THE PORTIONS OF THE REST OF THE TRIBES After Benjamin got its portion, the lot came to decide those of the other tribes; and finally Joshua the son of Nun got his among the children of Israel. 1- The portions of the rest of the tribes 1 -- 48 2- The portion of Joshua the son of Nun 49 -- 51 1- The portion of the rest of the tribes: We said that the scholar Origen believes that everything that happened in the land of promise, carries a special symbol of the heavenly life, even though we may not apprehend it now. Anyway, the rest of the land was divided among the following six tribes by order: The tribes of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and lastly Dan. If you do not find a place for yourself among the previously mentioned tribes, you should seek to get referred to one of the rest: As the tribe of ‘Simeon’ meaning (a listener), embraces those who listen to the commandment, and obey God; that of ‘Zebulun’ meaning (a dwelling place), embraces those whose hearts open to God as His dwelling place; that of ‘Issachar’, meaning (reward), refers to those who seek the heavenly reward; that of ‘Asher’ meaning (joyful), embraces those filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit; and finally that of ‘Dan’ meaning (to judge), embraces those who judge themselves, and not the others1. 2- The portion of Joshua the son of Nun: “When they had made an end of dividing the land as an inheritance according to their borders, the children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun.” (Joshua 19: 49) It is not strange, for Joshua to wait to get his own portion among the people of God, after they enjoy theirs; not out of lack of interest in the inheritance, but because he counts what everyone gets as though it is his own; he waits to occupy his portion among them, so that the people themselves would be his portion. That is a living portrait of the way of thinking of Christ Himself, who counts what we all possess as His own, . 1 سفر العدد 1981 ص 15 220 being our Head that is glorified in His honored body. ... He remains as though the last of all, to rejoice in all His elect, His fellows in the eternal inheritance. Concerning this, the scholar Origen says: [What beauty and humility does that phrase reveals about Joshua!! He was truly worthy to bear the name ‘Joshua’, our Lord and Savior. The Book says: “The children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun. According to the word of the Lord, they gave him the city which he asked for, ‘Timnath Serah’ in the mountain of Ephraim; and he built the city and dwelt in it.”(Joshua 19: 49, 50) He was the one who gave the inheritance to all the children of Judah, to Ephraim and to half of the tribe of Manasseh; he is the one who gave the inheritance to Caleb the son of Jephunneh; and who sent three men from each tribe, to go through the land, to set the plan of division, and to come back to put it in his hands. He is the one who decided the fate of all, yet he let himself have the last place! Why was that? That was to confirm that he would be the first of all (Matthew 19: 30). He did not take the inheritance by himself, but, as the Book says: “The children of Israel gave an inheritance among them to Joshua the son of Nun” (Joshua 19: 49). “All these things happened to them as examples” (1 Corinthians 10: 11), that is also given to us, to take notice of the principles that Joshua followed in his works; according to the saying: “Be more humble, to become greater, and to gain God’s pleasure” (Sirach 3: 7); and “If you are chosen a ruler, do not get haughty, but let yourself be as one of them” (Sirach 32: 10). Behold how Joshua ruled the people: Although he was the one who brought them into the holy land, the land of promise; and was the successor of Moses; yet, he did not allow himself to take his portion of the land by himself, but waited to get it from the people. He is the ruler of the people; yet, being worthy of his name, he built the city he got, to let it be worthy of being God’s gift, and a spiritual inheritance] 1. If Joshua symbolizes the Lord Christ, I wish we do like the children of Israel: to present to our Joshua a portion of land among us; to offer him our heart, the center of our life, to receive it as His land; to build in it His holy city, to dwell in it (Joshua 19: 50). If we can not build in us a city for Him, as the Most High does not dwell in buildings 1 In Jos. Hom 24: 2. 221 set by hands, He, by His Holy Spirit, will set in us His own fortified spiritual city to dwell, turning our heart into His holy heaven. That is what the Lord Himself confirmed, by saying: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14: 23).
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