Joshua 22:1-8

Eastern Tribes Return Home

1 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh

2 and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded.

3 For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you.

4 Now that the LORD your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.

5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

6 Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes.

7 (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,

8 saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”

Joshua 22:1-8 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Numbers 32:25
• 2. S Exodus 33:14
• 3. Numbers 32:22; Deuteronomy 3:20
• 4. Numbers 32:18; S Joshua 1:13-15
• 5. Isaiah 43:22; Malachi 3:14
• 6. Joshua 23:11
• 7. S Deuteronomy 5:29
• 8. S Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 6:6,17
• 9. S Genesis 24:60; S Exodus 39:43
• 10. S Numbers 32:19; Numbers 32:33; S Joshua 12:5
• 11. Joshua 17:2; Joshua 17:2,5
• 12. S Joshua 14:13; Luke 24:50
• 13. S Deuteronomy 20:14
• 14. S Numbers 31:22
• 15. S Numbers 31:27
• 16. S Genesis 49:27; 1 Samuel 30:16; 2 Samuel 1:1; Isaiah 9:3