Joshua 22 

Joshua 22:1 Joshua summoned the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 22:2 and told them, “You have done everything Moses Yahveh’s slave commanded you and have obeyed me in everything I commanded you.

Joshua 22:3 You have not deserted your brothers even once this whole time but have carried out the requirement of the command of Yahveh, your God.

Joshua 22:4 Now that he has given your brothers rest, just like he promised them, return to your homes in your land that Moses Yahveh’s slave gave you across the Jordan.

Joshua 22:5 Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses Yahveh’s slave gave you: to love Yahveh your God, walk in all his ways, keep his commands, be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your throat.”

Joshua 22:6 Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way, and they went to their homes.

Joshua 22:7 Moses had given territory to half the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, but Joshua had given territory to the other half, with their brothers, on the west side of the Jordan. When Joshua sent them to their homes and blessed them,

Joshua 22:8 he said, “Return to your homes with great wealth: a huge number of cattle, and silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a large quantity of clothing. Share the spoil of your enemies with your brothers.”

Joshua 22:9 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to return to their land of Gilead, which they took possession of according to Yahveh’s command through Moses.

Joshua 22:10 When they came to the region of the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh built a large, impressive altar there by the Jordan.

Joshua 22:11 Then the Israelites heard it said, “Notice, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan at the region of the Jordan, on the Israelite side.”

Joshua 22:12 When the Israelites heard this, the entire Israelite community gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

Joshua 22:13 The Israelites sent Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead.

Joshua 22:14 They sent ten leaders with him – one family leader for each tribe of Israel. All of them were heads of their ancestral families among the clans of Israel.

Joshua 22:15 They went to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and told them,

Joshua 22:16 “This is what Yahveh’s entire community says: ‘What is this betrayal you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from Yahveh and building an altar for yourselves so that you are in rebellion against Yahveh today?

Joshua 22:17 Wasn’t the iniquity of Peor, which brought a plague on Yahveh’s community, enough for us? We have not rid ourselves of it even to this day,

Joshua 22:18 and now would you turn away from Yahveh? If you rebel against Yahveh today, tomorrow he will be angry with the entire community of Israel.

Joshua 22:19 But if the land you possess is defiled, cross over to the land Yahveh possesses where Yahveh’s tabernacle stands and take possession of it among us. But don’t rebel against Yahveh or us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of Yahveh our God.

Joshua 22:20 Wasn’t Achan, son of Zerah, unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath on the entire community of Israel? He was not the only one who was destroyed because of his iniquity.'”

Joshua 22:21 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the Israelite clans,

Joshua 22:22 “The Mighty One, God, Yahveh! The Mighty One, God, Yahveh! He knows, and may Israel also know. Do not spare us today if it was in rebellion or treachery against Yahveh.

Joshua 22:23 that we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from him. May Yahveh himself hold us accountable if we intended to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it.

Joshua 22:24 We actually did this out of a specific concern that in the future, your descendants might say to our descendants, ‘What relationship do you have with Yahveh, the God of Israel?’

Joshua 22:25 You see, Yahveh has made the Jordan a border between us and you descendants of Reuben and Gad. You have no share in Yahveh! ‘ So your descendants may cause our descendants to stop fearing Yahveh.

Joshua 22:26 “Therefore we said: Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offering or sacrifice.

Joshua 22:27 Instead, it is to be a witness between you and us, and between the generations after us, so that we may carry out the worship of Yahveh in his presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and fellowship offerings. Then, in the future, your descendants will not be able to say to our descendants, ‘You have no share in Yahveh! ‘

Joshua 22:28 We thought that if they said this to us or our generations in the future, we would reply: Notice at the replica of Yahveh’s altar that our fathers made, not for burnt offering or sacrifice, but as a witness between us and you.

Joshua 22:29 We would never rebel against Yahveh or turn away from him today by building an altar for the burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of Yahveh our God, which is in front of his tabernacle.”

Joshua 22:30 When the priest Phinehas and the community leaders, the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him, heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased.

Joshua 22:31 Phinehas, son of Eleazar, the priest, said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that Yahveh is among us because you have not committed this betrayal against him. As a result, you have rescued the Israelites from Yahveh’s power.”

Joshua 22:32 Then the priest Phinehas, son of Eleazar, and the leaders returned from the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report to them.

Joshua 22:33 The Israelites were pleased with the report, and they blessed God. They spoke no more about going to war against them to ravage the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.

Joshua 22:34 So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar: It is a witness between us that Yahveh is God.

Joshua 22 quotes:

“Joshua 22 reports Joshua’s speech at Shiloh. He commends the east bank tribes for their support of the battles to take over the land of Canaan. In helping the western tribes receive their inheritance, they have been faithful to promises made to Moses and their leader, Joshua (22:2, 3, as in 1:13, 15, 18). Now the western tribes have rest from extensive warfare. Joshua then gives permission to the eastern tribes to return with booty to their inherited land and to share the spoils of battle with their families (22:4, 8).”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 107.

“Chapter 22 itself falls into two distinct sections: (1) the return of the two and one-half tribes (verses 1-9) and (2) the altar by the Jordan (verses 10-34). The first of these two sections tells that the men of the two and one-half eastern tribes had kept their promise (1.12-18) and had helped their fellow Israelites conquer the land west of the Jordan. Now they are allowed to return to their home and families.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 271.

Joshua 22 links:

bridges, not barriers
different path, same God
different, but still true
good advice for everyone
Maranatha Daily Devotional – October 16, 2015
Maranatha Daily Devotional – October 17, 2015
missions and miscommunication
return with great wealth
set apart for destruction
staying in mission

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library

Joshua 21 

Joshua 21:1 The Levite family heads approached the priest Eleazar, Joshua, son of Nun, and the family heads of the Israelite tribes.

Joshua 21:2 At Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, they told them, “Yahveh commanded through Moses that we be given cities to live in, with their pasture-lands for our livestock.”

Joshua 21:3 So the Israelites, by Yahveh’s command, gave the Levites these cities with their pasturelands from their inheritance.

Joshua 21:4 The lot came out for the Kohathite clans: The Levites, who were the descendants of the priest Aaron, received thirteen cities by lot from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.

Joshua 21:5 The remaining descendants of Kohath received ten cities by lot from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan, and half the tribe of Manasseh.

Joshua 21:6 Gershon’s descendants received thirteen cities by lot from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and half the tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

Joshua 21:7 Merari’s descendants received twelve cities for their clans from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.

Joshua 21:8 The Israelites gave these cities and the pasturelands around them to the Levites by lot, as Yahveh had commanded through Moses.

Joshua 21:9 The Israelites gave these cities by name from the tribes of the descendants of Judah and Simeon.

Joshua 21:10 to the descendants of Aaron from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because they received the first lot.

Joshua 21:11 They gave them Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak) with its surrounding pasturelands in the hill country of Judah.

Joshua 21:12 But they gave the fields and settlements of the city to Caleb, son of Jephunneh, as his possession.

Joshua 21:13 They gave to the descendants of the priest Aaron: Hebron, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture-lands, Libnah with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:14 Jattir with its pasture-lands, Eshtemoa with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:15 Holon with its pasture-lands, Debir with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:16 Ain with its pasture lands, Juttah with its pasture lands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasture lands – nine cities from these two tribes.

Joshua 21:17 From the tribe of Benjamin they gave: Gibeon with its pasture-lands, Geba with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:18 Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands – four cities.

Joshua 21:19 All thirteen cities with their pasturelands were for the priests, the descendants of Aaron.

Joshua 21:20 The remaining clans of Kohath’s descendants, who were Levites, were allotted cities from the tribe of Ephraim.

Joshua 21:21 The Israelites gave them: Shechem, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture-lands in the hill country of Ephraim, Gezer with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:22 Kibzaim with its pasture-lands, and Beth-horon with its pasture-lands– four cities.

Joshua 21:23 From the tribe of Dan they gave: Elteke with its pasture-lands, Gibbethon with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:24 Aijalon with its pasture-lands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasture-lands – four cities.

Joshua 21:25 From half the tribe of Manasseh they gave: Taanach with its pasture-lands and Gath-rimmon with its pasture-lands – two cities.

Joshua 21:26 All ten cities with their pasturelands were for the clans of Kohath’s other descendants.

Joshua 21:27 From half the tribe of Manasseh, they gave to the descendants of Gershon, who were one of the Levite clans: Golan, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture-lands in Bashan, and Beeshterah with its pasture-lands – two cities.

Joshua 21:28 From the tribe of Issachar they gave: Kishion with its pasture-lands, Daberath with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:29 Jarmuth with its pasture-lands, and En-gannim with its pasture-lands – four cities.

Joshua 21:30 From the tribe of Asher they gave: Mishal with its pasture-lands, Abdon with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:31 Helkath with its pasture-lands, and Rehob with its pasture-lands – four cities.

Joshua 21:32 From the tribe of Naphtali they gave: Kedesh in Galilee, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture-lands, Hammoth-dor with its pasture-lands, and Kartan with its pasture-lands– three cities.

Joshua 21:33 All thirteen cities with their pasturelands were for the Gershonites by their clans.

Joshua 21:34 From the tribe of Zebulun, they gave to the clans of the descendants of Merari, who were the remaining Levites: Jokneam with its pasture-lands, Kartah with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:35 Dimnah with its pasturelands, and Nahalal with its pasturelands – four cities.

Joshua 21:36 From the tribe of Reuben they gave: Bezer with its pasture-lands, Jahzah with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:37 Kedemoth with its pasture-lands, and Mephaath with its pasture-lands– four cities.

Joshua 21:38 From the tribe of Gad they gave: Ramoth in Gilead, the city of refuge for the one who commits manslaughter, with its pasture-lands, Mahanaim with its pasture-lands,

Joshua 21:39 Heshbon with its pasture-lands, and Jazer with its pasture-lands– four cities in all.

Joshua 21:40 All twelve cities were allotted to the clans of Merari’s descendants, the remaining Levite clans.

Joshua 21:41 Within the Israelite possession there were forty-eight cities in all with their pasture-lands for the Levites.

Joshua 21:42 Each of these cities had its surrounding pasture-lands; this was the case for all the cities.

Joshua 21:43 So Yahveh gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their fathers, and they took possession of it and settled there.

Joshua 21:44 Yahveh gave them rest on every side according to all he had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies were able to stand against them because Yahveh handed over all their enemies to them.

Joshua 21:45 None of the good promises Yahveh had made to the house of Israel failed. Everything was fulfilled.

Joshua 21 quotes:

“Finally, the tribes assume responsibility for supporting the religious leaders of Israel. At Shiloh the heads of the families of Levites request cities to live in and land for their cattle. The Levites possess no land of their own (13:14 [33 MT]; 18:7; Deut. 10:8-9). The descendents of Aaaron receive nine cities in Judah/Simeon (vv. 13-16) and four from Benjamin (vv. 17-18). Korathite descendents get four cities from both Ephraim and Dan and two from the half-tribe of Manasseh (vv. 20-26). Descendents of Gershon are given two cities from the half-tribe of Manasseh, four from both Issachar and Asher, and three from Naphtali, for a total of thirteen cities (vv. 27-33). Descendents of Merari receive four cities from each of the tribes of Zebulun, Reuben, and Gad (vv. 34-40). Together the tribes provide forty-eight cities with pasturelands for the clans of Levi.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 105.

“A total of forty-eight cities distributed through all the tribes were assigned to the Levites, who are classified according to the three Heo Kohath, Gershon, and Merari, the three sons of Levi.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 259.

Joshua 21 links:

appealing for justice
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, June 27, 2019
Maranatha Daily Devotional – Thursday, June 29, 2023
ministry as mission
missions that the LORD is in
the good promises

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The JOSHUA SHELF in Jeff’s library

Joshua 20 

Joshua 20:1 Then Yahveh spoke to Joshua,

Joshua 20:2 “Tell the Israelites: Select your cities of refuge, like I instructed you through Moses,

Joshua 20:3 so that a person who kills someone unintentionally or accidentally may escape there. These will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.

Joshua 20:4 When someone flees to one of these cities, stands at the entrance of the city gate, and states his case before the elders of that city, they are to bring him into the city and give him a place to live among them.

Joshua 20:5 And if the avenger of blood chases him, they must not hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him because he killed his neighbor accidentally and did not hate him beforehand.

Joshua 20:6 He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the assembly and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the one who committed manslaughter may return home to his city from which he escaped.”

Joshua 20:7 So they designated Kedesh in the hill country of Naphtali in Galilee, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kiriath-arba (in other words, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.

Joshua 20:8 Across the Jordan east of Jericho, they selected Bezer on the wilderness plateau from Reuben’s tribe, Ramoth in Gilead from Gad’s tribe, and Golan in Bashan from Manasseh’s tribe.

Joshua 20:9 These are the cities appointed for all the Israelites and the foreign residents living among them, so that anyone who kills a person unintentionally may escape there and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood until he is tried before the assembly.

Joshua 20 quotes:

“God reminds Joshua of some unfinished business in the division of the land. God commands in Numbers that cities be set aside to protect those who face the threat of blood revenge (Num. 35:8—34), and Moses repeats that command in Deuteronomy (Deut. 19:1-13). Joshua 20 states that cities need to be set aside as places of “refuge,” “admittance,” or “inclusion” (the term does not appear in Deut. 19). The passage in Joshua lists three cities west of the Jordan from north to south (v. 7) and three cities east of the Jordan south to north (v. 8). The verses designate the cities as geographical regional centers of asylum. The lists also mention cities east of the Jordan by tribe. The cities of refuge are Kedesh, Shechem, and Hebron in Canaan, and Bezer, Ramoth-Gilead, and Golan in Transjordan. These are designated as Levitical or priestly cities in Joshua 21. As religious centers they may provide asylum for those running for their lives.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 103.

“The need for cities of refuge arose from the fact that it was the duty of the nearest relative of a man who had been killed to search out and kill the killer. But when it was clearly not a murder (intentional killing) but manslaughter (accidental killing), then the killer could seek asylum in one of the six cities of refuge, three on the west Side and three on the east side of the Jordan River.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 254.

Joshua 20 links:

missions and human rights

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library

Joshua 19 

Joshua 19:1 The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of his descendants by their clans, but their inheritance was within the inheritance given to Judah’s descendants.

Joshua 19:2 Their inheritance included Beer-sheba (or Sheba), Moladah,

Joshua 19:3 Hazar-shual, Balah, Ezem,

Joshua 19:4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,

Joshua 19:5 Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,

Joshua 19:6 Beth-lebaoth and Sharuhen – thirteen cities, with their settlements;

Joshua 19:7 Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan – four cities, with their settlements;

Joshua 19:8 and all the settlements surrounding these cities as far as Baalath-beer (Ramah in the south). This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon’s descendants by their clans.

Joshua 19:9 The inheritance of Simeon’s descendants was within the territory of Judah’s descendants because the share for Judah’s descendants was too large. So, Simeon’s descendants received an inheritance within Judah’s portion.

Joshua 19:10 The third lot came up for Zebulun’s descendants by their clans. The territory of their inheritance stretched as far as Sarid;

Joshua 19:11 their border went up westward to Maralah, reached Dabbesheth, and met the brook east of Jokneam.

Joshua 19:12 From Sarid, it turned due east along the border of Chisloth-tabor, went to Daberath, and went up to Japhia.

Joshua 19:13 From there, it went due east to Gath-hepher and Eth-kazin; it extended to Rimmon, curving around to Neah.

Joshua 19:14 The border then circled Neah on the north to Hannathon and ended at Iphtah-el Valley,

Joshua 19:15 along with Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem – twelve cities, with their settlements.

Joshua 19:16 This was the inheritance of Zebulun’s descendants by their clans, these cities, with their settlements.

Joshua 19:17 The fourth lot came out for the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans.

Joshua 19:18 Their territory went to Jezreel, and included Chesulloth, Shunem,

Joshua 19:19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath,

Joshua 19:20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez,

Joshua 19:21 Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez.

Joshua 19:22 The border reached Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth-shemesh and ended at the Jordan—sixteen cities with their settlements.

Joshua 19:23 This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar’s descendants by their clans, the cities, with their settlements.

Joshua 19:24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans.

Joshua 19:25 Their boundary included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,

Joshua 19:26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal and reached westward to Carmel and Shihor-libnath.

Joshua 19:27 It turned eastward to Beth-dagon, reached Zebulun and Iphtah-el Valley, north toward Beth-emek and Neiel, and went north to Cabul,

Joshua 19:28 Ebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Greater Sidon.

Joshua 19:29 The boundary then turned to Ramah as far as the fortified city of Tyre; it turned back to Hosah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea, including Mahalab, Achzib,

Joshua 19:30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob – twenty-two cities, with their settlements.

Joshua 19:31 These cities with their settlements were the inheritance of the tribe of Asher’s descendants by their clans.

Joshua 19:32 The sixth lot came out for Naphtali’s descendants by their clans.

Joshua 19:33 Their boundary went from Heleph and the oak in Zaanannim, including Adami-nekeb and Jabneel, as far as Lakkum, and ended at the Jordan.

Joshua 19:34 To the west, the boundary turned to Aznoth-tabor and went from there to Hukkok, reaching Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east.

Joshua 19:35 The fortified cities were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,

Joshua 19:36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,

Joshua 19:37 Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,

Joshua 19:38 Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh – nineteen cities, with their settlements.

Joshua 19:39 These were the inheritances of the tribe of Naphtali’s descendants by their clans, the cities with their settlements.

Joshua 19:40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan’s descendants by their clans.

Joshua 19:41 The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-Shemesh,

Joshua 19:42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah,

Joshua 19:43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron,

Joshua 19:44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,

Joshua 19:45 Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,

Joshua 19:46 Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the territory facing Joppa.

Joshua 19:47 When the territory of the descendants of Dan slipped out of their control, they went up and fought against Leshem, captured it, and struck it down with the sword. So they took possession of it, lived there, and renamed Leshem after their ancestor Dan.

Joshua 19:48 These cities with their settlements were the inheritance of the tribe of Dan’s descendants by their clans.

Joshua 19:49 When they had finished distributing the land into its territories, the Israelites gave Joshua, son of Nun, an inheritance among them.

Joshua 19:50 By Yahveh’s command, they gave him the city Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, which he requested. He rebuilt the city and lived in it.

Joshua 19:51 These were the portions that the priest Eleazar, Joshua son of Nun, and the family heads distributed to the Israelite tribes by lot at Shiloh in Yahveh’s presence at the entrance to the tent of meeting. So, they finished dividing up the land.

Joshua 19 quotes:

“Territorial descriptions in these chapters present tribal inheritances as recorded by at least the time of the book of Judges, which lists foreign populations living in tribal territories whom tribes must subjugate or in whose midst tribes must live. Judges 1:27-36 mentions unconquered populations in Canaan. By contrast, Joshua presents an ideal picture of tribal inheritances, including land not yet conquered. The lists in Joshua divide the land of Canaan and eliminate its gaps. Boundaries of the tribes coincide with those of Canaan.”

Harris J. Gordon et al. Joshua Judges Ruth. Hendrickson Publishers ; Paternoster Press 2000. p. 100.

“The second assignment made was for the families of the tribe of Simeon. Its territory extended into the land assigned to the tribe of Judah. 2 It included Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, 3 Hazar Shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susah, 6 Beth Lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteen cities, along with the towns around them.”

Bratcher Robert G and Barclay Moon Newman. A Handbook on the Book of Joshua. United Bible Societies 1992. p. 240.

Joshua 19 links:

an eye-opener
missions and procrastination
protecting those less blessed
renaming Leshem
the other Bethlehem

The JOSHUA shelf in Jeff’s library