Joshua 22:7

_BUT TAKE DILIGENT HEED TO DO THE COMMANDMENT AND THE LAW, WHICH MOSES THE SERVANT OF THE LORD CHARGED YOU, TO LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD, AND TO WALK IN ALL HIS WAYS, AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND TO CLEAVE UNTO HIM, AND TO SERVE HIM WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL._ No JFB commentary on these verses....

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!...

Verse Joshua 22:7. _THEN HE BLESSED THEM_] _Spoke respectfully_ of their fidelity and exertions, _wished_ them every _spiritual_ and _temporal_ good, _prayed to God_ to protect and save them, and probably gave some _gifts_ to those leaders among them that had most distinguished themselves in this seven years' war. In all the above senses the word _bless_ is frequently taken in Scripture....

The insertion of this explanation about the half tribe, and the repetition of Joshua’s farewell, are examples of a marked characteristic of very ancient writers and of Hebrew writers as much as any - that of giving a completeness and finish to each section of their story. The Jewish historian scarcely ever quotes or reminds, but repeats so much as may be necessary to make his account of the transaction in hand fully intelligible by itself. (Compare also Joshua 13:14, Joshua 13:33; Joshua 14:3; Joshua 18:7.) It is quite possible, however, that the particulars special to...

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

NOW TO THE [ONE] HALF OF THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH MOSES HAD GIVEN [POSSESSION] IN BASHAN,.... The kingdom of Og, see Deuteronomy 3:13; BUT UNTO THE [OTHER] HALF THEREOF GAVE JOSHUA AMONG THEIR BRETHREN ON THIS SIDE JORDAN WESTWARD: of which an account is given, and the border of their lot described, Joshua 17:1; AND WHEN JOSHUA SENT THEM ALSO UNTO THEIR TENTS, THEN HE BLESSED THEM; it seems as if this half tribe was separately dismissed and blessed, they being more nearly related to Joshua, who was of the tribe of Ephraim, and so had a more particular dismission and blessing; and he took his leave of them in a different and affectionate manner. Kimchi makes mention of a Derash, or Exposition of theirs, which says, that after they had taken leave they stayed two days, a

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....

_Now to the one half_ The repetition here of what has been already described more fully (Joshua 17:5, &c.), may seem to us superfluous. But "it agrees with the fulness, abundant in repetitions, of the ancient Hebrew style of narrative." Keil. "A modern author will refer his readers to what he has stated elsewhere. The Jewish historian scarcely ever quotes or reminds, but repeats so much as may be necessary to make his account of the transaction in hand fully intelligible by itself." The Speaker's _Commentary, in loc_....

_VER._ 7. _NOW TO THE ONE HALF OF THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH MOSES HAD GIVEN,_ &C.— These words seem to be here inserted, 1. Merely by way of parenthesis, and as it were to bring back to the reader's view the present state of the tribe of Manasseh settled as well as the other on this side of the Jordan. 2. It may be a kind of introduction to what follows; namely, Joshua's blessing the children of Manasseh; for, from the manner in which the whole is worded, one would think that he blessed them separately....