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Commentaries and Other Bible Study Helps - Prayer Tents - Prayer Tents
22:1-24:33 Serving the Lord in the Land. Each of the preceding three major divisions of the book of Joshua receives its impetus from a divine initiative. The Lord instructs; Israel under Joshua's leadership responds; and the land is entered, taken, and divided. This final section lacks such a beginning. The Lord has already fulfilled all his "good promises" (21:45). Now it is Israel's turn to respond. In his old age, Joshua charges the people to be united and exclusive in "serving" the Lord alone.
22:1-34 One Nation, Under God. In this episode, the eastern tribes of Reuben, Gad, and eastern Manasseh are released to return to their homes, having fulfilled their duties to their fellow Israelites west of the Jordan (cf. Numbers 32). Their construction of a symbolic altar on the bank of the Jordan is at first misunderstood, and a disaster is narrowly averted. The reader does not learn the eastern tribes' motive until Josh. 22:21-29, which creates suspense. It is to the credit of the western tribes that they make a generous offer (v. 19) and then listen to the explanation and accept it (cf. Deut. 13:14). Both sides are determined to be faithful to their calling as Israel, and the account shows things working right. The key word "serve" occurs three times. Before their departure, Joshua charges the eastern tribes to serve the Lord "with all your heart and with all your soul" (Josh. 22:5). In v. 27, they insist that they "do perform the service of the Lord" (lit., "serve the service").
22:4 now the Lord your God has given rest to your brothers. See 1:12-15. The two and one-half eastern tribes are now free to go to their territories beyond the Jordan.
22:8 Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers. In the Bible, as generally in the ancient Near East, both victory in battle and the spoils of victory are regarded as gifts of the deity, in this case the Lord. These gifts were to be shared with allies, or covenant partners, irrespective of their actual role in the conflict (cf. Num. 31:25-31; 1 Sam. 30:24).
22:10-11 altar of imposing size. Very similar Hebrew terminology is used in Ex. 3:3 to describe the burning bush as a "great sight." Apparently, the altar was built on the western shore of the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel, but was conspicuous enough to be seen from either side.
22:13-20 Having misunderstood the purpose of the "imposing altar," the tribes that settled west of the Jordan send a delegation to confront the eastern tribes. That Phinehas the son of Eleazar heads the delegation can only strike fear in the hearts of those familiar with his history of zeal for the purity of Israel's worship (see Num. 25:1-9). For those requiring a reminder, the sin at Peor is explicitly mentioned in Josh. 22:17 (cf. Num. 25:3, 18), as is the case of Achan in Josh. 22:20, who did not perish alone for his iniquity (see ch. 7). Given its corporate responsibility, all Israel can suffer for the sins of a few or even just one. The delegation rightly fears that the Lord may become angry with the whole congregation of Israel (22:18).
22:21-31 Fearing the worst, the delegation of western tribes is relieved to hear that the altar built by the eastern tribes is but a copy of the altar of the Lord (v. 28). It is not intended to rival the altar at Shiloh but only to serve as a witness between us and you (v. 28), a visible monument refuting any suggestion (now or in the future) that the eastern tribes have no portion in the Lord (v. 25).
