Tuesday, February 14, 2012

As the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan and begin taking over the land of Canaan, today's reading skips around the 27th, 32nd, 33rd, 34th and 35th chapters of Numbers and parts of Deuteronomy 4 and 25. 

We begin with Moses' concern over the choice of his replacement as he nears his death.  Joshua is God's choice to replace Moses.

The next account is of the negotiations between Moses and the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and Manasseh (the other half of this tribe is Ephraim, the other son of Joseph) over the land allotted to each tribe.

Finally, God gives his directions for the taking of the land of Canaan.  In Numbers 33:55, 56, God commands the Israelites to drive out all the inhabitants of the land.  We can predict how well they will follow these commands by their past performance.  God goes on to say:  ". . .those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides.  They will give you trouble in the land where you will live."  And the consequences for failure to obey:  "And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them."