I had always thought that Jerusalem was located in the tribal area belonging to Judah. But alas, I am wrong! Judah being the royal tribe, the men and women from which would spring Jesus Christ, the Virgin Born Son of God … and our Saviour. And Jerusalem (eventually) being the Capital City of that people, that Nation, Israel.
But I have learned today that Jebusi (the ancient name for the City of Jerusalem) actually rested in the land given to Benjamin!
Of course it is also true that Judah and Benjamin were “close” to each other, spiritually and geographically! They constituted the “two tribes” of the (once the civil war occurred) Southern Kingdom of the Jews, headquartered at Jerusalem of course.
Joshua 17:21-28 tells the story in microcosm. “Now the cities of the tribe of the children of BENJAMIN according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, and Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, and Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah, and Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah, and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah, and Zelah, Eleph, and JEBUSI, WHICH IS JERUSALEM, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.”
Wow!
Yes, the Benjamites “owned” Jerusalem, a gift from God!
Along with this fact, this promise: “And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will WITHOUT FAIL drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the JEBUSITES.” Joshua 3:10, positively!
Yet for some reason … “The children of Benjamin DID NOT DRIVE OUT the JEBUSITES that inhabited JERUSALEM; but the JEBUSITES dwell with the children of Benjamin in JERUSALEM unto this day.” Judges 1:21, amazing!
In fact, not until the time of David (hundreds of years later) did the Israelites ever fully conquer the city of Jebus! Here’s the history: “And David and all Israel went to JERUSALEM, which is JEBUS; where the JEBUSITES were, the inhabitants of the land. And the inhabitants of JEBUS said to David, Thou shalt not come hither. Nevertheless David took the castle of Zion, which is the city of David. And David said, Whosoever smiteth the JEBUSITES first shall be chief and captain. So Joab the son of Zeruiah went first up, and was chief. And David dwelt in the castle; therefore they called it THE CITY OF DAVID.” 1st Chronicles 11:4-7
The point of today’s lesson?
Looks like the Devil had contested the City of Jerusalem for a long, long time!
Unwilling to give it to the Jews, as God’s Will dictated, lost mankind has fought and bickered over Jerusalem for centuries, millennia really!
Truly, the battle still rages today, doesn’t it?
By the way … has God given YOU something, victory in an area of your life, that Satan is also fighting?
Not wanting to yield an inch?
If so … be like David of old.
Take what is yours!
Rename it, too.
No longer “Jebus” (threshing place) … but your “Jersusalem” (city of Peace)!
What a difference!
Christian friend reading here today … live up to you inheritance in Christ Jesus!
Be an overcomer.
Not a slave.
Wow!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell