Joshua 22: The eastern tribes go home, and the altar of witness
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What happens?
Joshua praises the tribes of Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh for helping their brothers, blesses them and sends them home across the Jordan with great wealth. On the way they build a large altar by the Jordan, and the rest of Israel gathers at Shiloh to go to war against them, fearing they have turned away from Yahweh. Phinehas the priest and ten leaders go to them, and the eastern tribes explain that the altar is not for offerings but a witness that their children too belong to Yahweh; Phinehas and all Israel are satisfied, and there is no war.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. Joshua speaks to the eastern tribes in verses 2 to 5 and verse 8. Verse 11 gives the report the Israelites heard. In verses 16 to 20 Phinehas and the ten leaders speak for "the whole congregation of Yahweh": these are their words, not God's, so they are not in gold. The eastern tribes answer in verses 22 to 29, and Phinehas speaks again in verse 31. No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
In plain English: Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
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2and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you.
In plain English: and said to them, "You have kept everything that Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, and you have listened to my voice in everything I commanded you.
Good to know: Moses had told these tribes to cross the Jordan armed and help the other tribes before going home, and they promised to do it ( to ), and Joshua reminded them of it in to . Here he says they have done it.
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3You have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have performed the duty of the commandment of Yahweh your God.
In plain English: You have not left your brothers all this long time, to this day, but have kept the charge (this Bible: performed the duty) of the commandment of Yahweh your God.
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4Now Yahweh your God has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them. Therefore now return and go to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you beyond the Jordan.
In plain English: Now Yahweh your God has given your brothers rest, as he promised them. So now turn and go home to your tents, to the land you own, which Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
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5Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded you, to love Yahweh 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.”
In plain English: Only be very careful to do the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of Yahweh gave you: to love Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold on to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul."
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6So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.
In plain English: So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents.
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7Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but Joshua gave to the other half among their brothers beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,
In plain English: To one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave land among their brothers on the west side of the Jordan. When Joshua sent them home to their tents, he blessed them
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8and spoke to them, saying, “Return with much wealth to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the plunder of your enemies with your brothers.”
In plain English: and said to them, "Go back to your tents with great wealth: with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and with very much clothing. Share the plunder of your enemies with your brothers."
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9The 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 to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they owned, according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
In plain English: So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh went back. They left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to go to the land of Gilead, the land they owned and had settled in, as Yahweh had commanded through Moses (literally: at the mouth of Yahweh, by the hand of Moses).
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10When they came to the region near the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a great altar to look at.
In plain English: When they came to the region (or: to Geliloth) of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a large altar, great to look at.
The Hebrew word: "The region" is geliloth, which the dictionary gives as "a circuit or region". This Bible says "region" or "regions" in all 5 verses that use the word.
What changes: Read as "the region of the Jordan", it is the land along the river. Read as a name, it is a place called Geliloth by the Jordan, like the Geliloth named on Benjamin's border in . Either way, the text says it is "in the land of Canaan".
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11The children of Israel heard this, “Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar along the border of the land of Canaan, in the region around the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the children of Israel.”
In plain English: The Israelites heard it said, "Look, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the front of (or: opposite) the land of Canaan, at the region of the Jordan, on the Israelites' side (literally: toward the side of the children of Israel)."
The Hebrew words: "Along the border of" the land of Canaan is a word the dictionary gives as "the front" and "opposite". "On the side that belongs to the children of Israel" is literally "toward the side ('ever) of the children of Israel". 'Ever is the word this Bible gives as "beyond" the Jordan in .
What changes: Read with , the altar stands on the west bank, in Canaan, on the side where the other tribes live. Read as "opposite the land of Canaan", across the river from it, it could stand on the east bank. The text does not say more than this.
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12When the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.
In plain English: When the Israelites heard it, the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go up and make war against them.
Good to know: The text does not say which law the tribes had in mind. and say burnt offerings are to be offered only in the place Yahweh chooses, and to tells Israel to go against a town of Israel that turns to other gods.
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13The children of Israel sent to 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.
In plain English: The Israelites sent Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead.
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14With him were ten princes, one prince of a fathers’ house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were each head of their fathers’ houses among the thousands of Israel.
In plain English: With him went ten leaders (this Bible: princes), one leader of a family (literally: father's house) for each of the tribes of Israel. Each was the head of his family among the clans (literally: thousands) of Israel.
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15They came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying,
In plain English: They came to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead, and said to them,
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16“The whole congregation of Yahweh says, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away today from following Yahweh, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel today against Yahweh?
In plain English: "This is what the whole community of Yahweh says: 'What is this unfaithfulness (this Bible: trespass) you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following Yahweh today by building yourselves an altar, rebelling against Yahweh today?
The Hebrew word: "Trespass" is ma'al, which the dictionary gives as "treachery, i.e. sin": acting unfaithfully.
How it is translated: Ma'al is in 5 verses of Joshua, and this Bible says "trespass" in all of them. The first is Achan's sin in ; the others are in this chapter (verses 16, 20, 22 and 31).
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17Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although there came a plague on the congregation of Yahweh,
In plain English: Was the sin of Peor not enough for us? We have not cleansed ourselves from it even to this day, though a plague came on the community of Yahweh.
Good to know: At Peor, Israel "joined himself to Baal Peor" and a plague followed ( and ). Phinehas, who speaks here, is the priest who stopped that plague ( and ).
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18that you must turn away today from following Yahweh? It will be, since you rebel today against Yahweh, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
In plain English: And now you must turn away from following Yahweh today? If you rebel against Yahweh today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel.
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19However, if the land of your possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of Yahweh, in which Yahweh’s tabernacle dwells, and take possession among us; but don’t rebel against Yahweh, nor rebel against us, in building an altar other than Yahweh our God’s altar.
In plain English: But if the land you own is unclean, then cross over to the land Yahweh owns, where Yahweh's tabernacle stands (literally: dwells), and take land among us. Only do not rebel against Yahweh, and do not rebel against us, by building yourselves an altar other than the altar of Yahweh our God.
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20Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man didn’t perish alone in his iniquity.’”
In plain English: Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit unfaithfulness with the things set apart for destruction (this Bible: the devoted thing), and anger fell on the whole community of Israel? That man did not die alone for his sin.'"
Good to know: The story of Achan is in : he took some of the things set apart for destruction. Israel took him, his sons and daughters and all he had to the valley of Achor, stoned him, and "burned them with fire and stoned them with stones" ( to ).
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21Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
In plain English: Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans (literally: thousands) of Israel:
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22“The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, the Mighty One, God, Yahweh, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against Yahweh (don’t save us today),
In plain English: "The Mighty One, God, Yahweh! The Mighty One, God, Yahweh! He knows, and let Israel know! If this was in rebellion or in unfaithfulness against Yahweh, do not save us today,
The Hebrew words: The tribes call on God with three names, twice: El, which the dictionary gives as "strength", "mighty", and "especially the Almighty", then Elohim, God, then Yahweh. begins with the same three names: "The Mighty One, God, Yahweh, speaks".
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23that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Yahweh; or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings, let Yahweh himself require it.
In plain English: if we have built ourselves an altar to turn away from following Yahweh, or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings on it, or to make peace offerings on it, let Yahweh himself call us to account (literally: seek it).
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24“If we have not out of concern done this, and for a reason, saying, ‘In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, “What have you to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel?
In plain English: No, we did this out of worry, for a reason. We thought, 'In time to come (literally: tomorrow) your children may say to our children, "What do you have to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel?
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25For Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no portion in Yahweh.”’ So your children might make our children cease from fearing Yahweh.
In plain English: Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in Yahweh."' So your children might make our children stop fearing Yahweh.
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26“Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;
In plain English: So we said, 'Let us build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offerings and not for sacrifices,
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27but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings;’ that your children may not tell our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in Yahweh.’
In plain English: but to be a witness between us and you, and between the generations after us, that we will serve Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, our sacrifices, and our peace offerings.' Then in time to come your children will not be able to say to our children, 'You have no share in Yahweh.'
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28“Therefore we said, ‘It shall be, when they tell us or our generations this in time to come, that we shall say, “Behold the pattern of Yahweh’s altar, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.”’
In plain English: We said, 'If in time to come they say this to us or to our descendants, we will answer, "Look at the copy (this Bible: pattern) of Yahweh's altar that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you."'
The Hebrew word: "Pattern" is tavnit, which the dictionary gives as "structure; by implication, a model, resemblance". It is the word for the "pattern" Yahweh showed Moses for the tabernacle and its furniture in and .
Good to know: The tribes say the altar is a copy of Yahweh's altar, built as a witness, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices ( and ).
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29“Far be it from us that we should rebel against Yahweh, and turn away today from following Yahweh, to build an altar for burnt offering, for meal offering, or for sacrifice, besides Yahweh our God’s altar that is before his tabernacle!”
In plain English: Far be it from us to rebel against Yahweh and turn away today from following Yahweh by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices, other than the altar of Yahweh our God that stands before his tabernacle!"
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30When Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well.
In plain English: When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community, the heads of the clans of Israel who were with him, heard what the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites said, they were pleased (literally: it was good in their eyes).
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31Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, “Today we know that Yahweh is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against Yahweh. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of Yahweh’s hand.”
In plain English: Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites, "Today we know that Yahweh is among us, because you have not committed this unfaithfulness against Yahweh. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the hand of Yahweh."
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32Phinehas 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, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
In plain English: Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders came back from the Reubenites and the Gadites in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the Israelites, and brought back word to them.
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33The thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad lived.
In plain English: The Israelites were pleased with the report, and they blessed God. They spoke no more of going up to war against them, to destroy the land where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.
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34The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar “A Witness Between Us that Yahweh is God.”
In plain English: The Reubenites and the Gadites named the altar "A Witness Between Us that Yahweh is God" (or: they named the altar, saying, "It is a witness between us that Yahweh is God").
The Hebrew words: The Hebrew says literally: "they called the altar, for it is a witness (ed) between us that Yahweh is God". The dictionary gives ed as "a witness; abstractly, testimony".
What changes: Read as this Bible reads it, the whole sentence is the altar's name. It can also be read as naming the altar "Witness" (Ed), with the rest of the verse giving the reason, or as giving only the reason, with no name spoken. The text does not settle it.
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