Jos-Lesson 14

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JOSHUA 13
Lesson #14
THE INHERITANCE

• Memory verse: Jam 2:5

• Now that the Israelites had gained victory over all the pagan tribes of the Promised Land, they are free to claim their inheritance.
• They had fought the battles and won, but instead of possessing the land they became lazy and complacent. Joshua was now 90 years old.
• Possessing the land means more work for them. They had won the big battles, but there were the small battles in their own tribal territory that needed to be won. These were small groups of enemies hiding in the hills.
• Then there was the strongest enemy of all still present in the Promised Land. They were the Philistines that the Israelites never conquered until King David.

• Read Jos 13:1-14
• The Israelites were to divide the land before they actually possessed it all.(1-7)
• God told the Israelites to divide the Promised Land between 9 ½ tribes.
• Remember that two and a half tribes decided to live on the East side of the Jordan River, outside the Promised Land.
• Now we discover that the Israelites did not kill or displace all the pagan people in the land as God had commanded. (13)
• INHERITANCE IN THE BIBLE:

• Inheritance is obtained by struggle and fighting and maintained by faithful obedience. There’s a balance between faith and work, for while God works miraculously and supernaturally, we must cooperate with God.
• Read Rom 8:16-17
• Read Col 1:12
• Read 2Tim 4:6-8
• Do all children of God inherit equally? The answer is no. How do we know?
• As you sow, you shall reap. (Gal 6:7)
• Believers will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ to receive earned rewards. (2Cor 5:10)
• Parable of the Talents and Rewards (Mat 25:14-30)
• What is the key to obtaining a greater inheritance?
• Obedience, faithfulness, perseverance, righteousness

• Inheritance in the book of Joshua in coordination with the prophecies given in Genesis and Deuteronomy

• How does inheritance of the 12 tribes work out in Joshua? (Jos 13 Jos 15-19)
• The inheritance of the land was distributed by lot.
• However, it was prophesied previously in Genesis and Deuteronomy.
• Jos 15:1-12 tells of Judah receiving the first inheritance. Why was this tribe first on this side of the Jordan when Judah was not the oldest son?

• Reuben: (Gen 49:3-4) (Deu 33:6) Rev 7:5

• Reuben was the oldest but he had sex with his father’s concubine in Gen 35:22 so his pre-eminence for inheritance was set aside.
• The prophecy: immorality – Gen 35:22 unstable – Num 16:1 Jdg 5:15-16
• He was unstable during the rebellion in the wilderness in Num 16:1
• During the period of the Judges when Deborah was judge, Reuben was unstable in Jdg 5:15-16 and took no part in repelling the attack of Sisera
• The tribe of Reuben chose his inheritance according to the permissive will of God on the east side of the Jordan. (Jos 13:15-23)

• Simeon: (Gen 49:5-7) (——-) Rev 7:7

• Notice there is no blessing given in Deu 33.
• The prophecy: Cruelty – (Gen 34)
• Neither Simeon nor Levi inherited first. Simeon’s and Levi’s revenge against a pagan tribe whose member was responsible for the rape of their sister Dinah caused Simeon’s pre-eminence to inherit to be set aside.
• The inheritance of the tribe of Simeon was scattered in Judah’s territory. (Jos 19:1-9)
• The tribe of Simeon is not mentioned after the exile.

• Levi: (Gen 49:5-7) (Deu 33:8-11) Rev 7:7

• The prophecy: Cruelty – Gen 34
• Same as Simeon.
• Levi’s inheritance was scattered in Israel in 48 cities (Jos 21:1-2)
• The prophecy was softened by the grace of God to make them priests because of their stand for God in the worship of the golden calf. However, they had no land inheritance. Jos 13:33
• Judah: (Gen 49:8-10) (Deu 33:7) Rev 7:5
• The prophecy: King – scepter = David, Solomon, Jesus
• Lawgiver = Jesus; Othniel – the first judge – Jdg 3:9-10
• Lion = Jesus – Rev 5:5
• Shiloh = man of rest = Jesus
• Clothes red with blood = Jesus – Rev 19:13
• Led in battle after Joshua.
• The inheritance: He was given the first parcel which includes Jerusalem.
• Because of the sins of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi, Judah was given pre-eminence. That’s why Jesus came through this tribe and why their inheritance was given first and includes Jerusalem.
• The land inheritance = Jos 15:1-63

• Joseph: (Gen 49:22-26) (Deu 33:13-17) Rev 7:8

• The prophecy: Fruitful = 2 sons – Gen 48
• Harassed by archers = his brothers who sold him into slavery in Egypt.
• Inheritance through his two sons
• The land inheritance = no inheritance for Joseph except through his 2 sons Ephraim and Manasseh (Jos 16:1-4)

• Ephraim: (——) (Deu 33:13-17) ——

• They became a great tribe. Joshua was from this tribe.
• Ephraim was the younger son of Joseph.
• This tribe caused the division of the kingdom after King Solomon:
• With the civil war came the division of the kingdom. The northern portion of land became known as Ephraim, following the name of this tribe.
• It is possible that because of this sin, this tribe is not mentioned in Revelation.
• The inheritance was prominent as it was next to Judah.
• Land inheritance = Jos 16:5-10

• Manasseh: (——) (Deu 33:13-17) Rev 7:6

• He was the older son of Joseph.
• The inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh was 1/2 on the east side and 1/2 on the west side of the Jordan River.
• It was a very large tribe that complained they did not have enough land in Jos 17:14-18 so Joshua told them to clear the forests.
• Land inheritance = Jos 13:29-32 Jos 17:1-18

• Benjamin: (Gen 49:27) (Deu 33:12) Rev 7:8

• The prophecy: Consume as a wolf – Jdg 3:15
• It was the most warlike tribe.
• King Saul was from this tribe as well as the apostle, Paul. Both were fierce protectors of God’s people.
• This tribe would have a nearness to God. Therefore, its inheritance is close to Jerusalem. When the northern tribes turned away, Benjamin sided with Judah to make up the southern kingdom of Israel, or as it was called, the kingdom of Judah.
• To dwell between the shoulders of Judah and Ephraim = The land was located between Judah and Ephraim.
• Land inheritance = Jos 18:11-28

• Zebulun: (Gen 49:13) (Deu 33:18-19) Rev 7:8

• The prophecy: Near the sea
• An inheritance having trade routes from the sea.
• Land inheritance = Jos 19:10-16

• Issachar: (Gen 49:14-15) (Deu 33:18-19) Rev 7:7

• The prophecy: Crouch between two burdens = the land would be between Mt. Tabor and Mt. Gilboa
• A servant to forced labor – (Jud 1:27) = A life of ease and apathy led to them being servants of the Canaanites in Jdg 1:27
• Trade routes from the sea
• The inheritance between Mt. Tabor and Mt. Gilboa
• Land inheritance = Jos 19:17-23

• Asher: (Gen 49:20) (Deu 33:24) Rev 7:6

• The prophecy: Royal dainties = a land of plenty.
• The inheritance would be a prosperous northwest portion.
• Land inheritance = Jos 19:24-31

• Naphtali: (Gen 49:21) (Deu 33:23) Rev 7:6

• The prophecy: A hind let loose with beautiful words – Jdg 5
• Barak and Deborah were from this tribe.
• They put their lives in jeopardy with their beautiful speeches.
• Their inheritance would be a north mountainous portion
• Land inheritance = Jos 19:32-39

• Dan: (Gen 49:16-17) (Deu 33:22) ——

• The prophecy: Serpent by the way – possibly it refers to Judas Iscariot and the Antichrist. Perhaps this is why there is no mention of this tribe in Revelation.
• Leap from Bashan = extra land given was to them.
• The inheritance would be separated into 2 parts because of overcrowding – (Jdg 18)
• Eventually this second part was absorbed by Judah in Jdg 18.
• Land inheritance = Jos 19:40-48

• Gad: (Gen 49:19) (Deu 33:20-21) Rev 7:5

• The prophecy: A troop shall overcome him but he shall overcome at last – (2Kin 15:29)
• The inheritance would be on the east side of the Jordan River.
• Land inheritance = Jos 13:24-28

• Application:
• How much of the Promised Land was actually inhabited by the Israelites? [see a Bible map if you have one.]
• The Israelites will eventually possess all the land that God promised them from the Euphrates River to the Nile River.
• This will occur in the Millennial Kingdom when Christ reigns for 1000 years.
• In the same way, believers in Jesus Christ live far below the inheritance of the promises that we have in Jesus Christ.

HOMEWORK
JOSHUA 14
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Joshua 13
• What can you do to claim more of your inherited blessings of God?
• Study the Word of God to learn what those promises are.
• Do spiritual warfare to fight the battle of faith to claim those promises.
• To persevere in prayer to claim these promises by faith.
• Preparation of Joshua 14
• Lea Jos 14
• For what inheritance did Caleb request (Jos 14)?
• What does this tell you about Caleb?
• What were the reasons Israel failed to possess all the land? (see Jos 15:63 and Jos 17:12-13)

Memory Verse: Romans 8:17