“The descendants of the Benjamites from Geba lived in Mikmash, Aija, Bethel and its settlements, in Anathoth, Nob and Ananiah…”
Nehemiah 11:31 – 32
Last time we saw more cities where the descendants of Judah settled after returning and rebuilding Temple and the city wall. Today we see some cities in which the other tribe, the Benjaminites, settled.
First we have Geba which comes from gabia – cup, bowl, pitchers, pot; convex, goblet, calyx of a flower. If, like me, you aren’t up on botany definitions, the calyx is “the sepals of a flower…that enclose…the petals and form…a protective layer around a flower in bud (source).”
In the above picture of the tulip, the calyx is the green part on the petals which protects it before it begins to bud.
Before budding, the job of the calyx is protection. But after, it seems as if its purpose is to help form that cup-like structure from our definition.
So much can be poured into a cup – too many destructive options, you may argue. But the purpose of all those convex structures in the definition is to pour back out what is in. A goblet, pitcher, pot, bowl all have something to offer which can satisfy hunger and thirst. And when what we have stored up in us is life-giving, it will pour forth on others.
One of the reasons I know the above is true is because I was the beneficiary of it at church this week. And it ties into our next city Mikmash, which comes from kamas – to store up, store away; figuratively in the memory. Our church held a funeral Saturday for a friend’s mother who died of Alzheimer’s. This is particularly poignant for me as our extended family is dealing with a similar issue.
Although she just buried her mom, this friend poured forth comfort as I processed with her. A beautiful example of comforting others from the comfort we’ve received from God. She described losing her mom to this disease as grief upon grief. There’s something about those stored up memories which makes us who we are, isn’t there?
I don’t know why our city in today’s verse was named To Store Up, but it will matter forever that we store away His Word, and store up treasures in heaven.
Next up is Aija, which comes from iy – a heap of ruins. Iy is from avah – bend, twist, pervert, make crooked, do wickedly. The image of a winding road popped up while I was looking for something crooked. Bending and twisting are not negative. In fact, they are a necessary component of a healthy body.
However, a crooked path is used several times in the Word in a negative sense:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6
That’s probably because it was written in a time without a Department of Transportation and paved highways. It doesn’t matter that your path is winding when you’re in a several-thousand-dollar vehicle, traveling 70 miles an hour on an asphalt road. It is much more difficult when you’re clearing the road of tree branches, working through debris, and traveling in dangerous areas in which people with crooked intentions could hide.
“A voice of one calling:
‘In the wilderness prepare
the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert
a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be raised up,
every mountain and hill made low;
the rough ground shall become level,
the rugged places a plain.
And the glory of the Lord will be revealed,
and all people will see it together.
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’”
Isaiah 40:3-5
In order to make a straight path for the King, the ground must be leveled and prepared. In order to walk a straight path, the Path of Wisdom, we avoid the sin that so easily entangles. We can ask He would break our hearts when it enters our minds and His ways would look like pure freedom to us. Following a straight path keeps us from tripping.
Next up is Anathoth, which comes from Anath, father of Shamgar. Interestingly, when Shamgar is mentioned in Deborah’s song in Judges 5, winding paths are noted:
“In the days of Shamgar son of Anath,
in the days of Jael, the highways were abandoned;
travelers took to winding paths.
Villagers in Israel would not fight…”
Judges 5:6 – 7a
The reason for those winding paths? Because of the people’s fear of meeting their enemies on the highway. (Source) But Anath, Shamgar’s father, and the root word for our city name, comes from anah – to sing, shout, testify, announce, pay attention, respond, bear witness.
Yes. It’s not that we don’t have fear, or that we go looking to confront the enemy in our paths, it’s that we get to sing, shout, and announce to others what He’s done for us. Because of the complete acceptance and freedom from His blood, we can pay attention in our lives and bear witness. Which leads us to our next city.
It is Nob, whose definition takes us two separate directions. It comes from naar – abhor, spurn, abandon, make void, reject; but has a “see also” nob – to produce fruit, praise. When we pay attention, we can focus on who is abandoned, rejected in our day. We get to make changes to spurn injustice and void dysfunction.
Finally today we have Ananiah which comes from anan – to bring, practice soothsaying, enchanter, observer of times, sorcerer; from anan – to figuratively cloud over, act covertly. We’ve seen this word before, remembering the people of God have no need for magic or clouding over. We simply get to live as children of the day, working while it is still light.
One source pointed out this city’s name likely means “whom the Lord covers or guards.” (Source) Praise Him, because of the Cross, that is us.