Joshua 22:21
in Joshua 22Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel:
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spake unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
KJV
Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
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This verse in Joshua 22
Commentary
6 notes on this verseBut let us see what sacrament lies within this deed. The former people of the circumcision are represented in Reuben, who was the firstborn; but also in Gad, who also is the firstborn out of Zilpah; and Manasseh, no less a firstborn. But insofar as I say "firstborn," I speak chronologically. Therefore, these things are said not that it might be evident some division and separation is between us and those who were righteous before the coming of Christ, but that they might reveal themselves to still be our brothers even if they existed before the coming of Christ.
This site's exposition
answered the leaders of the clans of Israel
on Joshua 22:21-23
The answer opens with a divine name said twice, "The LORD, the Mighty One, is God!", which is El Elohim Jehovah repeated in the form an oath takes. A self-curse follows, "do not spare us today", and the Lord himself is asked to hold them accountable. They swear to the motive first, and the reason for the stones waits three more verses.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Then the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, answered,.... By some person whom they appointed to deliver the answer in their name: and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel; who were over those that were rulers of the thousands of Israel, persons of greater authority than they, being princes of the respective tribes to which they belonged.
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The quality of the deputies evinced the deep solicitude that was felt on the occasion to maintain the purity of the divine worship throughout Israel. In the presumptive belief that the two tribes and a half had really built an altar, the deputies expressed astonishment at their so soon falling into such a heinous crime as that of violating the unity of divine worship (Ex 20:24;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
"This day we perceive that the Lord is among us" [Jos 22:31], that is, by His gracious presence and preventing goodness, which has kept you from falling into the suspected sin and rescued the nation from the calamity of a fratricidal war or providential judgments.
Then the children of Reuben - answered - Though conscious of their own innocency they permitted Phinehas to finish his discourse, though composed of little else than accusations; there was a decency in this, and such a full proof of good breeding, as does them the highest credit. There are many public assemblies in the present day which lay claim to the highest refinement, who might take a very useful lesson from these Reubenites and their associates.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Almighty God is Adonoy. He is God over all divine beings. He is Adonoy, Who knows that our intent was not rebellion etc. By repeating this declaration twice, [they declared] that He is God in this world and in the World to Come.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙ | vaiyaanu | and they answered | H6030 → | 331 times |
| בְּנֵי־ | benei- | [the] descendants of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| רְאוּבֵ֣ן | reuven | Reuben | H7205 → | 72 times |
| וּבְנֵי־ | uvenei- | and [the] descendants of | H1121 → | 4930 times |
| גָ֔ד | gad | Gad | H1410 → | 72 times |
| וַחֲצִ֖י | vachatzi | and [the] half of | H2677 → | 125 times |
| שֵׁ֣בֶט | shevet | [the] tribe of | H7626 → | 190 times |
| הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה | hamnasheh | <the> Manasseh | H4519 → | 146 times |
| וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ | vaydaberu | and they spoke | H1696 → | 1141 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | with | H854 → | 929 times |
| רָאשֵׁ֖י | rashei | [the] leaders of | H7218 → | 599 times |
| אַלְפֵ֥י | ʾalfei | [the] families of | H505 → | 505 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
וַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙and they answered
vaiyaanuH6030 →331 times
בְּנֵי־[the] descendants of
benei-H1121 →4930 times
רְאוּבֵ֣ןReuben
reuvenH7205 →72 times
וּבְנֵי־and [the] descendants of
uvenei-H1121 →4930 times
גָ֔דGad
gadH1410 →72 times
וַחֲצִ֖יand [the] half of
vachatziH2677 →125 times
שֵׁ֣בֶט[the] tribe of
shevetH7626 →190 times
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה<the> Manasseh
hamnashehH4519 →146 times
וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּand they spoke
vaydaberuH1696 →1141 times
אֶת־with
ʾet-H854 →929 times
רָאשֵׁ֖י[the] leaders of
rasheiH7218 →599 times
אַלְפֵ֥י[the] families of
ʾalfeiH505 →505 times
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Israel
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Peter 3:15But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and…
it leads to
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
- 2 Timothy 2:25–26
He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.
- Luke 21:14–15
So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.
- 1 Peter 3:2
when they see your pure and reverent demeanor.
- Matthew 10:18–20
On My account, you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.
- Colossians 4:6
Through
Micah 5:2But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come forth for Me One to be ruler over Israel—One whose origins are of old, from the days…
it leads to
- Matthew 2:6
‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of My people…
- John 7:42
Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?”
- Luke 1:31–33
Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.
- Matthew 2:6
About Joshua
Who and where
1 name in this verse with a page on the site.
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 26.3.