Joshua 22:24-34

24 et non ea magis cogitatione atque tractatu ut diceremus cras dicent filii vestri filiis nostris quid vobis et Domino Deo Israhel

25 terminum posuit Dominus inter nos et vos o filii Ruben et filii Gad Iordanem fluvium et idcirco partem non habetis in Domino et per hanc occasionem avertent filii vestri filios nostros a timore Domini putavimus itaque melius

26 et diximus extruamus nobis altare non in holocausta neque ad victimas offerendas

27 sed in testimonium inter nos et vos et subolem nostram vestramque progeniem ut serviamus Domino et iuris nostri sit offerre holocausta et victimas et pacificas hostias et nequaquam dicant cras filii vestri filiis nostris non est vobis pars in Domino

28 quod si voluerint dicere respondebunt eis ecce altare Domini quod fecerunt patres nostri non in holocausta neque in sacrificium sed in testimonium vestrum ac nostrum

29 absit a nobis hoc scelus ut recedamus a Domino et eius vestigia relinquamus extructo altari ad holocausta et sacrificia et victimas offerendas praeter altare Domini Dei nostri quod extructum est ante tabernaculum eius

30 quibus auditis Finees sacerdos et principes legationis Israhel qui erant cum eo placati sunt et verba filiorum Ruben et Gad et dimidiae tribus Manasse libentissime susceperunt

31 dixitque Finees filius Eleazari sacerdos ad eos nunc scimus quod nobiscum sit Dominus quoniam alieni estis a praevaricatione hac et liberastis filios Israhel de manu Domini

32 reversusque est cum principibus a filiis Ruben et Gad de terra Galaad finium Chanaan ad filios Israhel et rettulit eis

33 placuitque sermo cunctis audientibus et laudaverunt Deum filii Israhel et nequaquam ultra dixerunt ut ascenderent contra eos atque pugnarent et delerent terram possessionis eorum

34 vocaveruntque filii Ruben et filii Gad altare quod extruxerant Testimonium nostrum quod Dominus ipse sit Deus

Joshua 22:24-34 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.