20251211 [새벽묵상] 용맹과 순종의 차이 | The Difference Between Valor and Obedience (수/Josh 17:1~13)

17:1 므낫세 지파를 위하여 제비 뽑은 것은 이러하니라 므낫세는 요셉의 장자였고 므낫세의 장자 마길은 길르앗의 아버지라 그는 용사였기 때문에 길르앗과 바산을 받았으므로

17:2 므낫세의 남은 자손을 위하여 그들의 가족대로 제비를 뽑았는데 그들은 곧 아비에셀의 자손과 헬렉의 자손과 아스리엘의 자손과 세겜의 자손과 헤벨의 자손과 스미다의 자손이니 그들의 가족대로 요셉의 아들 므낫세의 남자 자손들이며

1 This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn, that is, for Makir, Manasseh’s firstborn. Makir was the ancestor of the Gileadites, who had received Gilead and Bashan because the Makirites were great soldiers. 2 So this allotment was for the rest of the people of Manasseh—the clans of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These are the other male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph by their clans.

17:3 헤벨의 아들 길르앗의 손자 마길의 증손 므낫세의 현손 슬로브핫은 아들이 없고 딸뿐이요 그 딸들의 이름은 말아와 노아와 호글라와 밀가와 디르사라

17:4 그들이 제사장 엘르아살과 눈의 아들 여호수아와 지도자들 앞에 나아와서 말하기를 여호와께서 모세에게 명령하사 우리 형제 중에서 우리에게 기업을 주라 하셨다 하매 여호와의 명령을 따라 그들에게 그들의 아버지 형제들 중에서 기업을 주므로

17:5 요단 동쪽 길르앗과 바산 외에 므낫세에게 열 분깃이 돌아갔으니

17:6 므낫세의 여자 자손들이 그의 남자 자손들 중에서 기업을 받은 까닭이었으며 길르앗 땅은 므낫세의 남은 자손들에게 속하였더라

3 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons but only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah. 4 They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command. 5 Manasseh’s share consisted of ten tracts of land besides Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan, 6 because the daughters of the tribe of Manasseh received an inheritance among the sons. The land of Gilead belonged to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

17:7 므낫세의 경계는 아셀에서부터 세겜 앞 믹므닷까지이며 그 오른쪽으로 가서 엔답부아 주민의 경계에 이르나니

17:8 답부아 땅은 므낫세에게 속하였으되 므낫세 경계에 있는 답부아는 에브라임 자손에게 속하였으며

17:9 또 그 경계가 가나 시내로 내려가서 그 시내 남쪽에 이르나니 므낫세의 성읍 중에 이 성읍들은 에브라임에게 속하였으며 므낫세의 경계는 그 시내 북쪽이요 그 끝은 바다이며

17:10 남쪽으로는 에브라임에 속하였고 북쪽으로는 므낫세에 속하였고 바다가 그 경계가 되었으며 그들의 땅의 북쪽은 아셀에 이르고 동쪽은 잇사갈에 이르렀으며

7 The territory of Manasseh extended from Asher to Mikmethath east of Shechem. The boundary ran southward from there to include the people living at En Tappuah. 8 (Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah itself, on the boundary of Manasseh, belonged to the Ephraimites.) 9 Then the boundary continued south to the Kanah Ravine. There were towns belonging to Ephraim lying among the towns of Manasseh, but the boundary of Manasseh was the northern side of the ravine and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. 10 On the south the land belonged to Ephraim, on the north to Manasseh. The territory of Manasseh reached the Mediterranean Sea and bordered Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.

17:11 잇사갈과 아셀에도 므낫세의 소유가 있으니 곧 벧 스안과 그 마을들과 이블르암과 그 마을들과 돌의 주민과 그 마을들이요 또 엔돌 주민과 그 마을들과 다아낙 주민과 그 마을들과 므깃도 주민과 그 마을들 세 언덕 지역이라

11 Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh also had Beth Shan, Ibleam and the people of Dor, Endor, Taanach and Megiddo, together with their surrounding settlements (the third in the list is Naphoth).

17:12 그러나 므낫세 자손이 그 성읍들의 주민을 쫓아내지 못하매 가나안 족속이 결심하고 그 땅에 거주하였더니

17:13 이스라엘 자손이 강성한 후에야 가나안 족속에게 노역을 시켰고 다 쫓아내지 아니하였더라

12 Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. 13 However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

                  성경에는 많은 용사들이 등장하지만 그중에서 가장 슈퍼히어로에 가까운 용사는 아마도 삼손이 아닌가 싶습니다. 하나님의 능력으로 그는 초인적인 힘을 소유하게 되지요. 그 누구도 그의 용맹함과 힘은 부정할 수 없을 것입니다. 그러나 아무도 그 용맹한 삼손을 가장 위대한 용사로 꼽지는 않는 것 같습니다. 그것은 그가 가진 힘과 능력이 출중했음에도 불구하고 하나님께 온전히 순종하지 않고 그저 자기 마음대로 그 힘을 휘둘렀기 때문입니다. 결국 그는 블레셋을 모두 몰아낼 수 있는 힘을 가졌음에도 그의 힘에 걸맞지 않는 너무나 아쉬운 최후를 맞게 되지요. 자, 오늘 말씀의 본문은 요셉의 장자였던 므낫세 지파의 기업에 대해 설명하고 있습니다. 특별히 므낫세의 장자 마길은 용사였다라고 전하고 있지요. 그 용맹함으로 그들은 요단 동쪽 길르앗과 바산을 정복하고 기업으로 받았습니다. 이렇게 용맹한 므낫세 지파이니 하나님의 뜻에 순종하여 가나안 족속들을 몰아내는데 어려움이 없었겠지요? 그러나 오늘 말씀은 그들이 힘이 있음에도 순종하지 않고 가나안 백성들과 타협을 하는 모습을 보여주며 끝이 납니다. 오늘은 “용맹과 순종의 차이” 라는 제목으로 말씀을 나누기 원합니다.

[Introduction]

The Bible features many great heroes, but perhaps the one closest to a true superhero is Samson. With divine power, he possessed superhuman strength. No one can deny his valor and might.

Yet, hardly anyone names the valiant Samson as the greatest hero. Why? Because despite his exceptional strength and ability, he did not remain fully obedient to God, but simply wielded that power according to his own will. In the end, though he had the strength to drive out the Philistines completely, he met a profoundly regrettable end that did not befit his power.

Today's passage describes the inheritance of the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's firstborn. Specifically, it mentions that Manasseh’s firstborn, Machir, was a "man of war." Because of his valor, they conquered and received Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan.

Since the tribe of Manasseh was so valiant, you would expect them to have no difficulty obeying God's will and driving out the Canaanites in the west, right?

However, our passage concludes by showing that despite their strength, they compromised with the Canaanites rather than remaining fully obedient to God. Today, I want to share a message titled: The Difference Between Valor and Obedience.

                   첫번째는 용맹함에 대해서 말하기 원합니다. 므낫세 지파는 어떤 지파였는가? 오늘 본문의 1절 말씀을 함께 읽겠습니다. “므낫세 지파를 위하여 제비 뽑은 것은 이러하니라 므낫세는 요셉의 장자였고 므낫세의 장자 마길은 길르앗의 아버지라 그는 용사였기 때문에 길르앗과 바산을 받았으므로” 자 므낫세의 장자 마길은 용사였다고 합니다. 그가 용사였기 때문에 요단 동쪽 땅인 길르앗과 바산을 받았다라고 적고 있습니다. 사실 민수기 32장에서 적고 있는 요단 동쪽 땅 정복에 대한 묘사는 이렇습니다. 르우벤 자손과 갓 자손이 가축 떼가 심히 많았는데 마침 그 요단 동쪽 땅이 목축하기에 너무나 좋은 땅이였던 것이지요. 그래서 모세에게 반드시 가나안 출정에 빠지지 않겠다. 반드시 합류하겠다고 약속을 하고 그 땅을 기업으로 받게 됩니다. 그런데 갑자기 므낫세가 등장합니다. 민수기 32:39을 읽어보겠습니다. “므낫세의 아들 마길의 자손은 가서 길르앗을 쳐서 빼앗고 거기 있는 아모리인을 쫓아내매” 난데없이 므낫세 지파가 등장해서 길르앗을 쳐서 빼앗고 모세로부터 그 땅을 받습니다. 분명 시작은 르우벤과 갓 지파의 이야기였는데 므낫세 지파는 특유의 용맹함으로 그 땅을 정복하고 그 공로를 인정받아 요단 동쪽 땅의 한 부분을 기업으로 받은 것입니다. 바로 이 내용을 압축해서 말하고 있는 것이 오늘 본문 1절에 마길은 “용사였기 때문에 길르앗과 바산을 받았”다 라고 말하고 있는 것이지요. 그런데 오늘 본문은 요단 동쪽 땅이 아니라 서쪽 땅을 분배하는 이야기입니다. 2절을 보시면 이렇게 말하고 있습니다. “므낫세의 남은 자손을 위하여 그들의 가족대로 제비를 뽑았는데 그들은 곧” 누구누구며 라면서 이름들을 쫙 나열하지요. 그렇다면 앞에서 마길의 자손들에 대해 이야기 했으니 2절에서 말하고 있는 므낫세의 남은 자손이란 마길이 아닌 다른 자손들에 대한 이야기겠구나라고 생각하기 쉽습니다. 그런데 2절에 나와있는 이름들을 자세히 보면 모두 민수기 26:29-34에 나와있는 마길의 자손들의 이름들입니다. 즉 지금 이 요단 서쪽 땅을 기업으로 받는 이들 또한 요단 동쪽 땅을 특유의 용맹함으로 차지하였던  마길의 자손들인 것이지요.

Point 1: The Valor of the Tribe of Manasseh

First, let's talk about their valor. What kind of tribe was Manasseh?

Let’s read verse 1 together:

"This was the allotment for the tribe of Manasseh as Joseph’s firstborn. Manasseh’s firstborn, Machir, the father of Gilead, was a man of war; so he received Gilead and Bashan."

Machir, the firstborn of Manasseh, is explicitly called a "man of war." It is stated that because he was valiant, he received the lands of Gilead and Bashan east of the Jordan.

While Numbers 32 records that the tribes of Reuben and Gad initiated the settlement east of the Jordan due to their abundant livestock, the tribe of Manasseh suddenly appears. Let me read Numbers 32:39: "The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there."

Manasseh unexpectedly emerged, conquered Gilead through their inherent valor, and was granted the land by Moses in recognition of their merit. This is precisely what is summarized in today’s verse 1: Machir was a "man of war, so he received Gilead and Bashan."

Now, our chapter focuses on dividing the land west of the Jordan. Verse 2 begins by listing the families who received their inheritance: "The rest of the descendants of Manasseh were allotted land according to their clans. These were the clans of..."

The list of names that follows (v. 2) are the descendants of Machir, the same clans mentioned in Numbers 26. This means the very descendants of Machir, the 'man of war' who conquered the East, are now receiving their inheritance in the West.

                  우리는 그들의 용맹의 예를 3-6절까지의 슬로브핫의 딸들의 이야기를 통해 다시 한번 엿볼 수 있습니다. 3절을 보시면 므낫세의 아들 마길의 아들 길르앗의 아들 헤벨의 아들 슬로브핫은 아들이 없고 딸 부자랍니다. 다섯 딸이 있는데 이들은 당당하게 제사장 엘르아살과 여호수아와 지도자들 앞에 나아와서 모세가 약속한 기업을 달라고 요구합니다. 민수기 27장에서 모세에게 이들이 직접 찾아와 기업을 달라고 요구하였던 것을 기억하실 것입니다. 그들의 당당한 요구에 하나님께서 모세에게 그들의 말이 옳다 기업을 주어 받게하라 라고 명령하시지요. 그것 뿐만이 아니라 앞으로 같은 상황이 생길 때에 피해자를 구제할 수 있도록 규례를 만들라고 그 대상을 확대시키십니다. 자 이런 이들의 용맹함 때문일까요? 2절의 마지막은 특이하게도 당연히 생략하였던 “남자자손”들의 가족대로 나누었다라고 구분해서 적고 있고 6절에서는 “므낫세의 여자 자손들이 그의 남자 자손들 중에서 기업을 받은 까닭이었으며” 라며 이 예외적인 여자가 상속을 받는 상황을 기록으로 남기고 있습니다. 이는 엄격한 남성 중심 구조의 사회에서 이들의 사회적 동등성을 암시하는 보기 드문 기록이지요. 참으로 마길의 자손들은 남성들이나 여성들이나 용맹하기 그지 없었던 것 같습니다.

We see further evidence of their boldness in the story of the daughters of Zelophehad (v. 3-6). Zelophehad, a descendant of Machir, had no sons, but five daughters. These five daughters boldly approached the priest Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders, demanding the inheritance Moses had promised them (Numbers 27). Their courageous demand was recognized by God, who commanded Moses to grant them their inheritance and even establish a new legal precedent.

Perhaps because of this boldness, verse 6 explicitly records the exceptional situation: "This is why the women of Manasseh received an inheritance along with the men." In a rigidly male-centered society, this is a rare record suggesting social equity. Indeed, the descendants of Machir, both men and women, were characterized by exceptional valor.

                  그렇다면 이렇게 용사 마길의 후손들이었던 므낫세 지파 아닙니까? 요단 동쪽 땅을 점령 할 때처럼 가나안 주민들을 쫓아내고 요단 서쪽 땅을 완전히 자신의 기업으로 차지할 것만 같습니다. 그런데 본문은 그렇지 않다고 말하고 있습니다. 12절 말씀 함께 읽겠습니다. “그러나 므낫세 자손이 그 성읍들의 주민을 쫓아내지 못하매 가나안 족속이 결심하고 그 땅에 거주하였더니” 첫 시작부터 그러나로 시작하지요. 분명 앞에서 누누히 말씀드렸듯이 이들은 용맹한 므낫세 지파입니다. 힘이 없어서 이들을 쫓아내지 못하였을까요? 아니겠지요. 이들에게 용맹함은 있었을지 몰라도 이들은 하나님께 온전히 충성하지 못하였습니다. 그들이 하나님의 말씀에 온전히 순종하지 못하였기 때문에 그들은 용맹함과 능력을 가지고 있음에도 그 성읍들의 주민들을 쫓아내지 못하였던 것입니다. 심지어 12절의 말씀은 가나안 족속이 결심하고 그 땅에 거주하였더니 라고 전하고 있습니다. 이 얼마나 큰 치욕입니까? 정작 이들을 쫓아내야 할 이스라엘은 용맹함이 있음에도 순종하지 않음으로 무능력하게 되었습니다. 그런데 정작 쫓겨나야 할 대상이었던 가나안 족속은 더욱 적극적인 의지와 강단으로 결심하고 있는 모습이지요. 참으로 이스라엘의 실패가 얼마나 어처구니 없는 것인지 보여주는 장면이라고 생각합니다. 그렇다면 이들이 더 큰 힘을 갖게 된다면 이 일들이 온전히 이루어지는 것일까? 다음 말씀 13절 말씀 함께 읽겠습니다. “이스라엘 자손이 강성한 후에야 가나안 족속에게 노역을 시켰고 다 쫓아내지 아니하였더라”  이들이 더 큰 힘을 얻었습니다. 세상의 눈으로 볼 때에 이제는 변명할 수도 없을 만큼 강성하게 되었습니다. 하지만 그들은 이제 의도적으로 가나안 족속을 쫓아내지 아니하였다 라고 전하고 있습니다. 문맥을 고려해서 원문을 해석하면 “이스라엘 자손이 강성해졌는데도 가나안 족속에게 노역을 시켰다” 라고 해석할 수 있습니다. 이제는 힘이 생겼으니 굳이 상대가 되지 않는 저들을 쫓아낼 필요도 없는 것입니다. 어차피 저들이 우리에게 복종할테니 차라리 노예로 부려먹는게 더 낫다는 것이지요. 힘이 있으나 없으나 그들은 하나님께 순종하지 않았습니다.  

Point 2: Valor That Fails to Translate into Obedience

Since the Manasseh tribe was descended from Machir, the man of war, we would expect them to drive out the Canaanite inhabitants and fully possess their inheritance in the West, just as they did in the East.

However, the passage tells us otherwise. Let’s read verse 12:

"Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy those towns, for the Canaanites were determined to continue living in that land."

The verse starts with the stark word "Yet." This is the valiant Manasseh tribe! Did they fail to drive them out because they lacked strength? No. While they possessed valor, they lacked total loyalty to God. Because they were not wholly obedient to God’s Word, they were unable to drive out the inhabitants of those towns, despite their capacity and strength.

What's more, verse 12 says, "the Canaanites were determined to continue living in that land." What an immense disgrace! Israel, who had the valor but lacked obedience, became ineffective. Meanwhile, the Canaanites, who were supposed to be eliminated, demonstrated active will and resolve, determined to stay. This illustrates the utter absurdity of Israel's failure.

Did greater strength solve the problem? Let’s read verse 13:

"At the time when the Israelites grew stronger, they forced the Canaanites to work as forced labor but never drove them out completely."

They gained greater strength. By the world's standards, they became undeniably mighty. Yet, the text states they now intentionally refused to drive out the Canaanites completely. The verse can be interpreted as, "Even when the Israelites grew strong, they merely subjected the Canaanites to forced labor."

Now that they had power, there was no need to drive out enemies who were no match for them. They thought it was better to exploit them as slaves. Whether they were weak or strong, their motivation was not obedience to God but self-interest.

말씀을 맺습니다. 므낫세 지파는 용사 마길의 후손들로서 그들의 용맹함으로 요단 동쪽 땅을 얻었고 또한 요단 서쪽 땅까지 분깃으로 받는 놀라운 축복을 받았습니다. 하지만 그들의 용맹함과 능력은 그들의 순종과 충성까지 보장하지는 못했습니다. 결국 그들은 용맹함과 강성함이 있었음에도 불구하고 가나안 족속들을 내쫓는데 실패하고 맙니다. 우리는 세상의 능력과 강성함이 우리의 눈을 가리지 않도록 조심해야 합니다. 우리에게 가장 중요한 것은 우리의 힘과 능력이 아니라 바로 하나님께 충성하며 하나님의 말씀에 순종하는 것입니다. 기도하시겠습니다.

[Conclusion]

The tribe of Manasseh, descendants of Machir, received incredible blessings—conquering the land East of the Jordan through their valor and receiving an inheritance in the West.

However, their valor and strength could not guarantee their obedience and loyalty to God. Ultimately, despite their valor and growing strength, they failed to drive out the Canaanites.

We must be careful not to let the strength and capability the world gives us blind us. The most crucial thing for us is not our own power or ability, but loyalty to God and unwavering obedience to His Word.

Let us pray that we, unlike Samson and the tribe of Manasseh, do not rely on our inherent strength but remain committed to the simple, often difficult, act of obedience. Amen.