Notes from Joshua 20

This short chapter is concerning the cities of refuge, which we often read of in the writings of Moses, but this is the last time that we find mention of them, for now that matter was thoroughly settled. Here is,

I. The law God gave concerning them (v. 1-6).
II. The people's designation of the particular cities for that use (v. 7-9). And this remedial law was a figure of good things to come.

Notes from Joshua 19

In the description of the lots of Judah and Benjamin we have an account both of the borders that surrounded them and of the cities contained in them. In that of Ephraim and Manasseh we have the borders, but not the cities; in this chapter Simeon and Dan are described by their cities only, and not their borders, because they lay very much within Judah, especially the former; the rest have both their borders described and their cities names, especially frontiers. Here is,

I. The lot of Simeon (v. 1-9).
II. Of Zebulun (v. 10-16).
III. Of Issachar (v. 17-23).
IV. Of Asher (v. 24-31).
V. Of Naphtali (v. 32-39).
VI. Of Dan (v. 40-48).
Lastly, The inheritance assigned to Joshua himself and his own family (v. 49-51).

Notes from Joshua 18

In this chapter we have,

I. The setting up of the tabernacle at Shiloh (v. 1).
II. The stirring up of the seven tribes that were yet unsettled to look after their lot, and the putting of them in a method for it, by Joshua (v. 2-7).
III. The distributing of the land into seven lots, by certain men employed for that purpose (v. 8, 9).
IV. The determining of these seven portions to the seven tribes yet unprovided for by lot (v. 10).
V. The particular lot of the tribe of Benjamin, the borders of it (v. 11-20). And the cities contained in it (v. 21-28). The other six tribes we shall find well provided for in the next chapter.

Notes from Joshua 17

The half tribe of Manasseh comes next to be provided for; and here we have,

I. The families of that tribe that were to be portioned (v. 1-6).
II. The country that fell to their lot (v. 7-13).
III. The joint request of the two tribes that descended from Joseph, for the enlargement of their lot, and Joshua's answer to that request (v. 14-18).

Notes from Joshua 16

It is a pity that this and the following chapter should be separated, for both of them give us the lot of the children of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, who, next to Judah, were to have the post of honour, and therefore had the first and best portion in the northern part of Canaan, as Judah now had in the southern part. In this chapter we have,

I. A general account of the lot of these two tribes together (v. 1-4).
II. The borders of the lot of Ephraim in particular (v. 5-10). That of Manasseh following in the next chapter.

Notes from Joshua 15

Though the land was not completely conquered, yet being (as was said in the close of the foregoing chapter) as rest from war for the present, and their armies all drawn out of the field to a general rendezvous at Gilgal, there they began to divide the land, though the work was afterwards perfected at Shiloh, ch. 18:1, etc. In this chapter we have the lot of the tribe of Judah, which in this, as in other things, had the precedency.

I. The borders or bounds of the inheritance of Judah (v. 1-12).
II. The particular assignment of Hebron and the country thereabout to Caleb and his family (v. 13-19).
III. The names of the several cities that fell within Judah's lot (v. 20-63).

Notes from Joshua 14

Here is,

I. The general method that was taken in dividing the land (v. 1-5).
II. The demand Caleb made of Hebron, as his by promise, and therefore not to be put into the lot with the rest (v. 6-12). And Joshua's grant of that demand (v. 13-15). This was done at Gilgal, which was as yet their head-quarters.

Attitude about Aging JOSHUA 14:6-14

CALEB IS NOW EIGHTY-FIVE YEARS OLD, and he’s remembering back to when he was forty. Through all this time, his positive attitude hasn’t changed. He tells us the secret of maintaining a great attitude throughout a long life: “I wholeheartedly followed the LORD my God” (Josh. 14:8). That’s Caleb’s secret: The Lord is his partner, the source of his strength, and the reason for his positive spirit.

What about us? Our choice of attitude as we add up the years rests with us. It’s not where we live, how much money we make, whom we’re married to, or how the kids turn out. It’s our attitude. My friend, you have the choice of being either a drag and a burden or an inspiration and an encouragement. I have five suggestions that will help you be an inspiration:

You have the choice of being either a drag or an inspiration.

Your mind is not old. Keep stretching it. Do more that involves you actively and less that entertains you passively. Read more books and watch less television. When you’re with other people, talk about ideas and events. Look for opportunities to stay engaged. How about memorizing fifty Bible verses this year? That’s less than one a week. You might say, “I don’t know, Chuck. My mind’s tired.” I have news for you: Your body can get tired, but your brain never wearies.

Your life is not over. Keep enjoying it. The best partner to take with you throughout the day is a great sense of humor. Keep your spirit up with a little bit of enjoyment. I used to laugh with my granddaddy till I almost wet my pants. He said the funniest things at times, and he didn’t even mean to be funny. He was just upbeat by nature. Who doesn’t want to be around that? It’s an attitude; it’s not about age.

Your strength is not gone. Keep developing it. Caleb says, “I am as strong now as I was when Moses sent me on that journey, and I can still travel and fight as well as I could then” (Josh. 14:11). How can we be like that? Look for ways to help other people. Volunteer. Get involved in the community. Maintain a vigorous exercise program. It’s amazing how these things help reinvigorate your strength.

Your opportunities have not vanished. Keep pursuing them. Instead of starting your day with a sigh, think of the hours you’ve got in front of you as gifts from God. There are still surprises that await you and wonderful, unexpected opportunities. There are treasures yet to be found and truths yet to be discovered. Pursue them.

Your God is not dead. Keep seeking Him. Center the Lord in the very core of your being, and keep Him right in the heart of your day. Start with Him, stay with Him, and think His thoughts after Him. Believe His Word and trust Him. Then when you meet Him face to face, you won’t be meeting Him for the first time in a long time, because you’ll have talked with Him that morning.

Life is so brief—it’s a very tiny slice in light of eternity. Jesus had thirty-something years and finished His work. You may finish yours at thirty-three or at eighty-seven. You don’t know how long you’ll have. Don’t wait for something to happen before you engage.

- TSSB

Notes from Joshua 13

At this chapter begins the account of the dividing of the land of Canaan among the tribes of Israel by lot, a narrative not so entertaining and instructive as that of the conquest of it, and yet it is thought fit to be inserted in the sacred history, to illustrate the performance of the promise made to the fathers, that this land should be given to the seed of Jacob, to them and not to any other. The preserving of this distribution would be of great use to the Jewish nation, who were obliged by the law to keep up this first distribution, and not to transfer inheritances from tribe to tribe, Num. 36:9. It is likewise of use to us for the explaining of other scriptures: the learned know how much light the geographical description of a country gives to the history of it. And therefore we are not to skip over these chapters of hard names as useless and not to be regarded; where God has a mouth to speak and a hand to write we should find an ear to hear an eye to read; and God give us a heart to profit! In this chapter,

I. God informs Joshua what parts of the country that were intended in the grant to Israel yet remained unconquered, and not got in possession (v. 1-6).
II. He appoints him, notwithstanding, to make a distribution of what was conquered (v. 7).
III. To complete this account, here is a repetition of the distribution Moses had made of the land on the other side Jordan; in general (v. 8-14), in particular, the lot of Reuben (v. 15-23), of Gad (v. 24-28), of the half tribe of Manasseh (v. 29-33).