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

19But if your own land is impure, cross over to the Lord’s own land, where the Lord himself lives, and settle down among us. But don’t rebel against the Lord or us by building for yourselves an altar aside from the altar of the Lord our God. 20When Achan son of Zerah disobeyed the command about the city’s riches, the entire Israelite community was judged, though only one man had sinned. He most certainly died for his sin!’” The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the Israelite clans: 22“El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don’t spare us today! 23If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the Lord by making burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering tokens of peace on it, the Lord himself will 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 response turns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath.
• Proverbs 16:1The intentions of the heart belong to a man, but the answer of the tongue comes from the Lord.
• Proverbs 18:13The one who gives an answer before he listens – that is his folly and his shame.
• Proverbs 24:26Like a kiss on the lips is the one who gives an honest answer.
• Acts 11:4But Peter began and explained it to them point by point, saying,
• James 1:19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters! Let every person be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger.
• 1 Peter 3:15But set Christ apart as Lord in your hearts and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess.
• Exodus 18:21But you choose from the people capable men, God-fearing, men of truth, those who hate bribes, and put them over the people as rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
• Micah 5:2(5:1) As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah – from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.

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