JOSHUA LESSON 22
We will begin this lesson in Joshua 22:1 "Then Joshua called the
Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh," Joshua
22:2 "And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of
the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I
commanded you:"
The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh had
received their land on the eastern side, with the understanding that
they would help the other tribes get settled in their land on the
western side. They have stayed and fought with the other tribes for
over 7 years now. They have done exactly what they had promised Moses
that they would do. It appears, they have remained for the separation
of the promised land, as well. Now , Joshua had called them to release
them to go home to their families.
Joshua 22:3 "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."
We see that Joshua has high praise of them, for staying with
their relatives of the other tribes, and helping them win their land.
Joshua 22:4 "And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your
brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get 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."
The other nine and a half tribes on the west side of Jordan have
settled into their new homes, and are at peace. Joshua releases the
fighting men of Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh to go and
rejoin their own families.
Joshua 22:5 "But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the
law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD
your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments,
and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with
all your soul."
Joshua gives them one last admonition to stay faithful to God.
The fact that he uses the word diligent, shows that they must be very
careful to keep God's commandments. They must not take God casually.
This must be a deep commitment in their hearts. The best proof of our
love for God is keeping His commandments. Jesus said the following,
pertaining to that. John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Joshua 22:6 "So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they
went unto their tents."
It seems, their families had not moved into the cities they had
conquered, and were still living in tents.
Joshua 22:7 "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,"
It is interesting that, the lot the half tribe of Manasseh
received on the west side of Jordan was directly across the river
from the half tribe of Manasseh on the east side. Joshua was acting as
an agent of the LORD, when he spoke a blessing on them.
Joshua 22:8 "And he spake unto them, saying, Return 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:
divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren."
All of this wealth, they had received, when they defeated the
armies before them. Not all of the tribe had come with them to fight.
Joshua reminds them to share their wealth, they had received, with
their brothers, who had stayed at home and kept their herds. The
wealth of Canaan was, now, the property of all of the tribes of
Israel.
Joshua 22:9 "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 Gilead, to the land of their possession,
whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the
hand of Moses."
The tabernacle was set up at Shiloh. This was where Joshua had
called them to bless them, and release them. The land west of the
Jordan was spoken of as Canaan here, and the east side of Jordan was
spoken of as Gilead. Moses had gotten permission from the LORD for
them to possess land on the eastern side of Jordan.
Joshua 22:10 "And when they came unto 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 built there an altar by
Jordan, a great altar to see to."
The altar was large enough to see from a long distance. It was
most probably a tall stack of stones as a memorial. It does not
explain whether this altar was just on the inside of the eastern bank,
or the western bank of the Jordan River.
Joshua 22:11 "And the children of Israel heard 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 passage of the children of Israel."
The children of Israel were greatly alarmed by the altar.
Joshua 22:12 "And when the children of Israel heard [of it], the
whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves
together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them."
The children of Israel thought this to be an altar to take the
place of the altar at Shiloh. They were ready to go to war against
their brother tribes, because they felt they were blaspheming God.
Joshua 22:13 "And the children of Israel sent unto the children
of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of
Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the
priest,"
Phinehas is mentioned several times in an important role
regarding spiritual things. He was, probably, the priest that was next
in line to be high priest after Eleazar. Phinehas could speak for the
LORD in this matter.
Joshua 22:14 "And with him ten princes, of each chief house a
prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one [was] an head
of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel."
There were ten princes, because the half tribe of Manasseh sent a
prince along with the princes from the other nine tribes. The prince
from each tribe represented his tribe in this matter.
Joshua 22:15 "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,"
This is the sensible thing to do, before they go to war against
their brothers.
Joshua 22:16 "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?"
They believe this altar is a slander against God. This is the
question they have brought. They assumed that the tribes of Reuben,
Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had turned their backs on God.
They are asking them to explain themselves.
Joshua 22:17 "[Is] the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from
which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague
in the congregation of the LORD,"
This incident with Peor had to do with the worship of a false
god. Phinehas was involved in getting the plague stopped, when he ran
a javelin through a man and woman involved in the sin. Many of the
Israelites were killed in that incident. These Israelites feared a
repetition of that.
Joshua 22:18 "But that ye must turn away this day from following
the LORD? and it will be, [seeing] ye rebel to day against the LORD,
that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of
Israel."
This had happened so few years ago, that they were still very
conscious of the wrath of God that fell from this. They are afraid the
wrath of God would fall upon all of them, because of this.
Joshua 22:19 "Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession
[be] unclean, [then] pass ye over unto the land of the possession of
the LORD, wherein 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."
They are offering the opportunity for Reuben, Gad, and the half
tribe of Manasseh to receive land on the west side of Jordan, if there
is a hindrance on the east side for them to stay loyal to God. They
are concerned about them wandering from the teachings of God.
Joshua 22:20 "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."
They are remembering that the sin of one man affects the whole
nation of Israel. The sin of one Israelite {in the case of Achan}
could have brought disaster to all of the nation. The only thing to do
is come against the sin immediately, to show they are not in
agreement.
Joshua 22:21 "Then the children of Reuben and the children of
Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads
of the thousands of Israel,"
Up until this time, they did not understand what the complaint of
the Israelites was. They certainly had not had opportunity to defend
themselves. Now, they speak in defense of what they have done.
Joshua 22:22 "The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he
knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if [it be] in rebellion, or if in
transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)"
God knows the intention of their hearts. He is God, He already
knows why they built the altar. The two and a half tribes were
horrified that the other tribes thought they had sinned against God.
They are saying, if we have truly sinned against God, do not even try
to help us.
Joshua 22:23 "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 LORD himself
require [it];"
They are saying, if they have sinned against God in this matter,
God will pass judgement and punishment upon them.
Joshua 22:24 "And if we have not [rather] done it for fear of
[this] thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto
our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?"
This is saying that, this is a memorial for their children to
see, and know that they are indeed recognizing God, the same as the
Israelites on the other side of Jordan are. The memorial shows that
even though there is a river between them and the other tribes, they
are all Israel. They all serve the One True God.
Joshua 22:25 "For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us
and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in
the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing
the LORD."
Perhaps, without the altar, even the nine and a half tribes on
the west of Jordan will say, that the two and a half tribes on the
east side of Jordan are not part of Israel. They might even try to
stop their children from worshipping God.
Joshua 22:26 "Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us
an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:"
This altar, they have built, is not to take the place of the
altar in the tabernacle. It is not an altar to sacrifice to God on.
Joshua 22:27 "But [that] it [may be] a witness between us, and
you, and our generations after us, that we 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."
This altar is not an altar to God, but a memorial to show the
right of Reuben's, Gad's, and the half tribe of Manasseh's children to
worship God in the tabernacle, or temple with the other nine and a
half tribes. Three times a year the people would travel to the place
where the presence of God was to worship. The tabernacle would be that
place, until the temple is built in Jerusalem and then it will be.
Joshua 22:28 "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], Behold 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."
The altar would be a constant reminder to all generations, that
the tribes on the east side of Jordan had every right and privilege in
the temple, that the tribes on the west side of the Jordan had.
Joshua 22:29 "God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD,
and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt
offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of
the LORD our God that [is] before his tabernacle."
This is repeating, again, that this altar, they have built, is a
memorial, and is not to take the place of the altar in the tabernacle.
Joshua 22:30 "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 them."
We see, from this, that Phinehas and the princes had been sincere
in their fear that the two and a half tribes on the east side of
Jordan had blasphemed the name of God. They feared that all Israel,
including them, would be punished. They are very pleased, when they
heard the explanation of what the altar is for. They are relieved for
themselves, and for the two and one half tribes on the east side of
Jordan, as well.
Joshua 22:31 "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 [is] among
us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now
ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD."
He is saying, they see, now, that they had not sinned at all, and
that there would be no chastisement from God on any of them for this.
Joshua 22:32 "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 brought them word again."
Now that they are convinced the two and a half tribes had not
sinned in building the altar, they returned to their own tribes of
Israel, and reported to them the good news. They will not have to
fight their brothers. This was a relief to everyone.
Joshua 22:33 "And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and
the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up
against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of
Reuben and Gad dwelt."
Joshua, Eleazar, and Phinehas had tried to do the will of God in
all of their ministry. Everyone was pleased, there was no sin
involved. The battle against Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of
Manasseh was called off.
Joshua 22:34 "And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad
called the altar [Ed]: for it [shall be] a witness between us that the
LORD [is] God."
Ed, sometimes, goes before words that mean altar. This, then, was
a short way of saying altar. This altar was a memorial to God. It
recognized the importance of God in all of their lives. It was, also,
a constant reminder to all twelve tribes that they were one nation
under God.
Joshua 22 Questions
1. Who called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of
Manasseh to talk to them?
2. What understanding did Moses have with them about their
inheritance on the east side of Jordan?
3. How long have they stayed and fought for the tribes on the west
side of Jordan?
4. Why had Joshua called them?
5. Why did Joshua praise them?
6. What does Joshua release them to do, now that there is peace?
7. What does he admonish them to do?
8. What is the best proof of your love for God?
9. How do we know their families at home had not moved into the
cities?
10. What does the author believe interesting about Manasseh's
inheritance?
11. What are they to share with their brethren, when they reach home?
12. What was the western side of Jordan called collectively?
13. What was the eastern side of Jordan called?
14. What was the altar, probably?
15. Why were the other tribes alarmed at them building the altar?
16. What did the congregation on the west side of Jordan want to do
about the altar?
17. Who went to talk to the tribes on the eastern side of Jordan about
the altar?
18. He is mentioned several times in an important role regarding
___________ matters.
19. Why were there ten princes with him?
20. What complaint did the ten princes and Phinehas make?
21. What incident were they remembering that frightened them?
22. Why was the congregation afraid?
23. What offer did they make to Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh's tribes?
24. Who sinned, and God punished the whole congregation?
25. How did they reply to the complaints?
26. ______ knows the intention of their hearts.
27. Who really should be their judge?
28. Why had they built the altar?
29. What would the altar be a constant reminder of?
30. How did Phinehas react to their explanation?
31. What did Phinehas and the princes do, after they understood?
32. What did they name the altar?
33. What does the altar recognize?
Home