1. Lesson One of the Book of Daniel, Introduction to the Book of Daniel

Lesson 44,  Geography Study Concerning the Scriptures, Tribal Distribution of Palestine, Reuben, Gad, Manasseh, Judah, Simeon

SHOW THE TRANSPARENCY “TRIBAL DISTRIBUTION OF PALESTINE”

Reuben

The tribes of Reuben and Gad occupied land which had once been the territory of Sihon, the Amorite ruler whose capital was at Heshbon.

Reuben was situated north of Moab, the river Arnon serving as the southern boundary line. 

Reuben’s northern boundary was the Wadi Hesban, a valley leading to the Jordan from Heshban.

The proximity of Moab to the south and Ammon to the east made life precarious for the tribes of Reuben and Gad. 

Reuben disappeared from history during the eleventh century B.C. when its territory was occupied by Moab.

This was to be expected for remember the prophesy of Jacob concerning Reuben in: 

Genesis 49:3,4,  Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: ⁴Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch.

The tribe of Reuben had had a bad start because of Reuben’s weakness and that start was evident 400 years later as the promised land was to be settled. 

The tribe of Reuben was not to be given a prominent land area. 

Reuben was Jacob’s firstborn and should have been strong because he was the beginning of Jacob’s strength.

Reuben should have been Jacob’s might, Jacob’s right arm. 

He should have displayed his dignity and his authority. 

As firstborn that was his right, his destiny, it was a father's reasonable expectation. 

Reuben should have had the double portion, the pre-eminence, Jacob’s possessions. 

He was the one who should have had the birthright. 

But it was not to be and it was not to be in the tribe of Reuben because they started out with a man who was unstable as water. 

And this instability prevented his people from excelling. 

This instability was revealed by Reuben’s going up to Jacob’s bed with Bilhah, Jacob’s concubine, and defiling his couch.

So here we see a public condemnation on record of Reuben=s deed. 

This is Reuben’s permanent record, recorded by God for all to see! 

When God makes records those records are permanent

And this record was again recorded in 1 Chron 5:1,2

Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he was the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father=s bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright. For Judah prevailed above his brethren, and of him came the chief ruler; but the birthright was Joseph=s:)

Look at the history of the tribe of Reuben and nothing outstanding is recorded. 

Korah was in the line of Reuben and he expressed the rebellion of Reuben in the wilderness. 

So the tribe settled east of the Jordan.

Was this a natural choice due to the character of this tribe, a character that had come down from Reuben over 400 years ago. 

Was it a choice made because they had no staying power and wanted their promised land without the fight?  

Or did Moses have in mind a place suited to Reuben and in accordance with Jacob’s measure of the man?

Gad

Gad occupied the territory extending from north of the Hesban to a point north of the Yarmuk.

After the division of the kingdom, Gad became a part of the Northern Kingdom.

Genesis 49:19,  Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last.

Gad, Asher, Dan, and Naphtali, sons of the handmaids were those that were included in Joseph’s ill report to Jacob, so many years ago. 

Looking at Gad, Jacob saw him in the latter days in two lights, that of the vanquished, and that of the victorious. 

Fortunately the victory came after being vanquished.

Gad means troop and Jacob used this name in his blessing, a troop shall overcome him but his troop shall overcome at the last.

Though he be pressed hard, he in turn presses hard upon those that assail him.

We learn in later scripture that Gad chose his inheritance on the far side of Jordan. 

This area without the natural protection that a river affords was under constant attack from waring nomadic tribes which attacked Gad’s fields from the dessert. 

All of the tribes that settled east of the Jordan were the first to be carried away when Assyrian armies came. 

But Gad produced some notable men, Jephthah, Barzillai, and the prince among the prophets, Elijah were from the tribe of Gad. 

Gad could take a beating from his enemies and come back in triumph. 

The war is not over until the last battle was done and when the last battle was done Gad was the victor. 

Jacob therefore, forsees that Gad will be especially exposed to the raids of marauding bands. 

Gad was exposed to the bands of roving marauders from the desert, Midianites and Ammonites, and Arabians. 

But Gad will not be slow in defending himself and striking back. 

Much as we see in our day when Israel takes no time to strike those who strike them. 

So Jacob pronounces Gad as an overcomer!

Manasseh

The half tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan occupied the land of Bashan, once the kingdom of Og. 

It extended from the Yarmuk northward to Mount Hermon. 

Its eastern border was the undefined edge of the desert.

Manasseh was one of Joseph’s sons, the other being Ephraim, that Jacob adopted. 

And as a son of Jacob the tribe of Manasseh was to be given a portion of the land.

Jacob had said in:

Genesis 49:22,  Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:

Jacob had added Joseph’s sons to his sons and he expounds in Genesis 49 on how fruitful that addition will be. 

We see later in scripture that the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh taken together were the most populous tribes in Israel. 

West of the Jordan

Palestine proper, “the Promised Land” was west of the Jordan.

This area may be divided into three sections for ease in classification.

The Southern Tribes: Judah, Simeon

Based on Jacob’s prophesy concerning Judah it is expected that the area near Jerusalem, an area that would be prominent in Israel would be given to Judah. 

He was described as the tribe from whom the king would come. 

He was described as the tribe that would have prominence over the other tribes.

He was described as the one who would be mighty in battle. 

David was of the tribe of Judah.

Judah was described using kingly or royal symbols.

It is in Judah that the seed of Abraham (The Lord Jesus Christ) is to be called.

Judah was assigned the territory westward from the Dead Sea, extending (ideally) to the Mediterranean. 

Until the days of David, Judah’s territory was restricted to the hill country south of Jerusalem. 

Bethlehem, Hebron, and later Jerusalem were important Judaean cities. 

During the days of the Judges and often in subsequent history, the Coastal Plain was in the hands of the Philistines. 

The low hills known as the Shephelah, between the Philistine Plain and the Judaean Mountains, frequently shifted back and forth from Israel to the Philistines.  

The Negeb, southland, was also a part of the territory assigned to Judah.

Simeon did not have an inheritance of its own. 

In the blessing of Jacob, the aged patriarch said of Simeon and Levi, referring to the violence that they perpetrated against the men of Shechem.

Genesis 49:7,  Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.

Simeon was assigned the southwestern portion of Judah’s allotment. 

The boundary was indeterminate, but it included Beer-sheba, Gerar, Arad, Hormah, and Ziklag. 

Most of these cities were in Philistine hands until the time of David. 

Simeon early lost its individuality and its territory was incorporated into the tribe of Judah.

Levi was of course the priestly tribe and was placed throughout the whole land.