Page 386 - The MacArthur Daily Bible

TN_04_MacArthur_Bible_April.qxd 8/8/03 15:04 Page 367

APRIL 16
Specifically,“Even though the earth be removed” (v. 2). I.e.,“When earth changes and when
mountains move or shake or totter or slip” (see the language of Is. 24:19,20; 54:10; Hag. 2:6).These
are poetic allusions to earthquakes.Since “the earth”and “mountains”are regarded by men as sym-
bols of stability, when they “dance,” great terror normally ensues. But when the most stable
becomes unstable, there should be “no fear” because of the transcendent stability of God. And
“though its waters roar”(v.3).This is an illustration of powerfully surging and potentially destructive
floods of waters.These will not erode God’s protective fortifications.
“There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God” (v. 4). Refreshing waters con-
trast with those threatening torrents of v. 3. See the garden of paradise concept often mentioned
in ancient Near Eastern literature,but most importantly,see the biblical revelation,noting especial-
ly the “bookends” of Genesis 2:10 and Revelation 22:1, 2.“She shall not be moved” (vv. 5,6). These
verses pick up some of the key terms about moving,slipping,tottering,sliding,and roaring from vv.
1–3. However, here, because of the presence of God, the forces of nature and the nations are no
longer a threat to the people of God who dwell with Him.

name, which were for the children of Aaron,
10
April 16 one of the families of the Kohathites, who were
of the children of Levi; for the lot was theirs
11
first. And they gave them Kirjath Arba (Arba
was the father of Anak), which is Hebron, in
Joshua 21:1–22:34
the mountains of Judah, with the common-
Then the heads of the fathers’ houses of land surrounding it. But the fields of the city
12
21 the Levites came near to Eleazar the and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of
priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the Jephunneh as his possession.
heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the 13 Thus to the children of Aaron the priest
2
children of Israel. And they spoke to them at they gave Hebron with its common-land (a
Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, “The LORD city of refuge for the slayer), Libnah with its
commanded through Moses to give us cities to common-land, Jattir with its common-land,
14
15
dwell in, with their common-lands for our live- Eshtemoa with its common-land, Holon with its
stock.” So the children of Israel gave to the common-land, Debir with its common-land, Ain
16
3
Levites from their inheritance, at the com- with its common-land, Juttah with its common-
mandment of the LORD, these cities and their land, and Beth Shemesh with its common-land:
17
common-lands: nine cities from those two tribes; and from the
Now the lot came out for the families of the
4 tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its common-
18
Kohathites. And the children of Aaron the land, Geba with its common-land, Anathoth
priest, who were of the Levites, had thirteen with its common-land, and Almon with its
19
cities by lot from the tribe of Judah, from the common-land: four cities. All the cities of the
tribe of Simeon, and from the tribe of Benja- children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen
5
min. The rest of the children of Kohath had cities with their common-lands.
ten cities by lot from the families of the tribe 20 And the families of the children of Kohath,
of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the Levites, the rest of the children of Kohath,
the half-tribe of Manasseh. even they had the cities of their lot from the
6 tribe of Ephraim. 21 For they gave them
And the children of Gershon had thirteen
cities by lot from the families of the tribe of Shechem with its common-land in the moun-
Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tains of Ephraim (a city of refuge for the slayer),
22
tribe of Naphtali, and from the half-tribe of Gezer with its common-land, Kibzaim with its
Manasseh in Bashan. common-land, and Beth Horon with its com-
The children of Merari according to their
23
7 mon-land: four cities; and from the tribe of
families had twelve cities from the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its common-land, Gibbethon
Reuben, from the tribe of Gad, and from the with its common-land, Aijalon with its common-
24
tribe of Zebulun. land, and Gath Rimmon with its common-land:
8 four cities; 25 and from the half-tribe of
And the children of Israel gave these cities
with their common-lands by lot to the Levites, as Manasseh, Tanach with its common-land and
the LORD had commanded by the hand of Moses. Gath Rimmon with its common-land: two
9 cities. All the ten cities with their common-
26
So they gave from the tribe of the children
of Judah and from the tribe of the children of lands were for the rest of the families of the
Simeon these cities which are designated by children of Kohath.
367