(KJV) Joshua 221

<< Joshua 21 Joshua 23 >>

⥃The Eastern Tribes Return Home

[1] Then Joshua2 called the Reubenites3, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, [2] And said unto them, Ye have4 kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and have obeyed5 my voice in all that I commanded you: [3] Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God.6 [4] And now the Lord your God hath given rest7 unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get8 you unto your tents, [and] unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side Jordan. [5] But take9 diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love10 the Lord your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave11 unto him, and to serve12 him with all your heart and with all your soul. [6] So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.13

[7] [¶]Now to the [one] half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given [possession] in Bashan: but unto the [other] half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,14 [8] And he spake unto them, saying, Return15 with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide16 the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

⥃The Altar of Witness

[9] [¶]And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which [is] in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead17, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

[10] And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that [are] in the land of Canaan, the children18 of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built19 there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.

[11] [¶]And the children of Israel heard20 say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage21 of the children of Israel. [12] And when the children of Israel heard [of it], the whole22 congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. [13] And the children of Israel sent23 unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas24 the son of Eleazar the priest, [14] And with him ten princes, of each chief house25 a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one [was] an head26 of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.

[15] [¶]And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,27 [16] Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass [is] this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord? [17] [Is] the iniquity28 of Peor too little for us, from which29 we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord, [18] But that ye must turn away this day from following30 the Lord? and it will31 be, [seeing] ye rebel to day against the Lord, that to morrow he will be32 wroth with the whole congregation of Israel. [19] Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession [be] unclean33, [then] pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the Lord, wherein34 the Lord’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the Lord, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God. [20] Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.35

[21] Then the children36 of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered37, and said unto the heads38 of the thousands of Israel, [22] The Lord God39 of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth40, and Israel41 he shall know; if [it be42] in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day,) [23] That we have built us an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the Lord43 himself require [it]; [24] And if we have not [rather] done it for fear44 of [this] thing, saying, In time to come45 your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel? [25] For the Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have46 no part in the Lord: so shall your children make47 our children cease from fearing the Lord. [26] Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: [27] But [that] it [may be] a witness48 between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we49 might do the service of the Lord before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the Lord. [28] Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should [so] say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say [again], Behold50 the pattern of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it [is] a witness between us and you. [29] God forbid51 that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord, to build52 an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the Lord our God that [is] before his tabernacle.

[30] And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which [were] with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them53. [31] And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the Lord [is54] among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord: now55 ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.

[32] [¶]And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought56 them word again. [33] And the thing57 pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed58 God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. [34] And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called59 the altar [Ed]: for it [shall be] a witness between us that the Lord [is] God60.

<< Joshua 21 Joshua 23 >>

  1. Josh 22:1, The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home; Josh 22:10, They build the altar of testimony in their journey; Josh 22:11, The Israelites are offended thereat; Josh 22:21, They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction. ↩

  2. Num 32:18-33; Deut 29:7-8 ↩

  3. We have already seen, that a detachment of 40,000 men, of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, had passed over Jordan armed, with their brethren, according to their agreement with Moses. The war being now concluded, the land divided, and their brethren settled, Joshua assembles these warriors; and with commendations for their services and fidelity, he dismisses them, having fist given them the most pious and suitable instructions. They had now been about seven years absent from their respective families; and though there was only the river Jordan between the camp of Gilgal and their own inheritance, yet it does not appear that they had, during that time, ever revisited their home, which they might have done at any time of the year, except the harvest, as the river was at other times easily fordable. ↩

  4. Num 32:20-29; Deut 3:16-20 ↩

  5. Josh 1:12-18 ↩

  6. Phil 1:23-27 ↩

  7. Josh 21:43-44; Deut 12:9 ↩

  8. Josh 13:8, Josh 13:15-33, Josh 14:1-5; Num 32:33-42; Deut 3:1-17, Deut 29:8 ↩

  9. Exod 15:26; Deut 4:1-2, Deut 4:6, Deut 4:9, Deut 6:6-9, Deut 6:17, Deut 11:22; 1Chr 28:7-8; Ps 106:3; Ps 119:4-6; Prov 4:23; Isa 55:2; Jer 12:16; Heb 6:11-12, Heb 12:15; 2Pet 1:5-10 ↩

  10. Exod 20:6; Deut 6:5, Deut 10:12-13, Deut 11:1, Deut 11:13; Matt 22:37; John 14:15, John 14:21-23; John 21:15-17; Rom 8:28; Jas 1:12, Jas 2:5; 1John 5:2-3 ↩

  11. Josh 23:8; Deut 4:4, Deut 10:20, Deut 13:4; Acts 11:23; Rom 12:9 ↩

  12. Josh 24:14-15; 1Sam 7:3, 1Sam 12:20, 1Sam 12:24; Matt 4:10, Matt 6:24; Luke 1:74; John 12:26; Acts 27:23; Rom 1:9 ↩

  13. Josh 22:7-8, Josh 14:13; Gen 14:19, Gen 47:7, Gen 47:10; Exod 39:43; 1Sam 2:20; 2Sam 6:18, 2Sam 6:20; 2Chr 30:18; Luke 2:34, Luke 24:50; Heb 7:6-7 ↩

  14. Josh 13:29-31, Josh 17:1-12 ↩

  15. Deut 8:9-14, Deut 8:17-18; 2Chr 17:5, 2Chr 32:27; Prov 3:16; 1Cor 15:58; Heb 11:26 ↩

  16. Num 31:27; 1Sam 30:24; Ps 68:12 ↩

  17. Josh 13:11, Josh 13:25, Josh 13:31; Num 32:1, Num 32:26, Num 32:29, Num 32:39-40; Deut 3:15-16; Ps 60:7 ↩

  18. This verse should probably be rendered, "And when they came to the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Then built an altar by (or beyond, al) Jordan, a great altar to the view." It would appear, that when they came to the river, they formed the purpose of building the altar; and when they crossed it they put that purpose into execution. It is evident that they did not build it west of the Jordan, for that was not in their territories, and the next verse expressly says that it was built over against the land of Canaan. ↩

  19. Josh 22:25-28, Josh 4:5-9, Josh 24:26-27; Gen 28:18, Gen 31:46-52 ↩

  20. Lev 17:8-9; Deut 12:5-7, Deut 13:12-14; John 20:1, John 20:12 ↩

  21. Josh 2:7, Josh 3:14-16; Judg 12:5; John 1:28 ↩

  22. Supposing they had built this altar for sacrifice, in opposition to the command of God, they considered them as rebels against God and the Israelitish constitution. Deut 13:15; Judg 20:1-11; Acts 11:2-3; Rom 10:2; Gal 4:17-18 ↩

  23. Deut 13:14; Judg 20:12; Prov 20:18; Matt 18:15 ↩

  24. Exod 6:25; Num 25:7, Num 25:11-13; Judg 20:28; Ps 106:30-31; Prov 25:9-13 ↩

  25. Heb. house of the father ↩

  26. Exod 18:25; Num 1:4 ↩

  27. the whole, Josh 22:12; Matt 18:17; 1Cor 1:10, 1Cor 5:4; Gal 1:1-2, trespass, Lev 5:19, Lev 26:40; Num 5:6; 1Chr 21:3; 2Chr 26:18, 2Chr 28:13; Ezra 9:2, Ezra 9:15; Matt 6:14-15, to turn, Josh 22:18; Exod 32:8; Num 14:43, Num 32:15; Deut 7:4, Deut 30:17; 2Chr 10:19, 2Chr 25:27; Heb 12:25, rebel, Lev 17:8-9; Deut 12:4-6, Deut 12:13-14; 1Sam 15:23; Ps 78:8; Isa 63:10 ↩

  28. Num 25:3, Num 25:4-18; Deut 4:3-4; Ps 106:28-29 ↩

  29. Ezra 9:13-14; 1Cor 10:8, 1Cor 10:11 ↩

  30. Josh 22:16; Deut 7:4; 1Sam 12:14, 1Sam 12:20; 1Kgs 9:6; 2Kgs 17:21; 2Chr 25:27, 2Chr 34:33 ↩

  31. Ezra 9:13-14 ↩

  32. Josh 22:20, Josh 7:1, Josh 7:11, Josh 7:21; Num 16:22; 2Sam 24:1; 1Chr 21:1, 1Chr 21:14 ↩

  33. Exod 15:17; Lev 18:25-28; Amos 7:17; Acts 10:14-15, Acts 11:8-9 ↩

  34. Josh 18:1; Lev 17:8-9; Deut 12:5-6; 2Chr 11:13, 2Chr 11:16-17 ↩

  35. Josh 7:1, Josh 7:5, Josh 7:18, Josh 7:24; 1Cor 10:6; 2Pet 2:6; Jude 1:5-6 ↩

  36. The conduct and answer of these Reubenites and the associates are worthy of admiration and imitation. Though conscious of their innocence, they permitted Phinehas to finish his speech, though composed of little else than accusations, without any interruption; and taking in good part the suspicions, reproofs, and even harshness of their brethren, with the utmost meekness and solemnity they explain their intention, give all the satisfaction in their power, and with great propriety and reverence, appeal to that God against whom they were supposed to have rebelled. ↩

  37. Prov 15:1, Prov 16:1, Prov 18:13, Prov 24:26; Acts 11:4; Jas 1:19; 1Pet 3:15 ↩

  38. Exod 18:21-25; Mic 5:2 ↩

  39. ιδεδ ( ‎יְהֹוָה‎ ) ΰμδιν ( ‎אֱלֹהִים‎ ) ΰμ ( ‎אֵל‎ ), El Elohim Yehowah, literally "The strong God, Elohim Jehovah," which is nearly the version of Luther, der starke Gott, der Herr, "The strong God, the Lord." Exod 18:11; Deut 10:17; Ps 82:1, Ps 95:3, Ps 97:7, Ps 136:2; Dan 2:47, Dan 11:36; 1Tim 6:16; Rev 19:16 ↩

  40. 1Kgs 8:39; Job 10:7, Job 23:10; Ps 7:3, Ps 44:21, Ps 139:1-12; Jer 12:3, Jer 17:10; John 2:24-25, John 21:17; Acts 1:24; 2Cor 11:11, 2Cor 11:31; Heb 4:13; Rev 2:23 ↩

  41. Ps 37:6; Mic 7:9; Mal 3:18; Acts 11:2-18; 2Cor 5:11 ↩

  42. 1Sam 15:23; Job 31:5-8, Job 31:38-40; Ps 7:3-5; Acts 25:11 ↩

  43. Gen 9:4; Deut 18:19; 1Sam 20:16; 2Chr 24:22; Ps 10:13-14; Ezek 3:18; Ezek 33:6, Ezek 33:8 ↩

  44. Gen 18:19 ↩

  45. Heb. Tomorrow, Josh 4:6; Gen 30:33; Exod 13:14; Deut 6:20 *marg. ↩

  46. Josh 22:27; 2Sam 20:1; 1Kgs 12:16; Ezra 4:2-3; Neh 2:20; Acts 8:21 ↩

  47. 1Sam 26:19; 1Kgs 12:27-30, 1Kgs 14:16, 1Kgs 15:30 ↩

  48. Josh 22:10, Josh 22:34, Josh 24:27; Gen 31:48, Gen 31:52; 1Sam 7:12 ↩

  49. Deut 12:5-6, Deut 12:11, Deut 12:17-18, Deut 12:26-27 ↩

  50. Exod 25:40; 2Kgs 16:10; Ezek 43:10-11; Heb 8:5 ↩

  51. Josh 24:16; Gen 44:7, Gen 44:17; 1Sam 12:23; 1Kgs 21:3; Rom 3:6, Rom 6:2, Rom 9:14 ↩

  52. Josh 22:23, Josh 22:26; Deut 12:13-14; 2Kgs 18:22; 2Chr 32:12 ↩

  53. Heb. it was good in their eyes, It is remarkable, that Joshua is not once named in this transaction; but this only shews, that he did not in his old age assume any regal authority, but left the elders and magistrates to conduct the general business, only acting himself when great occasions made it necessary. Yet we cannot doubt, that his wisdom and piety influenced the counsels of the elders and people at this time. Josh 22:33; Gen 28:8; Judg 8:3; 1Sam 25:32-33, 1Sam 29:6; 2Chr 30:4; Esth 1:21 *marg. Prov 15:1; Acts 11:18 ↩

  54. Josh 3:10; Lev 26:11-12; Num 14:41-43; 2Chr 15:2; Ps 68:17; Isa 12:6; Zech 8:23; Matt 1:23; 1Cor 14:25 ↩

  55. Heb. then ↩

  56. Josh 22:12-14; Prov 25:13 ↩

  57. Josh 22:30; Acts 15:12, Acts 15:31; 2Cor 7:7; 1Thess 3:6-8 ↩

  58. 1Sam 25:32-33; 1Chr 29:20; Neh 8:5-6; Dan 2:19; Luke 2:28; Eph 1:3 ↩

  59. i.e. a witness, The word witness, or testimony, is not found in the common editions of the Hebrew Bible; and is supplied in Italics by our venerable translators, at least in our modern copies; for in the first edition of this translation, it stands in the text without any note of this kind; but it is found in several of Kennicott's and De Rossi's manuscripts, and also in the Syriac and Arabic. Several also of the early printed editions of the Hebrew Bible have the word ed, either in the text or in the margin; and it must be allowed to be necessary to complete the sense. It is very probable that an inscription was put on this altar, signifying the purpose for which it was erected. Thus was this affair most happily terminated. Josh 22:27, Josh 24:27; 1Kgs 18:39; Isa 43:10; Matt 4:10 ↩

  60. Several manuscripts read more emphatically, ΰμδιν ( ‎יְהֹוָה‎ ) δεΰ ( ‎הוּא‎ ) ιδεδ, Yehowah, hoo Elohim, "Jehovah he is God." ↩