Today let’s discuss how the tribe of Manasseh interacted with the Canaanites living within their territories of The Promised Land. Have you ever thought of playing with a snake? That is the picture that portrays how Manasseh lived among the Canaanites.
LIVING AMONG SNAKES
The Canaanites were determined to keep living in Israel, even when it became known as the land which God had assigned to the tribe of Manasseh. God had other plans. However; God’s plans depended upon the obedience of Israel to do as they were commanded. Otherwise; there would be certain alternatives that Israel would have to face in the future.
God teaches his children patiently, just like any faithful parent would do. The obedient are richly rewarded with joyful and full lives; but the disobedient sometimes have to learn the hard way. A good parent will teach with whatever method works for the child.
CANAAN AND HISTORY
I find it very interesting to realize that the name “Canaan” means “a trafficker.” Cultures of the modern world should certainly be able to grasp that meaning. We have heard it often enough. No matter how often you hear the term; most people are chilled to think of the actuality.
Did the meaning of Canaan play out in world history? Were the Canaanites nothing more than traffickers of souls? We will take a look at these unconquered sections of Canaan during the time of the judges and see for ourselves. Today we look at how the people of Canaan were affected, or not, by the tribe of Manesseh during the occupation of Israel and the times of the judges.
A REVIEW
Previously we saw how Judah, Simeon and Benjamin failed to completely drive out the pagans from their lands of inheritance. We began to survey the people living there and started to understand God’s reasons for commanding that these people groups should leave.
Manasseh also had many Canaanites, (pagan people) living with them in the land. These were the people of Beth Shan, Taanach, Dor or Ibleam and
Megiddo, and the areas surrounding these areas.
Would Manasseh be any different in obeying God’s commandment to relieve the land of people practicing sinful abominations among the new nation of Israel?
Let’s take a look at exactly what people and cultures we are discussing. It will help us to understand why it was necessary to drive them out of Israel. We could start with Beth Shan.
BETH SHAN
Beth Shan was a secular city located central to the main crossroads between the Jordan Valley and the Jezreel Valley (Yizreel.) It was close to Galilee and the Mediterranean Sea, which made the lands rich with water. There were also abundant springs in the area providing wells.
This was a key city because of its perfect location. It connected many countries in trade. The remains of over 20 layers of civilizations exist in the archeological digs and tel of Beth Shan.
Many nations and cultures came and went within the area of Beth Shan over thousands of years. In the times of the judges, which we are studying today, the Egyptians had political control over those who inhabited the land of Canaan.
Beth Chan was strong and fortified during the days of the judges. Pagan temples scattered across the land. Abominable practices dominated the cultures which lived there.
The people of Israel suffered later because of the fact that the Israelites did not drive out all of these cultures. God did not desire for idol-worshipping people to dwell in the holy land of promise.
SAUL AND BETH SHAN
Perhaps this phenomenon is why later in time we learn about the tragic death of Saul and his sons which took place on the wall of this great city. Saul had been influenced by the pagan practices and the pagan worship of the land. He was plagued with a spirit of jealousy which eventually brought him to his end.
So many other evil leaders in history have been plagued with the spirit of jealousy. Think of the Harrods and their kingships. Also think of all the evil men who ruled between them and up through the ages until we get to Hitler, Stalin, Marx, etc. These men were all jealous of the godly men of their times. They all tried to destroy God’s ways and God’s peoples in their reigns of terror.
Many such evil men have constantly displayed the same tendencies of jealousy; like Saul. We can even think of and identify some prominent leaders in our own times. They all seem to enjoy evil ways because of their tendency to be jealous of other great leaders and their power.
GENERATIONS OF EVIL RULERS
These past-to-present generations of power-crazed individuals will not stop using evil to destroy their adversaries. It is a tool they love to employ.
This longing for all the power was Saul’s great sin. He also turned to witchcraft and evil ways when he was left alone without a prophet to warn him.
It was the power of the evil that he was after. Saul was weak and wrong and many of his predecessors have been endured after him for all of the same reasons. Why? Because Saul failed, just as Israel did, to destroy the Canaanites living among his people. God had given him victory over them; but Saul took that for granted and sought more power from evil sources.
DAVID AND BETH SHAN
The history of David contains many stories which take place after the time that the judges ruled Israel and they decided to chose a King.
Saul, their first king was chosen by the people.
David, the next King of Israel was chosen and anointed by God. There are many stories of David which are associated with the area of Beth Shan.
JESUS AND BETH SHAN
The New Testament times of Jesus gives us stories from the place called Nazareth. Nazareth is very close to this area called Beth Shan. It is supposed that Jesus did carpentry work with Joseph in this same land in the city of Beth Shan.
PAUL AND BETH SHAN
We also know of several stories of Paul and other disciples that also took place at Beth Shan.
This was one city where Israel, specifically Manasseh, left pagan people living and thriving within the lands. They were not captured, though later they did serve as indentured slaves for a time.
TAANACH
Let’s look at another place where the same situation of Canaanites existing side-by-side with Israel in the land thrived because the people of Manasseh did not run them out.
This city/village is called Taanach.
On the south-western border of the plain of Esdraelon about 4 miles south of Megiddo existed the place called Taanach. We know that Joshua was successful in conquering their King; but the people of that group still existed in the area when Manasseh moved in and began living there. When Manesseh settled into the land Taanach was run and operated by the Kohath Levites.
The great highway for traffic, commercial and military, from Babylon and Egypt, ran between Taanach and Megiddo. The city was therefore of high strategic importance.
IMPORTANT HISTORY
Excavations were recently conducted on the site by a Professor named Sellin, and a series of valuable and deeply interesting discoveries were made. All of these discoveries continue shedding light upon the social and religious life and practices of the inhabitants of the land down to the 1st century BC, through a period of nearly 2,000 years.
The Canaanites were the earliest occupants. In accordance with Biblical history. There is no evidence of a break or abrupt change in the civilization between the Canaanite and the Israelite occupation of Taanach. Rather; the excavations show a rather gradual development.
The Canaanites gradually assimilated the Israelites who were drawn to them from the villages in the plain.
DEBORAH AND BETH SHAN
It was later in history, in the village of Taanach that The kings of Canaan under Sisera fought Deborah and Barak in fierce battles. They were overcome by Israelite victories. The city is mentioned in the scriptures in The Song of Deborah.
THE CURSE OF HAM
Because these Canaanite pagans were not driven out from the very beginning of Israel as a nation, they faced battle after battle.
This course of history could even be traced back to the curse that Noah put on his son named Ham. Canaan was specifically named in this curse and these territories of Canaan do seem to be constantly cursed with the presence of the enemies of God through every generation of the past.
Taanach was not conquered by the Tribe of Manasseh, nor were other cities who suffered from the same curse.
DOR/IBLEAM
Here under the control of Manasseh was another ancient royal city of Canaan. It was located on the most southern border of the coast of Phenicia. The king of this area was slain by Manasseh (Joshua to be specific,) but the tribe could not manage to drive out its inhabitants.
Later we know that this land became tributary to David and Solomon.
During the Bronze and Iron ages, Dor was an ancient royal city of the Canaanites, whose ruler was an ally of Jabin King of Hazor against Joshua.
The name “Dor” means “generation” as in passing the torch of one generation to the next. That seemed to be the goal of the Canaanites remaining in the land; to continue their generations of paganism for their false gods. The God of Israel had other plans.
MEGIDDO
I’ve heard a lot of descriptions of Megiddo over the years. It is a very important and strategic place. The history of Megiddo is rich and prophesy about its future is full.
Every Christian should study Megiddo’s past, present and future. We all should know its significance in relation to how the promised land was occupied. I’m posting a teaching video for your review. It is one of the best teachings about Megiddo I’ve ever heard. Some may agree or disagree with this speaker’s concept of “hell” but if you chew up the meat and spit out the bones; this is a great overview.
I believe this teaching of Megiddo will enrich your thinking and help you to understand Megiddo’s past, present and future. It is yet another venue which states why God wanted to destroy the inhabitants of Canaan whose ancestors have helped to bring us to the point of the future mentioned in this teaching.
GOD’S PLAN FOR ISRAEL AND US
Was God right to want these pagan cultures out of the pattern He was forming for all nations to follow? We can only offer Romans 1:18-20 as an answer: For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, being understood by what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
One thing that stands out in all of the later stories of the bible which take place AFTER the times of the judges and the days when the Canaanites were not completely driven out of the land is that all suffering that came to Israel and the followers of Christ usually originated from the ancestors of these particular pagan people (mostly Palestinians) who were left in the land which God had commanded be conquered.
I wonder what would have changed in history had the Israelites conquered all of the Canaanites as they were told to do. Also; I wonder what would happen today if America would turn and obey God’s ways of life.
WHAT IF
Again and again I will impose the question of “what if” to these thoughts. What if all of mankind had listened to God and followed His ways, from the beginning of time until now and into the future?
Could these tribulations and end-time events have been avoided?
Then, of course, the next question is what can we do NOW to help lessen the blow?
As a last word to the faithful reading, please do not be distressed. If you know and follow Jesus Christ and have God’s Holy Spirit living within you; eternal life will be amazing!
We simply have to overcome. God’s people today MUST hold on to the hope of God and the salvation of Jesus until the end.
God help us all and give us the strength we need.