Through the Bible – Day 81

_1-2While the Israelites were still camped at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, the family leaders of the Levi tribe went to speak to the priest Eleazar, Joshua, and the family leaders of the other Israelite tribes. The leaders of Levi said, “The LORD told Moses that you have to give us towns and provide pastures for our animals.”

₃Since the LORD had said this, the leaders of the other Israelite tribes agreed to give some of the towns and pastures from their tribal lands to Levi. ₄The leaders asked the LORD to show them in what order the clans of Levi would be given towns, and which towns each clan would receive.

The Kohath clans were first. The descendants of Aaron, Israel's first priest, were given thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin. ₅The other members of the Kohath clans received ten towns from the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and West Manasseh. ₆The clans that were descendants of Gershon were given thirteen towns from the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and East Manasseh. ₇The clans that were descendants of Merari received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

₈The LORD had told Moses that he would show the Israelites which towns and pastures to give to the clans of Levi, and he did.

_9-19The descendants of Aaron from the Kohath clans of Levi were priests, and they were chosen to receive towns first. They were given thirteen towns and the pasture land around them. Nine of these towns were from the tribes of Judah and Simeon and four from Benjamin.

Hebron, Libnah, Jattir, Eshtemoa, Holon, Debir, Ashan, Juttah, and Beth-Shemesh were from Judah and Simeon. Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, was earlier called Arba's Town. It had been named after Arba, the ancestor of the Anakim. Hebron's pasture lands went along with the town, but its farmlands and the villages around it had been given to Caleb. Hebron was also one of the Safe Towns for people who had accidentally killed someone.

Gibeon, Geba, Anathoth, and Almon were from Benjamin.

_20-26The rest of the Kohath clans of the Levi tribe received ten towns and the pasture land around them. Four of these towns were from the tribe of Ephraim, four from Dan, and two from West Manasseh.

Shechem, Gezer, Kibzaim, and Beth-Horon were from Ephraim. Shechem was in the hill country, and it was also one of the Safe Towns for people who had accidentally killed someone.

Elteke, Gibbethon, Aijalon, and Gath-Rimmon were from Dan.

Taanach and Jibleam were from West Manasseh.

_27-33The clans of Levi that were descendants of Gershon received thirteen towns and the pasture land around them. Two of these towns were from the tribe of East Manasseh, four from Issachar, four from Asher, and three from Naphtali.

Golan in Bashan and Beeshterah were from East Manasseh.

Kishion, Daberath, Jarmuth, and En-Gannim were from Issachar.

Mishal, Abdon, Helkath, and Rehob were from Asher.

Kedesh in Galilee, Hammothdor, and Kartan were from Naphtali. Golan in Bashan and Kedesh in Galilee were also Safe Towns for people who had accidentally killed someone.

_34-40The rest of the Levi clans were descendants of Merari, and they received twelve towns with the pasture land around them. Four towns were from the tribe of Zebulun, four from Reuben, and four from Gad.

Jokneam, Kartah, Rimmonah, and Nahalal were from Zebulun.

Bezer, Jazah, Kedemoth, and Mephaath were from Reuben. Bezer was in the desert flat lands east of the River Jordan across from Jericho.

Ramoth in Gilead, Mahanaim, Heshbon, and Jazer were from Gad.

Bezer and Ramoth in Gilead were Safe Towns for people who had accidentally killed someone.

_41-42The people of the Levi tribe had a total of forty-eight towns within Israel, and they had pastures around each one of their towns.

₄₃The LORD gave the Israelites the land he had promised their ancestors, and they captured it and settled in it. ₄₄There still were enemies around Israel, but the LORD kept his promise to let his people live in peace. And whenever the Israelites did have to go to war, no enemy could defeat them. The LORD always helped Israel win. ₄₅The LORD promised to do many good things for Israel, and he kept his promise every time.

₁Joshua called the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh to a meeting, and he told them:

The tribes of Reuben and Gad started back to Gilead, their own land. Moses had given the land of Bashan to the East Manasseh tribe, so they started back along with Reuben and Gad. God had told Moses that these two and a half tribes should conquer Gilead and Bashan, and they had done so.

Joshua had given land west of the River Jordan to the other half of the Manasseh tribe, so they stayed at Shiloh in the land of Canaan with the rest of the Israelites.

_10-11The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh reached the western side of the Jordan valley and built a huge altar there beside the river.

When the rest of the Israelites heard what these tribes had done, ₁₂the Israelite men met at Shiloh to get ready to attack the two and a half tribes. ₁₃But first they sent a priest, Phinehas the son of Eleazar, to talk with the two and a half tribes. ₁₄Each of the tribes at Shiloh sent the leader of one of its families along with Phinehas.

₁₅Phinehas and these leaders went to Gilead and met with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh. They said:

₂₁The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh answered:

_30-31Phinehas and the clan leaders were pleased when they heard the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh explain why they had built the altar. Then Phinehas told them, “Today we know that the LORD is helping us. You have not been unfaithful to him, and this means that the LORD will not be angry with us.”

₃₂Phinehas and the clan leaders left Gilead and went back to Canaan to tell the Israelites about their meeting with the Reuben and Gad tribes. ₃₃The Israelites were happy and praised God. There was no more talk about going to war and wiping out the tribes of Reuben and Gad.

₃₄The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar “A Reminder to us all that the LORD is our God”.

₂₆One month later God sent the angel Gabriel to the town of Nazareth in Galilee ₂₇with a message for a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to Joseph from the family of King David. ₂₈The angel greeted Mary and said, “You are truly blessed! The Lord is with you.”

₂₉Mary was confused by the angel's words and wondered what they meant. ₃₀Then the angel told Mary, “Don't be afraid! God is pleased with you, ₃₁and you will have a son. His name will be Jesus. ₃₂He will be great and will be called the Son of God Most High. The Lord God will make him king, as his ancestor David was. ₃₃He will rule the people of Israel for ever, and his kingdom will never end.”

₃₄Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”

₃₅The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God's power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. ₃₆Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. ₃₇Nothing is impossible for God!”

₃₈Mary said, “I am the Lord's servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.

₃₉A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. ₄₀She went into Zechariah's home, where she greeted Elizabeth. ₄₁When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, her baby moved within her.

The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. ₄₂Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:

₄₆Mary said:

₅₆Mary stayed with Elizabeth about three months. Then she went back home.