Focused Passage

Joshua 22:30-34

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

30When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.

31Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.”

32Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead.

33The Israelites were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.

34So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar Witness, for they said, “It is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 30

Cross-references

Joshua 22:33Classic cross-references

Original words

When Phinehasפִּֽינְחָ֣סH6372Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֗ןH3548Article | Noun - masculine singularand the chiefsוּנְשִׂיאֵ֨יH5387Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof the congregationהָעֵדָ֜הH5712Article | Noun - feminine singularthe headsוְרָאשֵׁ֨יH7218Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructof Israel’sיִשְׂרָאֵל֙H3478Noun - proper - masculine singularclansאַלְפֵ֤יH505Noun - masculine plural constructwhoאֲשֶׁ֣רH834Pronoun - relativewere with himאִתּ֔וֹH854Preposition | third person masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-הַ֨דְּבָרִ֔יםH1697Article | Noun - masculine pluralheardוַיִּשְׁמַ֞עH8085Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularwhatאֲשֶׁ֧רH834Pronoun - relativethe descendantsבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Reubenרְאוּבֵ֥ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructGadגָ֖דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וּבְנֵ֣יH1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructand Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֑הH4519Noun - proper - masculine singularhad to sayדִּבְּר֛וּH1696Verb - Piel - Perfect - third person common pluralthey were satisfiedוַיִּיטַ֖בH3190Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .בְּעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃H5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural

Verse 31

Cross-references

2 Chronicles 15:2Classic cross-references Joshua 3:10Classic cross-references Leviticus 26:11Classic cross-references

Original words

Phinehasפִּֽינְחָ֣סH6372Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Eleazarאֶלְעָזָ֣רH499Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֡ןH3548Article | Noun - masculine singularsaidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe descendantsבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructof Reubenרְאוּבֵ֨ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionvvvבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructGadגָ֜דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionvvvבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructand Manassehמְנַשֶּׁ֗הH4519Noun - proper - masculine singularTodayהַיּ֤וֹם׀H3117Article | Noun - masculine singularwe knowיָדַ֙עְנוּ֙H3045Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralthatכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularis among usבְתוֹכֵ֣נוּH8432Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common pluralbecauseאֲשֶׁ֛רH834Pronoun - relativeyou have notלֹֽא־H3808Adverb - Negative particlecommittedמְעַלְתֶּ֥םH4603Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralthisהַזֶּ֑הH2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singularbreach of faithהַמַּ֣עַלH4604Article | Noun - masculine singularagainst Himבַּֽיהוָ֖הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularConsequentlyאָ֗זH227Adverbyou have deliveredהִצַּלְתֶּ֛םH5337Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markervvvבְּנֵ֥יH1121Noun - masculine plural constructthe Israelitesיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularfrom the handמִיַּ֥דH3027Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 32

Original words

Then Phinehasפִּֽינְחָ֣סH6372Noun - proper - masculine singularsonבֶּן־H1121Noun - masculine singular constructof Eleazarאֶלְעָזָ֣רH499Noun - proper - masculine singularthe priestהַכֹּהֵ֣ן׀H3548Article | Noun - masculine singulartogether with the [other] leadersוְהַנְּשִׂיאִ֡יםH5387Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine plural. . .מֵאֵ֣תH854Preposition-m | Direct object markerreturnedוַיָּ֣שָׁבH7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singulartoאֶל־H413Prepositionthe Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularinאֶל־H413Prepositionthe landאֶ֥רֶץH776Noun - feminine singular constructof Canaanכְּנַ֖עַןH3667Noun - proper - masculine singularand brought backוַיָּשִׁ֥בוּH7725Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plurala report regardingדָּבָֽר׃H1697Noun - masculine singular-אוֹתָ֖םH854Preposition | third person masculine pluralthe Reubenitesבְּנֵֽי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵן֩H7205Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וּמֵאֵ֨תH854Conjunctive waw, Preposition-m | Direct object markerand Gaditesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֜דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularin the landמֵאֶ֧רֶץH776Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular constructof Gileadהַגִּלְעָ֛דH1568Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular

Verse 33

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 29:20Classic cross-references Daniel 2:19Classic cross-references Luke 2:28Classic cross-references Joshua 22:30Classic cross-references

Original words

The Israelitesבְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularwere satisfiedוַיִּיטַ֣בH3190Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular. . .בְּעֵינֵי֙H5869Preposition-b | Noun - cdcwith the reportהַדָּבָ֗רH1697Article | Noun - masculine singularand [they]בְּנֵ֣יH1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לH3478Noun - proper - masculine singularblessedוַיְבָרֲכ֥וּH1288Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralGodאֱלֹהִ֖יםH430Noun - masculine pluraland spokeאָמְר֗וּH559Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralnoוְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlemore about goingלַעֲל֤וֹתH5927Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructto warלַצָּבָ֔אH6635Preposition-l, Article | Noun - common singularagainst themעֲלֵיהֶם֙H5921Preposition | third person masculine pluralto destroyלְשַׁחֵת֙H7843Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe landהָאָ֔רֶץH776Article | Noun - feminine singularwhereאֲשֶׁ֛רH834Pronoun - relativethe Reubenitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֥ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularand Gaditesוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֖דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularlivedיֹשְׁבִ֥יםH3427Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural

Verse 34

Cross-references

Joshua 24:27Classic cross-references Joshua 22:27Classic cross-references Isaiah 43:10Classic cross-references Matthew 4:10Classic cross-references

Original words

So the Reubenitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֥ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularand Gaditesוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֖דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularnamedוַֽיִּקְרְא֛וּH7121Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe altar [Witness]לַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַH4196Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singularfor [they said]כִּ֣יH3588ConjunctionItהוּא֙H1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularis a witnessעֵ֥דH5707Noun - masculine singularbetween usבֵּֽינֹתֵ֔ינוּH996Preposition | first person common pluralthatכִּ֥יH3588Conjunctionthe LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularis Godהָאֱלֹהִֽים׃פH430Article | Noun - masculine plural

BSB notes

Literally named the altar, for

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