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Joshua Chapter
Twenty-two
New King James Version (NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 22
The
war with the Canaanites being ended
Joshua called to him the two tribes of
Reuben and Gad
and the half tribe of Manasseh
who came over Jordan with him
to assist in it
and commended them for their obedience to Moses and to
himself
and to God by them; and then dismissed them
with some instructions to
keep the ways and worship of God
and with his blessing upon them
Joshua 22:1; upon
which they returned to their country
and when they came to the borders of it
set up an altar by Jordan
Joshua 22:9; which
when the children of Israel heard of
it gave them great offence
they fearing
they were going to make a revolt from the pure worship of God
and therefore
sent a deputation of princes to them
with the son of the high priest
to
inquire into the matter
and expostulate with them about it
who did
Joshua 22:11; and
who received from them a very satisfactory answer
Joshua 22:21; with
which they returned and reported to the children of Israel
and which gave them
pleasure
Joshua 22:32.
Joshua 22:1 Then
Joshua called the Reubenites
the Gadites
and half the tribe of Manasseh
YLT
1Then Joshua calleth for the
Reubenite
and for the Gadite
and for the half of the tribe of Manasseh
Then Joshua called the Reubenites
and the Gadites
and the half
tribe of Manasseh. The promise of God to Israel being fulfilled
the land of Canaan
being for the most part subdued
the war at an end
and rest had on all sides
from their enemies
and the land divided among the nine tribes and an half
and
they settled in the quiet possession of their lots; Joshua sent for the two
tribes of Reuben and Gad
and the half tribe of Manasseh
who had
at their own
request
their portion allotted them on the other side Jordan
and who came
over that river with him to assist their brethren in their wars with the
Canaanites
and addressed them in the following respectable manner.
Joshua 22:2 2 and said to them: “You
have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you
and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.
YLT
2and saith unto them
`Ye --
ye have kept the whole of that which Moses
servant of Jehovah
commanded you
and ye hearken to my voice
to all that I have commanded you;
And said unto them
ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the
Lord commanded you
.... Which was
that they should leave their wives and children
and flocks
and herds
behind them in the land of Gilead
and pass over Jordan
with their brethren the children of Israel armed
and fight with them
and for
them
until the Canaanites were subdued
and not return until their brethren
were peaceably settled in the possession of their inheritances; all which they
had punctually observed
and inviolably kept
as they agreed to
Numbers 32:1
and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you; as the
generalissimo and commander in chief of the Israelitish forces; as what rank
and position to be in
what part to take in an engagement
what attack to make
when and where
or on what expedition to go; wherever he ordered them to go
they went; and upon whatsoever and wheresoever he sent them
they readily and
cheerfully obeyed
as they promised
Joshua 1:16; and
approved themselves as good soldiers under him; for all which he commends them
and gives them military honour.
Joshua 22:3 3 You have not left your
brethren these many days
up to this day
but have kept the charge of the
commandment of the Lord
your God.
YLT
3ye have not left your
brethren these many days unto this day
and have kept the charge -- the command
of Jehovah your God.
Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day
.... For the
space of fourteen years
which is the commonly received notion of the JewsF6Seder
Olam Rabba
c. 11. p. 32. ; seven years according to them the land was
subduing
and seven more spent in dividing it
and then these tribes were sent
for and dismissed; all this time they stayed close by their brethren
and
assisted them in their wars
and never offered to return to their wives and
children
until they had an order from their general:
but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God; for what both
Moses and Joshua commanded them was from the mouth of the Lord; so that
in
obeying them
they obeyed him.
Joshua 22:4 4 And now the Lord your God has
given rest to your brethren
as He promised them; now therefore
return and go
to your tents and to the land of your possession
which Moses the
servant of the Lord
gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
YLT
4`And
now
Jehovah your God
hath given rest to your brethren
as He spake to them; and now
turn ye
and go
for yourselves to your tents
unto the land of your possession
which Moses
servant of Jehovah
hath given to you beyond the Jordan.
And now the Lord your God hath given rest unto your brethren
as he promised them
.... As in Joshua 21:44; see Deuteronomy 12:9
therefore now return ye
and get ye unto your tents; not their
military tents in the army
from which they now came to Joshua
but their
houses
as the Greek version
and their cities
as the Targum; they having been
so long used to tents in the wilderness
and during the wars in Canaan
this
was a familiar word for their dwellings:
and unto the land of your
possession
which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you
on the other side
Jordan; before his death
on condition of doing what they now had done;
even the land of Gilead and Bashan
beyond Jordan.
Joshua 22:5 5 But take careful heed to
do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you
to love the Lord
your God
to walk in all His ways
to keep His commandments
to hold fast to
Him
and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
YLT
5Only
be very watchful to
do the command and the law which Moses
servant of Jehovah
commanded you
to
love Jehovah your God
and to walk in all His ways
and to keep His commands
and to cleave to Him
and to serve Him
with all your heart
and with all your
soul.'
But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law
.... The ten
commandments
and all other laws
both ceremonial and civil:
which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you; in the name
of the Lord
to keep and observe:
to love the Lord your God; of which keeping the
commands of God is an evidence
and which is the true principle and motive of
hearty
sincere
and cheerful obedience to them:
and to walk in all his ways; which he has prescribed
all his ways of worship
paths of duty
faith
truth
holiness
and
righteousness:
and to keep his commandments; whether moral
ceremonial
or judicial: whether of natural and moral obligation
or of
positive institution:
and to cleave unto him; and not depart from his
ways
worship
word
and ordinances:
and to serve him with all your heart
and with all your soul: in the most
strict and affectionate manner. This advice Joshua thought proper to give them
and inculcate into them
now they were about to leave their brethren
and go on
the other side Jordan; where they would be at a distance from the tabernacle
altar
and service of God
and might be under temptation to relinquish it
and
set up another form of worship elsewhere.
Joshua 22:6 6 So Joshua blessed them and
sent them away
and they went to their tents.
YLT
6And Joshua blesseth them
and sendeth them away
and they go unto their tents.
So Joshua blessed them
and sent them away
.... Dismissed
them from his presence with a blessing
in order to go to their own country;
this he did by wishing them well
praying to God for a blessing on them
their
persons
and families
who had been so useful in assisting their brethren to
get possession of the land of Canaan. Some think this blessing includes gifts
and presents he bestowed on them:
and they went unto their tents; here the word means
their military tents in the camp of Israel
to which they returned
in order to
take with them their goods
their substance and riches
their part of the spoil
of the enemy
which of right belonged to them.
Joshua 22:7 7 Now to half the tribe of
Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan
but to the other half
of it Joshua gave a possession among their brethren on this side of the
Jordan
westward. And indeed
when Joshua sent them away to their tents
he
blessed them
YLT
7And to the half of the
tribe of Manasseh hath Moses given
in Bashan
and to its [other] half hath
Joshua given with their brethren beyond the Jordan westward; and also when
Joshua hath sent them away unto their tents
then he doth bless them
Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had
given possession in Bashan
.... The kingdom of Og
see Deuteronomy 3:13
but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their
brethren on this side Jordan westward: of which an account is
given
and the border of their lot described
Joshua 17:1
and when Joshua sent them also unto their tents
then he blessed
them; it seems as if this half tribe was separately dismissed and
blessed
they being more nearly related to Joshua
who was of the tribe of
Ephraim
and so had a more particular dismission and blessing; and he took his
leave of them in a different and affectionate manner. Kimchi makes mention of a
Derash
or Exposition of theirs
which says
that after they had taken leave
they stayed two days
and returned and took leave a second time
and which he
understands of them all
and not of the half tribe only; but it is plainly the
half tribe that is only spoken of.
Joshua 22:8 8 and spoke to them
saying
“Return with much riches to your tents
with very much livestock
with silver
with gold
with bronze
with iron
and with very much clothing. Divide the
spoil of your enemies with your brethren.”
YLT
8and speak unto them
saying
`With great riches turn ye back 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.'
And he spake unto them
.... To the half tribe of
Manasseh only
though some think also to the other ten tribes:
saying
return with much riches unto your tents; that is
return to their own land
and habitations there
with whatsoever riches they
had got from the spoil of the enemy:
and with very much cattle; they had taken from
them
and fell to their share
and for which they had good pasturage in Gilead
and Bashan
and therefore very proper to take with them:
with silver and with gold
and with brass
and with iron; whether in
massive pieces
or wrought up into vessels
which they found in the houses of
the Canaanites when they plundered them:
and with very much raiment; some no doubt very rich
and costly
such as their kings
princes
nobles
and great personages among
them wore:
divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren; according to
Jarchi and Kimchi
this is spoken to the half tribe of Manasseh
to divide
their spoil with the tribes of Reuben and Gad; but it rather means the dividing
the above spoil
when they came to their own country with their brethren they
left behind; who as they were employed in guarding and defending their cities
their wives and children
herds and flocks
in their absence
they had a right
to part of the spoil; and as in other instances it appears to be a common case
for those that stayed at home to share in the spoil with them that went to war
see Numbers 31:27;
though the notion of Abarbinel pleases me best
that by "their
brethren" are meant the other half tribe of Manasseh that remained in
Canaan
and were settled there: when the spoil of the Canaanites was divided
among all the tribes
the whole tribe of Manasseh had its share; and whereas
now half of it were going to their own country on the other side Jordan
it was
but reasonable they should have their part of the spoil to carry with them; and
this seems to be the true reason of their being separately addressed
and
dismissed and blessed.
Joshua 22:9 9 So the children of Reuben
the children of Gad
and half the tribe of Manasseh returned
and departed from
the children of Israel at Shiloh
which is in the land of Canaan
to go
to the country of Gilead
to the land of their possession
which they had
obtained according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.
YLT
9And the sons of Reuben
and
the sons of Gad
and the half of the tribe of Manasseh
turn back and go from
the sons of Israel out of Shiloh
which [is] in the land of Canaan
to go unto
the land of Gilead
unto the land of their possession
in which they have
possession
according to the command of Jehovah
by the hand of Moses;
And the children of Reuben
and the children of Gad
and the half
tribe of Manasseh
returned
.... First to the camp to take their
substance
and then set forward to their own land:
and departed from the children of Israel; from the rest
of them
for otherwise they were children of Israel also:
out of Shiloh
which is in the land of Canaan; for here the
camp of Israel was
as well as the tabernacle:
to go unto the country of Gilead
to the land of their possession
whereof they were possessed; Gilead is put for the
whole country on the other side Jordan
as the land of Jazer
and the kingdom
of Bashan
which the two tribes of Reuben and Gad
and the half tribe of Manasseh
were possessed of:
according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses; for when they
moved to have that country
Moses
it seems
consulted the Lord about it
who
declared it to be his will they should have it
on performing what they
promised
see Numbers 32:1.
Joshua 22:10 10 And when they came to the
region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan
the children of
Reuben
the children of Gad
and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar
there by the Jordan—a great
impressive altar.
YLT
10and they come in unto the
districts of the Jordan
which [are] in the land of Canaan
and the sons of
Reuben
and the sons of Gad
and the half of the tribe of Manasseh
build there
an altar by the Jordan -- a great altar for appearance.
And when they came unto the borders of Jordan
that are in
the land of Canaan
.... To the banks of it
or the sand heaps
some take the word to
signify
which were thrown up to restrain the waters from overflowing; some by
Geliloth understand a place so called; and JeromF7De loc. Heb. fol.
92. C. says it was near Jordan in the tribe of Benjamin: but rather the word
signifies the meanders
windings
and turnings
of the riverF8Vid.
Gusset. Ebr. Comment. p. 170
573. Reland. Palestin. Illustrat. tom. 1. l. 1.
c. 43. p. 274
279. ; and such circuits and compasses it fetched near Jericho
as the same writerF9Ut supra
(De loc. Heb. fol. 92.) G. observes
where we may suppose these tribes went over
and at a place where the river
jetted out into the land of Canaan:
the children of Reuben
and the children of Gad
built there an
altar by Jordan; or "then"; that is
when they had passed over the
river into their own country
for which Josephus is expressF11Antiqu.
l. 5. c. 1. sect. 26. ; and certain it is
that the altar was built not on the
Canaan side of Jordan
but on the opposite side
as is clear from Joshua 22:11
and
indeed they had no right to build on any other ground than their own; and they
pitched upon a spot where the river jetted out into the land of Canaan
as most
proper to erect it on
to be a witness
that though separated from the rest of
the Israelites by the river Jordan
yet were a part of them
and had a right to
join them in the service of God
and bring their sacrifices to the altar of God
in the tabernacle
as more fully appears in some after verses:
a great altar to see to; built up very high
so
that it might be seen at a great distance.
Joshua 22:11 11 Now the children of Israel
heard someone say
“Behold
the children of Reuben
the children of Gad
and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land
of Canaan
in the region of the Jordan—on the children of Israel’s side.”
YLT
11And the sons of Israel
hear
saying
`Lo
the sons of Reuben
and the sons of Gad
and the half of the
tribe of Manasseh
have built the altar over-against the land of Canaan
on the
districts of the Jordan
at the passage of the sons of Israel.'
And the children of Israel heard say
.... Those
that dwelt in the land of Canaan
for otherwise
as before observed
the two
tribes and a half on the other side Jordan were Israelites also; and this is a
further proof that the altar was built on their side
or those in the land of
Canaan would have known of the building of it
and have seen them at it
and
not come at the knowledge of it by hearsay only
as it seems they did
it being
reported to them by some who had been in those parts
and had seen the
structure:
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; which clearly
shows it was on the other side Jordan
though Noldius
who places it in the
land of Canaan
renders the words
"in the neighbourhood of" itF12אל מול "in vicinia"
Noldius
No. 369. p. 80. ; which will not much help him
since it might be in
the neighbourhood of it
and yet not in it:
in the borders of Jordan; on the banks of it
or
in one of the meanders and windings of it
at a place where it ran out and
fetched a compass in the land of Canaan:
at the passage of the children of Israel; where they
passed over when they first came into Canaan
and where those tribes also
passed over at their return; supposed to be the Bethabara beyond Jordan
where
John was baptizing
John 1:28.
Joshua 22:12 12 And when the children of
Israel heard of it
the whole congregation of the children of Israel
gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them.
YLT
12And the sons of Israel
hear
and all the company of the sons of Israel is assembled at Shiloh
to go
up against them to war;
And when the children of Israel heard of it
.... Of the
building the altar in the above place
namely
the nine tribes and a half
settled in the land of Canaan:
the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered
themselves together at Shiloh; where the tabernacle and altar of the Lord
were
whose cause they undertook to avenge
being injured as they imagined by
the altar the other tribes had built
and where they could consult the Lord by
Urim and Thummim
if needful; hither they repaired from the several places
around
where their tribes were settled; not the whole body of the people
but
their heads and representatives:
to go up to war against them; to consult about it
and
to prepare for it
which they were obliged to do by the law of God
as in the
case of a city
so of a tribe drawn aside to idolatry; and which they imagined
was the case of these tribes
or at least what they had done had a tendency to
apostasy from the true worship of God
which they were zealous to defend at the
hazard of their lives
and though it should issue in an extirpation of one or
more of their tribes; see Deuteronomy 13:12.
Joshua 22:13 13 Then the children of
Israel sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the children of Reuben
to the children of Gad
and to half the tribe of Manasseh
into the land of
Gilead
YLT
13and the sons of Israel send
unto the sons of Reuben
and unto the sons of Gad
and unto the half of the
tribe of Manasseh -- unto the land of Gilead -- Phinehas son of Eleazar the
priest
And the children of Israel
.... In the land of
Canaan:
sent unto the children of Reuben
and to the children of Gad
and
to the half tribe of Manasseh
unto the land of Gilead; they were
possessed of
and had now returned unto and dwelt in; hither they sent an
embassy to them
to inquire into the truth of what they had heard
and the
reason of it
before they went to war with them
or proclaimed it
or took any
further steps towards it; and which they were obliged to do by the above law
when there was any suspicion of idolatry
and any good ground and reason for
it
Deuteronomy 13:14;
and at the head of this deputation was
Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest; a man zealous
for the Lord of hosts
and his glory
of which there is an instance in Numbers 25:7; and
so a fit person to be employed in this affair
who would be faithful
bold
and
zealous
as well as capable of giving advice and counsel to both parties
if
needful.
Joshua 22:14 14 and with him ten rulers
one ruler each from the chief house of every tribe of Israel; and each one was
the head of the house of his father among the divisions[a] of Israel.
YLT
14and ten princes with him
one prince
one prince
for a house of a father
for all the tribes of Israel
and each of them a head of a house of their fathers
for the thousands of
Israel.
And with him ten princes
of each chief house a prince
throughout all the tribes of Israel
.... The nine tribes and
a half
so that the half tribe of Manasseh sent a prince
as well as the whole
tribes:
and each one was an head of the house of their fathers
among the thousands of Israel; that is
among the rulers of the thousands
of Israel; and so the Greek version calls them Chiliarchs
rulers of thousands;
for the people were divided into tens
fifties
hundreds
and thousands
over
whom there were distinct rulers
Exodus 18:25. Now
these were among the chief of them
of the highest rank and authority; they
were the chief princes
heads of several tribes; a very honourable deputation
this! the son of the high priest
and ten princes
the heads of the tribes;
these were chosen and sent
partly in honour to their brethren beyond Jordan
and partly that they might carry the greater authority with them
and prevail
upon them to hearken to them.
Joshua 22:15 15 Then they came to the
children of Reuben
to the children of Gad
and to half the tribe of Manasseh
to the land of Gilead
and they spoke with them
saying
YLT
15And they come in unto the
sons of Reuben
and unto the sons of Gad
and unto the half of the tribe of
Manasseh
unto the land of Gilead
and speak with them
saying
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
.... The
deputation came thither; they either sent for the chiefs among the two tribes
and a half
to meet them at some place
or they
having a notion of their
coming
assembled together to receive them
and hear what they had to say to
them:
and they spake with them
saying; as follows; very
probably Phinehas was the mouth of the whole
for there could be but one
speaker.
Joshua 22:16 16 “Thus says the whole
congregation of the Lord:
‘What treachery is this that you have committed against the God of
Israel
to turn away this day from following the Lord
in that you
have built for yourselves an altar
that you might rebel this day against the Lord?
YLT
16`Thus said all the company
of Jehovah
What [is] this trespass which ye have trespassed against the God of
Israel
to turn back to-day from after Jehovah
by your building for you an
altar
for your rebelling to-day against Jehovah?
Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord
.... By whom
they were sent
and whom they represented; and they do not call them the
congregation of Israel
but of the Lord
because it was not on a civil but
religious account they were come
and not to plead their own cause
but the
cause of God; and not so much to show a concern for their own honour and
interest as for the glory of God:
what trespass is this that ye have committed against the
God of Israel; they took it for granted that they had committed a sin
and that
so great
they were not able to express the greatness of it in all its
aggravated circumstances
and plainly suggest it was idolatry; which was too
premature
when as yet they had not inquired into it; but their zeal for God
and his honour
hurried them into this hasty step:
to turn away this day from following the Lord; they
intimate
that they had begun a revolt from the worship of God
which is
aggravated by their falling into it so soon
having received so many favours
from God
and had so lately seen such wonderful appearances of his power and
goodness
and had just had such excellent instructions
exhortations
and
cautions given them by Joshua
when he dismissed them:
in that ye have built you an altar; which they supposed was
to offer sacrifices upon; whereas there was to be but one altar
and that in
the place which the Lord should choose to put his name in
and which he had now
chosen
where all sacrifices were to be brought and offered up; see Exodus 20:24
that ye might rebel this day against the Lord? against the
commandment of the Lord expressed in the places referred to
which they charge
with rebellion against himself
a very high and heavy charge indeed! but they
should first have inquired whether they were guilty of the trespass
or with
what view they had built the altar
whether for sacrifice
or for some other
use; but they took it for granted it was for sacrifice.
Joshua 22:17 17 Is
the iniquity of Peor not enough for us
from which we are not cleansed till
this day
although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord
YLT
17Is the iniquity of Peor
little to us
from which we have not been cleansed till this day -- and the
plague is in the company of Jehovah
Is the iniquity of Peor too
little for us
.... The worshipping of that idol
when in the plains of Moab;
the history of which
see in Numbers 25:2
was
that so small a sin
that another must be added to it
or a greater committed?
since building an altar seemed designed not for a single action of idolatrous
worship
but for the continuance of it
whereas the sin of Peor was only
committed at one time
and not continued in:
from which we are not cleansed until this day; not cleared
from the shame and disgrace of it
or the guilt of it expiated or removed; but
it might be expected
as in the case of the golden calf
that God would still
at times punish for it
when provoked by new crimes; or the sense is
that
there were those among them that were infected with the same contagion
and
whose inclinations were to commit the same
or like sin of idolatry:
although there was a plague in congregation of the Lord; of which
twenty four thousand died
Numbers 25:9.
Joshua 22:18 18 but that you must turn
away this day from following the Lord? And it shall be
if you
rebel today against the Lord
that tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
YLT
18that ye turn back to-day
from after Jehovah? and it hath been -- ye rebel to-day against Jehovah -- and
to-morrow against all the company of Israel He is wroth.
But that you must turn away this day from following the Lord?.... From the
worship of the Lord
as the Targum
and so on Joshua 22:16; not
content with the former transgression
but must add this revolt unto it
and at
a time which sadly aggravates it:
and it will be
that seeing ye rebel to
day against the
Lord; against the Word of the Lord
as the Targum
and so on Joshua 22:16
that tomorrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of
Israel; or
in a little time
if a stop is not put to this revolt
the
whole body of the people will suffer for it: here they express a concern for
the whole nation of Israel
as well as for the glory of God; for sometimes the
whole congregation has been charged with the sins of individuals
and punished
for it
as a case after mentioned shows; see Joshua 7:1.
Joshua 22:19 19 Nevertheless
if the land
of your possession is unclean
then cross over to the land of the
possession of the Lord
where the Lord’s
tabernacle stands
and take possession among us; but do not rebel against the Lord
nor rebel
against us
by building yourselves an altar besides the altar of the Lord our God.
YLT
19`And surely
if the land of
your possession is unclean
pass over for you unto the land of the possession
of Jehovah
where the tabernacle of Jehovah hath tabernacled
and have
possession in our midst; and against Jehovah rebel not
and against us rebel
not
by your building for you an altar
besides the altar of Jehovah our God.
Notwithstanding
if the land of your possession be unclean
.... That is
if it was judged to be so by them
because not cleansed from the sins of the
former inhabitants of it by sacrifice
or because there was no altar in it to offer
up sacrifice for the expiation of sin:
then pass ye over
unto the land of the possession of the Lord
wherein the Lord's tabernacle dwelleth; if you repent
of the choice you have made of a country to dwell in
quit it
and come over
into the land of Canaan
which the Lord has taken possession of
and residence
in
and where his tabernacle is fixed
the place of his presence and worship
and where an altar is erected to sacrifice upon:
and take possession among us; they were willing to
quit possession of their own
and make room for them in each of their tribes
and even though they straitened themselves
and parted with much of their
estates
rather than they should make a schism
or go into idolatrous
practices; which was a brave
noble
spirit indeed
and showed their great
concern for the honour and glory of God
and his worship
and their love to
their brethren
and affectionate regard for their spiritual welfare
above
their own private
personal
and temporal good:
but rebel not against the Lord: the Word of the Lord
as
the Targum
either Christ the essential Word
the Angel of Jehovah's presence
or his word of command:
nor rebel against us; by breaking off from us
and setting up another religion or form of worship:
in building you an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God: which ought
to be common to both
and no other to be set up against it
or used beside it.
Joshua 22:20 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 did not perish alone in his iniquity.’”
YLT
20Did not Achan son of Zerah
commit a trespass in the devoted thing
and on all the company of Israel there
was wrath? and he alone expired not in his iniquity.'
Did not Achan the son of Zerah
.... One that descended
from Zerah the son of Judah
Joshua 7:18
commit a trespass in the accursed thing; in taking
what was devoted to sacred uses:
and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and which was
what was feared now; and this instance is brought to show that such fears were
not groundless:
and that man perished not alone in his iniquity: which seems
to confirm the notion of those who think that his children suffered with him;
though it may be observed
that it was through his sin that thirty six men were
slain by the men of Ai
Joshua 7:5.
Joshua 22:21 21 Then the children of
Reuben
the children of Gad
and half the tribe of Manasseh answered and said
to the heads of the divisions[b] of Israel:
YLT
21And the sons of Reuben
and
the sons of Gad
and the half of the tribe of Manasseh
answer and speak with
the heads of the thousands of Israel:
Then the children of Reuben
and the children of Gad
and the half
tribe of Manasseh
answered
.... By some person whom they appointed to
deliver the answer in their name:
and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel; who were over
those that were rulers of the thousands of Israel
persons of greater authority
than they
being princes of the respective tribes to which they belonged.
Joshua 22:22 22 “The Lord God of gods
the Lord
God of gods
He knows
and let Israel itself know—if it is in rebellion
or if in treachery against the Lord
do not save us this day.
YLT
22`The God of gods --
Jehovah
the God of gods -- Jehovah
He is knowing
and Israel
he doth know
if in rebellion
and if in trespass against Jehovah (Thou dost not save us this
day!)
The Lord God of gods
the Lord God of gods
.... They
first set out in their answer with asserting their firm belief of Jehovah
the
God of Israel
being the supreme God
God over all; over all that are called
gods
whether angels
of whom Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it; or civil
magistrates and judges of the earth
who bare the same name; nor are the gods
of the Gentiles to be spoken of with Jehovah
the God of Israel
who is the
supreme Being
self-existent
the Being of beings
eternal and immutable
all
which is contained in his name Jehovah; now this is repeated by them for the
confirmation of their faith in this great article of it
and shows the
steadiness of it
and to express their earnest and vehement affection for this
truth
and to clear themselves from any imputation of idolatry
or thought of
it
or doing anything that might have a tendency to it:
he knoweth; he is the omniscient God
the searcher of the hearts and the
trier of the reins of the children of men; he knows our cordial belief of this
truth
the integrity of our hearts
the intention of our minds
that we never
had a thought in us of departing from his worship
and of setting up an altar
beside his in opposition to it:
and Israel he shall know; our brethren the
Israelites that dwell in the land of Canaan
whose representatives you are
shall know
not only by our present declaration
but by our future conduct
and
strict adherence to the pure worship of God in time to come
that it was never
our view by what we have done to depart from it:
if it be in rebellion
or if in transgression against the
Lord; with a design to rebel against his word
and transgress his
command:
save us not this day; this is said with
respect to God
and as an apostrophe to him
as Jarchi
Kimchi
and Abarbinel
observe; as expressing their desire to have no mercy shown them by him
but
that vengeance might be taken on them by him
to whom all things were naked and
open
and who full well knew whether they were guilty or not; or else the
address is to Phinehas
and the princes
that they would rise up and put them
to death by sword
if this appeared to be the case; or that all the other
tribes would rise up
and make war against them
and cut them off with the edge
of the sword
and not spare them.
Joshua 22:23 23 If we have built ourselves
an altar to turn from following the Lord
or if to offer on it
burnt offerings or grain offerings
or if to offer peace offerings on it
let
the Lord
Himself require an account.
YLT
23[we are] building for
ourselves an altar to turn back from after Jehovah
and if to cause to go up on
it burnt-offering and present
and if to make on it peace-offerings -- Jehovah
Himself doth require [it].
That we have built us an altar
to turn from following the Lord
.... That is
we desire
as we deserve
to be cut to pieces
and not saved
if it should
appear to be our view
in building this altar
to revolt from the pure worship
of God:
or if to offer thereon burnt offering
or meat offering
or if to
offer peace offerings; even to the Lord himself: they declare that as they had no
design to apostatize from God
and worship idols
so it was not their intention
to offer any kind of sacrifice on the altar they had built
even to the Lord
himself; and they take notice of every kind of offering
to remove every charge
of this sort from them
and to purge themselves of every imputation of this
nature: then
let the Lord himself require it; seek it out
who is the omniscient God
and revenge it
who is the Lord God Almighty
just
and true.
Joshua 22:24 24 But in fact we have done
it for fear
for a reason
saying
‘In time to come your descendants may speak
to our descendants
saying
“What have you to do with the Lord God of Israel?
YLT
24`And if not
from fear of
[this] thing we have done it
saying
Hereafter your sons do speak to ours
sons
saying
What to you and to Jehovah God of Israel?
And if we have not rather done it for fear of this
thing
.... So far they suggest were they from doing this
in order to
turn from the pure worship of God
and introduce idolatrous worship
that it
was to guard against everything of that kind for the future; and through fear
of it
and anxiety and distress of mind
lest some time or another there should
be any temptation to it in their posterity
had they built this altar:
saying
in time to come your children might speak unto our
children; or "tomorrow"F13מחר
"cras"
Pagninus
Montanus
&c.
in a short time after your
heads
and ours
are laid in the grave
your posterity will accost us:
saying
what have you to do with the Lord God of Israel? you are
aliens and strangers from the commonwealth of Israel
live in a foreign land
and not in the land
of Canaan; are separated from us by the river Jordan
are
a different people from us
and have nothing to do with the tabernacle of the
Lord
and the service of it
or with the altar of the Lord
to offer sacrifice
on it. Now as they returned to their own country
or when got there
such
anxious thoughts and fears rose up in their minds
which they communicated to
one another
and thought of this expedient to prevent what would be so fatal to
their posterity. The Targum is
"you have no part in the Word of the Lord
God of Israel;'see John 13:8.
Joshua 22:25 25 For the Lord has made the
Jordan a border between you and us
you children of Reuben and children
of Gad. You have no part in the Lord.” So your descendants
would make our descendants cease fearing the Lord.’
YLT
25for a border hath Jehovah
put between us and you
O sons of Reuben
and sons of Gad -- Jordan; ye have no
portion in Jehovah -- and your sons have caused our sons to cease
not to fear
Jehovah.
For the Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you
.... And by it
separated them from them
as if they were a distinct people; not that this was
really the case
but so they feared it would be represented in time to come;
for though Jordan was the border of the land of Canaan
strictly so called
eastward
Numbers 34:12; yet
it did not exclude the land of the two tribes and a half from being part of the
land of promise; for the Amorites
which before inhabited it
and were driven
out of it
were Canaanites
and were one part of the people
whose land the
Lord promised to Abraham
Genesis 15:18
ye children of Reuben
and children of Gad
have no part in the
Lord; in his covenant and promises
in his worship
word
and
ordinances; these are things you have nothing to do with
being separated from
us his peculiar people; or "have no part in the Word of the Lord"
as
the Targum
the promised Messiah
being without
or separated from him
as the
Gentiles are said to be
Ephesians 2:12
so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the
Lord; from worshipping the Lord
the fear of the Lord being often put
for the whole worship of God
external and internal
Ecclesiastes 12:13;
by behaving in the above manner towards them
they would be the cause and
occasion of their apostasy from the true God
and it would be in effect to say
to them
"go
serve other gods"
1 Samuel 26:19.
Joshua 22:26 26 Therefore we said
‘Let us
now prepare to build ourselves an altar
not for burnt offering nor for
sacrifice
YLT
26`And we say
Pray let us
prepare for ourselves to build the altar -- not for burnt-offering nor for
sacrifice –
Therefore we said
.... One to another
in order to prevent the
apostasy of our children from God
their departure from his worship
and going
into idolatry:
let us now prepare to build us an altar; get materials
ready
and set about it instantly
without any delay
while the thing dwells
upon our minds:
not for burnt offering
nor for sacrifice; not for
offerings of any kind required by the law
neither for sin offerings nor
trespass offerings
nor any other not named.
Joshua 22:27 27 but that it may
be a witness between you and us and our generations after us
that we may
perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt
offerings
with our sacrifices
and with our peace offerings; that your
descendants may not say to our descendants in time to come
“You have no part
in the Lord.”’
YLT
27but a witness it [is]
between us and you
and between our generations after us
to do the service of
Jehovah before Him with our burnt-offerings
and with our sacrifices
and with
our peace-offerings
and your sons do not say hereafter to our sons
Ye have no
portion in Jehovah.
But that it may be a witness between us and you
and
our generations after us
.... That we are one people
worship one God
and serve at one
altar
of which this built was a resemblance
and would put them in mind of it:
that we might do the service of the Lord before him; in the
tabernacle
and at the altar
in the place where he had chosen to put his name
and dwell:
with our burnt offerings
and with our sacrifices
and with our
peace offerings; to be brought at stated times
or as occasion required:
that your children may not say to our children
in time to come
ye have no part in the Lord; nor right to his altar
and so forbid them
offering their sacrifices on it; or"have no part in the Word of the
Lord
'as the Targum; the Messiah
whose sacrifice was typified by the
sacrifices of the legal dispensation
and all such
who offered theirs in the
faith of that
had a part in it
and their sins were expiated by it.
Joshua 22:28 28 Therefore we said that it
will be
when they say this to us or to our generations in time to come
that we may say
‘Here is the replica of the altar of the Lord which our
fathers made
though not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices; but it is
a witness between you and us.’
YLT
28`And we say
And it hath
been
when they say [so] unto us
and unto our generations hereafter
that we
have said
See the pattern of the altar of Jehovah
which our fathers made --
not for burnt-offering nor for sacrifice -- but a witness it [is] between us
and you.
Therefore said we
.... To prevent any such usage of our
children
and that they might have a ready answer to give:
that it shall be
when they should so say unto us
or to
our generations
in time to come; as above suggested
that
they were a separate people from them
and had no interest in the Lord
nor
right to his altar
nor concern in his worship:
that we may say again; in reply
that is
our
posterity:
behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord
which our fathers
made; which exactly agrees with the Mosaic altar
and which they could
never have framed in so exact a manner if they had not seen it
and served at
it; wherefore this was a plain proof of their being originally worshippers of
the same God
partakers of the same altar
and were in the faith
fellowship
and communion of Israel. According to GussetiusF14Ebr. Comment. p.
135.
this was not the altar the Reubenites
&c. built
which the children
of Israel would be bid to behold
but the Mosaic altar at the tabernacle or
temple
which was the archetype and exemplar
according to which that of the
Reubenites was formed; and therefore say not
come and behold
but behold the
altar present before them
that of Moses
and acknowledge that to be a type and
exemplar
which they had related
and so confess it to be a testimony of their
mutual fellowship: and what they had made in imitation of it
which exactly
answered to it
was
not for burnt offerings
nor for sacrifices; of any sort
that was not the intention of erecting it:
but it is a witness between us and you; that we
worship the same God
and are of the same faith and fellowship.
Joshua 22:29 29 Far be it from us that we
should rebel against the Lord
and turn from following the Lord this day
to build an
altar for burnt offerings
for grain offerings
or for sacrifices
besides the
altar of the Lord
our God which is before His tabernacle.”
YLT
29`Far be it from us to rebel
against Jehovah
and to turn back to-day from after Jehovah
to build an altar
for burnt-offering
for present
and for sacrifice
apart from the altar of
Jehovah our God
which [is] before His tabernacle.'
God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord
.... Against
the command of the Lord
who ordered one altar to be made
to which all sacrifices
were to be brought from the several parts of the land of Israel
and there to
be offered on it; or
"against
the Word of the Lord
'as the Targum
Christ typified both by the altar and the
sacrifices on it; and who is but one
one priest
one sacrifice
one altar
one
Mediator and Saviour:
and turn this day from following the Lord; apostatize
from him
and from his worship:
to build an altar for burnt offerings
for meat offerings
or for
sacrifices; which was never our intention
or ever entered into our hearts
to erect one for such a purpose:
besides the altar of the Lord our God
that is before his
tabernacle; it standing in the court of the tabernacle before the holy
place.
Joshua 22:30 30 Now when Phinehas the
priest and the rulers of the congregation
the heads of the divisions[c] of Israel
who were with him
heard the words that the children of Reuben
the
children of Gad
and the children of Manasseh spoke
it pleased them.
YLT
30And Phinehas the priest
and the princes of the company
and the heads of the thousands of Israel
who
[are] with him
hear the words which the sons of Reuben
and the sons of Gad
and the sons of Manasseh have spoken
and it is good in their eyes.
And when Phinehas the priest
.... For he was
being
the son of Eleazar the high priest
so the word "priest"
Joshua 22:13; is to
be joined
not to Eleazar but to Phinehas:
and the princes of the congregation; the ten princes
who
were sent by the congregation of Israel
one out of each tribe:
and heads out of the thousands of Israel; these are the
same with the princes
and this belongs to their title
who were heads of the
Chiliarchs
or those who were rulers of thousands in Israel:
which were with him; with Phinehas
who were
joined with him in the embassy
and now present with him:
heard the words that the children of Reuben
and the children of
Gad
and the children of Manasseh; spake; in defence of
themselves
explaining the meaning and design of the altar they had built:
it pleased them; they were not only satisfied with their
answer
but highly delighted with what they had done
as tending to preserve
the common faith and fellowship of Israel.
Joshua 22:31 31 Then Phinehas the son of
Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben
the children of Gad
and the
children of Manasseh
“This day we perceive that the Lord is
among us
because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord. Now you have
delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.”
YLT
31And Phinehas son of Eleazar
the priest saith unto the sons of Reuben
and unto the sons of Gad
and unto
the sons of Manasseh
`To-day we have known that Jehovah [is] in our midst
because ye have not committed against Jehovah this trespass -- then ye have
delivered the sons of Israel out of the hand of Jehovah.'
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest
.... As the
mouth of the deputation
and in their name:
said unto the children of Reuben
and to the children of Gad
and
to the children of Manasseh; the representatives of them assembled
together on this occasion:
this day we perceive that the Lord is among us; his
Shechinah
as the Targum; his powerful Presence in preserving their brethren
from committing a trespass
as they feared; his gracious Presence smiling upon
them; and as the God of peace and order
and not of confusion
uniting and
cementing their hearts in love to one another:
because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord; which they
were fearful and jealous of they had
but they found that the Lord had been
good and gracious in preserving them from it:
now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of
the Lord; into which they would have fallen
had that been the case
and
would have felt the effects of the divine resentment
but now they were secure
from them.
Joshua 22:32 32 And Phinehas the son of
Eleazar the priest
and the rulers
returned from the children of Reuben and
the children of Gad
from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan
to the
children of Israel
and brought back word to them.
YLT
32And Phinehas son of Eleazar
the priest
and the princes
turn back from the sons of Reuben
and from the
sons of Gad
out of the land of Gilead
unto the land of Canaan
unto the sons
of Israel
and bring them back word;
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest
and the princes
.... Being
fully satisfied with the relation of things that had been given them
and
having taken their leave of the assembly:
returned from the children of Reuben
and from the children of Gad; the Greek
version adds
"and from the half tribe of Manasseh"; which
though
not in the Hebrew text
is undoubtedly meant:
out of the land of Gilead: which
though only a
part of the country these tribes inhabited
is put for the whole
and it is not
improbable that the assembly might be held in it:
unto the land of Canaan
to the children of Israel; the rest of
the children of Israel who dwelt in the land of Canaan
properly so called:
and brought them word again; reported the whole
affair
related all that had passed
and acquainted them with the intention and
design of their brethren erecting the altar
and what had been the issue of
their embassy to them.
Joshua 22:33 33 So the thing pleased the
children of Israel
and the children of Israel blessed God; they spoke no more
of going against them in battle
to destroy the land where the children of
Reuben and Gad dwelt.
YLT
33and the thing is good in
the eyes of the sons of Israel
and the sons of Israel bless God
and have not
said to go up against them to war
to destroy the land which the sons of
Reuben
and the sons of Gad
are dwelling in.
And the thing pleased the children of Israel
.... They were
quite satisfied with the account of things
and were pleased and delighted with
what their brethren
the other two tribes
had done:
and the children of Israel blessed God: returned
thanks to him
that there was no trespass committed against him
and no schism
like to be made among them
nor any wrath to come upon them:
and did not intend to go up against them in battle; for though
upon first hearing of their building an altar
which they supposed was for
idolatry
they had intended to make war against them
but now understanding the
design of that building
they laid aside all thoughts of that kind:
to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt; which they
judged by the law in Deuteronomy 13:12
they were obliged to do. The Greek version here adds also
"and the half
tribe of Manasseh"
and renders the last clause
and "they dwelt in
it"; continued to dwell in it undisturbed by their brethren.
Joshua 22:34 34 The children of Reuben and
the children of Gad[d] called the
altar
Witness
“For it is a witness between us that the Lord is
God.”
YLT
34And the sons of Reuben and
the sons of Gad proclaim concerning the altar
that `it [is] a witness between
us that Jehovah [is] God.'
And the children of Reuben
and the children of Gad
called the
altar Ed
.... Which signifies a "witness"; they caused such an
inscription to be put upon it
or this word to be engraved on it
that so the
intention of erecting it might be known in future time; that it was not for
sacrifice
but to be a testimony of their being one with their brethren on the
other side Jordan
in worship
faith
and fellowship:
for it shall be a witness between us that the Lord is
God; is the one God
the God of them both
of all Israel
whether on
the one or the other side of Jordan; to be worshipped by them in one and the
same manner
and their sacrifices to be offered to him on his altar before the
tabernacle.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New King James
Version (NKJV)