nahson was a prince of Judah, and the son of Amminadab. He would have been part of the generation that did not make it to the Promised Land^[5][6].
Top

References

1. "Kirjatharba". Bible Hub. 2016
2. "Kirjath-arba". Bible Study Tools. 2016
3. Joshua 14:15
4. Holman Bible Publisher. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 392. 2014
5. Numbers 1:7
6. Numbers 2:3
7. "Survey: Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® (CDFA®) professionals Reveal the Leading Causes of Divorce ". Institute for Financial Divorce Analysts. 2016
8. Hawkins, Alan J., Ph.D. and Fackrell, Tamara A., J.D. "How common is divorce and what are the reasons?". Should I Keep trying to work it out: A guidebook for individuals and couples at the crossroads of divorce (and before). Utah State University Divorce Orientation. 2016
9. Payne, L.L., Olver, K., and Roth, D. "The 10 Most Common Reasons People Get Divorced". Huffington Post. September 2015

Joshua 13: Dividing the Land (Gad, Reuben, & Manasseh)

Joshua divides the land amongst the tribes of Israel. This post focuses on the land east of the Jordan River.

Introduction

God instructs Joshua to divide the land amognst the tribes of Israel. The division of land is spread from chapter 13 through chapter 20. I have broken it up in sections for ease of reading. The first section reminds us of the inheritance of the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh, who received land east of the Jordan River during Moses' leadership.
Top

Importance of the Land

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

Interestingly, by comparing a scholarly map of Israel based on Biblical description and a modern map of Israel, we can see some of the same cities. For instance, Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh inherited land in what is presently the country of Jordan (a touch of Manasseh is in Syria, as well). Joshua 13:10 tells us they received this land by conquering the Ammorites, thus earning them the territory up to the "children of Ammon"'s borders. Maps of this territory show the land of Ammon just east of the Jordan, between the sea of Galilee and the Dead Sea. On today's map, in this same location, is the Jordanian capital Amman. Further south, in Reuben's territory according to a Biblical map, we see a city called Dibon. Today, in the same location, we have the Jordanian city of Dhiban.^[1][2] Other cities mentioned in the text that are listed as modern cities include Hebron, Jericho, Gaza, and Jerusalem, all of which are in the disputed territories of the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. In modern Israel we still see the cities of that bear the names of cities or people from the Bible—even in territories that don't belong to God's people anymore.

We also learn that Israel has quite some difficulty expelling the Canaanites from the land. There are nations that remain in Israel's land, such as the Geshurites and Maachathites, even until the time of King David! During almost each passage on a tribe receiving it's inheritance, we also see a list of cities they failed to conquer. We know that their failure to conquer these lands was tied to their lack of faith, as in the Battle of Ai.
Top

The Tribe of Reuben

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

Reuben's inheritance is discussed first, which is fitting since he was the first born son. As far as the east side of Jordan, Reuben's territory was the farthest South. The southern border of Reuben's territory is given as the Arnon River, which still flows today. This land is in the modern nation of Jordan and contains the city Dhiban/Dibon mentioned above. Archeological evidence suggests that Dhiban may not be the Biblical Dibon, however, in addition to the Bible, Egyptian scribes confirm the existence of a city in that region known as Dibon.^[2] Perhaps the modern Dhiban is a continuation of Dibon. The residents of Dibon may have been forced to abandon their home, due to famine, drought, war, etc., and when they resettled, not far away, they created Dhiban (which may have still been called Dibon and merely experienced a change of spelling over time). Either way it is still quite interesting. Another important and historical location in Rueben is Mt. Nebo, where Moses was permitted to view the Promised Land.
Top

The Tribe of Gad

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

The next passage discusses the tribe of Gad's inheritance. Gad inherited half of Ammon, including the capital city of Rabbah. Rabbah is now known as Amman, and is the current capital of Jordan.^[4][5] Archeological digs have uncovered evidence of the pagan Ammonites in Amman, including a cemetery that may show evidence of child sacrifices to Molech.^[3] Gad's northern border extended to the Sea of Galilee (referred to as the Sea of Chinneroth in the text). Within Gad, was also the city of Succoth which is often mapped to the modern city of Tell Der 'Alla. This city is near the city in which Jacob "wrestled" with God and prevailed (see Genesis 32:24-30).^[6] What's even more interesting is that archeologists have found inscriptions dating back to the time of the exodus, which describe Balaam son of Beor in Tell Der 'Alla.^[7][8]
Top

1/2 The Tribe of Manasseh

Photocredit: Holman KJV Study Bible pg. 391

Only 1/2 of Manasseh received land east of the Jordan; the rest of the tribe received its inheritance west of the Jordan. Manasseh's overall portion, on both sides of the Jordan, is quite large. Though Jacob blessed Ephraim over Manasseh (see Genesis 48:17-19), it seems that being the first born of Jacob's favorite son still played in the tribe of Manasseh's favor. The land to the east was given to the family of Machir, one of Manasseh's sons. A man from this lineage named Jair was given 60 cities from Bashan to rule over! We are given the name of 3 cities that were included in the land to the east of the Jordan: Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei. The city of Gilead may be named after one of Manasseh's grandsons (see Numbers 26:29). Ashtaroth is actually connected to the pagan gods of Canaan and demonology.^[9][10][11] Perhaps, this is why there is no longer a city named Ashtaroth—though in that general location there is a Syrian city calls Ash Sahajarah, which seems close in pronunciation (if I'm pronouncing either correctly). Modern Israel and Syria dispute ownership of a territory known as Golan Heights; this area consists of a large part of the north western territory given to Manasseh and likely gets its name from the Biblical Golan.
Top

References

1. "Israel". Google Maps. 2016
2. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 388-391. 2014
3. Bulkeley, Tim. "Rabbah". Hypertext Bible Commentary - Amos. 2005
4. "Philadelphia Rabbah". Bible History. 2016
5. "Rabbah". Wikipedia. 2016
6. "Penuel". Jewish Virtual Library. 2013
7. Rudd, Steve. "Balaam Son of Beor Inscription at Tell Deir Alla, Succoth: 1406/750 BC". Bible Archeology. 2013
8. "Balaam". Jewish Virtual Library. 2016
9. "Ashtaroth". Bible Hub. 2016
10. "Baal and Ashtaroth". Institute for Creation Research. 2016
11. "Astaroth". Wikipedia. 2016

Joshua 12&13: Conquered Lands

Joshua 12 lists the conquests of Moses and Joshua, while the beginning of Joshua 13 details the promised lands that still awaited them.

Introduction

Chapter 12 outlines first the conquests and territories won by Moses, followed by the conquests and territories won by Joshua. This may not seem to be of great importance to us today, but there is a lot to be gleaned from it. For one, it explains a lot of the turmoil surrounding modern Israel. It also shows us the exact borders promised to Israel (which is much greater than that of modern Israel). Another interesting point is that many of the cities listed can easily be identified on a modern map!
Top

Land Conquered by Moses

The Wadi Mujib
Photocredit: Flickr.com/Raed Shomali

Moses conquers land East of the Jordan river. This land is given to the Israelites, despite not being part of the promise, after the kings of the land attack Israel. Israel was ordered not to attack the people of these lands, however the people of the land chose to attack Israel, which left them no choice but to fight back. The territories won by Moses are now part of southeastern Syria and northeastern Jordan.

At the time, the land was inhabited by the Amorites, led by king Sihon and Og king of Bashan, and the Ammonites. Moses defeats both kings swiftly and the land is given to the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and 1/2 of Manasseh. Landmarks given to identify this land include the Arnon River, the Jabbok River, Gilead, and the Dead Sea (called the Salt Sea Biblically). The Arnon River is known as the Wadi Mujib today and located in Jordan just south of Dhiban.^[1][2]
Top

Land Conquered by Joshua

Joshua conquers a great deal of Canaan west of the Jordan River. Remember how God promised that He would deliver the kings of Canaan into Israel's hand? Well, Joshua defeats and kills 31 kings from the land of Canaan; they are listed in Joshua 12:9-24. The listing structure used in these verses has been likened to Egyptian reports of that era by some scholars.^[3] The similarity could be explained as a continuation of Egypt's defeat at the hands of Israel. The Israelites were taking Egypt's place as the dominant nation in the land—where people would have murmured about the greatness of Egypt before, Israel was on the forefront of their minds, now. Perhaps, this is why the author of Joshua chose to list their victories in such a manner; it is also possible that this was just a holdover of Egyptian culture that followed them to Israel.
Top

Not Yet Conquered

At this point in history, Joshua 13:1 tells us that Joshua had become too old to continue in battle. As such, God lists the land that should be conquered by Israel in the future, after someone else is leading the people. The lands listed by God are all on the outskirts of Israel and include the hotly debated territories of today: Philistine (Palestine) and Gaza. In this list of land to be conquered later, God also lists Lebanon. Note that in Joshua 1:3-5, He gives the Euphrates River as the northern (well north-eastern) border of Israel. For Israel to extend to the Euphrates River, it would have to include Lebanon and parts of Syria. To this day, Israel has not yet had possession of this land.^[5] Some claim that this territory included all of Syria and Jordan along with parts of Iraq and Saudi Arabia.^[6] This is because they use the Euphrates River as the complete eastern border. However, God explicitly says that the land of Moab, Edom, and Ammon were not to be taken for Israel (Deuteronomy 2). The only reason the Israelites had any land east of the Jordan was because the kings of those lands attacked Israel. Therefore the notion that the entire Euphrates delineates an eastern border is incorrect. This large chunk of the Middle East is called "Greater Israel" by some and is the reason many Arab nations fear Israel.^[7]

Many forget that while the land was given to Israel, God foretells that they will be ejected from the land if they do not obey His commandments. As long as the Israelites strayed from God, they could not possess the full potential of the land, as evidenced in their defeat at Ai. The Israelites had difficulty keeping the law pretty much for the entirety of their existence which is likely why the land has never been claimed by them. Without recognizing Jesus (or rebuilding the Temple), it's impossible to carry out the law, and thus impossible for the Jews of today to claim that much of the land. Some think that during Jesus' 1000-year reign the land will be claimed.^[5] Jesus made it clear that He did not rule an Earthly kingdom (John 18:36), so perhaps it was simply a gift the Israelites rejected.
Top

References

1. "Wadi Mujib Map". Google Maps. 2016
2. Jastrow, M. Jr., McCurdy, J.F., Jastrow, M., Ginzberg, L. "Arnon". Jewish Encyclopedia. 1906
3. "Arnon". Bible History. 2016
4. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 386-387. 2014
5. "Has Israel’s territory ever encompassed the promise in Joshua 1:4?". GotQuestions.org. 2016
6. Sizer, Stephen. "The Promised Land - From the Nile to the Euphrates? ". Christian Zionism. 2016
7. Pipes, Daniel. "Imperial Israel: The Nile-to-Euphrates Calumny". Middle East Quarterly. March 1994

Joshua 10&11: The Southern and Northern Campaigns

Joshua battles two sets of alliances against Israel, one in the North and one in the South.

Introduction

In Joshua 9 and 10, we see that the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon came together against Israel. I talked about the fate of the kings (death) in the previous post, but in this post I will discuss the conquest of their cities and the armies that that followed the kings. Once Joshua handles this alliance, another alliance forms in the north; I will discuss their fate as well.
Top

Southern Campaign

When Joshua learns that the kings of the alliance have hidden in a cave, he demands that they be trapped in the cave while the Israelites eliminate what is left of the army. The Israelites are instructed not to let the men return to their cities, but to kill them as God has instructed. Following the destruction of these armies and their kings, Joshua moves to take many of the southern cities: Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, Debir. We are told that Joshua fought, won, and eliminated the cities from Kadeshbarnea to Gaza and the country of Goshen
Top

3 of the 5 Kingdoms Destroyed

During this conquest, Joshua conquers 3 of the 5 kingdoms involved in the first alliance against Israel: Lachish, Eglon, and Hebron. For some reason Jerusalem and Jarmuth are not yet captured. During the leadership of Moses in the Books of Law, the Israelites are cautioned about the pace at which they take the land, so perhaps this is why these cities are saved for later (see Deuteronomy 7:22).
Top

Gaza

One thing that stood out to me in this passage, was the mentioning of Gaza. If you know anything about the tension in Middle East, you know that a major conflict exists between Israel and The Gaza Strip. The Gaza Strip is home to the Palestinians (or Philistines, as they are known Biblically). Much tension surrounds the issue of who should possess the land. By Biblical standards, we see that it was originally given to Israel, however, the lost the land over time and when the modern country of Israel was created, much of that territory was given to Palestine. At the close of World War II, the territory was a British territory inhabited by Palestinians. The territory was originally to be divided into Israel and Palestine, to give the Jews a portion of the land, but a war broke out. The Palestinians hoped to create an independent Palestine. Instead, Israel won most of the territory and we have an independent Israel (looks like history was repeating itself). The Gaza Strip is one of two areas the Palestinians maintained control of. Unlike Israel, Gaza is not an independent country.^[1][2]
Unfortunately, due to the animosity and situation, many of Gaza's citizens live in poverty.
Top

Northern Campaign

In the north, another alliance formed upon receiving the news of the south's decimation. The hand of God was moving swiftly through the country, and fear was in the hearts of the kings. The instigator of this alliance is Jabin, king of Hazor. Jabin calls for an alliance between Jobab of Madon, the king of Shimron, and the king of Achshaph. Interestingly, we are not given the names of the kings from Shimron or Achshaph. Many of these cities have been mapped to current cities in Israel. Shimron is linked to the modern city Tel Shimron in the foothills near the Jezreel Valley. Achshaph is linked to the modern city of Tell Keisan, which is west of the Acco plain. Madon may be linked to Tel Qarnel Hittin, which would place it east, near the Sea of Galilee.^[3]

God reassures Joshua that the Israelites will triumph, and once again Israel fights a victorious battle. All of the men fighting on the opposing side are slain per God's command.
Top

The Chariots

Photocredit: FreeImages.com/Jon Wisbey

An interesting point is made about Joshua burning the chariots of the armies (Joshua 11:6). Chariots were the most sophisticated weapon of war at he time of Joshua. In terms of intimidation factor, chariots would have been the equivalent of a nuclear warhead today (since that is the most sophisticated weapon of our day); only the most powerful armies had chariots. Yet, God didn't want Israel to keep the chariots, he wanted them destroyed. Many scholars point out that this forced Israel to rely on God for victory, and was a show of His hand in battle that Israel could win without chariots.^[3] However, I think this also says something about God's views on war. God didn't want His people fighting using chariots, how do you think He felt about tanks, subs, and airplanes? Guns and bombs? To me this is a reminder than mankind went above and beyond to figure out how to kill each other, which was never what God wanted from us.
Top

Hazor

Joshua makes a special effort to fight Jabin and Hazor. This kingdom is the leader of the allied kingdoms, which is inferred earlier in the chapter when we learn that Jabin started up the alliance. This is the only city during this campaign that Joshua burns to the ground after defeating the people. It is possible that the motivation for burning this city is linked to Jabin's instigation of the alliance, however it seems that there were certain cities God deemed particularly wicked and those were the cities that were to be burned to ash.

The modern ruins of Hazor have been examined and scholars have identified a layer of destruction roughly around the time of Israel's entry to Canaan.^[3]
Top

Time at War

Joshua spent a lot of time warring with the cities of Canaan; only Gibeon surrendered, so all the other cities had to be defeated. However, Joshua doesn't give up. Can you imagine how overwhelmed Joshua might have felt at the thought of leading these people against so many armies? Yet, he knew that God was doing the heavy lifting. We have to remember that in our own journeys. Sometimes the tasks ahead of us will be much larger than we think we can handle, and they may take years to overcome, but if it is the direction God is taking you in, He will fight the battles.

The miraculous victories Joshua reaped from following God did not convince the Canaanites to repent and join God as the Gibeonites did. Instead it caused their hearts to harden the way Pharaoh's did in Egypt. This is an interesting thing to think about when sharing God's glory and hearing about God's glory. Depending on where you are in your sin, you may hear of God's wonder and be awed to follow him, or you may turn even further away. When we see that people become more hate-filled at God's success, the only thing we can do is pray for God to warm their heart.
Top

The Anakims

Ancestors of Goliath, the Anakims are confirmed in ancient Egyptian texts, as well as the Bible.^[3] They were known to be legendary warriors (and giants). Joshua manages to cut them off from the mountains and destroys them and their cities. Joshua does not succeed in destroying all of the Anakims, though. There are some left in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod. It is from the Anakims that Joshua did not destroy that Goliath will descend.
Top

References

1. Fisher, Max. "9 questions about Israel-Gaza you were too embarrassed to ask". Washington Post. November 2012
2. "Gaza Strip". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2016
3. Holman Bible Publishers. Holman KJV Study Bible. pg. 381-383. 2014