JOSHUA CHAPTER 22, “Tribes
Beyond The Jordan River Return Home”
By
Jim Bomkamp
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1. In our last study, we looked
at chapters 20 and 21, and we saw how that the allotment of the cities of
refuge in chapter 20 symbolized for us as Christians the refuge that we have
available and can flee to in Christ, and that chapter 21 detailed for us the 48
cities allotted to the Levites throughout the greater land of Canaan as well as
the land inhabited by the children of Israel east of the Jordan.
1.1.1. We looked at the many ways
in which the cities of refuge symbolize the refuge that we have in Christ from
all of our enemies of sin, hell, death, the grave, the world, and the
Devil.
1.1.1.1.
This refuge in Christ is available to us as Christians because Christ
conquered these enemies all upon the cross of
1.1.2. We saw how the Levites
symbolize those called to full-time ministry in the church.
1.2. In our study today, we are
going to look at chapter 22 and the return to their own land of the tribes of
1.2.1. In our first study in the
book of Joshua, we looked at the choice that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the
½ tribe of Manasseh made to have as their inheritance the land that was on the
wilderness side of the
1.2.1.1.
Moses was angry initially at their request to take their land outside
the land of Canaan because he thought that these tribes were going to split
away from the children of Israel and divide them bringing about the Lord’s
wrath, however when these tribes promised him that before taking their
possession that they would help out all of the other tribes to conquer all of
the peoples who occupied their territories, Moses conceded their request to
take their possession on the wilderness side of the Jordan River. This was not at all the Lord’s will for them
however.
1.2.1.2.
We saw that it was really love for this world that led these tribes to
choose their inheritance for themselves to be the land on the wilderness side
of the
1.2.1.3.
We saw that even though Moses conceded that these tribes could take
their inheritance on the wilderness side of the
1.2.1.4.
We saw also that there were huge consequences for these tribes taking
their inheritance on the wilderness side of the Jordan for they were always the
first tribes to get attacked by any of Israel’s enemies, they were the first to
fall away from the Lord into apostasy and pagan worship, and they were also the
first tribes to be taken away captive by the Assyrians, and once they were
taken captive they were never to return again.
1.2.1.4.1.
We discussed the fact that whenever we Christians allow ourselves to
live our lives in God’s “permissive” instead of His “perfect” will for us that
we will suffer huge consequences in our life for doing so.
1.2.2. We are going to see here in
our study that things go awry when the tribes that were to take their
possession on the wilderness side of the Jordan River leave Joshua and the army
of
1.2.2.1.
It has now been 7 years since these three tribes left their homes and
families and crossed the Jordan River with their brothers, the rest of the
tribes of
1.2.2.1.1.
The men of these three tribes had seen the Lord perform incredible
miraculous victories for the armies of the children of
1.2.2.1.2.
The men had become the closest of comrades with their brethren as they
had been united before the Lord for the common purpose of conquering the Lord’s
enemies and establishing the land to belong to God’s people.
1.2.2.1.3.
The men had experienced much toil and hardship and had become toughened
warriors who had learned how that Jehovah was faithful to keep all of the
promises that He made to His children.
1.2.2.2.
Now that the children of Israel had conquered all of the stronghold
cities in the land of Canaan, Joshua gives the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the
½ tribe of Manasseh a gracious commendation for their efforts in helping the
rest of the tribes of Israel conquer their lands, and then he sends these
tribes back to their home cities to begin their lives.
1.2.2.3.
It is true that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh
are to be commended for many things, including:
1.2.2.3.1.
Helping in the conquest of the lands for the rest of the tribes of
1.2.2.3.2.
Waiting patiently and without complaint for Joshua, their leader before
the Lord, to send them back to their homes.
1.2.2.4.
As these tribes are making their way back to the Jordan River, we have
to imagine that as they saw each of the monuments that had been built by the
children of Israel for remembering the great things that the Lord had done in
giving victory in each of the battles, that so many memories came back to
them. I believe then that these men from
these three tribes began to feel guilt for not taking for themselves that land
that the Lord had as part of His “perfect” will intended for them to have, the
land of promise. Their guilt I believe
then causes them to do some reckless things for which they almost end up in a
war with the rest of the tribes of
1.2.2.4.1.
Using reckless and poor judgment, these three tribes decide to build an
altar monument on the Canaan side of the Jordan River as a memorial for their
children to all generations in order that they might remember that they
belonged with the rest of the tribes of the children of Israel on the Canaan
side of the Jordan River. However, they
should not have built that which was forbidden by the Lord as a memorial,
namely an ‘altar’ which is used for worship.
1.2.2.4.1.1.
However, we see that these tribes had no intent to worship at this
altar, and thus their motives were not completely wrong in building it.
1.2.2.4.1.2.
Yet, building this altar was a reckless thing that they did and it went
against the Lord’s commandments not to build an altar of worship outside of the
tabernacle’s brazen altar that the Lord had commanded for them to build.
1.2.2.4.2.
It is interesting to see sometimes what guilt produces in the lives of
one of God’s children who knows better than to be doing some of the things that
they do in their life. How destructive
are the ways of a back slider.
1.2.2.4.2.1.
A friend of mine once said that since you don’t have to turn completely
away from the Lord and His ways in order to backslide, but rather you can just
sort of wander away a little, that instead of a person doing this being called
a “backslider” that they ought instead to be called a “slack abider.”
1.2.2.4.2.2.
These three tribes who had determined to take for their possession the land
that was on the wilderness side of the Jordan River didn’t turn completely away
from the Lord and His ways, at least not as a people at this point in time,
they instead just chose for themselves to be in God’s “permissive” instead of
His “perfect” will for their lives.
1.2.2.4.2.3.
These three tribes acted just like all who place themselves in God’s
“permissive” will for their lives. It is
obvious in the decision that these tribes made to build this new altar monument
that they were thinking only of themselves and not about how their actions
might adversely affect their brothers, and even their own children, and cause
them to potentially stumble in their faith one day.
1.2.2.5.
When the tribes of Israel on the Canaan side of the Jordan River hear
that these tribes had created this altar, they believe that these tribes have
fallen away from the Lord, and thus they begin to prepare to go to battle
against them so that the nation will not incur the Lord’s wrath (as had
happened in all of their other rebellions against the Lord), however first they
decide to send to these three tribes a delegation to find out what was
happening. This delegation consisted of
a man from each tribe.
1.2.2.5.1.
Upon arrival to them, the delegation is quickly convinced of the
innocence of these tribes in creating this altar monument in order for their
children to always remember that they are part of the tribes on the Canaan side
of the
1.2.2.6.
As we observe this story, we see that there doesn’t appear to have been
any prayer and seeking the Lord that went on by these tribes about whether or
not it would have been a good idea to create this altar monument. It just seemed like a good idea to them.
1.2.2.6.1.
In our lives as Christians, those “good ideas” that we act on usually
come back to haunt us, for with them Satan has set a trap for us to fall
into.
1.2.2.6.2.
Prayer keeps us as Christians from many a poor decision and much pain.
1.2.2.7.
This altar monument which these tribes built on the west bank of the
1.2.2.7.1.
This new altar monument which they built contradicted the other
monument that was built at the Lord’s prompting and for a memorial to how the
Lord had worked mightily in parting the flood stage waters of the Jordan River
so that the people could walk across on dry ground and how that in the children
of Israel crossing the Jordan River that this pictured their dying to self and
sin and being raised up to walk in the newness of life.
1.2.2.7.1.1.
With this new altar monument which they built, these tribes were going
back across the
1.2.2.7.1.2.
This new altar monument was really a monument to their own flesh in
choosing to live in God’s “permissive” rather than His “perfect” will.
1.2.2.7.1.3.
This new altar monument was really a monument to a “good idea” that the
people had of taking their inheritance on the wilderness side of the
1.2.2.7.1.4.
This new altar monument was a symbol of these three tribes causing true
division in
1.2.2.7.2.
In the end result of this chapter, the tribes on the Canaan side of the
Jordan River are just content to not have to go to war with the tribes on the wilderness
side of the Jordan River, and the tribes on the wilderness side of the Jordan
River seem to feel as if they have been vindicated, however what everyone
really should have been discussing at this point instead was rather or not it
was wise for these tribes to have their inheritance on the wilderness side of
the Jordan River, and what the long term repercussions of doing so might end up
being.
1.2.2.7.2.1.
It is never too late to repent from a poor decision made in the past
that is keeping one from being in that place of greatest blessing in the Lord’s
“perfect” will for our life.
2. VS 22:1-6 - “1 Then Joshua summoned the
Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,2 and said to them,
“You have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and have
listened to my voice in all that I commanded you.3 “You have not forsaken your
brothers these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the
commandment of the Lord your God.4 “And now the Lord your God has given rest to
your brothers, as He spoke to them; therefore turn now and go to your tents, to
the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you
beyond the Jordan.5 “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the
law which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your
God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and
serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”6 So Joshua blessed them
and sent them away, and they went to their tents.” - Joshua commends the tribes of Reuben and Gad
and the ½ tribe of Manasseh for being faithful in helping their brothers, the
other tribes, conquer their own territories, and then he sends them home to
their own territories
2.1. We see in these verses that
Joshua is very gracious in his commendation of these tribes departing to their
inheritance on the wilderness side of the
2.2. However, Joshua might have
done better at this juncture to question the wisdom of these three tribes
having requested in the first place to take their inheritance outside of the
land of promise, rather than just be gracious and commend them and then send
them on their way.
2.2.1. One thing that I have
noticed in the years that I have been a Christian is that many times Christians
do not really know what would be best for them, especially when they are new to
the faith or newly recommitting their lives to the Lord. Sometimes trying to convince them to do
certain things causes them to dig in their heels even more also because they
just don’t have the discernment to realize what would be best for them. Many poor decisions are made by new
Christians just as these three tribes made a poor decision in choosing to take
for their possession land on the wilderness side of the
2.2.2. When you have newly
committed your life to the Lord, the scriptures tell us that you are now a
“baby” Christian. Just like human babies
according to the flesh do not know what is best for them, so “baby” Christians
do not know what is best for them. Can you
imagine what horrible tragedy could occur in the life of a 2 year old if he/she
were to be allowed to do whatever it felt like it wanted to do in a day? In the same way, “baby” Christians usually
make poor decisions concerning their life and they also need the love and care
of a spiritual parent to watch over and protect them.
2.3. We see that Joshua does have
a certain uneasiness about these tribes returning to their homes on the
wilderness side of the Jordan River, and thus we see that he makes it a point
to admonish them to be faithful to observe the commandments and laws of Moses
and to love the Lord their God and serve Him with all of their hearts and
souls.
2.3.1. Unfortunately, as we have
mentioned the scriptures reveal to us that later on these three tribes beyond
the Jordan River paid a huge price for choosing God’s “permissive” will for
their lives because they were the first tribes to fall away from the Lord into
the pagan idolatry of the nations around them, the first always to be attacked
by Israel’s enemies, the first to be taken captive by the Assyrians, and once
taken captive by the Assyrians they were never heard from again.
2.4. Again, as was mentioned
though the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the ½ tribe of Manasseh should be commended
for helping to conquer the territories of the other tribes, following Joshua’s
leadership without wavering, and for waiting patiently and without complaint
for their discharge by Joshua to their homelands.
3. VS 22:7-9 - “7 Now to the one half-tribe of
Manasseh Moses had given a possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua
gave a possession among their brothers westward beyond the
3.1. We see here that these
tribes who are departing to their inheritance on the wilderness side of the
4. VS 22:10-12 - “10 And when they came to the
region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben and the
sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan,
a large altar in appearance.11 And the sons of Israel heard it said, “Behold,
the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have
built an altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the
Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel.”12 And when the sons of
4.1. These tribes evidently
modeled their altar after the brazen altar that was in the tabernacle, however
the altar they built was huge in comparison.
4.2. The huge size of this altar
monument which the tribes built is by its very size a testimony to the works of
the flesh, for it magnified their efforts not what the Lord had done.
4.3. The result of these tribes
building this altar monument on the west bank of the Jordan River was that the
‘whole congregation’ of the children of Israel gathered together to come
against them in war.
5. VS 22:13-20 - “13 Then the sons of Israel sent
to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe of Manasseh,
into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,14 and with him
ten chiefs, one chief for each father’s household from each of the tribes of
Israel; and each one of them was the head of his father’s household among the
thousands of Israel.15 And they came to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of
Gad and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke
with them saying,16 “Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, ‘What is
this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning
away from following the Lord this day, by building yourselves an altar, to
rebel against the Lord this day?17 ‘Is not the iniquity of Peor enough for us,
from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although a plague came
on the congregation of the Lord,18 that you must turn away this day from
following the Lord? And it will come about if you rebel against the Lord today,
that He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel tomorrow.19 ‘If,
however, the land of your possession is unclean, then cross into the land of
the possession of the Lord, where the Lord’s
tabernacle stands, and take possession among us. Only do not rebel
against the Lord, or rebel against us by building an altar for yourselves,
besides the altar of the Lord our God.20 ‘Did not Achan the son of Zerah act
unfaithfully in the things under the ban, and wrath fall on all the
congregation of Israel? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity.’” - The tribes of
5.1.
It is always wise to investigate a matter before you make a decision
based upon appearance, therefore the sending of this delegation saved the sons
of
5.2.
Likewise, in Deut. 13:13-16 the children of Israel were told to first
make an investigation into a matter such as this one, where a tribe seemed to
be rebelling and turning away from the Lord, before going against that tribe of
Israel in battle, “13 some worthless men have gone out from among you and
have seduced the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other
gods’ (whom you have not known),14 then you shall investigate and search out
and inquire thoroughly. And if it is true and the matter established that this
abomination has been done among you,15 you shall surely strike the inhabitants
of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is
in it and its cattle with the edge of the sword.16 “Then you shall gather all
its booty into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its
booty with fire as a whole burnt offering to the Lord your God; and it shall be
a ruin forever. It shall never be rebuilt.”
5.3. This delegation of men come
and ask these three tribes why they have acted unfaithfully against the Lord
and followed a couple of examples of rebellion that led to severe chastisement
by the Lord, namely:
5.3.1. In Numbers 25, we read about
how that Moab as a result of suggestions from Balaam, whom the Moabites had
hired initially to curse Israel, had successfully tempted the children of
Israel to intermarry with their daughters and sons and as a result they led
Israel to worship Baal of Peor.
5.3.2. Achan before the battle of
Ai, the second battle in the book of Joshua, had stolen some of the things
under the ban during the battle of Jericho, and as a result the Lord had caused
the children of Israel in the first battle of Ai to be soundly beaten by their
enemies.
6. VS 22:21-29 – “21
Then the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh
answered, and spoke to the heads of the families of Israel.22 “The Mighty One,
God, the Lord, the Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows, and may
6.1. In these verses, the tribes
beyond the Jordan River explain to the 10 man delegation that had been sent to
them from the other tribes of
6.1.1. They tell the delegation
that they built the altar not to offer sacrifices upon it, which would have
been to break the commandments of the Lord as given to Moses.
6.1.2. They tell the delegation
that they were concerned that in future generations that their children might
not know that they belonged with the rest of the tribes of the children of
6.2. One thing though that I want
to point out is that these tribes beyond the Jordan River were actually more
concerned that the sons of Israel on the Canaan side of the Jordan river would
say to their children that they had no inheritance with them. In other words, they were more concerned
about others falling away from the Lord, than they themselves.
6.2.1. These tribes beyond the
6.2.1.1.
Those who are content to live their lives in God’s “permissive” will
for themselves instead of His “perfect” will often will do things like:
6.2.1.1.1.
Not attend any church because they say that the church has too many
hypocrites in it, yet they don’t worry about themselves being a hypocrite.
6.2.1.1.2.
Find fault with every church leader, yet rationalize, overlook, and
excuse their own faults.
6.2.1.2.
One attribute of spiritual maturity in a person is a healthy
appreciation of the fact that he/she could fall into any sin as easily as
anyone else, and that his/her heart is just as “desperately wicked” and
unknowable (Jer. 17:9) as anyone else’s.
6.3. Notice where the “blame
game” begins with people. Here in verse
25, these tribes beyond the Jordan River blame the Lord for making the Jordan
River boundary between them and the rest of the children of Israel, however it
was not the Lord who made the choice for them to take up their inheritance on
the wilderness side of the Jordan River.
This was of their own choosing to place themselves in the “permissive”
will of God.
6.3.1. The “blame game” is another
characteristic of those who place themselves in the “permissive” will of God
for their lives. They never want to take
responsibility for their actions.
6.3.2. The “blame game” began in
Genesis chapter 3 and the fall of man.
After Adam and Eve sinned of their own free will choice, Adam blamed the
woman whom the Lord gave him for his sin, and Eve blamed the serpent for
tempting her to sin.
6.4. Again, as I mentioned at the
onset of this study, I believe that it was guilt that led these tribes beyond
the
7. VS 22:30-34 – “30
So when Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation, even the heads
of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of
Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.31
And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben and to
the sons of Gad and to the sons of Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is in
our midst, because you have not committed this unfaithful act against the Lord;
now you have delivered the sons of Israel from the hand of the Lord.”32 Then
Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders returned from the sons
of Reuben and from the sons of Gad, from the land of Gilead, to the land of
Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and brought back word to them.33 And the word
pleased the sons of Israel, and the sons of Israel blessed God; and they did
not speak of going up against them in war, to destroy the land in which the
sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living.34 And the sons of Reuben and
the sons of Gad called the altar Witness; “For,” they said, “it is a witness
between us that the Lord is God.”” - The 10 man
delegation returns in peace to the rest of the tribes of the children of Israel
on the Canaan side of the Jordan River, having averted war with the tribes
beyond the Jordan River
7.1. Here in these verses we see
that the 10 man delegation is relieved that there is not going to be a cause to
go to war with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the ½ tribe of Manasseh for going
into apostasy.
7.2. We see that Reuben, Gad, and
the ½ tribe of Manasseh call the altar “a witness” between them and the Lord
that they are truly part of the rest of the tribes of
7.3. However, what we know should have been happening here
at this juncture is that these tribes beyond the Jordan River should have
realized the error or their ways which occurred quite a few years before these
events when they chose to take their inheritance on the wilderness side of the
Jordan River. Even though war was
averted here, this memorial altar which they had built symbolized all of the
wrong things for them, and it was not too many years hence when they paid a
huge price for being in God’s “permissive” will. Their children were lost to pagan idolatry,
their tribes were often attacked by
8. CONCLUSION:
8.1. We Christians must learn not
only from the positive and godly examples of the men and women in the
scriptures, we must also learn from those who rebelled and suffered the
consequences.
8.2. Let us today commit
ourselves to follow the Lord with all of our hearts and never settle for
anything but the Lord’s best for our lives, His “perfect” will.
8.3. Let us learn to follow the
Lord in obedience to His word however it may lead us.
8.4. If by chance you have made a
poor decision at a point in your past, one that affects your present
relationship with the Lord and places you in His “permissive” will for your
life, it is never too late to repent of a poor decision and begin to follow the
Lord in His “perfect” will for your life.