Joshua 18:12 describes a portion of the northern boundary of the tribal territory allocated to the tribe of Benjamin after the Israelites conquered Canaan. Let's break down what each part means:
"Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan." This establishes the eastern starting point of the northern boundary. It originated at the Jordan River, which formed the eastern edge of the land.
"The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward." This clarifies the direction and terrain of the boundary.
"To the side of Jericho on the north" means the boundary passed north of the city of Jericho, a well-known and important landmark. The boundary didn't necessarily touch Jericho directly, but it ran north of it.
"Went up through the hill country westward" indicates the border ascended into the hilly or mountainous region west of Jericho. It provides a general direction (westward) and suggests a challenging, uneven landscape.
"It ended at the wilderness of Beth Aven." This marks the western end of this specific segment of the northern border. The "wilderness of Beth Aven" was a sparsely populated or desolate area near Beth Aven. This signifies that the boundary extended to this wild, uncultivated region.
In summary, the verse describes the northern border of Benjamin's territory as follows:
It began at the Jordan River, ran north of Jericho, ascended into the hill country moving west, and concluded at the edge of the wilderness of Beth Aven.
Significance:
These detailed boundary descriptions were important for several reasons:
Land Allotment: These descriptions were used to clearly define the territories given to each tribe, preventing disputes and ensuring each tribe had its designated area.
Historical Record: They serve as a historical record of the land distribution after the conquest of Canaan.
Understanding Biblical Geography: They provide valuable information for understanding the geography of ancient Israel and the relationships between different tribes.
Fulfillment of Promises: The allotment of land was seen as a fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites.
It's important to remember that these ancient boundary descriptions can be challenging to interpret precisely because some of the landmarks may no longer exist or their exact locations are uncertain. However, the general direction and the inclusion of prominent landmarks like Jericho help to paint a picture of the terrain and layout of the land.
Joshua 18:12 describes a portion of the northern boundary of the tribal territory allocated to the tribe of Benjamin after the Israelites conquered Canaan. Let's break down what each part means:
"Their border on the north quarter was from the Jordan." This establishes the eastern starting point of the northern boundary. It originated at the Jordan River, which formed the eastern edge of the land.
"The border went up to the side of Jericho on the north, and went up through the hill country westward." This clarifies the direction and terrain of the boundary.
"To the side of Jericho on the north" means the boundary passed north of the city of Jericho, a well-known and important landmark. The boundary didn't necessarily touch Jericho directly, but it ran north of it.
"Went up through the hill country westward" indicates the border ascended into the hilly or mountainous region west of Jericho. It provides a general direction (westward) and suggests a challenging, uneven landscape.
"It ended at the wilderness of Beth Aven." This marks the western end of this specific segment of the northern border. The "wilderness of Beth Aven" was a sparsely populated or desolate area near Beth Aven. This signifies that the boundary extended to this wild, uncultivated region.
In summary, the verse describes the northern border of Benjamin's territory as follows:
It began at the Jordan River, ran north of Jericho, ascended into the hill country moving west, and concluded at the edge of the wilderness of Beth Aven.
Significance:
These detailed boundary descriptions were important for several reasons:
Land Allotment: These descriptions were used to clearly define the territories given to each tribe, preventing disputes and ensuring each tribe had its designated area.
Historical Record: They serve as a historical record of the land distribution after the conquest of Canaan.
Understanding Biblical Geography: They provide valuable information for understanding the geography of ancient Israel and the relationships between different tribes.
Fulfillment of Promises: The allotment of land was seen as a fulfillment of God's promises to the Israelites.
It's important to remember that these ancient boundary descriptions can be challenging to interpret precisely because some of the landmarks may no longer exist or their exact locations are uncertain. However, the general direction and the inclusion of prominent landmarks like Jericho help to paint a picture of the terrain and layout of the land.