Discuss Joshua 18

The practice of casting lots is mentioned seventy times in the Old Testament and seven times in the New Testament. In spite of the many references to casting lots in the Old Testament, nothing is known about the actual lots themselves. They could have been sticks of various lengths, flat stones like coins, or some kind of dice; but their exact nature is unknown. The closest modern practice to casting lots is likely flipping a coin.

The practice of casting lots occurs most often in connection with the division of the land under Joshua (Joshua chapters 14-21), a procedure that God instructed the Israelites on several times in the book of Numbers ( Numbers 26:55; 33:54; 34:13; 36:2). God allowed the Israelites to cast lots in order to determine His will for a given situation ( Joshua 18:6-10; 1 Chronicles 24:5,31). Various offices and functions in the temple were also determined by lot ( 1 Chronicles 24:5, 31; 25:8-9; 26:13-14). The sailors on Jonah's ship ( Jonah 1:7) also cast lots to determine who had brought God's wrath upon their ship. The eleven apostles cast lots to determine who would replace Judas ( Acts 1:26). Casting lots eventually became a game people played and made wagers on. This is seen in the Roman soldiers casting lots for Jesus' garments ( Matthew 27:35).

The New Testament nowhere instructs Christians to use a method similar to casting lots to help with decision-making. Now that we have the completed Word of God, as well as the indwelling Holy Spirit to guide us, there is no reason to be using games of chance to make decisions. The Word, the Spirit, and prayer are sufficient for discerning God's will today-not casting lots, rolling dice, or flipping a coin.

Mishael: people ought always seek the Lord for answers to problems and decisions. Sometimes, NO answer is the answer. Be sure your question is a Godly one. also, God appointed prophets to speak the answer of the Lord: do this or do that. Today: we pray.

Brother David:

Matthew 5:25 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not thy whole body cast into GEHENNA (translated hell).

When Jesus was on earth Gehenna was the dump ground for Jerusalem where all the trash, garbage and bodies of dead criminals was dumped. It was on fire to DESTROY. Worms were there eating the dead flesh. As long as there was new fuel being dumped there, the worms never died nor was the fire ever quenched. It's a city park now, the is no longer worms or a fire.

Jesus was using Gehenna as an analogy, not something literal. If Jesus meant for you to take it literally, why aren't you missing eyes, hands and feet, that you have cut off and plucked out, to stay out of HELL.

Matthew 5:30

Matthew 10:28

Matthew 23:15

Matthew 23:33

Mark 9:43

Mark 9:45

Mark 9:47

Luke 12:5

Matthew 5:22

Matthew 18:9

James 3:6

All the verses have GEHENNA translated as HELL

Here are the scriptures in the Old testament that refer to Hinnom.

Nehemiah 11:30

Joshua 15:8

Joshua 18:16

2 Kings 23:10

2 Chronicles 28:3

2 Chronicles 33:6

Jeremiah 7:31

Jeremiah 7:32

Jeremiah 19:2

Jeremiah 19:6

Jeremiah 32:35

None of the scriptures have anything to do with the CHRISTIAN HELL.

need divine intervention, spiritual prayers to read and understand the word of the lord

PARA is a non word. You see it in words like paragraph, etc.

Maybe you meant PARAH

Joshua 18:23 Context

20And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families. 21Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz, 22And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel, 23And Avim, and PARAH, and Ophrah, 24And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages: 25Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth, 26And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,

Wesley's Notes for Joshua 18:21, 23

Jericho - For tho' the city was destroyed, the territory remained.

The heifer, a town in Benjamin ( Josh. 18:23), supposed to be" "identical with the ruins called Far'ah, about 6 miles north-east" "of Jerusalem, in the Wady Far'ah, which is a branch of the Wady" Kelt.

Definition of Parah:

"a cow; increasing"

Comment> maybe Para was a suburb of Jericho?

When Joshua crossed the Jordan, they set up the tabernacle, for the point of worship. In 1 Sam. they are talking about setting up in Shiloh. Joshua 18:1. Is Shiloh and Jerusalem the same physical location?

Richard, you are correct that sacrifices were conducted at the Temple court, however in this era, they would have normally been conducted at the Tabernacle or at a dedicated Altar. Yet, if you read that portion carefully, when the people saved the best of the cattle of the enemy (the Amalekites), Saul was severely chastised by God through Samuel the prophet for not destroying all living creatures even though Saul had assumed that the cattle would come in handy for sacrificial purposes.

But Saul was rejected because of his disobedience (rebellion) in this matter, his sin being likened to the evil of witchcraft & idolatry. Saul then realized his error but his disobedience even meant that "God repented that He made Saul a king over Israel". So, I understand that the cattle saved as part of the booty, were probably meant for sacrifice at Gilgal, which was a special (sacred) place (Joshua chap 4) where Joshua erected the 12 stones (representing the 12 tribes). Then they sacrificed at Shiloh, a short distance away, where the Tabernacle was set up ( Joshua 18:1).

God is so good he distributed the land evenly so there would be no despute. He encouraged his tribe let's take by force awesome. That's the spirit we need to have

"..And the land was subdued before them." Israel entering into the Promised Land, and subduing the Nations which the LORD had judged to be utterly taken away; was meant for the good of the world, and the benefit of all men. The coming eternal reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, and all dominion given to the Saints; shall make the earth to "ring again" as the earth is filled with the glory of the LORD!

Amazing,how precious it was for them to have been blessed by father,and him fulfill his promises,may they appreciate it always,and remember the commandments,that were as well apart of the gift given by father onto their forefathers,I hope they said thank you all their days of their lives for being so blessed,just as we should realize how many blessings we get,both big and small,Amen,god bless you.

As children of the most high God we must take possession of His promises by faith. We must move by faith and trust God to fulfil His promises.

I think Joshua was obedient and courageous. His faith, confidence, and love for God are evidenced through the book of Joshua. I think he serves as a great example of leadership.

3 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you? How many of us a children of God have not yet possess his promises that he has given to us. Like Healing, Peace and Joy.

Every tribe of Israel was not just going to live everywhere or anywhere, there were borders, limits for them. God doesn't intend for us to do just everything in His Kingdom,there is a measure fo faith, gifting varies from individual to individual and we need to understand God has designed for us to do.