Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord

Joshua 14:1-15

Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel allotted to them. Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine and a half tribes, as the Lord had commanded through Moses.

Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him,...So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly. (Deuteronomy 1:36)

Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.

Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

Concerning the dividing of the land west of Jordan among the remaining nine and a half tribes. The inheritance of each tribe is decided by lot, by the high priest.

Caleb claims Hebron. Forty-five years after the spy episode Caleb remains a man of unwavering faith. Deuteronomy 10:21. There are still Anankim survivors to deal with. Hebron became Levite property, but Valen retained the surrounding land and villages.

Why?

It is a tough matter to divide the land for an inheritance to nine and half tribes. By lot to the nine and a half tribes to assign their inheritance in the land of Canaan, is the fair and best way. The lot is in hands of the Lord.

After 45 years later Caleb and Joshua are the only two spy followed the Lord wholeheartedly, so he asked the land that the Lord has promised him. And there were Anakites there, he has faith to defeat them, he is still vigorous to go out to battle as he was.

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應許的實現：一些利未人留在約旦河東的城邑。

約書亞和迦勒因為別人的不順服，以致跟著受苦，而且沒有怨言，沒有忘記神的應許。神也賜福他們，經過45年，身體依然健壯，可以享受神所應許的福，而不是因為年紀老邁，看的到，卻無法享受。專心跟隨主本身就是恩典與祝福，所以跟隨主的人先嘗到恩典。

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How?

How great the Caleb faith, even his promised land Anakites were there, he believed he may get the promised land God gives him through Moses. He followed the Lord wholeheartedly.

You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over.

Joshua 13:1-33

When Joshua had grown old, the Lord said to him, “You are now very old, and there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. 

As for all the inhabitants of the mountain regions from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, that is, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out before the Israelites. Be sure to allocate this land to Israel for an inheritance, as I have instructed you, and divide it as an inheritance among the nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh.”

But to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance, since the food offerings presented to the Lord, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.

This is the inheritance Moses had given when he was in the plains of Moab across the Jordan east of Jericho. But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.

Not all the land allocated had been completely subdued - and not every tribe realized its ideal by conquering all its allotted territory, In several places, as in the previous chapters, the writer comments on the situation in his own day.

The land still unconquered includes the Mediterranean coastlands and land in the north. Compare Judges King David eventually subdued the Philistines and the Syrians in the north. But Israel never controlled Phoenicia (Tyre and Sidon)

Why?

Joshua has grown old, even there are still very large areas of land to be taken over. So these missions have to leave to the inheritance of Israelite.

The work of the Lord, the mission of the Lord keeps from this generation to next generation to test all Chrisitan how to follow the word of the Lord.

God's word never fails, so let us turn our eyes on the Lord and have faith to work with the Lord.

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所有事，不是玩的沒有你不行。神要約書亞交棒給其他人。

分地包含來得未得之地的原因：

1)人有惰性， 容易以現狀為滿足。已經得到應許必須恐懼、顫競，做成得救的功夫。

2)眼目是否看見來得未得之地。容易被矇閉，忘記神的話。

3)神的話語使人甦醒，提醒人，不要裹足不前。

神沒有說的不要胡亂開口，神已經說的不用客氣，可以向神祈求。分土地也要照顧利未人，雖然他們沒有分地，但是耶和華就是他們的產業，是最大的福分。

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How?

Praise the Lord, for all what I can do is the grace of the Lord. I am nothing without the Lord.

Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan

Joshua 12:1-24

These are the kings of the land whom the Israelites had defeated and whose territory they took over east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Gorge to Mount Hermon, including all the eastern side of the Arabah.

Moses, the servant of the Lord, and the Israelites conquered them. And Moses the servant of the Lord gave their land to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh to be their possession. 

Here is a list of the kings of the land that Joshua and the Israelites conquered on the west side of the Jordan, from Baal Gad in the Valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their lands as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions. The lands included the hill country, the western foothills, the Arabah, the mountain slopes, the wilderness and the Negev. These were the lands of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites.

There were thirty-one kings in all. There were two kings on the east side of the Jordan.

V1-6 rehearse the earlier victories wast of the Jordan under Moses. V7-24 lists 31 kings of south, central and northern Canaan defeated under Joshua. The list rounds off the section on the conquest.

Why?

The Holy war at Moses and Joshua times are the promise to the Israelites. It shows the power and the rule to be a good God's servant. This war shows the God and the war of the evil one. But after Jesus came, there was no Holy war, Jesus proclaims the love and his power of peace. 

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記載在約旦河西岸的爭戰。沒有完全記載。因為聖經不是歷史書，而是記載神的作為與應許。

應許之地長約200Km，約走半天就會有ㄧ座城，這條應許之路，到處是困難。但是也充滿神的奇事經歷神蹟。如果天色常藍，就有旱災。属靈的路不是容易的路卻是處處蒙福，充滿恩典的路。

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How?

From history, we learn that God is the creator of the world and our center of living.

He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded.

Joshua 11:1-23

So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon, to Misrephoth Maim, and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.

Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed, and he burned Hazor itself. Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded.

As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.

Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Except for the Hivites living in Gibeon, not one city made a treaty of peace with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The powerful king of Hazor, commanding his vassals, assembles an even more formidable alliance than that of the south. But with no more success. Although the strategic cities were in Israel's hands within a short time of their entry into Canaan, mopping-up operations took a great deal longer.

Why?

Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. Joshua spent most of his life war against all these kings of Canaanite.

Joshua did as the Lord had commanded Moses, Joshua did Moses had commanded him. The key of success is Joshua obey the word of the Lord, the Lord is the commander of Isreal.

When we subdue to the Lord, God will be our best leader and blesses us more than we thought. Even under the blessing of the Lord, we have to pay our effort to fight for our success. Joshua waged war for a long time.

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這不僅是北方聯軍，除了南方以外都加入了，威脅比過去更大。第10章有神的話，第11章沒有任何神蹟，只有神的一句話。約書亞必須自己去打。神這麼說了，神不會讓自己的吩咐落空，約書亞遵行神的吩咐，因此神也不會讓自己的話落空。

神會在自己以為可靠的地方跌倒。我們引以為傲的，以為比較放心的，千萬不要倚靠這些，不要依靠勢力，不靠車不靠馬。約書亞不是以後就沒有戰爭，但是這次是決定性的戰爭。整個局勢已經在以色列這邊了。

以色列人沒有好的兵器，卻能夠打敗亞納族人及迦南地的人。神要我們透過屬靈的眼光，看見神已經得勝。

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How?

Let the Lord be my leader in my life. It is a secure and the best one than any in the world and be humble to serve the Lord.

All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel

 Joshua 10:28-43

So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon. All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.

All the strategic cities of the south fall before Joshua's army. Israel now controls the land from Kededh-Barnea in the south to Gaza on the west, and as far north as Gibeon.

Why?

For the Lord is with Israel, fight for Israel. No one can stand before Joshua. So Israel conquered the south part of the promised land.

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記載攻打了七座城。攻這些城的重點：除滅城內所有的人。用刀擊殺城中一切人口，正如以色列的神，耶和華所吩咐的。但是到了士師記卻沒有滅絕，為了留下人來當作奴僕，以致後來成為以色列人的網羅。

除去一切可能影響以色列人的人、事、物。反而沒有記載擄獲什麼戰利品，或是什麼好處。

所有可能讓我們會犯罪，拜偶像的都不能看下一個。事奉不是在當中可以得到什麼益處?只要是行神的旨意，做神要我們去做的，不用擔心，神必使我們受益。更體貼神的心意。 

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How?

God is the Lord, when God is with us, victory belongs to the Lord and we are blessing.

he Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

 Joshua 10:1-27

Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”

The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!

Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

Saul, 200 years later, tried to destroy the Gibeonites and God punished the nation for breaking their word. King David allowed the Gibeonites to kill seven of Sau's sons to set the matter right.

The treaty with the Gibeonites promptly involves Israel in war. All five Amorite kings are killed at Makkah and their city-stats all except Jerusalem destroyed in the campaign following the rout at Beth-horon. 

Why?

Under God's blessing, not one of them will be able to withstand before Israelites.

Even more of the enemy died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites. So this war the Lord involved so Israelite defected enemy easier.

Under the blessing of the Lord, I believe that I can do better in my every day for God's help.

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南方五王聯合來攻打基遍人，其實就是要打以色列人。為什麼不直接打以色列人因為以色列人不好打。基遍是重要的城，進入迦南的門戶。

基遍人已經從主僕關係，他們已經降服耶和華的人，所以以色列人要幫助他們。有神掛保證，於是出兵。神在人還出手前，就是已經為他們開路。神使萬事為敬畏祂的人效力。連敵人（自亂陣腳）也為我們效力。耶和華使天氣為以色列人效力。連天氣(冰雹)都可以為我們效力，因此我們怎麼可以因為天氣不好，不去教會。天色漸暗，不利追趕敵人，神讓時間（太陽不下山）也為人效力。地球要停下來所需要的能量，要地球30億年的發電量，再恢復運轉，還要60億年的。如此的大能。不要說沒有時間，神可以使時間為我效力。

五王對山區很熟悉，所以躲在山洞裏。山區是他們主考主場的優勢，還是被找到，耶和華使地理環境為我們效力。沒有理由說，什麼地方太遠不能去服事神。當人願意為神的僕人捨命時，連危險都變成祝福。

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How?

Obey the word of the Lord, and keep in mind I belong to the Lord. God is my first priority in my life. 

The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.

 Joshua 9:1-27

However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded[a] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”

The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you,’ while actually you live near us? You are now under a curse: You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

Gibeon was an important city about 8Km north of Jerusalem. The Israelites had been forewarned against any alliance with local people. But the Gibeonites employ such cunning even to the pretence tath news of the recent victories at Jericho and Ai has not reached them that they not only get their treaty but include three other cities too. God is not consulted. And Israel cannot draw back from a treaty sealed in friendship (the meal eaten together). The worst they can do is reduce the Gibeonites to slave status.

Why?

Israelite did not obey the word of the Lord, God has said don't make a treaty with Canaanite. But they did not listen.

To identify a matter is truth or lier we may ask the Lord, For the Lord knows everything. Don't make decisions by yourself. For something, we don't know.

For they have done the wrong treaty so they have to obey the treaty with Gibeon.

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基遍人知道與耶和華作對，一定不能勝。所以只有投降。因為以色列人要滅絕當地人，所以他們用巧計來投降。因為怕以色列人拒絕。有但書，申20：10-12 你臨近一座城、要攻打的時候，先要對城裡的民宣告和睦的話。他們若以和睦的話回答你，給你開了城，城裡所有的人都要給你效勞，服事你；若不肯與你和好，反要與你打仗，你就要圍困那城。所以神仍然希望人歸順，不希望滅絕迦南地的人。

基遍誠心求和。

以色列人反而沒有求問，也沒有求證。神為什麼沒有責備以色列人，因為以色列人守約是神喜悅的。以色列和他們立約，不是刻意要違背神的話。外邦人只是聽說就有順服的心志，要來投靠神。他們只是聽說，就願意事奉神，更何況我們這些經歷神許多大能，豈不是應該更降服在神的權柄之下。

基遍人雖然放下自己在會幕服事神。他們卻是最靠近神的人。

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How?

For the Lord is my God, so everything I can ask the Lord show me the way.