Time to supplant

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don't know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it "really" means. Let's see where this takes us! 

Joshua 12

I'm reading Young's Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

This is a review of the lands Moses and Joshua conquered. West of Jordan, i.e., the Promised Land, 31 kings were defeated. Because Gibeon made peace with Joshua, the number of city-states in the land was 32.

As it was recorded that the Israelites had some 600,000 men of fighting age, none of these states, or a combination of them, could have been a match against Israel.

Israel is the 33rd nation that supplanted all 32 kingdoms. Israel itself had no king. Joshua was the leader or military commander, but any form of "government," including the treasury, was handled by the Levites, and Joshua wasn't a Levite.

When I began the Daily Bible Chapter, I tried to read the text through "fresh eyes," as if I knew nothing. But as we go through the Bible, I can't pretend that I don't know that Jacob means "supplanter."

Jacob's brother Esau married Canaanite women and adapted their ways. Jacob supplanted him and received both Esau's inheritance and blessing. Centuries later, Jacob's descendants, known as Israel, supplanted the Canaanites.

It represents the inner world of spirit and imagination supplanting the external, material world of appearances.

James Leroy Wilson writes Daily Miracles, The Daily Bible Chapter, JL Cells, and The MVP Chase. Thanks for your subscriptions and support! You may contact James for your writing, editing, and research needs: jamesleroywilson-at-gmail.com.

(Photo credit: TyshkunVictor)