Joshua 22
The Eastern Tribes Return Home
1Then Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
2and said to them, “You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you.
3You have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have performed the duty of the commandment of the LORD your God.
4Now the LORD 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 the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan.
5Only take diligent 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.”
6So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.
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,
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.”
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 the LORD by Moses.
The Altar of Witness
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.
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.”
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.
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.
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.
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,
16“The whole congregation of the LORD says, ‘What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away today from following the LORD, in that you have built yourselves an altar, to rebel today against the LORD?
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 the LORD,
18that you must turn away today from following the LORD? It will be, since you rebel today against the LORD, that tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
19However, if the land of your possession is unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of the LORD, in which the LORD’s tabernacle dwells, and take possession among us; but don’t rebel against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building an altar other than the LORD our God’s altar.
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.’”
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,
22“The Mighty One, God, the LORD, the Mighty One, God, the LORD, he knows; and Israel shall know: if it was in rebellion, or if in trespass against the LORD (don’t save us today),
23that we have built us an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings, let the LORD himself require it.
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 the LORD, the God of Israel?
25For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.”’ So your children might make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
26“Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;
27but it will be a witness between us and you, and between 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 children may not tell our children in time to come, ‘You have no portion in the LORD.’
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 the LORD’s altar, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.”’
29“Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn away today from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offering, for meal offering, or for sacrifice, besides the LORD our God’s altar that is before his tabernacle!”
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.
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 the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against the LORD. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the LORD’s hand.”
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.
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.
34The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar “A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God.”
After the conquest of Canaan, Joshua dismisses the eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) to return to their inheritance across the Jordan, blessing them for their faithful service. However, when these tribes build a large altar near the Jordan, the western tribes fear religious apostasy and prepare for war. Through diplomatic dialogue led by Phinehas the priest, the misunderstanding is resolved when the eastern tribes explain the altar serves as a witness to their shared faith, not as a competing worship site.
Context
This chapter follows the completion of land distribution and precedes Joshua's final addresses, showing how Israel must navigate unity challenges after conquest.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-9Eastern Tribes DismissedJoshua commends the eastern tribes for their faithfulness and sends them home with blessing and wealth.
- 10-12The Controversial AltarThe eastern tribes build a large altar by the Jordan, causing the western tribes to prepare for war.
- 13-20Diplomatic MissionPhinehas and tribal leaders confront the eastern tribes about their apparent violation of worship laws.
- 21-29The Eastern Tribes' DefenseThe accused tribes explain the altar is a witness to unity, not a place of sacrifice.
- 30-34Reconciliation AchievedThe explanation satisfies the delegation, preventing civil war and preserving Israel's unity.
The Eastern Tribes Return Home
22:1–22:9Joshua dismisses the eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) with blessing and commendation for their faithful service. He charges them to continue obeying God's commandments as they return to their inheritance east of the Jordan.
person_contrast
Joshua's farewell speech uniquely layers three levels of obedience—to Moses' original commands, Joshua's own leadership, and future divine commandments—creating an unprecedented hierarchical structure of authority in biblical narrative.
The Altar of Witness
22:10–22:34The eastern tribes build an altar by the Jordan, causing alarm among the western tribes who fear idolatry, but the conflict is resolved when the altar is explained as a witness to unity rather than rebellion.
person_contrast
Phinehas, who previously executed Zimri for covenant violation (Numbers 25), here leads diplomatic reconciliation rather than zealous judgment, marking his only appearance as peacemaker between Israelite tribes.
Joshua 22:1
Numbers 34:14lexicalfor the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their fathers’ houses, the tribe of the children of Gad according t…
Joshua 1:12lexicalJoshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,
1 Chronicles 5:26lexicalSo the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Assyria, and the spirit of Tilgath Pilneser king of Assyria, a…
Joshua 12:6lexicalMoses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a posses…
1 Chronicles 26:32lexicalHis relatives, men of valor, were two thousand seven hundred, heads of fathers’ households, whom King David made oversee…
Joshua 22:4
Numbers 32:32lexicalWe will pass over armed before the LORD into the land of Canaan, and the possession of our inheritance shall remain with…
Joshua 1:15lexicaluntil the LORD has given your brothers rest, as he has given you, and they have also possessed the land which the LORD y…
Deuteronomy 3:20lexicaluntil the LORD gives rest to your brothers, as to you, and they also possess the land which the LORD your God gives them…
Joshua 22:5
Deuteronomy 11:13lexicalIt shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to my commandments which I command you today, to love the LORD your God,…
Deuteronomy 11:22lexicalFor if you shall diligently keep all these commandments which I command you—to do them, to love the LORD your God, to wa…
1 Kings 14:8lexicaland tore the kingdom away from David’s house, and gave it to you; and yet you have not been as my servant David, who kep…
Joshua 1:7lexicalOnly be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe to do according to all the law which Moses my servant commande…
Deuteronomy 4:9lexicalOnly be careful, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes saw, and lest they depart fro…
Joshua 22:7
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
1 Chronicles 5:23lexicalThe children of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land. They increased from Bashan to Baal Hermon, Senir, and Moun…
Deuteronomy 3:13lexicaland the rest of Gilead, and all Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half-tribe of Manasseh—all the region of Argob,…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 1:12lexicalJoshua spoke to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, saying,
Joshua 22:8
Ezekiel 38:13lexicalSheba, Dedan, and the merchants of Tarshish, with all its young lions, will ask you, ‘Have you come to take the plunder?…
1 Chronicles 29:7lexicaland they gave for the service of God’s house of gold five thousand talents and ten thousand darics, of silver ten thousa…
Joshua 6:19lexicalBut all the silver, gold, and vessels of bronze and iron are holy to the LORD. They shall come into the LORD’s treasury.…
1 Chronicles 29:2lexicalNow I have prepared with all my might for the house of my God the gold for the things of gold, the silver for the things…
1 Chronicles 22:14lexicalNow, behold, in my affliction I have prepared for the LORD’s house one hundred thousand talents of gold, one million tal…
Joshua 22:9
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Numbers 32:29lexicalMoses said to them, “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Joshua 22:10
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
1 Chronicles 5:18lexicalThe sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, abl…
Joshua 22:11
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
1 Chronicles 5:18lexicalThe sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, abl…
Joshua 22:13
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
1 Chronicles 5:18lexicalThe sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, abl…
Joshua 22:15
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
1 Chronicles 5:18lexicalThe sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, abl…
Joshua 22:20
Joshua 7:1lexicalBut the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, th…
Leviticus 26:40lexical“‘If they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers, in their trespass which they trespassed against me;…
Joshua 7:18lexicalHe brought near his household man by man, and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe…
Joshua 7:24lexicalJoshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the wedge of gold, his sons, his dau…
Joshua 22:21
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
1 Chronicles 5:18lexicalThe sons of Reuben, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, of valiant men, men able to bear buckler and sword, abl…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Joshua 22:23
Leviticus 7:37lexicalThis is the law of the burnt offering, the meal offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecration, and…
Leviticus 4:10lexicalas it is removed from the bull of the sacrifice of peace offerings. The priest shall burn them on the altar of burnt off…
2 Kings 16:13lexicalHe burned his burnt offering and his meal offering, poured his drink offering, and sprinkled the blood of his peace offe…
2 Chronicles 7:7lexicalMoreover Solomon made the middle of the court that was before the LORD’s house holy; for there he offered the burnt offe…
1 Kings 8:64lexicalThe same day the king made the middle of the court holy that was before the LORD’s house; for there he offered the burnt…
Joshua 22:25
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Numbers 32:29lexicalMoses said to them, “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who…
Joshua 13:23lexicalThe border of the children of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben acco…
Ezekiel 47:18lexical“The east side, between Hauran, Damascus, Gilead, and the land of Israel, shall be the Jordan; from the north border to…
Joshua 22:27
2 Chronicles 31:2lexicalHezekiah appointed the divisions of the priests and the Levites after their divisions, every man according to his servic…
2 Chronicles 29:35lexicalAlso the burnt offerings were in abundance, with the fat of the peace offerings and with the drink offerings for every b…
2 Chronicles 33:16lexicalHe built up the LORD’s altar, and offered sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving on it, and commanded Judah t…
1 Samuel 10:8lexical“Go down ahead of me to Gilgal; and behold, I will come down to you to offer burnt offerings and to sacrifice sacrifices…
Leviticus 7:37lexicalThis is the law of the burnt offering, the meal offering, the sin offering, the trespass offering, the consecration, and…
Joshua 22:29
Exodus 40:29lexicalHe set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt off…
2 Kings 16:15lexicalKing Ahaz commanded Urijah the priest, saying, “On the great altar burn the morning burnt offering, the evening meal off…
Leviticus 9:17lexicalHe presented the meal offering, and filled his hand from there, and burned it upon the altar, in addition to the burnt o…
Exodus 35:15lexicaland the altar of incense with its poles, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door, at the door of t…
Jeremiah 17:26lexicalThey will come from the cities of Judah, and from the places around Jerusalem, from the land of Benjamin, from the lowla…
Joshua 22:30
Numbers 32:2lexicalThen the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princ…
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 22:31
Numbers 32:2lexicalThen the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princ…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 4:12lexicalThe children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children o…
Numbers 32:33lexicalMoses gave to them, even to the children of Gad, and to the children of Reuben, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh the so…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Joshua 22:32
Numbers 32:2lexicalThen the children of Gad and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Moses, and to Eleazar the priest, and to the princ…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Numbers 32:29lexicalMoses said to them, “If the children of Gad and the children of Reuben will pass with you over the Jordan, every man who…
Numbers 32:1lexicalNow the children of Reuben and the children of Gad had a very great multitude of livestock. They saw the land of Jazer,…
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Historical Context
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