Joshua 22:6-16

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.

10 When they came to the region about the Yarden, that is in the land of Kana`an, the children of Re'uven and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Menashsheh built there an altar by the Yarden, a great altar to look on.

11 The children of Yisra'el heard say, Behold, the children of Re'uven and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Menashsheh have built an altar in the forefront of the land of Kana`an, in the region about the Yarden, on the side that pertains to the children of Yisra'el.

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?

Joshua 22:6-16 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.