Albert Barnes Commentary Joshua 22
Albert Barnes Commentary
Joshua 22
Albert Barnes Commentary
Joshua 22
"Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh," — Joshua 22:1 (ASV)
The events of this chapter are undoubtedly recorded in their proper historical order. The auxiliary forces of the transjordanian tribes were not sent away immediately after the campaigns against the Canaanites were over. They set out from Shiloh (Joshua 22:9), where the sanctuary had been moved (Joshua 18:1) following the conquest, the settlement of the children of Judah and Joseph in their possessions, and the appointment of the Levitical cities.
"Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given [inheritance] in Bashan; but unto the other half gave Joshua among their brethren beyond the Jordan westward; moreover when Joshua sent them away unto their tents, he blessed them, and spake unto them, saying, Return with much wealth unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren." — Joshua 22:7-8 (ASV)
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 instead repeats as much as may be necessary to make his account of the current transaction fully understandable on its own (Joshua 13:33; Joshua 14:3; Joshua 18:7).
It is quite possible, however, that the specific details in Joshua 22:8 may be due to some other narrative of the whole event than that to which Joshua 22:5 belongs, and may have been interwoven by a later reviser.
"And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the commandment of Jehovah by Moses." — Joshua 22:9 (ASV)
Gilead - Here used in the widest sense for the whole trans-Jordanic district.
"And when they came unto the region about the Jordan, that is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look upon." — Joshua 22:10 (ASV)
The two and a half tribes erected this altar to maintain their claim to have the same interest in God's sanctuary as the other tribes, which was established on the west side of the Jordan; and to prevent any assertion that the Jordan itself was a natural barrier excluding them from the sanctuary, they built it on the west or Canaanite bank of the Jordan, not on the east.
The word translated as “borders” is noteworthy; it means circuits, arrondissements.
"And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war." — Joshua 22:12 (ASV)
Gathered themselves together — The various tribes had already dispersed to their homes, and were now summoned together again.
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