Joshua 22:1-9

1 Then Yehoshua called the Re'uveni, and the Gadi, and the half-tribe of Menashsheh,

2 and said to them, You have kept all that Moshe the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have listened to my voice in all that I commanded you:

3 you have not left your brothers these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the mitzvah of the LORD your God.

4 Now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he spoke to them: therefore now turn you, and get you to your tents, to the land of your possession, which Moshe the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Yarden.

5 Only take diligent heed to do the mitzvah and the law which Moshe the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his mitzvot, and to cleave to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

6 So Yehoshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.

7 Now to the one half-tribe of Menashsheh Moshe had given [inheritance] in Bashan; but to the other half gave Yehoshua among their brothers beyond the Yarden westward; moreover when Yehoshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them,

8 and spoke to them, saying, Return with much wealth to your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much clothing: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.

9 The children of Re'uven and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Menashsheh returned, and departed from the children of Yisra'el out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Kana`an, to go to the land of Gil`ad, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the mitzvah of the LORD by Moshe.

Joshua 22:1-9 Meaning and Commentary

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, Jos 22:1-8; upon which they returned to their country, and when they came to the borders of it set up an altar by Jordan, Jos 22:9,10; 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, Jos 22:11-20; and who received from them a very satisfactory answer, Jos 22:21-31; with which they returned and reported to the children of Israel, and which gave them pleasure, Jos 22:32-34.