Joshua 22:1-9

1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites and the Gadites and the halftribe of Manasseh,

2 and said unto them, "Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.

4 And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as He promised them. Therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.

5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you: to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul."

6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went unto their tents.

7 Now to one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side of the Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them

8 and he spoke unto them, saying, "Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren."

9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the halftribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead to the land of their possession, which they possessed according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

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.