# Overview Joshua Chapter 22 recounts the return of the tribes of #Reuben, #Gad, and the half-tribe of #Manasseh to their allotted lands on the east side of the #Jordan River. Having faithfully fulfilled their commitment to assist the other tribes of #Israel in conquering the land of #Canaan, #Joshua commends them for their loyalty and obedience to #God's commands. Before they depart, Joshua blesses them, urging them to continue to love the Lord, walk in His ways, keep His commandments, and serve Him with all their heart and soul. As they journey back, they construct a large altar near the Jordan, which becomes a source of misunderstanding and potential conflict among the tribes. The construction of this altar raises concerns among the western tribes, leading them to believe that #Reuben, #Gad, and the half-tribe of #Manasseh might be rebelling against God by establishing a rival place of worship. In response, the congregation of Israel sends #Phinehas, son of #Eleazar the priest, and ten chiefs to confront them. Upon inquiry, the eastern tribes explain that the altar is not for sacrifices or offerings but as a witness and reminder of their shared faith and unity with the western tribes. This explanation satisfies the delegation, averting war and reinforcing their common identity in the worship of the Lord. This chapter highlights the importance of communication, unity, and fidelity to God's covenant among the people of Israel. ## Theological Insights Joshua 22 contains profound theological insights into the themes of unity, faithfulness, and the importance of worship within the covenant community of #Israel. This chapter centers on the narrative of the Eastern tribes—#Reuben, #Gad, and the half-tribe of #Manasseh—who return to their lands on the east side of the #Jordan after faithfully assisting the other tribes in the conquest of Canaan. 1. **The Importance of Unity**: The initial misunderstanding regarding the altar built by the Eastern tribes highlights the potential for division within the covenant community. The other tribes perceive this act as a potential breach of faith, reminiscent of the sin of #Peor and the rebellion of #Achan ([Joshua 22:17, 22:20](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua+22&version=ESV)). This reflects the theological significance of unity among God's people, as disunity could lead to a breakdown in the collective faith and mission of #Israel. The resolution of this conflict through dialogue and understanding underscores the necessity of maintaining unity in the worship of the one true God. 2. **Faithfulness to God's Commandments**: The chapter emphasizes the necessity of faithfulness to God's commandments as the foundation for the community's relationship with God. The Eastern tribes reassure the others that their altar is not for sacrifices but as a witness between them and the Western tribes, ensuring future generations know they share in the Lord's covenant ([[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 12]]). This highlights the importance of remaining faithful to God’s explicit instructions regarding worship and obedience, which is central to the identity and mission of the people of God. 3. **The Role of Worship in Community Identity**: The altar named "Witness" serves as a physical reminder of the shared faith and identity of the tribes of Israel, despite geographical separation. It symbolizes the centrality of worship and the acknowledgment of God's sovereignty in their lives. This reflects broader biblical themes where worship is a means of maintaining covenant fidelity and ensuring that subsequent generations continue in the faith, as seen in the Shema ([[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 6]]). 4. **Fear of the Lord as a Unifying Factor**: The fear of the Lord is a recurrent theme throughout the chapter. It is this reverence for God that leads the Eastern tribes to construct the altar and subsequently explain their intentions to the rest of Israel ([[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 20]]). Their actions and motivations highlight the fear of the Lord as a unifying factor, driving the community to maintain their covenant relationship with Him. Overall, Joshua 22 offers theological insights into community dynamics within the covenant people of God, stressing the importance of unity, faithfulness, and worship as essential components of their relationship with God. These themes resonate with the broader biblical narrative of God's desire for a holy, united people who faithfully adhere to His commandments. ## Thematic Connections ### Unity and Division Among the Tribes of Israel Joshua 22 highlights the theme of unity and division among the tribes of #Israel. The chapter begins with #Joshua commending the tribes of #Reuben, #Gad, and the half-tribe of #Manasseh for their faithful service and releasing them to return to their allotted lands east of the #JordanRiver. This event echoes the earlier agreements made in [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 32]] where these tribes promised to assist their brethren before settling on the east side. The potential for division arises when these tribes construct an altar, which is misunderstood by the remaining tribes as an act of rebellion against God, akin to the sin of [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 25|Peor]]. This theme of unity versus division is resolved through dialogue and understanding, emphasizing the importance of communication and fidelity to God’s commandments. ### The Centrality of Worship and the Altar The altar built by the eastern tribes serves as a focal point for the theme of worship and the centrality of the altar in the Israelite community. The concern of the western tribes reflects the importance of maintaining a single place of worship as commanded in [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 12]]. The incident underscores the importance of the altar as a symbol of unity in worship and the dangers of unauthorized religious practices. The resolution of this conflict reinforces the theme that true worship must align with God’s instructions and not lead to idolatry or division. ### Covenant Faithfulness and Witness The chapter also emphasizes the theme of covenant faithfulness and witness. The altar is named "Witness" to serve as a reminder to future generations of the tribes' shared commitment to the Lord. This connects with the broader biblical theme of monuments and symbols as testimonies to God's faithfulness and the people's covenant obligations, as seen in the stones set up at the Jordan in [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 4]]. The altar becomes a tangible reminder of the unity of the tribes under the covenant with the Lord, preventing the future accusation of forsaking the God of Israel. ### The Role of Leaders in Conflict Resolution Joshua 22 showcases the role of leaders in resolving conflicts and preserving unity among God’s people. The intervention of #Phinehas and the heads of the tribes illustrates the importance of wise leadership in addressing misunderstandings and potential conflicts. This is reminiscent of other biblical leaders who acted as mediators, such as #Moses in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 18]] and #Nehemiah in [[Nehemiah/Nehemiah Chapter 5]]. The resolution of the conflict through peaceful dialogue and mutual understanding highlights the need for leaders to seek God's wisdom and promote reconciliation within the community. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Altar as a Witness In Joshua 22, the tribes of #Reuben, #Gad, and the half-tribe of #Manasseh build an altar by the Jordan as a witness between them and the other tribes of #Israel. This event has prophetic undertones as it signifies the unity and shared faith of all the tribes of Israel, despite geographical separations. This altar serves as a precursor to the idea of one unified people under God, which finds its ultimate fulfillment in the prophecy of the new covenant where God promises to write His law on the hearts of His people, uniting them as one regardless of physical location, as seen in [[Jeremiah/Jeremiah Chapter 31|Jeremiah 31:31-34]]. ### A Foreshadowing of the Unity in Christ The concern over the altar and the subsequent reconciliation among the tribes foreshadows the unity that will be achieved through #Christ. In the New Testament, Paul speaks of the #unity of believers in Christ, breaking down the dividing wall of hostility between different groups, as noted in [[Ephesians/Ephesians Chapter 2|Ephesians 2:14-18]]. The altar in Joshua 22 anticipates this unity, serving as a symbol of the shared faith and covenant relationship with God that binds His people together, ultimately realized in the body of Christ. ### Covenant Faithfulness The narrative of the altar also underscores the importance of covenant faithfulness, which is a recurring theme throughout prophetic literature. The tribes' desire to maintain a witness to the covenant reflects the prophetic call to fidelity to God's commands and statutes, as emphasized in passages like [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 6|Deuteronomy 6:4-9]]. This emphasis on covenant faithfulness prefigures the call to obedience and steadfastness found in the prophetic message concerning the coming Messiah and the establishment of God's eternal kingdom. ## Verses - **Joshua 22:1** - "Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh." - #Joshua #Reuben #Gad #Manasseh - Cross-reference: [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 32]] - **Joshua 22:2** - "He said to them, 'You have done as Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you.'" - #Moses #Obedience - **Joshua 22:3** - "During all this time you have not deserted the other tribes. You have been careful to obey the commands of the Lord your God right up to the present day." - #Faithfulness - **Joshua 22:4** - "And now the Lord your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go back to the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you as your possession on the east side of the Jordan River." - #Rest #JordanRiver #Promise - **Joshua 22:5** - "But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul." - #Commandments #Love #Service - **Joshua 22:6** - "So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went home." - #Blessing - **Joshua 22:7** - "(Moses had given the land of Bashan to the half-tribe of Manasseh, while the other half of the tribe was given land on the west side of the Jordan.) As Joshua sent them away and blessed them," - #Bashan #Manasseh - Cross-reference: [[Deuteronomy/Deuteronomy Chapter 3]] - **Joshua 22:8** - "he said to them, 'Go back to your homes with the great wealth you have taken from your enemies—the vast herds of livestock, the silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and the large supply of clothing. Share the plunder with your relatives.'" - #Wealth #Plunder - **Joshua 22:9** - "So the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the rest of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They started the journey back to their own land of Gilead, the territory that belonged to them according to the Lord’s command through Moses." - #Shiloh #Canaan #Gilead - **Joshua 22:10** - "But while they were still in Canaan, and when they came to a place called Geliloth near the Jordan River, the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh stopped to build a large and imposing altar." - #Geliloth #Altar - **Joshua 22:11** - "The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth, at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River." - #Israel #JordanRiver - **Joshua 22:12** - "So the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against them." - #Conflict - **Joshua 22:13** - "First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh." - #Phinehas #Eleazar - Cross-reference: [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 25]] - **Joshua 22:14** - "In this delegation were ten leaders of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each the head of his family within the clans of Israel." - #Leadership - **Joshua 22:15** - "When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh," - #Gilead - **Joshua 22:16** - "'The whole community of the Lord demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the Lord and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against him?'" - #Rebellion - **Joshua 22:17** - "Was our sin at Peor not enough? To this day, we are not fully cleansed of it, even after the plague that struck the Lord’s people." - #Peor #Sin - Cross-reference: [[Numbers/Numbers Chapter 25]] - **Joshua 22:18** - "And yet today you are turning away from following the Lord. If you rebel against the Lord today, he will be angry with all of us tomorrow." - #Rebellion #Anger - **Joshua 22:19** - "If you need the altar because the land you possess is defiled, then join us in the Lord’s land, where the Tabernacle of the Lord is situated, and share our land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar other than the one true altar of the Lord our God." - #Tabernacle - **Joshua 22:20** - "Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin." - #Achan #Anger #Sin - Cross-reference: [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 7]] - **Joshua 22:21** - "Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel:" - #Response - **Joshua 22:22** - "'The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! The Lord, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it too. We have not built the altar in treachery against the Lord, or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or sacrifices. May the Lord himself punish us if we have done so.'" - #God #Truth - **Joshua 22:23** - "The truth is, we have built this altar because we fear that in the future, your descendants will say to ours, ‘What right do you have to worship the Lord, the God of Israel?" - #Fear #Future - **Joshua 22:24** - "'The Lord has placed the Jordan River as a boundary between our people and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no claim to the Lord.' So your descendants may prevent our descendants from worshiping the Lord." - #Boundary #JordanRiver - **Joshua 22:25** - "So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices," - #Decision - **Joshua 22:26** - "'but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.' Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no claim to the Lord.'" - #Memorial #Worship - **Joshua 22:27** - "If they say this, our descendants can reply, 'Look at this copy of the Lord’s altar that our ancestors made. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices; it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the Lord.'" - #Relationship - **Joshua 22:28** - "Far be it from us to rebel against the Lord or turn away from him by building our own altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. Only the altar of the Lord our God that stands in front of the Tabernacle may be used for that purpose." - #Altar #Tabernacle - **Joshua 22:29** - "When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of Israel—heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied." - #Phinehas #Satisfaction - **Joshua 22:30** - "Phinehas replied to them, 'Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the Lord as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the Lord.'" - #Rescue - **Joshua 22:31** - "Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the other leaders left the tribes of Reuben and Gad in the land of Gilead and returned to the land of Canaan to tell the Israelites what had happened." - #Return #Report - **Joshua 22:32** - "And all the Israelites were satisfied and praised God and spoke no more of war against Reuben and Gad." - #Peace #Praise - **Joshua 22:33** - "The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar 'Witness,' for they said, 'It is a witness between us and them that the Lord is our God, too.'" - #Witness - **Joshua 22:34** - "The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar 'Witness,' for they said, 'It is a witness between us and them that the Lord is our God, too.'" - #Witness