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 is unclean, come over here to the Lord’s land. The Lord’s tent is standing here. Take some property for yourselves among us. Don’t rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves in addition to the altar of the Lord our God. 20Didn’t Achan, son of Zerah, act faithlessly with the things claimed by the Lord? Didn’t the Lord become angry with the whole congregation of Israel? Achan wasn’t the only one who died because of his sin.” Then the tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the divisions of Israel. 22They said, “The Lord is ⌞the only true⌟ God! The Lord is ⌞the only true⌟ God! He knows, so let Israel know! If our act is rebellious or unfaithful to the Lord, 23don’t spare us today. If we built an altar with the intention of no longer following him, and if we built it for making burnt offerings, grain offerings, or fellowship offerings, let the Lord 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 15:1A gentle answer turns away rage, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
• Proverbs 16:1The plans of the heart belong to humans, but an answer on the tongue comes from the Lord.
• Proverbs 18:13Whoever gives an answer before he listens is stupid and shameful.
• Proverbs 24:26Giving a straight answer is ⌞like⌟ a kiss on the lips.
• Acts 11:4Then Peter began to explain to them point by point what had happened. He said,
• James 1:19Remember this, my dear brothers and sisters: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and should not get angry easily.
• 1 Peter 3:15But dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence ⌞in God⌟ when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect.
• Exodus 18:21“But choose capable men from all the people, men who fear God, men you can trust, men who hate corruption. Put them in charge of groups of 1,000, or 100, or 50, or 10 people.
• Micah 5:2You, Bethlehem Ephrathah, are too small to be included among Judah’s cities. Yet, from you Israel’s future ruler will come for me. His origins go back to the distant past, to days long ago.

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