Focused Passage

Joshua 22:10-20

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

10And when they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.

11Then the Israelites received the report: “Behold, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the border of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.”

12And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.

13The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

14With him they sent ten chiefs—one family leader from each tribe of Israel, each the head of a family among the clans of Israel.

15They went to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and said to them,

16“This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

17Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.

18And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

19If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession, where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.

20Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 10

Original words

And when they cameוַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙H935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413PrepositionGelilothגְּלִיל֣וֹתH1552Noun - feminine plural constructnear the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular-אֲשֶׁ֖רH834Pronoun - relativein the landבְּאֶ֣רֶץH776Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof Canaanכְּנָ֑עַןH3667Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Reubenitesבְנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֣ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Gaditesוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֡דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularand the half-tribeוַחֲצִ֣יH2677Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שֵׁבֶט֩H7626Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehהַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֨הH4519Article | Noun - proper - masculine singularbuiltוַיִּבְנ֣וּH1129Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralvvvגָּד֖וֹלH1419Adjective - masculine singularan imposingלְמַרְאֶֽה׃H4758Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularaltarמִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙H4196Noun - masculine singularthereשָׁ֤םH8033Adverbbyעַל־H5921Prepositionthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular. . .מִזְבֵּ֥חַH4196Noun - masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Or to the circle of stones or to the region; similarly in verse 11
Verse 11

Original words

Then the Israelitesבְנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularreceivedוַיִּשְׁמְע֥וּH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe reportלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructBeholdהִנֵּ֣הH2009Interjectionthe Reubenitesבְנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֣ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Gaditesוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֡דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularand the half-tribeוַחֲצִי֩H2677Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שֵׁ֨בֶטH7626Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehהַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֜הH4519Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerhave builtבָנ֣וּH1129Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralan altarהַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַH4196Article | Noun - masculine singularonאֶל־H413Prepositionthe borderמוּל֙H4136Prepositionof the landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Canaanכְּנַ֔עַןH3667Noun - proper - masculine singularatאֶל־H413PrepositionGelilothגְּלִילוֹת֙H1552Noun - feminine plural constructnear the Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularonאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Israeliteבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularsideעֵ֖בֶרH5676Noun - masculine singular construct
Verse 12

Original words

And when [they]בְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularheard thisוַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַ֤תH5712Noun - feminine singular construct. . .בְּנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularassembledוַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּH6950Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralat Shilohשִׁלֹ֔הH7887Noun - proper - feminine singularto goלַעֲל֥וֹתH5927Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructto warלַצָּבָֽא׃פH6635Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singularagainst themעֲלֵיהֶ֖םH5921Preposition | third person masculine plural
Verse 13

Original words

The Israelitesבְנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֜לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularsentוַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּH7971Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralPhinehasפִּינְחָ֖סH6372Noun - proper - masculine singularson ofבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructEleazarאֶלְעָזָ֥רH499Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestהַכֹּהֵֽן׃H3548Article | Noun - masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Gileadהַגִּלְעָ֑דH1568Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markertoאֶל־H413Preposition-בְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct-וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Reubenitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֧ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Gaditesגָ֛דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand the half-tribeחֲצִ֥יH2677Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שֵֽׁבֶט־H7626Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֖הH4519Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 14

Original words

With himעִמּ֔וֹH5973Preposition | third person masculine singular[they sent] tenוַעֲשָׂרָ֤הH6235Conjunctive waw | Number - masculine singularchiefsנְשִׂאִים֙H5387Noun - masculine pluraloneאֶחָ֜דH259Number - masculine singular. . .נָשִׂ֤יאH5387Noun - masculine singular. . .אֶחָד֙H259Number - masculine singularfamilyלְבֵ֣יתH1004Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .אָ֔בH1Noun - masculine singularleaderנָשִׂ֨יאH5387Noun - masculine singularfrom eachלְכֹ֖לH3605Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructtribeמַטּ֣וֹתH4294Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singulareachוְאִ֨ישׁH376Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular-הֵ֖מָּהH1992Pronoun - third person masculine pluralthe headרֹ֧אשׁH7218Noun - masculine singular constructof a familyבֵּית־H1004Noun - masculine singular construct. . .אֲבוֹתָ֛םH1Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine pluralamong the clansלְאַלְפֵ֥יH505Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 15

Original words

They wentוַיָּבֹ֜אוּH935Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Reubenitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֧ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularוְאֶל־וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe Gaditesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֛דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionand the half-tribeחֲצִ֥יH2677Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שֵֽׁבֶט־H7626Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֖הH4519Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .אֶל־H413Prepositionin the landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Gileadהַגִּלְעָ֑דH1568Article | Noun - proper - feminine singularand saidוַיְדַבְּר֥וּH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralto themאִתָּ֖םH854Preposition | third person masculine plural. . .לֵאמֹֽר׃H559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Verse 16

Original words

This is whatכֹּ֣הH3541Adverbthe wholeכֹּ֣ל׀H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַ֣תH5712Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֗הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularsaysאָמְר֞וּH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralWhatמָֽה־H4100Interrogativeis thisהַזֶּה֙H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singular-אֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativebreach of faithמְעַלְתֶּם֙H4603Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralyou have committedהַמַּ֤עַלH4604Article | Noun - masculine singulartodayהַיּ֔וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularagainst the Godבֵּאלֹהֵ֣יH430Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularby turning awayלָשׁ֣וּבH7725Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructfromמֵאַחֲרֵ֖יH310Preposition-mthe LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularand buildingבִּבְנֽוֹתְכֶ֤םH1129Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine pluralfor yourselvesלָכֶם֙Preposition | second person masculine pluralan altarמִזְבֵּ֔חַH4196Noun - masculine singularthat you might rebelלִמְרָדְכֶ֥םH4775Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine pluralagainst the LORDבַּיהוָֽה׃H3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularthis dayהַיּ֖וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singular
Verse 17

Original words

Was not the sinעֲוֺ֣ןH5771Noun - common singular constructof Peorפְּע֔וֹרH6465Noun - proper - feminine singularenoughהַמְעַט־H4592Article | Adjective - masculine singular constructfor usלָ֙נוּ֙Preposition | first person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerfrom whichאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativewe have notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecleansedהִטַּהַ֙רְנוּ֙H2891Verb - Hitpael - Perfect - first person common pluralourselvesמִמֶּ֔נּוּH4480Preposition | third person masculine singulartoעַ֖דH5704Prepositionthisהַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singulardayהַיּ֣וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularIt even broughtוַיְהִ֥יH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulara plagueהַנֶּ֖גֶףH5063Article | Noun - masculine singularupon the congregationבַּעֲדַ֥תH5712Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 18

Original words

And nowהַיּ֔וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singularwould youוְאַתֶּם֙H859Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine pluralturn awayתָּשֻׁ֣בוּH7725Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralfromמֵאַחֲרֵ֖יH310Preposition-mthe LORDיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְהָיָ֗הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularIf youאַתֶּ֞םH859Pronoun - second person masculine pluralrebelתִּמְרְד֤וּH4775Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluraltodayהַיּוֹם֙H3117Article | Noun - masculine singularagainst the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֔הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singulartomorrowוּמָחָ֕רH4279Conjunctive waw | AdverbHe will be angryיִקְצֹֽף׃H7107Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularwithאֶֽל־H413Prepositionthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַ֥תH5712Noun - feminine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular
Verse 19

Original words

Ifאִם־H518Conjunctionindeedוְאַ֨ךְH389Conjunctive waw | Adverbthe landאֶ֣רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof your inheritanceאֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗םH272Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine pluralis uncleanטְמֵאָ֜הH2931Adjective - feminine singular[then] cross overעִבְר֨וּH5674Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluraltoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landאֶ֨רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORD’sיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularpossessionאֲחֻזַּ֤תH272Noun - feminine singular constructwhereאֲשֶׁ֤רH834Pronoun - relativethe LORD’sיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulartabernacleמִשְׁכַּ֣ןH4908Noun - masculine singular constructstandsשָֽׁכַן־H7931Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular. . .שָׁם֙H8033Adverband take possessionוְהֵאָחֲז֖וּH270Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Imperative - masculine pluralof it among usבְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּH8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common pluralBut do notאַל־H408Adverbrebelתִּמְרֹ֗דוּH4775Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural. . .וְאֹתָ֙נוּ֙H854Conjunctive waw | Preposition | first person common plural. . .אֶל־H413Preposition. . .תִּמְרֹ֔דוּH4775Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralagainst the LORDוּבַֽיהוָ֣הH3068Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularor against us by buildingבִּבְנֹֽתְכֶ֤םH1129Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | second person masculine pluralfor yourselvesלָכֶם֙Preposition | second person masculine pluralan altarמִזְבֵּ֔חַH4196Noun - masculine singularother thanמִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔יH1107Preposition-mthe altarמִזְבַּ֖חH4196Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֥הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularour Godאֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃H430Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Verse 20

Original words

Was notהֲל֣וֹא׀H3808Adverb - Negative particleAchanעָכָ֣ןH5912Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Zerahזֶ֗רַחH2226Noun - proper - masculine singularunfaithfulמָ֤עַלH4603Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularregardingמַ֙עַל֙H4604Noun - masculine singularwhat was set apart for destructionבַּחֵ֔רֶםH2764Preposition-b, Article | Noun - masculine singularbringing wrathקָ֑צֶףH7110Noun - masculine singularuponוְעַֽל־H5921Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe wholeכָּל־H3605Noun - masculine singular constructcongregationעֲדַ֥תH5712Noun - feminine singular constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .הָ֣יָהH1961Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularYet it was notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particleonlyאֶחָ֔דH259Number - masculine singular[Achan]וְהוּא֙H1931Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - third person masculine singular. . .אִ֣ישׁH376Noun - masculine singularwho perishedגָוַ֖עH1478Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularbecause of his sinבַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ׃פH5771Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular

BSB notes

  • Achan means troubler; also called Achar in 1 Chronicles 2:7.
  • Forms of the Hebrew cherem refer to the giving over of things or persons to the LORD, either by destroying them or by giving them as an offering.

Berean Standard Bible (BSB): CC0 Public Domain Scripture text. Focused passages are drawn from the same reader contract as the full chapter. Reference sources explains external study-link sources.