Psalms 135:12
And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
Original Language Analysis
וְנָתַ֣ן
And gave
H5414
וְנָתַ֣ן
And gave
Strong's:
H5414
Word #:
1 of 6
to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
נַ֝חֲלָ֗ה
an heritage
H5159
נַ֝חֲלָ֗ה
an heritage
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
3 of 6
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
נַ֝חֲלָ֗ה
an heritage
H5159
נַ֝חֲלָ֗ה
an heritage
Strong's:
H5159
Word #:
4 of 6
properly, something inherited, i.e., (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion
Historical Context
The land distribution under Joshua (Joshua 13-21) implemented what God promised to Abraham four centuries earlier. Each tribe received its territorial allotment by lot, emphasizing divine determination rather than human preference. The concept of 'nachalah' shaped Israel's understanding of property, family inheritance, and their relationship to the land throughout their history.
Questions for Reflection
- How should we understand our spiritual "inheritance" in Christ?
- What responsibilities come with receiving God's inheritance?
Analysis & Commentary
The conquest narrative reaches its purpose: 'And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.' The Hebrew 'nachalah' (heritage, inheritance) appears twice for emphasis, underscoring that the land was divine gift, not human conquest. This inheritance fulfilled the Abrahamic promise (Genesis 15:18-21) and demonstrated covenant faithfulness across centuries. The phrase 'Israel his people' ('amo Yisrael') reinforces the covenant relationship - they received inheritance precisely because they were His people. Land tenure in ancient Israel was theological, not merely economic; the land belonged ultimately to God and was entrusted to Israel. Hebrews 4 reinterprets this inheritance typologically, pointing to the eternal 'rest' believers enter through Christ - our ultimate promised land and eternal heritage.