Josué 19

Josué 19

Barber - In this chapter we find that God is faithful. Both Caleb and Joshua are rewarded exactly as God had promised years earlier (cf. Numbers 14:24, 30)! His word is sure. There are times when it is difficult to exercise faith in His promises, but when this happens we should remember the example of Caleb and Joshua. Trent Butler- “The gift of the land brought blessings not only to the nation as a whole and to the individual tribes. It also brought blessing to the faithful leader. God commanded Israel to reward the individual for his faithfulness. Thus the Deuteronomic understanding of blessing and curse is expressed not only on the corporate, but also on the individual level. This, too, stands as a source of encouragement to Israel through the years as many of her people become dispersed from the main body of the people of God. (Joshua 13-24) The section closes with the record that Joshua is given Timnath-serah ( = “Timnath-heres”) in Ephraim (19:49–51). The notice that dividing the land is completed (v. 49) is important theologically. It must be understood in terms of the ideology expressed in Joshua 23:14. God had fulfilled all his good promises in giving the land to the Israelites. True, further covenant faithfulness and obedience would be necessary for complete possession of the land, but God’s part in giving the land has been accomplished. Dale Ralph Davis - So 19:49–50 is no useless tailpiece. Though the notes are not visible in the text, it’s really music. It is simply ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ (Lam. 3:23) in a different key. It is a standing witness to the fact that the majority may be neither faithful nor right (Num. 13–14). It is a witness to the fact that Yahweh keeps his promises (Num. 14:24, 30), even if he must preserve his two faithful men from Anakim, chariots, and high water to do so. There are lots of lots in chapters 14–20. As they begin with Caleb, so they close with Joshua. What a fulfilment of Numbers 13–14! There is far more theology in Hebron and Timnath-serah than one usually hears. (Joshua: No Falling Words) J