‏ Joshua 22

Summary for Josh 22:1-6: 22:1–24:33  ^a Israel completed the conquest and allotment of the land, but much of the hard work of actually settling it still lay ahead. However, all that remained for Joshua in his role as leader of Israel was to say farewell.
Summary for Josh 22:1-34: 22:1-34  ^b Joshua’s first farewell was to the tribes east of the Jordan as he sent them home. Characteristically, he exhorted them to remain faithful.
Summary for Josh 22:2-3: 22:2-3  ^c Joshua commended the eastern tribes for their faithful obedience and the fulfillment of their promise to help the rest of Israel inhabit Canaan (see 1:12-18  ^d; Num 32:1-32  ^e).
Summary for Josh 22:4-6: 22:4-6  ^f Joshua’s words recall God’s words to Joshua at the beginning of the conquest (1:1-9  ^g). In order to live in the land, Israel needed to be faithful to God by being very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions given to Moses.
22:5  ^h all your heart and all your soul: See Deut 6:5  ⁱ.
22:7  ^j Moses had given: The author takes great care to emphasize that the tribes east of the Jordan were part of Israel.
22:8  ^k The great wealth represented these tribes’ share of the spoils from the cities Israel had taken.

• Share ... with your relatives: While most of the fighting men assisted the rest of Israel, some men had remained to protect the women, children, and herds.
Summary for Josh 22:10-20: 22:10-20  ^l Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built their own altar, triggering a confrontation with the rest of Israel. 22:10  ^m to a place called Geliloth: It is reasonable to presume that Geliloth and the altar were on the west bank of the Jordan.
22:11  ⁿ The tribes referred to here as the rest of Israel (literally the sons of Israel) consisted of the tribes given land west of the Jordan River, in Canaan proper. They already referred to themselves as Israel, excluding the tribes east of the Jordan.
22:12  ^o The western tribes were ready to go to war because they saw the altar as violating Lev 17:8-9  ^p and Deut 13:12-15  ^q.
Summary for Josh 22:13-14: 22:13-14  ^r delegation: See Deut 13:14  ^s.

• The ten tribes west of the Jordan included Ephraim and the western half of Manasseh but not the tribe of Levi.
Summary for Josh 22:15-20: 22:15-20  ^t The direct and hard-hitting statements and questions of the delegation made sure that God’s wrath would not come upon the nation because of rebellion like Achan’s (7:1-15  ^u) or the episode at Peor (Num 25  ^v). 22:15  ^w The delegation crossed the Jordan River to meet the leaders of the eastern tribes in the land of Gilead, probably in southern Gad.
22:16  ^x The delegation brought the message the ten tribes had agreed upon when they met at Shiloh.

• The whole community of the Lord demands to know (literally Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord): The formula using “thus says” was a typical introduction to a messenger’s report (e.g., Ezra 1:2  ^y; Isa 28:16  ^z).
22:17  ^aa The sin at Peor was Israel’s idolatrous rebellion in Moab, just at the point of entering the Promised Land (Num 25  ^ab). Phinehas, now the leader of this delegation, had acted to save Israel from complete destruction at that time. He did not want to see any part of Israel turn away from God again.
22:19  ^ac Being defiled was not necessarily the result of rebellion or a moral lapse, but it did prevent persons or groups from participating in regular worship activities, including the offering of sacrifices. If the eastern tribes had defiled the land itself, the Israelites could not offer sacrifices to the Lord within it. This concern provides evidence that the eastern tribes had built their altar on the western bank of the Jordan.

• The land west of the Jordan was considered the Lord’s land. The delegation from the western tribes made a very generous offer, inviting the eastern tribes to share their land. This demonstrated their commitment to national unity in faithfulness to God.
22:20  ^ad Achan: See ch 7  ^ae. The delegation of western tribes feared that Achan’s sin and its consequences would be repeated.
Summary for Josh 22:21-34: 22:21-34  ^af The eastern tribes defended their action.
22:22  ^ag The Lord ... is God! The two-fold repetition of this dramatic affirmation indicated how shocked the eastern tribes were when accused of rebellion.
22:23  ^ah The eastern tribes swore by the name of the Lord that they were not guilty.

• The instructions for sacrifices prescribed burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings (Lev 1–3  ^ai). At this time, Israel’s worship was centered at the Tabernacle in Shiloh. To offer sacrifices anywhere but the central sanctuary was a violation of God’s covenant.
Summary for Josh 22:24-29: 22:24-29  ^aj The eastern tribes feared exclusion from Israel at a later time because the Jordan River divided them from the western tribes.
22:27  ^ak The altar near the bank of the Jordan would stand as a memorial (literally witness) through the generations that the eastern tribes were also part of Israel.
22:28  ^al This altar was a copy, intended to be seen, not used.
22:31  ^am you have rescued: In his reply to the eastern tribes, Phinehas used very similar language to the words God had spoken when Phinehas turned God’s anger from Israel at Peor (Num 25:11  ^an).
22:33  ^ao Both the eastern and western tribes were relieved that the crisis had been averted, and they joyfully praised God to renew their affirmation of national unity in faithfulness to God.
22:34  ^ap Witness: Hebrew texts that include this word interpret the last statement as an explanation of the name. Texts that omit the word understand the last quotation to be the name of the altar.

‏ Joshua 23

Summary for Josh 23:1-11: 23:1-11  ^aq Joshua urged Israel’s leaders to be faithful.
Summary for Josh 23:2-3: 23:2-3  ^ar The leaders ... of Israel had experienced what God had done for them and to their enemies. Throughout the lifetimes of these leaders who outlived Joshua, Israel continued to be faithful to God (Judg 2:7  ^as).
Summary for Josh 23:4-5: 23:4-5  ^at Some of the land that Joshua had assigned to the various tribes remained unconquered. Israel’s gradual occupation of the land had an ecological reason (see Exod 23:29-30  ^au), a military reason (see Judg 1:19  ^av), and a theological reason (see Judg 2:20–3:4  ^aw). Israel’s ensuing unfaithfulness delayed the settlement process by several centuries; instead of driving out the remaining Canaanites, Israel absorbed them, bringing God’s people even greater temptations to unfaithfulness. Joshua knew this to be a real danger (Josh 23:15-16  ^ax).
23:6  ^ay Since before crossing the Jordan River to take the land of Canaan, Joshua’s guiding principle had been to be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote and not deviate. Now he passed on these instructions to the leaders who would succeed him in leading Israel.
23:7  ^az Do not even mention ... swear by ... serve ... or worship them: These four actions describe progressive involvement with idolatry.
23:8  ^ba To cling tightly or passionately to God would render impotent the temptation to stray off toward other gods. This same verb described a man clinging to his wife (Gen 2:24  ^bb) and Ruth clinging to Naomi (Ruth 1:14  ^bc).
23:9  ^bd Examples of great and powerful nations included the Anakim (11:21-22  ^be) and the city of Hazor (11:10  ^bf).
23:10  ^bg God fights for you: Just as God had fought for the Israelites in the past (e.g., 10:11-14  ^bh), he would continue to fight for them in the future.
23:11  ^bi be very careful to love: Love is a function of will and intention. Emotion and attraction are the results, not the essence, of love. Because love is (or is not) willed, love can be commanded but not coerced.
Summary for Josh 23:12-16: 23:12-16  ^bj Apostasy—turning away from the true God—is fatal.

• Because God is holy, Joshua could speak with optimism regarding God’s promises and the good land into which God had brought them. God will not change his holy character even if his people change. The rebellion of God’s people cannot damage his holiness, but rebellion will destroy those who rebel. 23:12  ^bk Joshua warned God’s people not to intermarry with their polytheistic neighbors because such an intimate relationship would lead the Israelites astray (Deut 7:3-4  ^bl). However, Canaanites who desired to worship the Lord and join God’s people were welcomed (Josh 6:25  ^bm; Ruth 4:10  ^bn). Race, language, and ethnicity had no bearing on God’s prohibition of intermarriage; it was a matter of faithfulness to the Lord (cp. 2 Cor 6:14-15  ^bo).
23:13  ^bp will no longer drive them out: If Israel associated with the Canaanite remnant, God would oblige the Israelites by not driving out that remnant. God ultimately gives people what they seek.
Summary for Josh 23:15-16: 23:15-16  ^bq God had blessed the Israelites, and he would also certainly judge them if they turned away from him. Joshua’s warning against apostasy was prophetic; Israel did turn away, and God did not drive out the remaining Canaanites (Judg 2:20-23  ^br).

‏ Joshua 24

Summary for Josh 24:1-27: 24:1-27  ^bs In both form and content, this statement of covenant resembled an ancient Near Eastern suzerain-vassal treaty. It begins with a preamble (24:2  ^bt) and continues with a historical prologue relating the suzerain’s (God’s) gracious acts on behalf of the people (24:3-13  ^bu), followed by a list of stipulations (24:14-15  ^bv) and curses and blessings (24:19-20  ^bw). It then notes where the text was to be deposited for periodic reading and renewal (implied, 24:26  ^bx) and lists witnesses to the covenant (24:22  ^by, 27  ^bz). See also study note on Exod 20:1–23:33.
Summary for Josh 24:1-13: 24:1-13  ^ca Joshua recounted God’s grace toward Israel. 24:1  ^cb Shechem was the location of the first affirmation of the covenant shortly after Israel had entered the land of Canaan (see 8:30-35  ^cc and corresponding study notes).
24:2  ^cd Terah: See Gen 11:27-32  ^ce.
Summary for Josh 24:3-13: 24:3-13  ^cf Israel’s faith was always the result of God’s initiative. Joshua’s repetition of God’s words I took ... I gave ... I sent ... I brought reminded the Israelites why they should continue to be loyal to God. 24:3  ^cg Abraham lived at Haran in Mesopotamia beyond the Euphrates with his father Terah (Gen 11:31-32  ^ch).

• led him into ... Canaan: See Gen 12:1-9  ^ci.
24:4  ^cj Jacob and Esau: See Gen 25:19-26  ^ck.

• The mountains of Seir stood at the heart of Edom, the homeland of Esau’s descendants (Gen 36:8-9  ^cl).
Summary for Josh 24:5-7: 24:5-7  ^cm The Exodus, which culminated with the crossing of the Red Sea, was the climactic salvation event of ancient Israel’s history. A number of psalms, several of the later prophets, and several New Testament writers all celebrated this defining event.
24:6  ^cn Red Sea: See study note on Exod 13:18.
24:7  ^co Even though the older Israelites present here had been children at the time of the Exodus, they had seen the events with their very own eyes.
24:8  ^cp Amorites ... their land: See Num 21:21-35  ^cq.
Summary for Josh 24:9-10: 24:9-10  ^cr See Num 22–25  ^cs; 31:1-54  ^ct.
24:11  ^cu See study note on 3:10.
24:12  ^cv Israel’s successes were not because of their swords or bows or other military advantage; all were God’s doing.
24:13  ^cw The Israelites received wealth, including land ... towns and food, that they had not earned or created.
24:14  ^cx Put away forever the idols: Israel had not yet broken with the old polytheistic traditions of Mesopotamia beyond the Euphrates River, and some Israelites had added to their supply of gods while living in Egypt.
24:15  ^cy Joshua threw the influence of his leadership and accomplishments behind his declaration to serve the Lord.
Summary for Josh 24:16-18: 24:16-18  ^cz The people recognized that it was God who rescued them, preserved them, and drove out the Amorites. 24:16  ^da The people responded emphatically, reflecting their determination to follow Joshua’s lead in following the Lord.
Summary for Josh 24:19-24: 24:19-24  ^db Joshua pressed the Israelites from a different perspective to underscore the seriousness of their commitment and to ensure that they were not merely responding to the enthusiasm of the moment. 24:19  ^dc God is holy: See thematic note for God’s Absolute Holiness at end of chapter.

• God is also jealous; he created every human being for relationship with himself.
24:22  ^dd a witness to your own decision: Joshua pressed the people to repeat their declaration as a legal affirmation and commitment.
24:23  ^de Some Israelites had continued to worship idols since they left Egypt and after experiencing forty years of God’s love and power. Joshua directed them to destroy the idols and turn their hearts to the Lord to serve him alone.
24:25  ^df made a covenant: Literally cut a covenant (see study note on 9:15).
24:26  ^dg The Book of God’s Instructions was a scroll containing the writings of Moses (see study note on 1:8). It was probably carried to Shiloh and stored with other documents of national importance.

• The huge stone was probably a stela, a standing stone monument. Joshua might have had a memorial inscription chiseled into this stone monument.
24:27  ^dh This stone has heard: See study note on 22:27.
Summary for Josh 24:29-33: 24:29-33  ^di The tombs of a venerated ancestor and two revered leaders provided the final notice that Canaan was indeed Israel’s land. However, significant work, vigilance, and even fighting still lay ahead. 24:29  ^dj Joshua’s ancestor Joseph had also attained the age of 110, which was considered the ideal lifespan by ancient Egyptians.
24:30  ^dk Timnath-serah: See 19:49-51  ^dl.
24:31  ^dm Joshua’s legacy was so strong that Israel remained faithful to God even throughout the lifetime ... of the elders who outlived him.
24:32  ^dn Israel had carried the bones of Joseph out of Egypt, through the years of their journeys, and into Canaan to honor Joseph’s last request to be buried in the land God had promised Israel (Gen 50:25  ^do; Exod 13:19  ^dp).

• Shechem was part of the inheritance of Joseph’s descendants, at the border between Ephraim and Manasseh. Jacob had purchased the land centuries before for 100 pieces of silver.
24:33  ^dq Eleazar the high priest had stood beside Joshua during the process of allotting portions of the land to the tribes of Israel.

• Joshua, Joseph, and Eleazar were all buried in Ephraim, in the central part of the newly conquered land. Their burial served as a final sign that God had fulfilled his promise to give Israel the land.

Thematic note: God’s Absolute Holiness
Holiness is the fundamental descriptor of who God is. It is not merely one of his many attributes; it is the key to his very being. Calling God “the Holy One” speaks to the transcendence of his nature, in sharp contrast to the finite creation, whose creatures are bound by time and space. God speaks of himself as “I Am Who I Am” (Exod 3:14  ^dr), defining himself by himself. God is the Wholly Other, the One who is completely self-sufficient and distinct from the created order.
God’s holiness also speaks of his character. It is common to describe God’s holiness in terms of his separation from sin and his wrath against it, but the notion of holiness embraces all of God’s character, including his mercy. God revealed himself to Moses as the “God of compassion and mercy.” He said, “I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.” In his holiness, God shows this “unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty” (Exod 34:6-7  ^ds).
God’s holiness can be deadly to uninvited intruders (Isa 6:3  ^dt, 5  ^du; see Exod 28:35  ^dv) or to those who treat it with contempt. His infinite holiness is too much for finite, fallen mortals and would utterly destroy them apart from God’s mercy. Understanding God’s holiness should thus trigger a response of awe and reverence. Anything less would be profane. Perhaps this was the error that cost Nadab and Abihu their lives (Lev 10:1-3  ^dw). Only in recognizing the awesomeness of God can we appreciate his great love for us and worship him appropriately and authentically.


Passages for Further Study
Exod 3:14  ^dx; 34:6-7  ^dy; Lev 10:3  ^dz; Lev 11:44-45  ^ea; 1 Sam 2:1-2  ^eb; Isa 6:3-5  ^ec; 52:10  ^ed; Hos 11:9  ^ee