Joshua 22:6-16

6 benedixitque eis Iosue et dimisit eos qui reversi sunt in tabernacula sua

7 tribui autem Manasse mediae possessionem Moses dederat in Basan et idcirco mediae quae superfuit dedit Iosue sortem inter ceteros fratres suos trans Iordanem ad occidentalem eius plagam cumque dimitteret eos in tabernacula sua et benedixisset illis

8 dixit ad eos in multa substantia atque divitiis revertimini ad sedes vestras cum argento et auro aere ac ferro et veste multiplici dividite praedam hostium cum fratribus vestris

9 reversique sunt et abierunt filii Ruben et filii Gad et dimidia tribus Manasse a filiis Israhel de Silo quae sita est in Chanaan ut intrarent Galaad terram possessionis suae quam obtinuerant iuxta imperium Domini in manu Mosi

10 cumque venissent ad tumulos Iordanis in terra Chanaan aedificaverunt iuxta Iordanem altare infinitae magnitudinis

11 quod cum audissent filii Israhel et ad eos certi nuntii detulissent aedificasse filios Ruben et Gad et dimidiae tribus Manasse altare in terra Chanaan super Iordanis tumulos contra filios Israhel

12 convenerunt omnes in Silo ut ascenderent et dimicarent contra eos

13 et interim miserunt ad illos in terram Galaad Finees filium Eleazar sacerdotem

14 et decem principes cum eo singulos de tribubus singulis

15 qui venerunt ad filios Ruben et Gad et dimidiae tribus Manasse in terram Galaad dixeruntque ad eos

16 haec mandat omnis populus Domini quae est ista transgressio cur reliquistis Dominum Deum Israhel aedificantes altare sacrilegum et a cultu illius recedentes

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.