Feb 23: Numbers 34 – 36, Deuteronomy
1:1-15
As we finish
out Numbers, God commands the people to establish Promised Land boundaries for
the Israelites and allows them to subdivide it for each tribe. Again God names
the participants on the committee to divide the land by name. The tribes of
Reuben and Gad are left out because they already have land on the east of the
Jordan. A portion of the tribe of Manasseh also stayed, but the remaining group
participated in the division exercise. Having attended meetings that lasted for
torturous hours over much less significant decisions, I can’t imagine how long
and difficult those meetings must have been as they decided where each tribe
should live!
The information
about sanctuary cities is interesting to me. I guess the culture of the day was
to get retribution immediately if someone was killed, regardless of intent! God
institutes the requirement for more than one witness and provides a safe place
in the event the death was an accident. Unfortunately, however, it seems the
person who accidentally killed someone else was then required to spend quite a
bit of time away from home – they had to remain in the sanctuary city until the
death of the high priest. As long as
people lived back then I imagine that could be along time. Were the families of
the accused also welcome?
At first I
felt sorry for the daughters of Zelophehad for having to marry within their
tribe. What a limitation! However, with 52,700 men of fighting age I imagine
they didn’t have too much trouble finding someone to love.
Is anyone
else frustrated by the places this Bible reading plan ends on a daily basis?
Some days it’s impossible to stop reading at the ending point!
TOMORROW’S
TEXT: Deuteronomy 1:16 – 3:29
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