Joshua 22:1

_THEN JOSHUA CALLED THE REUBENITES, AND THE GADITES, AND THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH,_ Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. The general war of invasion being ended, and the enemy being in so dispirited and isolated a condition that each tribe, by its own resources, or with the aid of its neighbouring tribe, was able to repress any renewed hostilities, the auxiliary Israelites from the eastern side of the Jordan were now discharged from service. Joshua dismissed them with high commendations of their fidelity, and earnest admonitions to cultivate perpetual piety in life. The redundancy of the language is remarkable, and shows how important, in the judgment of the venerable leader, a stedfast observance of the divine law was to personal happiness as well as national prosperity....

1._Then Joshua called the Reubenites, _etc Here is related the discharge of the two tribes and half-tribe, who had followed the rest of the people, not that they might acquire anything for themselves, but that, as they had already obtained dwellings and lands without lot, they might carry on war in common with their brethren, until they also should have a quiet inheritance. Now, as they had been faithful companions and helpers to their brethren, Joshua declares that they were entitled to their discharge, and thus sends them back to their homes released and free. It is asked, however, how he can consider them to have performed their due measure of military service, while the enemy were still in possession of part of the land, of which the sole possession was to be the proper termination of the war? (178) But if we bear in mind what I lately said, the knot will be loosed. Had the Israelite...

1-9 Joshua dismisses the tribes with good counsel. Those who have the commandment have it in vain, unless they do the commandment; and it will not be done aright unless we take diligent heed. In particular to love the Lord our God, as the best of beings, and the best of friends; and as far as that principle rules in the heart, there will be constant care and endeavour to walk in his ways, even those that are narrow and up-hill. In every instance to keep his commandments. At all times, and in all conditions, with purpose of heart to cleave unto the Lord, and to serve him and his kingdom among men, with all our heart, and with all our soul. This good counsel is given to all; may God give us grace to take it!...

CHAPTER XXII _Joshua assembles, commends, blesses, and then dismisses the two_ _tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh_, 1-8. _They return and build an altar by the side of Jordan_, 9, 10. _The rest of the Israelites hearing of this, and suspecting that_ _they had built the altar for idolatrous purposes, or to make a_ _schism in the national worship, prepare to go to war with them_, 11, 12; _but first send a deputation to know the truth_, 13, 14. _They arrive and expostulate with their brethren_, 15-20. The Reubenites

The events of this chap. are no doubt recorded in their proper historical order. The auxiliary forces of the trans-Jordanic tribes were not sent away immediately after the campaigns against the Canaanites were over. They set forth from Shiloh, Joshua 22:9, to which place the sanctuary had been removed Joshua 18:1 after the conquest and the settlement of the children of Judah and of Joseph in their possessions, and after the appointment of the Levitical cities....

EXPOSITION JOSHUA 22:1 THE REUBENITES AND THE GADITES. According to the Hebrew idiom, these are in the original in the singular, as in Genesis 12:6. Thus a tribe, as has been before remarked, or even a family (Joshua 6:25), is spoken of frequently as a single individual (cf. Joshua 17:14, Joshua 17:15, Joshua 17:17, Joshua 17:18). It seems prob

THEN JOSHUA CALLED THE REUBENITES, AND THE GADITES, AND THE HALF TRIBE OF MANASSEH. The promise of God to Israel being fulfilled, the land of Canaan being for the most part subdued, the war at an end, and rest had on all sides from their enemies, and the land divided among the nine tribes and an half, and they settled in the quiet possession of their lots; Joshua sent for the two tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, who had, at their own request, their portion allotted them on the other side Jordan, and who came over that river with him to assist their brethren in their wars with the Canaanites, and addressed them in the following respectable manner....

III. THE FINAL WORDS OF JOSHUA AND THE EPILOGUE 1. The Two and One-half Tribes and the Altar Ed CHAPTER 22 _ 1. Joshua's address (Joshua 22:1)_ 2. The tribes dismissed and their return (Joshua 22:7) 3. The great altar erected (Joshua 22:10) 4. War proposed (Joshua 22:11) 5. The mission of Phinehas and the explanation (Joshua 22:13) 6. The explanation accepted (Joshua 22:30) 7. The altar Ed ...

JOSHUA 21:43 TO JOSHUA 22:8. YAHWEH'S PROMISE OF CONQUEST COMPLETELY FULFILLED, SO THAT THE E. JORDAN TRIBES ARE SET FREE TO RETURN HOME. We have here the introduction to the last section of our book. The land has now, according to the Deuteronomist, been conquered and divided amongst the 9½ tribes; consequently the 2½ tribes, having fulfilled their duty, are dismissed with thanks to their own possessions on the other side of the Jordan....

Joshua 22:1-8. Joshua's Farewell Address to the two Tribes and a Half 1. _Then Joshua_ The author of the section from Chapter s 13 21. having given his account, marked with truth and accuracy, of the division of the land, the appointment of the Cities of Refuge and the Levitical cities, describes in the three following Chapter s, which close the book, (_a_) the release of the two tribes and a half to their homes beyond the Jordan; (_b_) their return, and erection of an altar on the Jordan; (_c_) the embassy from Israel on account of this altar; (_d_) the apology of the eastern tribes and return of the embassy; (_e_) Joshua's last discourses to the people; (_f_) his death; and (_g_) the death of Eleazar. _called the Reubenites_ This took place not immediately after the close of the war, but after the completion of the division of the