提要
雖然約書亞已經完成了他的任務,征服了全迦南地,讓每一個支派可以拈鬮分地,但仍然還有許多土地沒有奪取,也還有大批異教的居民沒有除滅,特別是北部黎巴嫩一帶和非利士的沿岸。每一個支派都要分別趕出他土地上的異教徒。以色列人不再需要組織聯合軍隊,因為主要的戰爭都已打畢,他們每個人都可以定居在自己的土地上。
約書亞年事已高,可能介於九十至一百歲之間,所以他要在死前完成分地的工作。分地的方式是用抽籤來決定(14:2),這樣的結果就無偏頗之議。抽籤的過程由亞倫之子,大祭司以利亞撒監督。這是以色列人一般用來尋求上帝旨意的方法。他們相信上帝會主宰抽籤的結果。「籤放在懷裡,定事由耶和華」(箴16:33)。
約旦河東之地已經由摩西分給流便、迦得、和瑪拿西半支派了(民22章)。約書亞在這裡敘述了每一個支派的境界,以及從各支派土地上被趕逐的國王。在被處死的俘囚名單上,我們看到術士巴蘭也與以色列的敵人一同被殺。他是出點子幫助那些異邦國王誘拐以色列拜偶像、行姦淫的罪魁禍首。
猶大支派的代表似乎是首先到約書亞面前來接受地業的。這個支派的首領之一迦勒,向他的老朋友及曾經一起為探子的約書亞提出一個要求。迦勒是個了不起的人。他雖然隸屬猶大支派,但他的出身並非以色列人(基尼洗族可能是以掃的後裔),卻「專心跟從耶和華以色列的上帝」(14:13)。上帝永遠為他國之民開門,只要他們愛上帝、順服上帝,就可以作上帝的子民。
迦勒的一生就是愛上帝和順服上帝的模範,上帝也因他的信心和勇氣尊榮他,應許他:第一,在上一代的以色列軍隊中,只有他和約書亞二人得以進入應許之地,因為只有他們對上帝忠心、順服(民14:30)。其次,上帝藉摩西應許他,他將在迦南地得著特別的產業,他心裡所願的,也就是希伯崙(約在耶路撒冷以南四十公里處),也必賜給他。第三,雖然迦勒年屆八十五高齡,上帝使他仍有像年輕人一樣的體力。
迦勒的請求證明他勇氣十足且大有信心,因為他所想要的希伯崙地仍被亞衲族人佔領,這些巨人曾在許多年前嚇壞了以色列的探子(民13:32~33)。迦勒順服上帝,接受這個挑戰,他相信上帝會幫助他逐出亞衲族人(這在15:14實現了)。今天許多信徒也有像迦勒一樣的信心和勇氣,敢為上帝做大事,說:「把這山地給我」(14:12)。
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Overview
Though Joshua had fulfilled his task and subdued all the land, making it ready for the allotment of each tribe’s inheritance, there was still much land yet to be conquered and pockets of heathen inhabitants yet to be removed, especially to the north in Lebanon and along the Philistine coast. Each respective tribe was to drive out the heathen from its own territory. There was no more need for a united Israelite army since the main battles had been won, and all the men were now to give themselves to the settlement of their land.
Joshua was getting up in age, probably between ninety and one hundred, so it was his task to divine up the land before his death. The method used to divide the land was by lot (14:2) so that the outcome would be unbiased. It was done with the oversight of the high priest Eleazar, the son of Aaron. This was a common way to determine the will of God. They did it in faith, believing the Lord would be sovereign in the decision. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord” (Prov.16:33)
The land east of the Jordan had already been allotted by Moses to the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh (Num.32). Here Joshua describes the geographical boundaries of each tribe’s inheritance, plus the kings from whom the land had been conquered. Along with the death of the kings and princes, we read of the death of Balaam, the soothsayer, who was killed along with these enemies of Israel. He was responsible for helping these heathen kings in their attempt to seduce Israel into idolatry and sexual immorality.
It appears that the representatives of the tribe of Judah were the first to come before Joshua regarding their inheritance in the Promised Land (14:1). One of the leaders of the tribe, Caleb was a remarkable man. Although he is identified with the tribe of Judah, he came from a non-Israelite background (a Kenizzite, likely descendants of Esau), but he “wholly followed the God of Israel” (14:14). God always had the doors open for those of other nationalities to be one of His children if they would love an obey Him.
Caleb’s life was an example of love and obedience to God, and the Lord honored him for his faith and courage by firstly promising him, along with Joshua, that he would be one of only two men form the last generations’ army that would enter the Promised Land, for only they had been found faithful, obedient, and worthy (Num.14:30). Secondly, God had promised him through Moses that he would receive a special inheritance within Canaan and the desire of his heart was granted to him, namely Hebron (about 40 kilometers south of Jerusalem). Thirdly, God honored Caleb with the strength of a young man, though he was 85 years old.
Caleb’s request proved that he was bold and full of faith, for the land in Hebron that he desired was still occupied by the Anakim, a race of giants who, many years before, had brought great fear upon his fellow spies (Num.13:23-33). Caleb took on this challenge in obedience to God, believing He would help him to drive out the heathen Anakin (fulfilled in 15:14). Many believers today have bold faith like Caleb and dare to do things for God, saying, “give me this mountain” (14:12).
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