Joshua 22:18

18 that you too must turn away this day from following the LORD? And if 1you too rebel against the LORD today then tomorrow 2he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

Joshua 22:18 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 22:18

But that you must turn away this day from following the
Lord?
&c.] 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 7:5 ) .

Joshua 22:18 In-Context

16 "Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD, 'What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away this day from following the LORD by building yourselves an altar this day in rebellion against the LORD?
17 Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which even yet we have not cleansed ourselves, and for which there came a plague upon the congregation of the LORD,
18 that you too must turn away this day from following the LORD? And if you too rebel against the LORD today then tomorrow he will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
19 But now, if the land of your possession is unclean, pass over into the LORD's land where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and take for yourselves a possession among us. Only do not rebel against the LORD or make us as rebels by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.
20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah break faith in the matter of the devoted things, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And he did not perish alone for his iniquity.'"

Cross References 2

  • 1. [See ver. 16 above]
  • 2. Numbers 16:22
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.