JOSHUA CHAPTER 15 ~ 21

WEEK 40 JOSHUA 15

1 So this was the lot of the tribe
Of Judah’s children to describe
In families of their own line,
The border of Edom to shine
At the desert of Zin southward,
The southern boundary of their sward.
2 And their southern border began
At the shore of the Salt Sea’s scan,
From the bay that faces southward.
3 Then it went out the southern side
Of the slopes of Akrabbim, passed
Along to Zin, ascended last
On Kadesh Barnea’s south side,
Passed along to Hezron to ride
Up to Adar, and went around
To Karkaa. 4 From there it was found
Toward Azmon and went out to
The stream of Egypt, and the due
Border ended at the sea. This
Shall be your southern border’s kiss.

From thorny desert and the houses where
The scorpions flicker upon earth bare
I turn my gaze, diverted from the line
That binds my feet at southern step and sign
To see the maple loam about the cape
Of glories fashioned in both light and shape.
The desert dance upon the naked floor
Binds soul on earth to heaven and its shore.
Beloved, I touch the polished, glistening sand
And turn and turn again and come to stand
Where angels invisibly raise a hand
Against the north winds, south winds in their scope.
Once liberated from both steel and hope
I climb instead of flounder at the rope.

5 The east border was the Salt Sea
As far as mouth of Jordan’s lea.
And the border on the north side
Began at the bay of the tide
At the mouth of Jordan astride.
6 Up to Beth Hoglah went the line,
Passed north of Beth Arabah fine,
And the border went up the stone
Of Bohan, son of Reuben grown.
7 Then the border went up toward
Debir from the valley’s accord
Of Achor, and it turned northward
Toward Gilgal, which is before
The slopes of Adummim in store,
On the south of the valley’s floor.
The border went toward the stream
Of En Shemesh and ended dream
At En Rogel. 8 The border went
Up by the valley of the bent
Son of Hinnom to the south slope
Of the Jebusite city’s hope
Which is Jerusalem. The line
Went up to the top of the fine
Mountain that lies before the vale
Of Hinnom westward to the dale
End of Rephaim in north sail.
9 Then the border went all around
From the top of the hill to ground
Of fountain of the water of
Nephtoah to extend in shove
To the cities of Mount Ephron.
And the border went around on
To Baalah, which is Kirjath Jearim.
10 Then the border turned not to fear them
Westward from Baalah to Mount Seir,
Passed along to the side of sheer
Mount Jearim on the north whose name
Chesalon, went down in its fame
To Beth Shemesh and Timnah’s soil.
11 And the border went out to spoil
The side of Ekron northward, then
The border went around again
To Shicron, passed along to Mount
Baalah, extending to the fount
Of Jabneel to end at the sea.
12 The west border was the Great Sea
Along its coasts. This is the line
In boundary of Judah’s folk fine
All around according to all
Their families for barn and stall.

Beth Arabah is glowing in the light
Of the first lowering of the blessèd night.
Its warp and woof stretch out upon the sand
And promise shapes as well as shadow land
In colours purpled, riven red in hue.
Arabah’s house is drenched with evening dew.
Guarantor of faith, voucher of desire,
I hear the answerer answer in fire.
Beloved, as I whirl all about the fields
Of Canaan and of Paradise, their yields
Seem scant beneath the bound and scuffle that
My bare feet make upon the stony flat,
The fine dust raised to scintillate and hover
Above the hill, beneath the mountain cover.

13 And to Caleb who was the son
Of Jephunneh he gave the won
Lot among Judah’s children’s part,
According to command of YHWH
To Joshua, that is, the view
From Kirjath Arba, in Hebron,
And Anak was of Arba son.
14 And Caleb drove from there three sons
Of Anak from there, Sheshai’s buns,
Ahiman, and Talmai, who were
Children of Anak, every fer.

My marble gift to my ploughmen I find
As sons of Arba drawn out with the blind
To make room for the noble Caleb on
The hills of Judah in the sprinkling dawn.
According to Your own command I see
The hills march on, eternal wonderfully,
And yet submitted to the heel and fee
Of mortal man, and one too old to be
Much longer in their scope’s vitality.
Why not instead give men to hills in pledge
To be their possession to the sea’s edge?
Perhaps You would not wish to see hills weep
To lose their property in death to keep.
Wake up the hills, Beloved, don’t let them sleep.

15 Then he went up from there into
The dwellers of Debir in crew,
Before the name of Debir was
Kirjath Sepher with page and paws.
16 And Caleb said “He who attacks
Kirjath Sepher and with ransacks
Captures it, to him I will give
Achsah my daughter, wife to live.”

Is Caleb’s daughter sack of flour to trade
For valiant deed in Canaan’s mascarade?
I’d think a daughter might rebel at such
And fail to respond to her husband’s touch.
I’d think a daughter would prefer to choose
Her own man from the store of youthful clues.
The truth is she was brave and bold a girl
And had her ways of getting desired pearl.
The story must not mention her intrigue
With secret boyfriend to make out a league
That he should prove himself her father’s choice
While she pretended a demure invoice.
Beloved, I also in my intrigues fail
Not to choose You, choose me beyond the veil.

17 So Othniel son of Kenaz,
Brother of Caleb with his snazz,
Captured it, and he gave to him
Daughter Achsah as wife in trim.

Maybe Achsah was as a wife too hard
For any other to accept as pard.
Her name means anklet, which might bring to mind
A chain around the ankle and to bind
Rather in domineering than resigned
To tinkling music. Achsah’s also snake
As well as brazen trinket to a rake.
Anyone would think twice before that card.
Her father knew only a man who could
Raze Canaanite could tame that tangled wood.
In any case the marriage was the best
From Arab view to take into the nest
A cousin parallel to keep the name
Of father and his brother without shame.

18 It came to pass, that when she came,
She got him to ask for a claim
From her father and for a field.
She got down from donkey well heeled
And Caleb said to her “What’s up?”
19 She answered, “Give a blessing cup
To me, since you have given me
Land in the south, give me freely
Also springs of water for glee.”
So he gave her the upper springs
And lower springs where water sings.

I said the dame was brave, now see her go
Demanding more than her share of the flow.
Now as then everything is up for asking
And given to the one who is not basking.
It does not do to be shy on the road,
One has to cast about and lift the load.
The cup of water’s always needed when
The desert rises from the dawn on men.
Beloved, I come to You to ask a sip
Of the eternal nectar at the lip
And from an alabaster cup to find
The ecstasies of the well-prayed and wined.
If I am bold or shy, don’t lift an eye
Lash at my coming to You on the sly.

20 This was inheritance of tribe
Of Judah’s children to inscribe
According to their families,
21 The cities at the boundaries
Of the tribe of Judah’s sons at
Edom’s border in the south sat
As Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, and
22 Kinah, Dimonah, and the land
Of Adadah, 23 Kedesh, Hazor,
Ithnan, 24 Ziph, Telem, and one more
Bealoth, 25 Hazor, Hadattah, for
Kerioth, Hezron, that’s Hazor,
26 Amam, Shema, Moladah, 27 Hazar
Gaddah, Heshmon, a place to graze her,
Beth Pelet, 28 Hazar Shual, and
Beer Sheba, Bizjothjah, 29 a stand
In Baalah, Ijim, Ezem, 30 and
Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah too,
31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and crew
Of Rimmon, all the cities are
Twenty-nine, with their villages.
33 In the river valley with fizz,
Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah not fewer,
34 Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah,
Enam, 35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh,
Azekah, 36 Sharaim with choker,
Adithaim, Gederah, and
Gederothaim, two in hand,
Fourteen cities with villages,
37 Zenan, Hadashah, and the whiz
Of Migdal Gad, 38 Dilean, and
Mizpah, Joktheel, 39 and Lachish fanned,
Bozkath, Eglon, 40 Cabbon, Lahmas,
Kithlish, 41 Gederoth, and the crass
Beth Dagon, Naamah, and Makkedah,
Sixteen cities, villages fed her,
42 Libnah, Ether, Ashan, 43 Jiphtah,
Ashnah, Nezib, 44 at last Keilah,
Achzib, and Mareshah, nine cities
With their villages and their witties,
45 Ekron, with its towns and boroughs,
46 From Ekron to the sea furrows,
All that was near Ashdod, with their
Villages, 47 Ashdod with its fair
Towns and villages, Gaza and
Its towns and villages that stand
As far as Egypt’s river strand
And the Great Sea with all its land.

Whoever heard of city with the name
Of Kabzeel for its honour and its fame?
Not I till now, and yet I know the word
Means Assembly of God, and so has stirred
Some righteous men and women on the lot
To name their church Kabzeel and in the plot
Translate it to the Queen’s English if not
American in lingua franca’s slot.
Beloved, this is no church for me although
It bears Your epithet, I am too slow
To be burnt twice or is it on the go
Now thrice by congregations’ undertow.
Beloved, a lone dervish and without crowd
I come to this place where I’ve only bowed.

48 And in the mountains Shamir, and
Jattir, Sochoh, 49 Dannah, Kirjath
Sannah which is Debir for wrath,
50 Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, 51 Goshen,
Holon, and Giloh without ocean,
Eleven cities with their cats,
52 Arab, Dumah, Eshean’s flats,
53 Janum, Beth Tappuah in hand,
Aphekah, 54 Humtah, and the land
Of Kirjath Arba, that’s Hebron,
And Zior, nine cities when done
With their villages by the tonne,
55 Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, 56 Jezreel,
Jokdeam, Zanoah, 57 Kain, the feel
Of Gibeah, and Timnah, ten
Cities with their villages’ glen,
58 Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, 59 Maarath,
Beth Anoth, and Eltekon’s path,
Six cities with their villages,
60 Kirjath Baal, the place that is
Also Kirjath Jearim, one more,
Rabbah, two cities with the shore.
61 In the wilderness, Beth Arabah,
Middin, Secacah, 62 Nibshan’s robber,
The city of salt, and En Gedi,
Six cities with villages ready.
63 As for the Jebusites who dwell
In Jerusalem in their shell,
Judah’s folk could not drive them out,
But the Jebusites live about
With Judah’s children in the town
Of Jerusalem for renown
And to this very day adown.

On Shamir’s mount of flint I find the thorn
And thistle too much on bough to be borne.
And so I turn to judgement and the town
Of thornbush bramble to weigh down my crown.
It all comes back to Debir in a word
Until I realize what has occurred.
The north like south is edged with cutting line
To prevent foot from merging with the vine.
Beloved, I turn about and whirl to hear
The whizzing of Your voice about my ear
And see the north meet south with joy and fear.
Beloved, I turn about and stay my step
To find myself still dancing and with pep
Without need of a sacrifice or rep.

JOSHUA 16

1 The lot fell to the children of
Joseph from the Jordan above,
By Jericho, to waters of
Jericho on the east, and to
The desert up from Jericho
Through the mountains to Bethel’s view,
2 Then out from Bethel to Luz go
Passing along the border of
The Archites at Ataroth’s glove,
3 Down westward to the boundary
Of Japhletites’ extremity,
Into the coast of Beth Horon
Below and to Gezer at dawn,
And there it ended at the sea.
4 So all the children of Joseph,
Manasseh and Ephraim in feoff,
Took their inheritance to be.

Joseph was lucky in the part he got
Since Jericho and all surrounding plot
Had been swept clean of idolatrous lot
As soon as Joshua came into sight.
Joseph’s sons did not face renewing fight
With murdering robber and the Canaanite.
You are the hand behind blind luck, I know,
And I have seen before how Joseph’s show
Was given double in the blessing glow.
Beloved, let me live by the shining palms
Of Jericho tranquilly singing Psalms.
Any other place must be filled with qualms.
And yet when I passed there, I could not stop
Israeli car before the Arab prop.

5 The border of Ephraim’s folk was,
According to their families’ laws,
The border of inheritance
On the east side had come to dance
At Ataroth Addar as far
As Beth Horon above the star.
6 And the border went out toward
The sea at Michmethath’s north board,
And the border went round to east
To Taanath Shiloh, and increased
By it to east of Janohah.
7 Then it went down from Janohah
To Ataroth and Naarah, reached
To Jericho, and unimpeached
Came out at the river Jordan.
8 The border went out as by plan
From Tappuah westward to man
The brook Kanah, and ended at
The sea. This was the plot where sat
The tribe of Ephraim’s folk by their
Families each one in its share.
9 The separated cities for
The children of Ephraim in store
Were among the inheritance
Of Manasseh’s folk’s song and dance,
All cities with suburbs askance.
10 And they did not drive out the folk
Of Canaan who lived at the oak
In Gezer, but the Canaanites
Live there among the Ephraimites
To this day and they have become
Servants in tribute to their sum.

The brook Kanah, the happy, reedy brook
Presents its bed to everyone to look
For stock to make a whistle or a flute
So that the heart song need not be one mute.
The brook Kanah lifts up upon the breeze
The green and golden fronds of reeds at ease
And whispers to both earth and sky and trees
The names of its beloved, the silver names.
Beloved, I bear my flute from its domains,
Away from mother waters and her claims
To dry desert, away from lulling rains.
The lamentations of my reedy heart
Caught in this world and veil come once and start
To chaff beneath the sore and bloody dart.

JOSHUA 17

1 There was also a lot for tribe
Of Manasseh, one to describe
As firstborn of Joseph, namely
For Machir Manasseh’s firstborn,
The father of Gilead sworn,
Because he was a fer manly,
Therefore to him was Gilead
And Bashan, a land not so bad.
2 And there was a lot for the rest
Of Manasseh’s folk in the best
Of families, for children of
Abiezer, the children of
Helek, the children of Asriel,
The children of Shechem to spoil,
The children of Hepher, the folk
Of Shemida down to a bloke,
These were the sons of Manasseh
The son of Joseph in the way
Of all their families at play.
3 But Zelophehad who was son
Of Hepher, of Gilead begun,
The son of Machir, who was son
Of Manasseh, he had no son,
But only daughters. And these are
The names of his daughters in star,
Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah,
And Tirzah. 4 They to Eleazar
Came near, he was the priest for law,
Before Joshua son of Nun,
And before the rulers begun,
Saying “YHWH commanded Moses
To give us inheritance’ bliss
Among our brothers.” Therefore, by
The commandment of YHWH in sky,
He gave them an inheritance
Among their father’s brothers’ stance.
5 Ten shares to Manasseh, beside
The land of Gilead beside
Bashan, upon the other side
Of the Jordan, 6 because the daughters
Of Manasseh received as wroughters
Inheritance among his sons,
And the rest of Manasseh’s sons
Had the land of Gilead’s runs.

The Bible keeps on harping at the fact
That You and Moses were just in the act,
And Joshua after him in the pact
To give Manasseh’s daughters land and flood
To feed their cattle on the fertile mud.
Since then everybody gets in the act
And proclaims special virtue of nut cracked
When any time a woman gets her share
Of wealth and health and beauty fair and square.
I praise You, my Beloved, at least that You,
For all Your male pronouns and all the crew
Of neuter angels soaring on the wing,
Are feminist from exodus’s sting.
Beloved, come out and take a bow and sing.

7 And the coast of Manasseh was
From Asher to Michmethath’s claws,
That lies before Shechem on east,
And the border went and increased
Along the south to where they dwell
In En Tappuah without shell.
8 Manasseh had Tappuah’s land,
But Tappuah on coast at hand
Of Manasseh was to the folk
Of Ephraim given at a stroke.
9 And the border went down into
The brook Kanah, and southward to
The brook. These cities of Ephraim
Are among Manasseh’s towns’ hem.
The border of Manasseh was
On the north side of the brook’s claws,
And ended at the sea to pause.

Manasseh is most fortunate, I swear,
To have the land of apples and to wear
The apple spring like flowers in her hair!
Beloved, I too live on a land as fair
As that southland with apples and the pear,
Though found below the tundra and the sight
Of ice as soon as summer loses light.
The spring above my apple trees runs slight
Among the iris swords beside the trees
That sometimes bear fruit when the mayflies, bees
Inhabit the return of April’s breeze.
Manasseh is a happy boy to find
The spring and land of apples when he’s kind
To roving smells about the heart and knees.

10 Southward it was Ephraim’s, and
Northward it was Manasseh’s land,
And the sea was its border band.
They joined Asher on the north side
And Issachar upon the east.
11 And in Issachar and the feast
Of Asher, Manasseh had Beth
Shean and its suburbs, and the breath
Of Ibleam and its towns too,
The inhabitants of Dor’s crew,
And of En Dor and its towns too,
Inhabitants of Taanach and
Its suburbs, and inhabitants
Of Megiddo and the entrance
Of its towns, the three regions tall.
12 Yet the folk of Manasseh small
Could not drive out those cities’ wall,
But Canaanites were holding fast
To live in that land to the last.
13 And it came to pass, when the folk
Israel grew strong as an oak,
They put the Canaanites in stock
Of servitude upon the block,
But did not drive them out of stall.

Some live in En Tapuah to the south
Filled with sweet apples, paunch as well as mouth.
If I could choose again my hearth and home,
I might take instead of Paris or Rome
The spring of apples in the south to wear
A warming breeze about my thinning hair.
Where I live now, though at the threshold gate
Of Paradise where You each morning wait,
The morning is a dark and cold snow bath
Four months of the year at my back door path.
Beloved, whether in zephyrs kind and light,
Or in the frozen crackling of the night,
My heart restores its song where You appear
To track the desert sand or the snow gear.

14 And then the folk of Joseph spoke
To Joshua, saying in stroke
“Why have you given us one lot
And one share to inherit spot,
Since we’re a great people, and since
YHWH’s blessed us until now like prince?”
15 And Joshua answered their talk,
“If you’re a great people, don’t balk,
Go up to the woods, clear a place
For yourself there before the face
Of Perizzites and giants’ race,
If Ephraim’s hills are narrow trace.”

Since I’m twice as articulate as those
Green pastors in so many Baptist rows,
Like Joseph I demand a pulpit where
The flock can enjoy or buy of my ware.
But none is opened to me, so I stare
At the unclimbed hills and the wilderness
And go out armed to face the false address
With proclamations of Your name no less.
Beloved, I thrill to find the bracing wind
Against my face upon the heights undinned
By music other than the sharp cry of
The bird of prey without a wrist or glove.
There’s still space to claim acreage where the sun
Shines through the summer nights when winter’s won.

16 And the children of Joseph said
“The mountain country is not spread
Enough for us, all Canaanites
Who live in the valley land sights
Have chariots of iron, both they
Who are of Beth Shean and way
Of its towns and they who are in
The vale of Jezreel for sin.”
17 And Joshua spoke to Joseph’s house,
To Ephraim and Manasseh, spouse
And all saying “You are a great
People and have great power of late,
You shall not have only one lot,
18 “But the mountain shall be your plot.
For it is wooded, and you’ll cut
It down, and its farthest abut
Shall be yours, for you shall drive out
The Canaanites, though they be stout
With iron chariots all about.”

Ah, Joseph was not content after all
To rest beside the Jordan by the pall
Of Jericho’s ancient and fallen wall.
When I think well, it’s no surprise to me
That Ephraim and Manasseh’d be free
To roam upon the mountain with an axe
To bear the cedar’s odours on their backs.
So Joseph was not content with the call.
Beloved, though I am not a nation nor
A double tribe to set foot in Your door,
Give me too mountains where to breathe my name
With nostrils lifted to the wind’s acclaim.
Then I like Joseph will return to dance
A ring around the Jordan at a glance.

WEEK 41 JOSHUA 18

1 And the whole congregation of
The children of Israel above
Gathered together at Shiloh,
And set up meeting tent to show
The land was subdued, every foe.
2 And there remained among the folk
Of Israel seven tribes bespoke
Which had not yet received their share.
3 And Joshua said in a blare
To the children of Israel there,
“How long will you neglect to go
And take the land that YHWH’d bestow,
The God of your fathers [ancestors] in tow
Has given you? 4 “Pick out among
You three men for each tribe unstrung,
And I will send them, they shall rise
And go through the land, with their eyes
Survey it for inheritance,
And come back to me with good sense.
5 “And they’ll divide in seven shares.
Judah shall remain in their terres
On the south, and Joseph’s house stay
In their land in the northern way.
6 “You shall therefore come to survey
The land in seven parts and bring
Report here to me, that I may
Cast lots for you here before YHWH
Our God who gives the land to you.
7 “But the Levites, they have no part
Among you, for the priesthood art
Of YHWH is their inheritance.
And Gad and Reuben, in advance
Half the tribe of Manasseh got
Beyond Jordan an eastern plot,
Which Moses the servant of YHWH
Gave them.” 8 The men arose in crew
To go away, and Joshua charged
Them who went to survey enlarged
The land, saying “Go, and walk through
The land, describe it, come back to
Me, that I may cast lots for you
Here in Shiloh and before YHWH.”

Three men for every tribe of seven in all
Make twenty-one recruits to hear the call
And tramp around Canaan’s land for a ball
To spy it out and tell the wherewithall.
And any of the twenty-one who might
Be tempted to disdain the land for spite
Or say that they were too weak for the fight
Would remember the twelve who went before
To lose the life of ten on sandy shore
Of Sinai’s valley somewhere near the door
Back to Egypt. Beloved, You take three men
Of each so that two cannot agree then
To sabotage invasion’s purple grate.
So today soldiers are pushed to their fate.

9 And the men went, and they passed through
The land, and described it in view
Writ in a book in seven parts
By cities, and they came like darts
To Joshua at the Shiloh camp.
10 Then Joshua cast lots to revamp
For them in Shiloh before YHWH,
And there Joshua to the crew
Of Israel divided the land
According to their every band.

The number seven here is better than
The number twelve that once came in to span
The heart with fear, the mind with doubt in plan.
Seven lots for seven trots round the hills fall down.
The twelve tribes failed because the fear of ten
Knocked out the wind from Red Sea’s sails again
And taught treason to Israel’s battlement
Ready to return to Egyptian town.
Not so, Beloved, when seven draw at straws
To see who will fight first with teeth and claws
To gain possession of the land in paws,
The twenty-one dance well across the stone.
I too, Beloved, whirl in sight of Your throne
With naught better than throw the dog a bone.

11 And the lot of the tribe of folk
Of Benjamin came to a bloke
According to their families’ stroke,
And the land of their lot came out
Between Judah’s folk and the stout
Children of Joseph. 12 Their land line
On the north side began to shine
At the Jordan, and the land line
Went up to Jericho upon
The north, and went up against dawn
Through the hills westward, ending at
The desert where Beth Aven sat.

Ah, Beth Aven, that is the famous place
Of sorrow, grief and trouble to the race
Of manly men upon a spool of thread,
Where wealth and wickedness have evil bred.
A desert to the wall on every side
Where righteous men and women would abide,
The one to thread the needle and to chide
The other for his virile, potent face.
Beloved, I meet the desert on the shore
Of woodlands covering rock-strewn hill, and moor
Above the tree line, where the ptarmigan
Fails not in sun to live where’er she can.
Beloved, I meet the desert with a howl
Of hopeless joy for having lost my towel.

13 The border went over from there
Toward Luz, to the side of where
Luz was, which is Bethel southward,
And the border went down toward
Ataroth Addar, near the hill
That lies on the south side and still
Below Beth Horon. 14 Then the line
Was drawn around the west side fine
To the south, from the hill that lies
Before Beth Horon’s southern rise,
Ending at Kirjath Baal, which is
Kirjath Jearim, city of his,
Of Judah’s folk. This was the west.
15 The south quarter started the best
From the end of Kirjath Jearim,
And the border extended trim
On the west and went out to draw
The water spring of Nephtoah.

The springs of Fatihah give waters cool
To every saint and sinner, sage and fool.
The seven companies that bear the pool
By lot take gambling for a holy tool.
I hazard a guess and spin out to find
How every eye that sees You becomes blind
With love without hope and without a tear
To trade in time for a self-righteous fear.
Beloved, I come today and every day
To sip the Fatihah in my own way
And go out with the tribes to dance and play.
The water of the Torah cold as ice
And hot as melted copper in a trice
Turns Fatihah to wine, forbidden tray.

16 Then the border came to the end
Of the mountain that would extend
Before the vale of Hinnom’s son,
In the valley of Rephaim
On the north, went down once begun
To valley of Hinnom for trim,
To the side of the Jebusite
City on the south, and in right
Went down to En Rogel. 17 And it
Went around from the north and fit,
Went out to En Shemesh, up toward
Geliloth, which is before sward
Of Adummim, and went down to
The stone of Bohan who was due
Son of Reuben. 18 And passed along
Toward the north side for a song
Of Arabah, and went down to
Arabah. 19 And the border true
Passed along to the north side of
Beth Hoglah, then the line above
Ended at the north bay upon
The Salt Sea, at the south end drawn
Of Jordan. This was the south line.
20 The Jordan was its borderline
On the east side. This was the lot
Of Benjamin’s folk, by the plot
Of its boundaries all around,
According to their families found.

I come to Arabah again and smile
To see the holy city from a mile
Away. Upon the overlook I stand
And through my dream of stinging desert sand
I see its minarets shining and bold
Above the glistening, the street of gold.
The perfumes of its banners still unfold
Their odours through my sleep of tired care.
Beloved, I tell You now, Beloved, beware
The pilgrim feet that trample on the stair
Though only in the dreams that make the round
Of my continued dance upon the ground
Of slumber. Beloved, search, I may be found
Riding neither on stallion nor on mare.

21 And the cities of the tribe of
The children of Benjamin’s love,
According to their families,
Were Jericho, Beth Hoglah’s lees,
Emek Keziz, 22 Beth Arabah,
Zemaraim, Bethel, 23 and Parah,
Avim, Ophrah, 24 Chephar not last
Haammoni, Ophni, and the fast
Gaba, twelve cities with their towns,
25 Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth downs,
26 Mizpah, Chephirah, Mozah, 27 and
Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah’s band,
28 Zelah, Eleph, Jebus which is
Jerusalem, Gibeath’s whiz,
And Kirjath, fourteen cities all
With their villages in the stall.
This was the lot drawn by the folk
Of Benjamin by families’ stroke.

Look, my Beloved, how sweetly I succeed
In following the modern trend to seed!
Why do so many translators today
Transliterate the place names in the way,
And yet hide Ali’s name that rises up
Three times at least with alabaster cup?
Emek indeed! Even old Tyndale knew
To call Emek a valley to the crew
Of ploughboys learning holy writ from You.
But no one is so brave to stay the train
To give the whole translation clear and plain.
Emek Keziz means nothing more nor less
Than valley of a meatloaf and to dress
With woollen gravy in God’s house to guess.

JOSHUA 19

1 The second lot came out for man
Of Simeon, and for the plan
Of the tribe of Simeon’s folk
According to their families’ cloak.
And their inheritance was in
The plot of Judah’s folk and bin.
2 They had in their inheritance
Beer Sheba and Sheba to dance,
Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, and
Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad’s sand,
Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, and fast
Beth Marcaboth, and still not last
Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth,
And Sharuhen, thirteen not loath
Cities and their villages found,
7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and the ground
Of Ashan, four cities and their
Villages, 8 and all of the fair
Villages that were all around
These cities as far as is found
Baalath Beer, Ramah to south.
This was the inheritance’ mouth
Of the tribe of the children of
Simeon by families’ love.
9 The plot of Simeon’s children’s share
Was in slot of Judah’s folk’s care,
For the share of Judah’s folk was
Too much for them to till its fuzz.
Therefore the folk of Simeon
Had their plot in their share when done.

Though for crimes or good deeds Simeon gloats
Without place among Israel’s parade floats,
He has to live somewhere like dog or louse,
And so gets a back room in Judah’s house.
The wrathful Simeon who took issue with
The Shechemites because of Hivite myth
Is a man after my own heart, I swear,
If my sister Dinah had had a share
Of paedophilic goosing, then beware,
I too might have brought circumcision out
And cut nine inches from the wicked spout.
Give Simeon a palace in the land
Of Judah for the way he carried, planned
Out with a vicious and victorious hand.

10 The third lot came out for the folk
Of Zebulon down to a bloke,
And the border of their plot ran
As far as Sarid in its span.
11 Their border went up toward the sea
And to Maralah, down to be
By Dabbasheth, and reached along
The brook east of Jokneam’s song.
12 Then from Sarid it went eastward
Toward the sunrise by the sward
Of Chisloth Tabor, and went out
Toward Daberath, not by route
Of Japhia. 13 And from there it
Passed along on the east to Git
Tahepher, and along toward It
Takazin, only to go out
To Rimmon, whose borders about
Are on Neah. 14 Then the line went
Around it on the north side spent
Of Hannathon, and it reached to
The vale Jiphthah-el. 15 Kattath, and
Nahallal, Shimron, and the band
Of Idalah, and all the crew
Of Bethlehem, twelve cities and
Their villages upon the sand.
16 This was inheritance of folk
Of Zebulun and by the stroke
Of their families, these cities and
Their suburbs set out in the land.

Zebulon’s circle I sing as my feet
Go round the lovely villages to greet
With song and dance inheritance complete.
Twelve cities, one for each appointed one
As divine guide beneath an awkward sun.
Twelve cities gay, twelve cities on the run
After the prophets, and after the gun.
Twelve cities home to everyone I meet.
Beloved, I rarely hear of cities fair
Of Zebulon with all their bright names there.
It’s only Bethlehem beneath the stars
In deep and silent sleep that keeps its bars
Open a Satdy night to one and all
To worship manger babies in the stall.

17 The fourth lot to Issachar came,
For the folk of Issachar’s name
According to their families’ fame.
18 And their plot went up to Jezreel,
With Chesulloth, Shunem in deal,
19 Haphraim, Shion, Anaharath,
20 Rabbith, Kishion, Abez’ path,
21 Remeth, En Gannim, En Haddah,
And Beth Pazzez inscribed by law.
22 And the border reached to Tabor,
Shahazimah, and Beth Shemesh,
And their border ended before
The Jordan, sixteen cities fresh
With their suburbs. 23 This was the plot
Of the tribe of Issachar’s lot
According to their families,
The cities and their villages.

Issachar’s plot has cities there
Four times four with their gates to spare
Of law and love and even there
Awareness and truth in the glare
Of the bright suns I come to stare
At from the gates of earth and air
Opposite the two gates in pair
Of loving knowing of the share
That falls to righteous everywhere
You sow Your wheat and dig up tare.
Beloved, I sing Issachar’s lot
Satisfied with the love I’ve got
From stealing in the baker’s pot
Without a wicked thought or care.

24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe
Of Asher’s children to inscribe
According to their families.
25 And their lands took up Helkath’s trees,
Hali, Beten, Achshaph to please,
26 Alammelech, Amad, and last
Mishal, it reached up to the mast
Of Mount Carmel westward, along
Shihor Libnath. 27 It turned in song
Toward the sunrise to Beth Dagon,
And reached to Zebulun by wagon
And to the valley of Jiphthah
El, then northward beyond the craw
Of Beth Emek and Neiel’s maw,
Going past Cabul on the left,
28 Including Ebron in the heft,
Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah to
Great Sidon within the sea’s view.
29 And then the border turned to Ramah
And to the fortress town and gamer
Of Tyre, then the border turned to
Hosah, and ended at the view
Of the sea by the region of
Achzib. 30 Also Ummah in glove,
Aphek, and Rehob twenty-two
Cities with their villages too.
31 This was the tribe’s plot of the folk
Of Asher according to stroke
Of their families, these cities
With their villages set at ease.

Here is glib Asher’s doleful happiness
Living in valley house, soulful address.
In sight of Tyre he spends his gleeful days
In quietness singing untuneful lays.
He reaches out a hand in goalful praise
To Simeon who rocks to sleep a guess.
Here is the rib of Asher’s holeful stays
To fill the land with hopeful faithfulness.
Beloved, I sing with Asher, though my voice
Is not one of the chosen nor the choice,
And trample on the grim, goat-footed ways
That are so popular for to rejoice.
Beloved, I sing with Asher despite death
And every curse that wells up on my breath.

32 The sixth lot came out to the folk
Of Naphtali, and at a stroke
The sons of Naphtali awoke
According to their families’ yoke.
33 And their frontier began to run
At Heleph, surrounding the dun
From the terebinth tree that grows
In Zaanannim, as the light shows,
Adami Nekeb, and Jabneel,
As far as Lakkum to the heel
Of Jordan. 34 From Heleph the line
Stretched westward to Aznoth Tabor,
And went out from there toward the fine
Hukkok, and it joined there before
Zebulon on the south side and
Asher upon the westward hand,
And ended at Judah in guise
By the Jordan toward sunrise.
35 And the fortress towns are Ziddim,
Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, and undim
Chinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah,
Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei in claw,
En Hazor, 38 Iron, Migdal El,
Horem, Beth Anath, and as well
Beth Shemesh, nineteen cities and
Their villages spread on the land.
39 This was the plot of the tribe of
The sons of Naphtali above
According to their families,
The cities and their villages.

Nineteen cities, that’s magic number of
The holy Qur’an invented for shove.
So Naphtali becomes the prophecy
Of one more sect encroaching on the free.
The tower of God, hairdresser and wigmaker,
Is one of those bright cities on the taker.
I flee to that dark cupboard from the one
That breeds horses and grows orange for pun.
Beloved, give Naphtali a rest and peace
In hilltops and in valleys for release.
Give me with Naphtali a place and room
To strum my heart and beat upon my broom.
My song of praise to You shall never cease
Until I meet Your judgement and my doom.

40 The seventh lot fell to the tribe
Of Dan’s descendants to inscribe
According to their families.
41 And the land of their plot became
Zorah, Eshtaol, and for fame
Ir Shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, as drawn,
Aijalon, Jethlah, 43 and Elon,
Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, and
Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud’s land,
Bene Berak, and Gath Rimmon,
46 Me Jarkon, and at last Rakkon,
With the region near Joppa drawn.
47 But the border of Dan’s folk went
Beyond, because Dan’s people went
Up to fight against Leshem and
Took it, and they smote it with hand
And mouth of the sword, and they took
It over and lived in the nook.
They called Leshem, Dan, by the name
Of Dan their father for his fame.
48 This is the lot of Dan’s tribe’s folk
According as their families spoke,
These cities with their suburbs’ spoke.

Ah, here is it already, judgement day,
A Dan upon the northern hills to sway
The balances too equally loaded
With good deed and my wickedness’ cupid!
So Dan’s gone out to Leshen at the dawn,
An opal of repute well set upon
The hills to reign in glory and make spawn.
Just wait until Dan takes away the place
Of Vatican to sculpt a godly face
Of worship to appear without a trace.
Beloved, Dan is a viper in the soil
That glistens with his opaline in coil.
I stand in judgement without even smirk
To hide my sharpened word and whetted dirk.

49 When they had finished dividing
The land as an inheriting
According to their borders, then
The folk of Israel gave a plot
Among them to Joshua’s lot
Who was the son of Nun again.
50 According to the word of YHWH
They gave him the city in due
Which he asked for, Timnath Serah
In Ephraim’s hills, and he with saw
And hammer built the city and
Lived in it at peace in the land.
51 These were the lots which Eleazar
The priest, Joshua son and star
Of Nun, and the heads of the fathers
Of tribes of Israel’s folk with bothers
Divided as inheritance
By lot in Shiloh and by chance
Before YHWH, at the meeting tent
Door. So they made with one consent
End of dividing the land spent.

It is excessive, Dear, what Joshua
Chose to follow selection of Timnah.
Serah indeed! I would have raised a stench
To find under my tent flap such a wench.
But Joshua looks far beyond the name.
He was well used to thinking of the claim
Of changing names to Joshua or other,
And did not mind a moment in the smother
Of smells ripened and set to memory
In the name of his village on the lee.
Beloved, whatever name You name me by
I still stand here beneath Your empty sky
And raise a prayer of silent words and dry.
I welcome Your unanswer like a brother.

JOSHUA 20

1 YHWH also spoke to Joshua,
Saying 2 “Speak to the plethora
Of Israel, saying ‘Appoint
For yourselves cities to anoint
Refuge, of which I spoke to you
Through Moses, 3 ‘that the slayer who
Kills a person and unawares
Or not on purpose by his cares
May flee there, and they shall be your
Refuge from blood avenger’s score.
4 ‘And when he flees to one of those
Cities, and stands at entrance rose
To city gate, and there declares
His case by that city’s elders’
Ears, they shall take him in the place
To them, and give him room to dwell
That he may live among them well.
5 ‘And if the blood avenger comes
After him, they shall not for crumbs
Give the killer into his hand,
Because he struck his neighbour’s stand
Not on purpose, and did not hate
Him before he had met his fate.
6 ‘And he shall live in that city
Until he stand before pity
Of congregation for judgement,
And until the death that is sent
Death of the one who is high priest
In those days of famine or feast.
The killer then may return and
Come to his own city and land
In his own house, to the city
From which he fled without pity.’”

I’m not sure that the one who ponders is
The worst of criminals, it’s likely his
Feelings were hurt by what the neighbour did
To show his excellence and pro and quid.
The worser criminal it seems to me
Is the one who was careless of his fee.
The latter disdains all the human race,
While the former gives hate a local place.
Beloved, keep my hand from the killing touch.
There is no place of refuge in this such
Of world where I live now. Let me not feel
The thrill nor anguish of the crushing heel.
There’s killing plenty in my own homeland
As in the foreign slaughterhouse I stand.

7 So they appointed Kedesh in
Galilee, in Naphtali’s bin
Of hills, Shechem in the hills of
Ephraim, and Kirjath Arba’s love
Which is Hebron, in the hills of
Judah. 8 And on the other side
Of the Jordan, by Jericho
Eastward, they assigned Bezer wide
On desert plain, east from the show
Of Reuben, Ramoth in the glow
Of Gilead, and from the tribe
Of Gad, and Golan in Bashan,
From the tribe of Manasseh’s plan.
9 These were the cities without bribe
Appointed for all Israel’s folk
And for stranger who lived as bloke
Among them, that whoever killed
Someone by accident, not filled
With hate might flee there, and not die
By hand of blood avenger’s cry
Until he stood before the people
In congregation for a weeple.

Kedesh and Shechem and Kirjath Arbah,
Which is in Hebron in hills of Judah,
Bezer, Ramoth and Golan on the side
Toward the rising of the Jordan’s pride,
These are the six cities where fateful hand
Finds refuge from the vengeance of the land.
The six in all are given to the week
But seventh one is lacking when I seek.
The refuge for the slayer knows no rest,
No sweet comfort of Sabbath at its best.
Beloved, as I surround the circus tent
And see the figures dropping where they went
I fancy flight above the ring and door,
I turn to seek You on the further shore.

WEEK 42 JOSHUA 21

1 Then the heads of the fathers’ tents
Of the Levites came near with sense
To Eleazar the priest, to
Joshua the son of Nun true,
And to heads of the fathers’ houses
Of the tribes where Israel’s folk browses.
2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh
In the land of Canaan in tow,
Saying “YHWH commanded through Moses
To give us cities for as chose us
To live in, with their common land
For our livestock in stall and band.”
3 So the children of Israel gave
To the Levites from their plots’ thrave
Inheritance at the command
Of YHWH, these cities and their land.
4 Now the lot came out for the kin
Of Kohathites. And the sons in
The family of Aaron , priest,
Who were of Levites, not the least,
Had thirteen cities drawn by lot
From the tribe of Judah, and sought
From the tribe of Simeon, and from
The tribe of Benjamin to come.
5 The rest of the sons of Kohath
Had ten cities by lot from path
Of families of Ephraim’s tribe,
From the tribe of Dan to subscribe,
And from Manasseh’s half a tribe.
6 And the children of Gershon had
Thirteen cities by lot not bad
From the families of the tribe
Of Issachar, and from the tribe
Of Asher, also from the tribe
Of Naphtali, and from the half
A tribe of Manasseh’s carafe
In Bashan. 7 The son of Merari
By their families uncontrary
Had twelve cities from Reuben’s tribe,
From the tribe of Gad to subscribe,
And from the tribe of Zebulon.
8 And the children of Israel done
Gave these cities with grazing lands
By lot to the Levites in bands,
As YHWH had commanded by hand
Of Moses outside Canaan’s land.

Like Zelophehad’s daughters, so the priests
Were bound to get their due in lands and beasts.
And like those ladies they were forced to sue
Before anyone remembered their due.
The theocratic system may be right
And just in every mother’s and son’s sight,
But justice is unknown unless one’s strong
To take what’s one’s own from the crushing throng.
Beloved, I wait upon a crystal sill
For the receipt of honey-covered pill
And see that every priest and civil servant
Goes on intent on honours to be fervent,
Forgetting who is not a swine before
Whom to cast pearls beneath the sycamore.

9 So they gave from Judah’s sons’ tribe
And from the tribe to circumscribe
All the children of Simeon
These cities which by name they won,
10 Which were for the sons of Aaron,
One of the families begun
Of the Kohathites, Levi’s sons,
For the lot was theirs first for buns.
11 And they gave them Kirjath Arba,
Arba was Anak’s father’s draw,
Which is Hebron, and in the hills
Of Judah, with the common rills
Surrounding it. 12 But of the fields
Of the city and all its yields
In villages they gave away
To Caleb son of Jephunneh
As his possession in the way.
13 Thus to the children of Aaron
The priest they gave also Hebron
With its suburbs, a city spun
For refuge for the killer son,
Libnah with its suburbs well done,
14 Jattir with its suburbs in fun,
Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
15 Holon with its common-land herbs,
Debir with its suburbs and 16 Ain
With its suburbs before the plain,
Juttah with its suburbs, and Beth
Shemesh with its suburbs and breath,
Nine cities all from those two tribes,
17 And from Benjamin’s tribe inscribes,
Gibeon with its suburbs and
Geba with its suburbs to stand,
18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and
Almon with its suburbs, in all
Four cities. 19 All the cities’ stall
Of the children of Aaron , priests,
Were thirteen cities for their feasts.

The thirteen priestly cities I declare
Seem fortunate to stand beneath the glare
Of the bright sun and the deserted air,
But I have seen the bare Judean hills
And I have known the pale silence that fills
The stone for turf, and cannot quite admire
The choice of habitat in frozen fire,
Forbidding villages to my mind’s bills.
Beloved, what’s most amazing is the great
Enthusiasm read in Israel’s fate
To enter Canaan’s desert. Forty years
In Sinai with its sand and flaming tears
Are needed to make Hebron take on state.
Come from Goshen, the vision had to wait.

20 And the families of Kohath’s sons,
The Levites, the rest of the tonnes
Of children of Kohath, even they
Had the cities of their lot’s pay
From Ephraim’s tribe. 21 For it was they
Gave them Shechem with its suburbs
In the mountains of Ephraim’s curbs,
A refuge city for the killer,
Gezer with its suburbs and miller,
22 Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth
Horon with its suburbs and breath
In all four cities, 23 from the tribe
Of Dan, Eltekeh with its ribe
Of common land, Gibbethon too
With its suburbs, 24 Aijalon’s few
With its suburbs, and Gath Rimmon
With its suburbs, four cities won.
25 And from Manasseh’s half a tribe,
Tanach as its suburbs describe
And Gath Rimmon with its suburbs,
Two cities where no one disturbs.
26 All the ten cities with suburbs
Were for the rest of Kohath’s sons
In their families by their tonnes.

How many cities named Gath Rimmon lie
Beneath the glare of Canaanite sun’s eye?
I reckon every village in the park
Has got a winepress for the lassies’ lark
As soon as there are vineyards for the spoil.
I bring the fragrant late wine to a boil,
And so release its aptitude to coil
The heart and senses, still I’m seeing double.
I hope there are not two towns to cause trouble.
Meet me, Beloved, at Gath Rimmon’s east gate,
And choose Yourself which town not to be late,
And I shall dance between the two to find
Out what outrageous thing is on Your mind
Where You preside on judgement and in state.

27 Also to the sons of Gershon,
Of the Levite families done,
From the other half of the tribe
Of Manasseh to circumscribe,
They gave Golan in Bashan with
Its suburbs, refuge city with
Safety for the killer, and Be
Eshterah with its common fee,
Two cities, 28 and then from the tribe
Of Issachar, Kishion’s scribe
With its suburbs, Daberath with
Its suburbs, 29 and then Jarmuth with
Its suburbs, and En Gannim with
Its suburbs, four cities in myth,
30 And from the tribe of Asher, one
Mishal with its suburbs when done,
Abdon with its suburbs for fun,
31 Helkath with its suburbs, Rehob
With its suburbs, four towns’ free nob,
32 And from the tribe of Naphtali,
Kedesh in Galilee nearby
Its suburbs, a refuge city
A place for the killer to flee.
Hammoth Dor with its suburbs too,
And Kartan where its suburbs grew,
Three cities. 33 All the cities of
The Gershonites by families’ love,
Thirteen cities with the above.

The cities of refuge You mention first
Of every region, as though things would burst
Unless that vital fact is not dispersed.
I need no city of refuge, my Dear,
I flee to You alone and without fear,
Although along the narrow path I tread
I see around me every scene of dread
Resulting from the fact that none revere
Your divine law thundered on Mount Sinai.
There is not government beneath the sky
That relies on the single vow to save
Every human life from the sodden grave.
Torture and pestilence follow the bombs
Beneath the pine and fir, beneath the palms.

34 And to the families of sons
Of Merari, the rest in runs
Of the Levites, and from the tribe
Of Zebulon, Jokneam’s scribe
With its suburbs, Kartah with its
Suburbs, 35 and Dimnah where it sits
In suburbs, and Nahalal with
Its suburbs, four cities in pith,
36 And from the tribe of Reuben, fine
Bezer with its suburbs and wine,
Jahaz with its suburbs to dine,
37 Kedemoth where its suburbs shine,
And Mephaath with its suburbs all,
Four cities fenced and standing tall,
38 And from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth
In Gilead suburbs in troth,
A refuge city for the killer,
Mahanaim with suburbs’ pillar,
39 Heshbon with its suburbs to be
With Jazer with its suburbs free,
Four cities all abundantly.
40 So all the cities for the folk
Of Merari and as bespoke
Their families, the rest of all
The families of Levites’ sprawl,
Were by their lot twelve cities all.

Almost every series of twelve proposed
Carries the weight of divine guides opposed,
Even when only one slot of the twelve
Shows symbol of that fortune, when I delve,
I find it always so. The third slot lies
Upon the sacrificial altar’s guise,
As Hussein follows Hasan and the wise
Ali to meet his bloody death upon
The bank of the Euphrates after dawn.
Dimnah reminds each one of blood and gore,
And is the third city upon the shore
Of Merari’s sons’ plot and barnyard door.
Beloved, I mind today again the name
That with tears always comes to make a claim.

41 All the cities of the Levites
Within the heritage of rights
Of the children of Israel
Were forty-eight cities to dwell
With their suburbs to make them swell.
42 Every one of these cities had
Its suburbs surrounding it clad,
Thus were all these cities not sad.
43 So YHWH gave to Israel the land
All of which He had sworn to hand
To their fathers, and they took hold
Of it and lived in it as told.
44 And YHWH gave them rest all around,
According to all He had bound
To their fathers. And not a man
Of all their enemies a span
Could stand against them, YHWH delivered
All their foes to their hands unslivered.
45 Not a word failed of any good
Thing which YHWH had spoken that should
Be done to house of Israel.
All came to pass as by a spell.

Four times twelve cities make the number of
The dwelling places of the Levites’ love,
A city representing each of those
Sons of Ishmael that set the cycles’ rows,
And each of Jacob’s sons whose children dance
Beneath the sparkling hills and clear sun’s glance,
And each of the apostles Jesus chose,
And each of the Imams in whiter clothes.
Beloved, let me live in the shadow that
Fell from the forty-eight cities and sat
In righteousness and safety where You’re at.
Beloved, I flee to You beyond the veils
Of every twelve in line, before Whom pales
The tinsel that their striving here entails.

AUTHOR: THOMAS G. MCELWAIN

Copyright © 2007 Adams & McElwain Publishers and Thomas McElwain First Published in two volumes, The Beloved and I 2005, and Led of the Beloved, 2006. Second Edition, 2010 Third and revised edition, 2012 All rights reserved. No part of this verse commentary on the sacred Scriptures may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, without permission in writing from publisher.

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