Joshua 22:6-16

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.

10 And when they came unto the borders of the Jordan that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the halftribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to see to.

11 And the children of Israel heard say: "Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the halftribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan in the borders of the Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel."

12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh to go up to war against them.

13 And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben and to the children of Gad and to the halftribe of Manasseh into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest

14 and with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was a head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.

15 And they came unto the children of Reuben and to the children of Gad and to the halftribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying,

16 "Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD: `What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have built yourselves an altar, that ye might 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.