Joshua divides the land among the various Israeli tribes
according to the plan handed to him by Moses. It seems a long period of time
has passed, since Joshua is old and advanced in years (Joshua 13:1).
If memory serves accurately, then Israel is to drive all
inhabitants out of the land, yet they did not drive out the people of Geshur
and Maacah (Joshua 13:13a). Will this omission have consequences for the
Israelis?
I wonder how much of this allocation of land is preserved
for the specific purpose of settling disputes about ownership at a later date.
Judah could not
dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites
live there with the people of Judah. (Joshua15:63) I wonder why Judah
cannot dislodge the Jebusites. I wonder
at what date the statement is made: “...to this day the Jebusites live
there...” Is it the date when the Bible’s book of Joshua is committed to
writing? Is the statement true today, or to put it another way, is the
statement prophetic? Are “Jebusites”
always living in Jerusalem?
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