Thoughts and Reflection
Today we read about a lot of boundaries of the land. It reminds us that Christianity is a historical faith and the events in the bible took place at specific times and locations. I think that is such a powerful reinforcement. Many times we are called to believe in something that may not have been rooted in a specific time or place.
About This Project
For the year 2022, I decided that my New Year’s Resolution was to read the whole Bible following the Bible in the Year plan presented by Fr. Mike Schmitz. It is a big and bold undertaking. You can follow along by subscribing. Feel free to look at previous day’s post and comment. It’s something we can all learn from together!
Daily Readings
Joshua 15
1 The portion falling to the tribe of the sons of Judah, by clans, was near the frontier of Edom, from the desert of Zin southwards to Kadesh in the south.
2 Their southern frontier began at the tip of the Salt Sea, at the southerly bay;
3 it proceeded south of the Ascent of Scorpions, crossed Zin and came up to Kadesh-Barnea from the south; past Hezron, it went on to Addar and turned towards Karka;
4 the frontier then went on to Azmon, came out at the Torrent of Egypt and reached as far as the sea. This is to be your southern frontier.
5 The eastern frontier was the Salt Sea as far as the mouth of the Jordan.
6 The northern boundary began at the bay at the mouth of the Jordan. The boundary went up to Beth-Hoglah, passed north of Beth-ha-Arabah and went on to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
7 The boundary then went on to Debir from the Vale of Achor and turned north towards the stone circle opposite the Ascent of Adummim, which is south of the Torrent; the boundary went on to the Waters of En-Shemesh and came out at En-Rogel.
8 It then went back up the Valley of Hinnom, coming from the south to the flank of the Jebusite — that is, Jerusalem — and climbed to the crest of the mountain barring the Valley of Hinnom to the west, at the northern end of the Valley of the Rephaim.
9 From the mountain top, the boundary curved round to the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah, went on to the towns of Mount Ephron and then turned towards Baalah — that is, Kiriath-Jearim.
10 From Baalah, the boundary curved westwards to the highlands of Seir, skirted the northern slope of Mount Jearim — that is, Chesalon — went down to Beth-Shemesh and through Timnah,
11 came out on the northern flank of Ekron, turned towards Shikkeron and, passing through the highlands of Baalah, came out at Jabneel, and reached as far as the sea.
12 The western boundary was the Great Sea itself. Such was the frontier surrounding the sons of Judah, by clans.
13 Caleb son of Jephunneh was given a share within that of the sons of Judah, in accordance with Yahweh’s order to Joshua: Kiriath-Arba, the town of the father of Anak — that is, Hebron.
14 Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, descended from Anak.
15 From there he marched on the inhabitants of Debir; Debir in olden days was called Kiriath-Sepher.
16 Caleb then said, ‘To the man who attacks and takes Kiriath-Sepher, I shall give my daughter Achsah as wife.’
17 The man who captured it was Othniel son of Kenaz, brother of Caleb, who gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.
18 When she arrived, he urged her to ask her father for arable land, but when she alighted from the donkey and Caleb asked her, ‘What is the matter?’
19 she said to him, ‘Grant me a blessing! As the land you have given me is the Negeb, give me springs of water too!’ So Caleb gave her what she wanted, the upper springs and the lower springs.
20 Such was the heritage of the tribe of the sons of Judah, by clans.
21 Towns at the extremity of the tribe of the sons of Judah, near the frontier of Edom in the Negeb: Kabzeel, Arad, Jagur,
25 Hazor-Hadattah, Kiriath-Hezron — that is, Hazor-
27 Hazar-Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-Pelet,
28 Hazar-Shual, Beersheba and its dependencies,
31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon: in all, twenty-nine towns with their villages.
33 In the lowlands: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34 Zanoah, En-Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
36 Shaaraim, Aditaim, Ha-Gederah and Gederothaim: fourteen towns with their villages.
37 Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal-Gad,
38 Dilean, Ha-Mizpeh, Jokteel,
41 Gederoth, Beth-Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah: sixteen towns with their villages.
44 Keilah, Achzib and Mareshah: nine towns with their villages.
45 Ekron with its dependencies and its villages.
46 From Ekron to the sea, everything to the side of Ashdod, with its villages.
47 Ashdod with its dependencies and its villages; Gaza with its dependencies and its villages as far as the Torrent of Egypt, the Great Sea forming the boundary.
48 In the highlands: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
49 Dannah, Kiriath-Sepher, now Debir,
51 Goshen, Holon and Giloh: eleven towns with their villages.
53 Janum, Beth-Tappuah, Aphekah,
54 Humtah, Kiriath-Arba, now Hebron, and Zior: nine towns with their villages.
55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
57 Ha-Kain, Gibeah and Timnah: ten towns with their villages.
59 Maarath, Beth-Anoth and Eltekon: six towns with their villages. Tekoa, Ephrathah, now Bethlehem, Peor, Etam, Kulon, Tatam, Sores, Carem, Gallim, Bether and Manach: eleven towns with their villages.
60 Kiriath-Baal, that is Kiriath-Jearim, and Rabbah: two towns with their villages.
61 In the desert: Beth-Arabah, Middin, Secacah,
62 Nibshan, Salt Town and En-Gedi: six towns with their villages.
63 The Jebusites, however, who lived in Jerusalem, the sons of Judah were unable to dispossess, and the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem today, side by side with the sons of Judah.
Joshua 16
1 The portion of the sons of Joseph started on the east at the Jordan opposite Jericho (the Waters of Jericho) through the desert rising from Jericho into the highlands of Bethel;
2 from Bethel it went to Luz, and on towards the frontier of the Archites at Ataroth;
3 then passed downwards and westwards to the frontier of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-Horon and on to Gezer, and reached as far as the sea.
4 Such was the heritage of the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim.
5 As regards the territory of the sons of Ephraim, by clans, the frontier of their heritage ran from Ataroth-Arach to Upper Beth-Horon;
6 the frontier then reached as far as the sea . . . the Michmethath in the north, and the frontier turned east to Tanaath-Shiloh which it crossed in an easterly direction to Janoah;
7 it ran down to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho and ended at the Jordan.
8 From Tappuah, the frontier ran westwards to the Torrent of Kanah and reached as far as the sea. Such was the heritage of the tribe of the sons of Ephraim, by clans,
9 apart from the towns reserved for the sons of Ephraim inside the heritage of the sons of Manasseh, all these towns and their villages.
10 The Canaanites living in Gezer were not driven out; they have remained in Ephraim to the present day but are obliged to do forced labour.
Joshua 17
1 The portion of the tribe of Manasseh, who was in fact Joseph’s first-born — went to Machir, Manasseh’s first-born, father of Gilead, for he was a warrior; he had Gilead and Bashan.
2 The other sons of Manasseh had theirs, by clans: for the sons of Abiezer, for the sons of Helek, for the sons of Asriel, for the sons of Shechem, for the sons of Hepher, and for the sons of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh son of Joseph, by clans.
3 Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were these: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.
4 These approached the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun and the leaders, and said, ‘Yahweh ordered Moses to give us a heritage among our brothers.’ In compliance with Yahweh’s order, therefore, they were given a heritage among their father’s brothers.
5 In this way ten portions fell to Manasseh, apart from Gilead and Bashan lying on the further side of the Jordan,
6 since Manasseh’s daughters received a heritage as well as his sons. Gilead itself belonged to Manasseh’s other sons.
7 On the side of Asher, the frontier of Manasseh was the Michmethath, which is opposite Shechem, and thence continued to the right to Jashib, which is at the spring of Tappuah.
8 The territory of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but Tappuah on Manasseh’s border belonged to the sons of Ephraim.
9 The boundary went down to the Torrent of Kanah; south of the Torrent were the towns of Ephraim, excluding those owned by Ephraim among the towns of Manasseh; the boundary of Manasseh was north of the Torrent and reached as far as the sea.
10 The south belonged to Ephraim and the north to Manasseh and reached as far as the sea; they touched Asher to the north and Issachar to the east.
11 With Issachar and Asher, Manasseh shared Beth-Shean and its dependent towns, Ibleam and its dependent towns, the inhabitants of Dor and of its dependent towns, the inhabitants of Taanach and Megiddo and of their dependent towns: the Three of the Slopes.
12 But because the sons of Manasseh could not take possession of these towns, the Canaanites managed to live on in that territory.
13 When, however, the Israelites became stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labour, though they never dispossessed them.
14 The sons of Joseph spoke as follows to Joshua, ‘Why have you given me only one share, only one portion, as heritage, when I am a numerous people, since Yahweh has so blessed me?’
15 Joshua replied, ‘If your people are so many, go up to the wooded area and clear space for yourselves in the area belonging to the Perizzites and Rephaim, since the highlands of Ephraim are too small for you.’
16 The sons of Joseph replied, ‘The highlands are not enough for us, and what is more, all the Canaanites living on the land of the plain have iron chariots, so do those in Beth-Shean and its dependent towns, and those in the plain of Jezreel.’
17 Joshua said to the House of Joseph, to Ephraim and to Manasseh, ‘You are a numerous people and your strength is great; you willnot only have one share,
18 but a mountain will be yours as well; even if it is a forest, you can clear it and its territories will be yours. And you will dispossess the Canaanites, although they have iron chariots and although they are strong.’
Joshua 18
1 The whole community of the Israelites assembled at Shiloh, and the Tent of Meeting was set up there; the whole country had been subdued for them.
2 But among the Israelites there were still seven tribes left who had not received their heritage.
3 Joshua then said to the Israelites, ‘How much more time are you going to waste before you go and take possession of the country which Yahweh, God of your ancestors, has given to you?
4 Choose three men from each tribe for me to send all over the country so that they can make a survey with a view to their inheritances and then come back to me.
5 They will divide the country into seven portions. Judah will remain in his territory in the south, and those of the House of Joseph willremain in their territory in the north.
6 You must survey the country in seven sections and bring your findings to me here, so that I can cast lots for you here, in the presence of Yahweh our God.
7 The Levites, however, will have no portion with the rest of you; the priesthood of Yahweh will be their heritage. As regards Gad and Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they have received their heritage on the further, eastern side of the Jordan, the one given them by Moses, servant of Yahweh.’
8 The men stood up and set off. To those who were to survey the country Joshua gave this order, ‘Start out, then, go all over the country, survey it, and then come back to me; and I shall cast lots for you here, in the presence of Yahweh, at Shiloh.’
9 The men left, went all over the country and surveyed it by towns, in seven sections, writing down their findings in a book, and then went back to Joshua in the camp at Shiloh.
10 Joshua cast lots for them in Yahweh’s presence at Shiloh, and there Joshua divided the country between the Israelites, share by share.
11 A portion fell first to the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, by clans: the territory of their portion lay between the sons of Judah and the sons of Joseph.
12 Their northern frontier began at the Jordan, went up the flank of Jericho to the north, climbed westwards through the highlands and came out at the desert of Beth-Aven.
13 Thence, the frontier went on to Luz, on the southern flank of Luz — now Bethel-and then down to Ataroth-Arach, on the mountain south of Lower Beth-Horon.
14 At this westerly point, the frontier curved round and turned south, from the mountain facing Beth-Horon from the south and came out at Kiriath-Baal, now Kiriath-Jearim, a town of the sons of Judah. That was the western side.
15 This was the south side: from the tip of Kiriath-Jearim, the frontier went to Gasin and came out near the spring of the Waters of Nephtoah,
16 it then went down to the edge of the mountain facing the Valley of Hinnom, in the Valley of the Rephaim to the north; it then went down into the Valley of Hinnom, past the southerly flank of the Jebusite, and went down to En-Rogel.
17 It then curved northwards, coming out at En-Shemesh, and came out at the stone circle opposite the Ascent of Adummim, then went down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
18 It then went on to Cheteph on the flank of Beth-ha-Arabah northwards, and went down into the Arabah;
19 the frontier then passed round the northern flank of Beth-Hoglah, and the frontier came out at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. Such was the southern frontier.
20 The Jordan itself formed the frontier on the east. Such was the heritage of the sons of Benjamin as defined by their frontier, by clans.
21 The towns of the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, by clans, were:
22 Jericho, Beth-Hoglah, Emek-Keziz;
23 Beth-Arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel; Avvim, Parah, Ophrah;
24 Chephar-Ammoni, Ophni, Geba: twelve towns and their villages.
28 Zela-ha-Eleph, the Jebusite — that is, Jerusalem — Gibeah and Kiriath: fourteen towns with their villages. Such was the heritage of the sons of Benjamin, by clans.
Psalm 130
1 [Song of Ascents] From the depths I call to you, Yahweh:
2 Lord, hear my cry. Listen attentively to the sound of my pleading!
3 If you kept a record of our sins, Lord, who could stand their ground?
4 But with you is forgiveness, that you may be revered.
5 I rely, my whole being relies, Yahweh, on your promise.
6 My whole being hopes in the Lord, more than watchmen for daybreak; more than watchmen for daybreak
7 let Israel hope in Yahweh. For with Yahweh is faithful love, with him generous ransom;
8 and he will ransom Israel from all its sins.
