This chapter details the borders of Judah, and the cities they were given as their allotment.
“This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah according to their clans. 21 The cities belonging to the tribe of the people of Judah in the extreme south, toward the boundary of Edom, were… in all, twenty-nine cities with their villages. And in the lowland… fourteen cities with their villages. Ekron, with its towns and its villages; Ashdod, its towns and its villages;” (v20-21a,32b,33a,36b,45,47a)
There are 124 cities listed for Judah’s inheritance, as well as “all their towns and villages”. There are major cities that were fortified, and then small towns/villages around those cities (think Bird’s Hill or St. Norbert) – the people from the towns would flee into the fortified city if their land was attacked.
Though Judah was given cities in which they dwelt and pastures for their animals, and those lands were spread throughout the entire land of Israel, the lands were not their primary inheritance – God was their primary inheritance. Judah was God’s chosen people within God’s chosen people who would carry out the work of the Lord. The reason they were spread throughout the entire area of Israel was because they had priestly duties amongst the entire nation of Israel, not just in one central area.
The chapter concludes with this interesting note: “But the Jebusites, the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the people of Judah could not drive out, so the Jebusites dwell with the people of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.” (v63) These Canaanites actually remain encamped there in a mighty fortress until the reign of King David, who finally drives them out (almost 400 years later).
Honestly, I struggle to find a takeaway in this chapter. The rich history is fascinating, though there is little happening spiritually. Other than attempting to use the entrenched Jebusites and a metaphor for deep-rooted sin that is difficult to deal with, I’m not sure what else to discuss.
Father God, O Holy Lord of Israel, great and mighty is Your name. We honor, praise and worship You, the king upon heaven’s throne. Father You alone have the power to drive out sin, and we admit there are areas in our lives that still need cleansing. Father please help drive out the most entrenched areas, the strongholds that are resistant and not submitted to you. Please break down those walls and free us from those thorns in our side. Father we cannot do this alone, and thank You for the gift of Your holy Spirit, and the footsteps of Jesus, both of whom we can look to for guidance. We praise You in advance for Your mighty deliverance. In the name of Jesus, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training