Joshua 22
1 The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home.
10 They build the altar of testimony in their journey.
11 The Israelites are offended thereat.
21 They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction.
Joshua <03091> [Joshua.]
Reubenites <07206> [Reubenites.]
We have already seen, that a detachment of 40,000 men, of the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, had passed over Jordan armed, with their brethren, according to their agreement with Moses. The war being now concluded, the land divided, and their brethren settled, Joshua assembles these warriors; and with commendations for their services and fidelity, he dismisses them, having fist given them the most pious and suitable instructions. They had now been about seven years absent from their respective families; and though there was only the river Jordan between the camp of Gilgal and their own inheritance, yet it does not appear that they had, during that time, ever revisited their home, which they might have done at any time of the year, except the harvest, as the river was at other times easily fordable.
carried out <08104> [Ye have.]
<08085> [obeyed.]
secure <05117> [given rest.]
<03212> [get.]
<03966> [take.]
Love <0157> [love.]
loyal <01692> [cleave.]
serve <05647> [serve.]
<07725> [Return.]
Divide <02505> [divide.]
land .......... land ... Gilead <01568 0776> [the country of Gilead.]
Reubenites Gadites <01121> [the children.]
This verse should probably be rendered, "And when they came to the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Then built an altar by (or beyond, {al}) Jordan, a great altar to the view." It would appear, that when they came to the river, they formed the purpose of building the altar; and when they crossed it they put that purpose into execution. It is evident that they did not build it west of the Jordan, for that was not in their territories, and the next verse expressly says that it was built over against the land of Canaan.
built <01129> [built.]
received <08085> [heard.]
side <05676> [at the passage.]
community <05712> [the whole.]
Supposing they had built this altar for sacrifice, in opposition to the command of God, they considered them as rebels against God and the Israelitish constitution.
sent <07971> [sent.]
Phinehas <06372> [Phinehas.]
leaders ............ family <05387 01004> [chief house. Heb. house of the father. an head.]
[the whole.]
[trespass.]
[to turn.]
[rebel.]
sin <05771> [Is the iniquity.]
purified <02891> [from which.]
following <0310> [following.]
rebelling <04775> [and it will.]
anger <07107> [he will be.]
impure <02931> [unclean.]
Lord's ...... Lord .............. Lord ................ Lord <03068> [wherein.]
Reubenites Gadites <01121> [Then the children.]
The conduct and answer of these Reubenites and the associates are worthy of admiration and imitation. Though conscious of their innocence, they permitted Phinehas to finish his speech, though composed of little else than accusations, without any interruption; and taking in good part the suspicions, reproofs, and even harshness of their brethren, with the utmost meekness and solemnity they explain their intention, give all the satisfaction in their power, and with great propriety and reverence, appeal to that God against whom they were supposed to have rebelled.
answered <06030> [answered.]
leaders <07218> [heads.]
El .... Lord El .... Lord ................. Lord <0410 03068> [Lord God.]
[Yeh“vƒh <\\See definition 03068\\> el“hŒym <\\See definition 0430\\> ˆl <\\See definition 0410\\>,] {El Elohim Yehowah,} literally "The strong God, Elohim Jehovah," which is nearly the version of Luther, {der starte Gott, der Herr,} "The strong God, the Lord."
knows ....... know <03045> [he knoweth.]
Israel <03478> [Israel.]
rebelled <04777> [if it be.]
Lord .................... Lord <03068> [let the Lord.]
worried <01674> [for fear.]
future <04279> [In time to come. Heb. To-morrow.]
right to worship <02506> [ye have.]
way <07673> [make.]
reminder <05707> [a witness.]
honor <05647> [that we.]
See <07200> [Behold.]
Far be it <02486> [God forbid.]
building <01129> [to build.]
satisfied <03190> [it pleased them. Heb. it was good in their eyes.]
It is remarkable, that Joshua is not once named in this transaction; but this only shews, that he did not in his old age assume any regal authority, but left the elders and magistrates to conduct the general business, only acting himself when great occasions made it necessary. Yet we cannot doubt, that his wisdom and piety influenced the counsels of the elders and people at this time.
Lord ... among ......... Lord ............ Lord's <03068 08432> [the Lord is.]
Now <0227> [now. Heb. then.]
back <07725> [and brought.]
report <01697> [the thing.]
gave thanks <01288> [blessed.]
[Ed. i.e, a witness.]
The word witness, or testimony, is not found in the common editions of the Hebrew Bible; and is supplied in Italics by our venerable translators, at least in our modern copies; for in the first edition of this translation, it stands in the text without any note of this kind; but it is found in several of Kennicott's and De Rossi's MSS., and also in the Syriac and Arabic. Several also of the early printed editions of the Hebrew Bible have the word {ed,} either in the text or in the margin; and it must be allowed to be necessary to complete the sense. It is very probable that an inscription was put on this altar, signifying the purpose for which it was erected. Thus was this affair most happily terminated.
Lord ... God <0430 03068> [the Lord is God.]
Several manuscripts read more emphatically, [yeh“vƒh <\\See definition 03068\\>,] [h–w' <\\See definition 01931\\>] [el“hŒym <\\ See definition 0430\\>,] {Yehowah, hoo Elohim,} "Jehovah he is God."
