Joshua 22:14

14 and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers' house for each of the tribes of Yisra'el; and they were everyone of them head of their fathers' houses among the thousands of Yisra'el.

Joshua 22:14 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 22:14

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 22:14 In-Context

12 When the children of Yisra'el heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Yisra'el gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.

13 The children of Yisra'el sent to the children of Re'uven, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Menashsheh, into the land of Gil`ad, Pinechas the son of El`azar the Kohen,

14 and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers' house for each of the tribes of Yisra'el; and they were everyone of them head of their fathers' houses among the thousands of Yisra'el.

15 They came to the children of Re'uven, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Menashsheh, to the land of Gil`ad, and they spoke with them, saying,

16 Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Yisra'el, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that you have built you an altar, to rebel this day against the LORD?