Joshua 22:21

Joshua 22:21 in other versions

• King James Version (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,
• New International Version (NIV)Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel:
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel,
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the divisions of Israel:

Context of Joshua 22:21

19If your land here in Gilead is unclean, come back across the river to the Lord's own land. You can come and live among us, in the land where the Lord's tabernacle is. But do not turn against the Lord or against us. Do not build an altar for yourselves. The Lord our God already has his altar here. 20Remember the time when Achan, son of Zerah, took things that belonged to God for himself. He refused to obey God's command about Jericho's valuable things. Then God became angry with all the people of Israel. Achan died because of his sin, but he was not the only one.’ Reuben, Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered the Israelite leaders. 22They said, ‘God, the Lord, is the great God! God, the Lord knows what is true! So all Israel must also know! Punish us today if we have turned against the Lord. We have not refused to obey him. 23We did not build our own altar to make burnt offerings or grain offerings or friendship offerings on it. If we have done that, the Lord himself should certainly punish us.

Joshua 22:21 word by word

וַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙ בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֣ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֔ד וַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶת־רָאשֵׁ֖י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then the childrenבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• of Reubenרְאוּבֵןre'ûbên · ReubenH7205
• of Gadגָּדgâd · GadH1410
• and the halfחֲצִיchêtsîy · halfH2677
• tribeשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribeH7626
• of Manassehמְנַשֶּׁהmenashsheh · ManassehH4519
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
• and saidדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
• unto the headsרֹאשׁrô'sh · head: leaderH7218
• of the thousandsאֶ֫לֶף'eleph · thousand: clanH505
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478

Cross-references for Joshua 22:21

• Proverbs 15:1If you answer people in a kind way, it stops them being angry. But if you say cruel things, it makes people angry.
• Proverbs 16:1People make plans in their minds, but the Lord gives them the right words to say.
• Proverbs 18:13Listen carefully before you answer. If you answer too quickly, you will be ashamed like a fool.
• Proverbs 24:26Somebody who gives you an honest answer is your true friend.
• Acts 11:4Peter then began to explain everything that had happened. He said to them,
• James 1:19Understand this, my Christian friends: We must all be careful to listen. We should not be too quick to speak. We should not get angry quickly.
• 1 Peter 3:15Instead, always remember that Christ is your Lord. Let him rule how you live. People may ask you, ‘Why do you trust God to help you?’ You must always be ready to answer them about that.
• Exodus 18:21But you must also choose some other clever men to help you. They must be honest men who respect God. They must not want to take money from people. Choose these men to be officers with authority over groups of the people. They will be leaders of 1,000 people, or 100 people, or 50 people, or 10 people.
• Micah 5:2But God tells us this: ‘Bethlehem Ephrathah is only a little town, among all the many towns in Judah,’ God says. ‘But I will choose someone who is born there. He will rule Israel for me. Long, long ago, I prepared for him to come.’

Commentaries on Joshua 22:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Then 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.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 The tribes took the reproofs of their brethren in good part. With solemnity and meekness they proceeded to give all the satisfaction in their power. Reverence of God is expressed in the form of their appeal. This brief confession of faith would remove their brethren's suspicion that they intended to worship other gods. Let us always speak of God with seriousness, and mention his name with a solemn pause. Those who make appeals to Heaven with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21-34The eastern tribes explained why they acted as they did.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-2911-29. and the children of Israel heard say--Fame speedily spread intelligence of what the trans-jordanic tribes had done. The act being suspected of some idolatrous design, the tribes rose in a mass, and repairing to the tabernacle at Shiloh, resolved to declare war against the two tribes and a half as apostates from God. On calmer and more mature consideration, however, they determined, in the first instance, to send a deputation consisting of the son…Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 22:21

• Government
• Haste
• Misjudgment
• Motive
• Phinehas
• Prudence
• Reubenites
• Uncharitableness
• War

In the dictionaries

• Gad
• Israel
• Manasseh
• Reuben
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Rebel
• Thousands
• Altar
• Criticism

Commentaries on Joshua 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings