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More Joshua commentaries
Joshua 19:1-51
Work as if all depends on you but trust God
Joshua 20:1-9
Six cities of refuge
Joshua 21:1-45
Cities of the Levites
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Eastern tribes return home
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Joshua’s farewell address
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A choice must be made
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Eastern tribes return home
Joshua 22:1–9
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
I remember VE-Day, May 8, 1945 when we heard President Truman announce on the radio that Germany had surrendered and again on VJ-Day, August 14, 1945 when the Japanese agreed to the Allied terms of surrender, and the war was over. (Lou Nicholes - Missionary/Author). … More
The armed forces of the two and one half tribes (The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh) east of the Jordan had kept their pledge to Moses and had gallantly supported the other nine and one half tribes in their conquest of the promised land. Moses had granted these two and one half tribes their request of the pasture lands on the east side of the Jordan which strongly appealed to them (Numbers 32:1-33). He had permitted them to occupy the land on condition that they aid the other tribes in the occupation of Canaan. For seven long years these men had been separated from their wives and families. Joshua dismissed these 40,000 soldiers with honor. They were now at liberty to rejoin their families and friends on the east side of the Jordan. Joshua exhorted these departing tribes to do the following (v. 5):
These departing tribes were also permitted to take with them their share of the booty captured in the war (v. 8). Joshua’s departing counsel to these soldiers was for them to share these medals, clothing, cattle, etc. with their brothers who had remained at home. Thus the principle was established that honors and rewards are not to go just to those who carry arms, but also to those who stay home to perform the commonplace duties (I Sam. 30:24). Although these Israelites had completed their military responsibility, Joshua reminded them of their spiritual responsibility. Sometimes we think so much about what we are to do that we neglect thinking about who we are to be. It does not mean waiting until we are wealthy to share but to willingly share what we have right now.
Application
I must not let daily service take away from my love for God and other people. I must be careful to not neglect this vital part of the Christian life of sharing what God has given to me with others.
Joshua 22:1-9 (English Standard Version)
At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them, "You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents. Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua had given a possession beside their brothers in the land west of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away to their homes and blessed them, he said to them, "Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers." So the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, parting from the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of which they had possessed themselves by command of the LORD through Moses.
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