Joshua 16–17

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Reader: Jeff
Teacher: Daniel Agee

Daniel explains how the Israelite tribes of Ephraim ("E" on the map) and Mannaseh ("M") conquered their territories in Canaan. "J" stands for the tribe of Judah, and the large oval is the Dead Sea.

Thought questions

• Why were Canaanites left in the tribal territories and just made into serfs?
  • Was this practice condoned?!
  • Was this similar to Esau’s "hating" or "despising" his birthright?
  • What is our birthright that we’re not fully pursing?
• Why was the territory of Manasseh split into two?
  • Where are most of those cities that Joshua conquered and occupies?
  • Where are most of the tribes located in relation to the initially conquered area?
  • What value is having 5 tribes getting territory initially and not the rest?
• Why did the tribes not conquer the territory they were alloted?
  • Where were the other 7 tribes hanging out until their lands were conquered?
  • How does this relate to the 2 mountains of Gerazin and Ebal?
  • What does it gain to have cities of one tribe in the territory of another?
  • What was God trying to gain?
  • What does the excuse of weakness on the part of the tribe to conquer the land "not fly"?
• In Genesis 48:19, we read about the promise by Ya’akov (Jacob) to his grandchildren Manasseh and Ephraim.
  • Was that promise fulfilled with which tribe conquered in territory first?
  • What was the promise fulfilled the moment they crossed the Jordan River?
• In Numbers 27: 1–18, Zelophehad’s daughters get inheritance passed through their sons.
  • Why are the same stories recorded several times in Numbers and Joshua?
  • Is this an example of a "duct-taped Torah" with incomplete or unworkable for with the need to be "patched" by later rulings?
• What was behind Ephraim and Manesseh’s argument on the territory they were given, considering the number of people who live in the same area today?
  • Why didn’t Joshua give those two tribes more than they were allotted?
  • Who would Joshua be usurping by doing so?