Sermon and Worship Resources

Showing 1 to 25 of 34 results

1. Selfishness of the Transjordan Tribes Corrected

Numbers 32:1-42

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... they request the territory that they have helped win, with which Moses concurs (vv. 40–42). 32:34–37 The Gadites built up . . . the Reubenites rebuilt. Part of Gad settles to the far south.4 “Aroer” may refer to a northern site near Rabbah (Josh. 13:25) as opposed to Aroer on the Arnon given to Reuben (Josh. 13:15–16). Dibon, also called “Dibon Gad,” is on a south-north itinerary between Iye Abarim in Moab and Nebo given to Reuben (Num. 33:44–47), implying that this is the Dibon near the ...

2. Jacob Blesses His Sons

Genesis 49:1-28

Understanding Series

John E. Hartley

... firstborn—leadership of the family and a double share of the inheritance. In the settlement Reuben occupied land in the central Transjordan (Josh. 13:15–23). This tribe was the first to disappear from the league, even before the rise of kingship in Israel. 49: ... , he felt the need to express his desire that God would deliver the weaker tribes through the obstacles they were to face. 49:19 Gad would have to deal with attacks by a band of raiders. But he would be able to stand them off and then pursue them ...

3. Through Moab into the Transjordan

Num 21:10-35

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... 10:13; 2 Sam. 1:18). This reminds us that other books existed in Bible times that did not become part of Scripture. Israel ends up settling in Sihon’s territory in the Transjordan (Num. 21:31). His land eventually goes to Reuben and Gad (Deut. 29:7–8; Josh. 13:15–28). Israel actually ends up with more land than God had promised it, for Sihon’s land is outside Canaan. Interpretive Insights 21:10–12 Oboth . . . Iye Abarim . . . Zered. Having gone south along the route toward the Red Sea to avoid ...

4. Reviewing the Past

Numbers 33:1-56

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... the Gulf of Suez, though the same term applies to the “sea” that Israel crosses where Pharaoh’s army drowns (Exod. 15:4; Deut. 11:4; Josh. 2:10) and to the Gulf of Aqaba (1 Kings 9:26). The Gulf of Suez probably was connected by canal with the Bitter Lakes ... of Moab (v. 44). Its precise location is uncertain.25 33:45–46 Dibon Gad . . . Almon Diblathaim. Dibon Gad is the Dibon (Num. 21:30) that comes to be in the territory of Gad (see Num. 32:3, 34). Dibon is some twenty miles south of Heshbon, four ...

5. Making a Successful Future

Numbers 34:1-29

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... territory for Israel than the former.6That the northern border extends to the Euphrates (Gen. 15:18; Deut. 1:7; 11:24; Josh. 1:4) makes Qayatein more likely. The location of Shepham is unknown. Riblah probably is near modern Ribleh on the east ... each tribe. These verses list ten new tribal leaders who will apportion the land once it is taken. No leader for Reuben and Gad is listed, since their land is already assigned (see vv. 13–15 above). Only Caleb remains from the old generation that left Egypt. The ...

6. The Census of the Twelve Tribes

Num 1:1–2:54

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... forfeited his original position of prominence. Simeon was Leah’s second child. Skipping Leah’s third child, Levi, the text goes to Gad, the first son of Zilpah, Leah’s maidservant. 2:17 Levites . . . in the middle of the camps. The tent of meeting ... half million people seems unimaginable. The Israelites were emotionally devastated by the defeat at Ai in which thirty-six Israelite men died (Josh. 7:5), but what is a loss of thirty-six if there are six hundred thousand to start with? Problems of these ...

7. The Second Census

Numbers 26:1-65

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... in the army. Counting men available for military service anticipates the conquest. 26:3 Jericho. This is where Israel will begin the conquest (Josh. 6). 26:5–11 Reuben . . . 43,730. Compare Genesis 46:9; Exodus 6:14; 1 Chronicles 5:3. The 43,7301 represents ... . 34:6–7), but after the Babylonian exile the tribe disappears after being absorbed into Judah. 26:15–18 Gad . . . 40,500. In Genesis 46:16 “Zephon” appears as “Ziphion” (MT, NIVmg; NIV corrects it to “Zephon”), and “Ozni” ...

8. The Lord Commands Joshua

Joshua 1:1-18

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... than does Joshua (Deut.). Even the book of Joshua makes it clear that Joshua and the people succeed when they follow the teachings of Moses (Josh. 1:7–8, 13; 4:10; 8:30–35; 11:12–15; 22:2; 23:6). As well, the NT mentions Moses more frequently ... and a threat to the unity of the emerging people. Moses sought to resolve that issue by requiring the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, to fight with the western tribes to liberate Canaan as a condition for receiving their land east ...

9. Epilogue to the Law of the Temple: River, Land, City

Ezekiel 47:1-12, Ezekiel 47:13-23, Ezekiel 48:1-29, Ezekiel 48:30-35

Understanding Series

Steven Tuell

... of Jacob. So, in the land allotment, those descended from the handmaids Bilhah and Zilpah are placed furthest from the temple—Gad (Zilpah’s firstborn, Gen. 30:9–11) being the southernmost (vv. 27–28), and Dan (Bilhah’s firstborn, Gen. 30:3–6 ... the lands of Abar-Nahara among the traditional twelve tribes, as Joshua had parceled out the land in ancient days (Josh. 13–19), the returning Zadokites asserted religious dominance throughout the region. 48:30–35 With this brief description of the ...

10. Moses Blesses the Tribe

Deuteronomy 33:1-29

Understanding Series

Christopher J. H. Wright

... Nebo, was far from bedridden). There are similarities with the blessings of Jacob especially (Gen. 49). The title, Moses the man of God (cf. Josh. 14:6; Ps. 90, heading), however, sets Moses among the prophets, since this is a phrase later used of seers and prophets (e. ... is the main emphasis of the longest of the blessings on Joseph (vv. 13–16) and the briefer sayings for Zebulun (v. 19), Gad (v. 21), Naphtali (v. 23), and Asher (v. 24c). The prime foci of the list are the two longer blessings on Levi and ...

11. A Message About Ammon

Jeremiah 49:1-6

Understanding Series

Tremper Longman III

... . Deuteronomy 23:3–6 names them along with the Moabites as responsible for hiring Balaam in the abortive attempt to curse the Israelites. At the time of the settlement, the tribe of Gad was given “the territory of Jazer, all the towns of Gilead, and half the Ammonite country as far as Aroer, near Rabbah” (Josh. 13:28). Internecine war plagued Ammon and Israel all throughout their common history. There are numerous examples in the Bible. The judge Jephthah had to counter Ammon’s attempt to push into ...

12. Israel’s Ill-Placed Confidence

Amos 5:18-27

Understanding Series

Elizabeth Achtemeier

... to Canaan by the Edomites and Amorites [see Num. 20:14–21; 21:21–26].) Even though this region lay outside the promised land of Canaan, it was settled by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh after they had fulfilled God’s command to fight alongside the other tribes in conquering Canaan (Num. 32:1–42; Josh. 13:8; 22:1–34). The Judean Desert is located on the eastern slopes of the Judean mountains, toward the Dead Sea. David fled there for refuge from Saul (1 Sam. 21–23). It ...

13. Northern Kings Defeated

Joshua 11:1-23

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... additional discoveries about the fortress will be forthcoming. 11:16 So Joshua took this entire land: The area defined in Josh. 11 is a geography lesson on ancient Canaan. It includes several places that readers may not recognize. For instance, ... Sea (Sea of Galilee; 11:2). Mount Halak also is a desert peak east of Kadesh Barnea representing Israel’s southern boundary. Baal Gad is a Canaanite city in the northern region of Laish (later, Caesarea Philippi) in Lebanon below Mount Hermon. It is a northern ...

14. Division of the Rest of the Land

Joshua 18:1-10

Understanding Series

J. Gordon Harris

... that the tribes assembled at Shiloh, the narrator ties the passage to Deuteronomy. The word gathered (“assembled,” Hb. kahal) first appears here (Josh. 18:1) in the book. The assembly frequently is mentioned in Deuteronomy (Deut. 5:19; 9:10; 10:4; 18:16; 23:2 ... repeats information about the inheritances of Judah, the tribes of Joseph, the tribe of Levi, and the east bank tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The Levites do not receive an allotment because the priestly service of the LORD ...

15. David on the Run

1 Sam 21:1–22:5

Teach the Text

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.

... to his credit, his humiliating experience in Gath reminds him to wait on God’s guidance (22:3). Through a prophetic message from Gad, God calls him back to his own land to face up to his destiny (22:5). David has found a “stronghold” (metsudah) in ... , provided David and his “men” have kept themselves consecrated for battle by refraining from sexual contact with women (cf. Deut. 23:9–14; Josh. 3:5; 2 Sam. 11:11–12). 21:7 one of Saul’s servants was there. By pointing out the priest’s fear ...

16. Towns for the Levites

Joshua 21:1-45

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... from Zebulun are located north of the Valley of Jezreel, west of the Jordan, but the remaining eight towns received from Reuben and Gad are mainly located in the central-southern region east of the Jordan (21:7, 34–40). It may be of interest to note ... them. And while the reality is that Israel’s work is far from done, as evidenced by the land still to be possessed (cf. Josh. 13:1–7; 18:1–3), the Lord nonetheless has given Israel the land he swore to their forefathers, which they have now begun ...

17. Boundaries of Canaan

Numbers 34:1-29

Understanding Series

W.H. Bellinger, Jr.

... land because of their faithfulness in Numbers 13–14. The text lists the tribes in the order of their settlement of the land (Josh. 14–19). Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, and Dan are listed first and are in the south. Manasseh and Ephraim are in the center of ... of Jericho is perhaps an ancient title for the Jordan. Milgrom interprets the place as the Transjordan, and thus the land of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, to be outside the promised land (Numbers, pp. 501–2). The land is allotted to these tribes as ...

18. David at Nob

1 Samuel 21:1-9

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

... did not—further evidence, perhaps, of God’s ongoing support for David and rejection of Saul. The brief mention of the prophet Gad in 22:5 and this reference to the ephod reinforce the impression that God’s servants, both priest and prophet, had abandoned ... it refers to someone who had been at a particularly low ebb. 22:1–5 Adullam was a Canaanite city captured by Joshua (Josh. 12:15). It was situated halfway between Gath and Bethlehem, and its nearby caves were ideal for David’s purposes. Whether or ...

19. David at Gath

1 Samuel 21:10-15

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

20. David at Adullam and Mizpah

1 Samuel 22:1-5

Understanding Series

Mary J. Evans

21. Cities of Refuge

Numbers 35:6-34, Numbers 35:1-5

Teach the Text

Joe M. Sprinkle

... Text The last chapters of the book of Numbers are concerned with the division of the land. Numbers 32 describes how Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh will settle in the Transjordan, and Numbers 34 describes the borders of the land of ... forty-two other towns. Instead of a tribal territory, the Levites have forty-eight cities scattered equally among other tribes (see Josh. 21). “Refuge” is based on a rare Hebrew root (qlt) that apparently means “to take in, accept.”2These six cities are ...

22. Ammon

Jeremiah 49:1-6

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

Ammon lies in central Transjordan, opposite Shechem. The area was taken over by Israel after the exodus (Josh. 10:6–12:6; Num. 32:33–37) and assigned to Gad (Josh. 13:24–28). The region was lost to Israel when the Assyrian Tiglath-Pileser made war against Israel (1 Chron. 5:26). The Ammonites repossessed the region. Baalis, king of the Ammonites, was involved with Ishmael in the assassination of Gedaliah (40:14–41:10). Molek (or Milkom) was the ...

23. God Promises Deliverance

Exodus 5:22--6:12

Understanding Series

James K. Bruckner

... Phinehas received special commendation for dramatically ending the sexual rebellion and its attendant plague at Baal-Peor that had already killed 24,000 people (Num. 25; Ps. 106:30–31). Later, in Canaan, Phinehas intervened with Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh to prevent unnecessary war (Josh. 22:1–34). 6:3 Scholars sometimes explain the claim that Abraham did not know the name Yahweh by varying source traditions, but since it was not smoothed out by the redactor, the contextual interpretation offered above ...

24. David Becomes King over Israel

1 Chronicles 11:1-3

Understanding Series

Louis C. Jonker

... , Jebus. This is one of only three places in the Old Testament where the name Jebus occurs (the others are Josh. 18:28 and Judg. 19:10). The connection with Jebus and the Jebusite land is quite significant. First Chronicles 21 ... of Zebulun (12:33), men of Naphtali (12:34), men of Dan (12:35), men of Asher (12:36), and from east of the Jordan, men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh (12:37). It is clear that the writer wanted to present a version of David’s support similar to that given in ...

25. Warning against a Premature Conclusion

Deuteronomy 3:12-20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... the territory from the Arnon north to the hill country of Gilead, with half of that area (the land previously held by Sihon) given to Gad. Og’s territory, which was the other part of Gilead and all of Bashan, was given to the half tribe of Manasseh; the other half ... appear never to have been dispossessed of their lands, but seem to have survived as small, partially independent states for centuries (Josh. 13:13; 2 Sam. 3:3; 13:37; 15:8). Jair renamed his territory Havvoth Jair; the word Havvoth could come ...

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