OCTOBER 2, 2016
SEVEN REMAINING TRIBES RECEIVE THEIR INHERITANCE
INTRODUCTION:
1. Five tribes had now received their inheritances: two and a half on either side of the Jordan River. There remained seven tribes, none of which had come forward to receive their allotments. Joshua, therefore, found it necessary to stir them up so that they might apply themselves to this important business.
2. There was another matter, however, that took precedent over the remaining seven divisions. The tabernacle was removed out of the midst of the camp at Gilgal and brought to Shiloh, where it would be set up for the last time.
3. Perhaps Joshua intended by this to signal the remaining seven tribes that it was time to break camp and move on to their place of permanent dwelling.
a) When the tabernacle, which was the very center of their camp, was gone, why should they desire to stay there any longer?
b) Christ is the center of our camp, and if He were not in our midst, our gatherings would be empty.
c) One day the Lord shall call His church away from this pilgrim life to be with Him forever in our permanent home.
I. THE SETTING UP OF THE TABERNACLE AT SHILOH. (VERSE 1)
A. DOUBTLESS, GOD HAD SOMEHOW REVEALED TO JOSHUA THAT SHILOH WAS THE PLACE WHERE HE WOULD HAVE THE TABERNACLE TO BE SET UP, THUS IT WAS MOVED FROM GILGAL TO SHILOH.
1. This would be its established place until a permanent house would be built at Jerusalem, and God had said that He would choose the place where He would make His name to dwell. (Deut. 12:5, 11)
a) This portable version of the temple had been set up and taken down many times, but Shiloh shall be its last site. The Ark itself, however, would be brought to Jerusalem in David’s time. (II Sam. 6)
b) It would afterward yield all of its furniture to the temple and the rest would be stored away. (I Kings 8:4)
2. This place was chosen because it was near the center of their land. It had been in the midst of their camp, now it shall be “the glory in the midst of them” as a nation. (Psa. 46:5)
3. Another possible reason for this choice may have been that Shiloh was a city within the territory of Ephraim, the tribe to which Joshua belonged.
a) This would be for his honor and convenience.
b) It would be to the advantage of the nation to have it near him. “The testimony of Israel” and “the thrones of judgment” do well together. (Psa. 122:4, 5)
(1) There was no separation of church and state desired, at least not in the sense that present day separationists in our country insist upon.
(2) Israel learned, as have others, that the integration of God’s Law and civil government is a great blessing to a nation.
4. Shiloh was, of course, the name by which the Messiah was known in dying Jacob’s prophecy. (Gen. 49:10)
a) A prophecy no doubt well known to these Israelites.
b) The setting up of the tabernacle spoke to them of that Shiloh in whom all of the ordinances of that worldly sanctuary would have their accomplishments in a greater and more perfect tabernacle. (Heb. 9:1, 11)
5. It could be that the name Shiloh was given to the place because the tabernacle was put there, for the word means “peaceable.”
a) The temple was built at what was originally called Salem, which also means “peaceable.”
b) Solomon’s name has similar significance.
c) The true Tabernacle and Temple, Who is greater than Solomon, is our PEACEMAKER and our PEACE.
B. NOTICE THE SOLEMN MANNER IN WHICH THE TABERNACLE WAS MOVED.
1. The whole congregation assembled together.
a) To do honor to the Ark of God.
b) To bid it welcome to its settlement.
c) To testify their joy and satisfaction upon that occasion. (See II Sam. 6:15)
2. This was done in acknowledgment of God’s goodness to them in all of their successes over the Canaanites. “The land was subdued before them.”
C. HERE THE ARK OF GOD WOULD REMAIN FOR THREE HUNDRED YEARS, UNTIL THE SINS OF ELI’S HOUSE FORFEITED IT, AND RUINED SHILOH. (SEE I SAM. 4) THIS AWFUL LOSS WAS LONG AFTER USED AS A WARNING TO JERUSALEM. (JER. 7:12; PSA. 78:60)
II. THE REMAINING SEVEN TRIBES AT LAST RECEIVE THEIR INHERITANCE. (VERSES 2-10)
A. FIRST, IN VERSES 2 AND 3, JOSHUA HAD TO REPROVE THESE SEVEN TRIBES, AND STIR THEM UP TO LOOK INTO THE MATTER OF THEIR GOD-GIVEN INHERITANCE. “HOW LONG ARE YOU SLACK?”
1. They were assured an inheritance, yet they seemed to care little about it.
2. They seemed to be pleased to let things continue as they were, living in a body together, living off of the spoils that were taken.
a) Contentment is a duty, but it is also our duty to, by faith, lay hold of what God had promised.
b) They had a duty to their children and to obtaining an inheritance to pass on to them.
3. They were slothful and dilatory.
a) Although the prospects of having their own land pleased them, still they were slow to take possession.
(1) There were still battles to fight, land to clear and prepare, and cities to rebuild, etc.
(2) Constant consideration of the difficulties will certainly stifle ambition. (Eccl. 11:4)
4. Sadly, there are many professing Christians who reflect this same attitude.
a) Our Savior is heir of all things and His own are joint heirs with Him, yet with many professing Christians there can seem to be so little interest in the true inheritance compared to earthly and temporal things and relationships.
b) God, by His grace, has given us a title to a good land; the heavenly Canaan. Let us not be “slack to take possession.” We enter into its rest by faith, hope, and holy joy. Let us therefore live there by setting our affections on things above. (Col. 3:1, 2)
B. JOSHUA’S REPROOF WAS JUSTIFIED AND SENSIBLE, CONSIDERING THAT THEY HAD NOTHING TO GAIN BY THEIR DELY, BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, THE ADDED COMPLICATIONS COULD BE SUBSTANTIAL.
1. The work would not become less, but greater, as they delayed to take possession.
2. The enemies would not grow weaker, but stronger, while they were waiting.
C. JOSHUA INSTRUCTED THEM IN EXACTLY WHAT THEY MUST DO. (VERSES 4-6, 8)
1. The land must be surveyed, and accounts taken of the cities and the territories belonging to them.
2. They were then to divide the remaining land into seven parts, as near equal as they could estimate the value.
3. He again explains why there would be seven parts and not eight. The Levites were to have to part. (Verse 7)
D. THEY WERE THEN TO BRING THEIR DISTRIBUTIONS TO HIM AND HE WOULD CAST LOTS FOR THEM BEFORE THE LORD. (VERSES 6-8)
E. THEY DID AS THEY WERE INSTRUCTED, AND JOSHUA DID AS HE PROMISED, AND THE LORD REVEALED THROUGH THE LOT HOW THE LAND WAS TO BE DIVIDED AMONG THE SEVEN REMAINING TRIBES. (VERSES 9, 10)
III. THE EXACT BORDERS AND LIMITS OF THESE SEVEN TRIBES ARE GIVEN. (CH. 18:11-19:48, 51)
IV. FINALLY WE HAVE JOSHUA’S OWN INHERITANCE REVEALED. (CH. 19:49, 50)
A. HE WAS THE LAST SERVED, THOUGH THE ELDEST AND GREATEST MAN IN ALL ISRAEL.
1. He saw that all were settled before himself. Here is a great example for all public officials.
2. He had refused to show favoritism to his own tribe. (Ch. 17:14-18)
3. When Caleb was granted his inheritance, Joshua still denied himself, though he and Caleb had very likely received the promise at the same time. (Ch. 14:9, 12; Ch. 19:50)
B. APPARENTLY, EVEN NOW HE DID NOT INITIATE THE IDEA, BUT RATHER, THE PEOPLE DID. (VERSE 49b)
C. HIS INHERITANCE WAS IN MOUNT EPHRAIM, FOR HE WAS AN EPHRIAMITE, AND HE THEREBY OWNED THEM AS HIS PEOPLE.
1. No preferment of honor could sever him from his roots.
2. Joshua no doubt considered it to be a great additional blessing that the tabernacle was set up in his own tribe of Ephraim.
Speak Your Mind