Focused Passage

Joshua 22:1-9

The Eastern Tribes Return Home and the Altar of Witness

Joshua blesses and dismisses the eastern tribes, they build a large altar by the Jordan, the western tribes prepare for war, Phinehas leads an inquiry, the eastern tribes explain that the altar is a witness rather than a rival altar, and Israel’s unity is preserved.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

1Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

2and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

3All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God.

4And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan.

5But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

6So Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way, and they went to their homes.

7(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them,

8saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

9So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to return to their own land of Gilead, which they had acquired according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 1

Original words

Thenאָ֚זH227AdverbJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularsummonedיִקְרָ֣אH7121Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularthe Reubenitesלָרֽאוּבֵנִ֖יH7206Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Gaditesוְלַגָּדִ֑יH1425Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularand the half-tribeוְלַחֲצִ֖יH2677Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .מַטֵּ֥הH4294Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehמְנַשֶּֽׁה׃H4519Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 2

Original words

and told themוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .אֲלֵיהֶ֔םH413Preposition | third person masculine pluralYouאַתֶּ֣םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralhave doneשְׁמַרְתֶּ֔םH8104Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural-אֵ֚תH853Direct object markerallכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructthatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeMosesמֹשֶׁ֖הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularthe servantעֶ֣בֶדH5650Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularcommandedצִוָּ֣הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularyouאֶתְכֶ֔םH853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluraland you have obeyedוַתִּשְׁמְע֣וּH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine pluralmy voiceבְקוֹלִ֔יH6963Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singularin allלְכֹ֥לH3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeI commandedצִוִּ֖יתִיH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularyouאֶתְכֶֽם׃H853Direct object marker | second person masculine plural
Verse 3

Original words

All this timeיָמִ֣יםH3117Noun - masculine plural. . .רַבִּ֔יםH7227Adjective - masculine plural. . .זֶ֚הH2088Pronoun - masculine singularyou have notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particledesertedעֲזַבְתֶּ֣םH5800Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markeryour brothersאֲחֵיכֶ֗םH251Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralup toעַ֖דH5704Prepositionthis very dayהַיּ֣וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .הַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularbut have keptוּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֕םH8104Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe chargeמִשְׁמֶ֕רֶתH4931Noun - feminine singular constructgiven youמִצְוַ֖תH4687Noun - feminine singular constructby the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 4

Original words

And now thatוְעַתָּ֗הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbthe LORDיְהוָ֤הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙H430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralhas given your brothersלַֽאֲחֵיכֶ֔םH251Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralrestהֵנִ֨יחַH5117Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularasכַּאֲשֶׁ֖רH834Preposition-k | Pronoun - relativeHe promisedדִּבֶּ֣רH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singularthemלָהֶ֑םPreposition | third person masculine plural. . .וְעַתָּ֡הH6258Conjunctive waw | Adverbyou may returnפְּנוּ֩H6437Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural. . .וּלְכ֨וּH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluraltoלָכֶ֜םPreposition | second person masculine pluralyour homesלְאָהֳלֵיכֶ֗םH168Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralinאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landאֶ֙רֶץ֙H776Noun - feminine singular construct. . .אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֔םH272Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine pluralthatאֲשֶׁ֣ר׀H834Pronoun - relativeMosesמֹשֶׁה֙H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularthe servantעֶ֣בֶדH5650Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulargaveנָתַ֣ןH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularyouלָכֶ֗םPreposition | second person masculine pluralacrossבְּעֵ֖בֶרH5676Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃H3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Verse 5

Original words

Butרַ֣ק׀H7535Adverbbe veryמְאֹ֗דH3966Adverbcarefulשִׁמְר֣וּH8104Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralto observeלַעֲשׂ֨וֹתH6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe commandmentהַמִּצְוָ֣הH4687Article | Noun - feminine singularandוְאֶת־H853Conjunctive waw | Direct object markerthe lawהַתּוֹרָה֮H8451Article | Noun - feminine singularthatאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativeMosesמֹשֶׁ֣הH4872Noun - proper - masculine singularthe servantעֶֽבֶד־H5650Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָה֒H3068Noun - proper - masculine singulargave youצִוָּ֣הH6680Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular-אֶתְכֶם֮H853Direct object marker | second person masculine pluralto loveלְ֠אַהֲבָהH157Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe LORDיְהוָ֨הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularyour Godאֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֜םH430Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralto walkוְלָלֶ֧כֶתH1980Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructin allבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructHis waysדְּרָכָ֛יוH1870Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularto keepוְלִשְׁמֹ֥רH8104Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructHis commandmentsמִצְוֺתָ֖יוH4687Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singularto hold fastוּלְדָבְקָה־H1692Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person feminine singularto Himב֑וֹPreposition | third person masculine singularand to serve Himוּלְעָבְד֕וֹH5647Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singularwith allבְּכָל־H3605Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructyour heartלְבַבְכֶ֖םH3824Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine pluraland with allוּבְכָל־H3605Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructyour soulנַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃H5315Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 6

Original words

So Joshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularblessed themוַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖םH1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluraland sent them on their wayוַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֔םH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluraland they wentוַיֵּלְכ֖וּH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositiontheir homesאָהֳלֵיהֶֽם׃סH168Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Verse 7

Original words

To the half-tribeוְלַחֲצִ֣י׀H2677Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שֵׁ֣בֶטH7626Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehהַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗הH4519Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularMosesמֹשֶׁה֮H4872Noun - proper - masculine singularhad given landנָתַ֣ןH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularin Bashanבַּבָּשָׁן֒H1316Preposition-b, Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand to the other halfוּלְחֶצְי֗וֹH2677Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singularJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙H3091Noun - proper - masculine singulargave landנָתַ֤ןH5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularon the westיָ֑מָּהH3220Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular-וְ֠גַםH1571ConjunctionsideמֵעֵבֶרH5676Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular constructof the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֖ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularamongעִם־H5973Prepositiontheir brothersאֲחֵיהֶ֔םH251Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralWhenכִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionJoshuaיְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַH3091Noun - proper - masculine singularsent themשִׁלְּחָ֧םH7971Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositiontheir homesאָהֳלֵיהֶ֖םH168Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralhe blessed themוַיְבָרֲכֵֽם׃H1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Verse 8

Original words

sayingוַיֹּ֨אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularReturnשׁ֤וּבוּH7725Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural. . .אֶל־H413Prepositiontoאֲלֵיהֶ֜םH413Preposition | third person masculine plural. . .לֵאמֹ֗רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructyour homesאָֽהֳלֵיכֶם֙H168Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralwith your greatרַבִּ֜יםH7227Adjective - masculine pluralwealthבִּנְכָסִ֨יםH5233Preposition-b | Noun - masculine pluralwith immenseרַב־H7227Adjective - masculine singular. . .מְאֹ֔דH3966Adverbherds of livestockוּבְמִקְנֶ֣הH4735Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularwith silverבְּכֶ֨סֶףH3701Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singulargoldוּבְזָהָ֜בH2091Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularbronzeוּבִנְחֹ֧שֶׁתH5178Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singularironוּבְבַרְזֶ֛לH1270Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularand very manyהַרְבֵּ֣הH7235Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute. . .מְאֹ֑דH3966Adverbclothesוּבִשְׂלָמ֖וֹתH8008Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - feminine pluralDivideחִלְק֥וּH2505Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralwithעִם־H5973Prepositionyour brothersאֲחֵיכֶֽם׃פH251Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralthe spoilשְׁלַל־H7998Noun - masculine singular constructof your enemiesאֹיְבֵיכֶ֖םH341Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Verse 9

Original words

-וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּH7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralSo the Reubenitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֨ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Gaditesוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֜דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularand the half-tribeוַחֲצִ֣י׀H2677Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שֵׁ֣בֶטH7626Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehהַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗הH4519Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .מֵאֵת֙H854Preposition-m | Direct object markerleftוַיֵּלְכ֡וּH1980Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularat Shilohמִשִּׁלֹ֖הH7887Preposition-m | Noun - proper - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativein the landבְּאֶֽרֶץ־H776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןH3667Noun - proper - masculine singularto returnלָלֶ֜כֶתH1980Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructtoאֶל־H413Prepositiontheir own landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Gileadהַגִּלְעָ֗דH1568Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .אֶל־H413Preposition. . .אֶ֤רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular construct. . .אֲחֻזָּתָם֙H272Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine pluralwhichאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativethey had acquiredנֹֽאחֲזוּ־H270Verb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralaccording toעַל־H5921Prepositionthe commandפִּ֥יH6310Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthroughבְּיַד־H3027Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructMosesמֹשֶֽׁה׃H4872Noun - proper - masculine singular

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