Joshua 22:11 kjv
And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
Joshua 22:11 nkjv
Now the children of Israel heard someone say, "Behold, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan?on the children of Israel's side."
Joshua 22:11 niv
And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side,
Joshua 22:11 esv
And the people of Israel heard it said, "Behold, the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built the altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the people of Israel."
Joshua 22:11 nlt
The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River.
Joshua 22 11 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 12:5 | "...the place which the Lord your God shall choose out of all your tribes to put his name there..." | God chooses one place for worship. |
| Deut 12:13-14 | "Take heed that you do not offer your burnt offerings in every place that you see... but in the place which the Lord will choose..." | Warning against unauthorized worship sites. |
| Lev 17:8-9 | "Whatever man of the house of Israel... sacrifices a burnt offering or a sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance of the tent of meeting..." | Unlawful sacrifices result in being cut off. |
| Ex 20:24-25 | "An altar of earth you shall make for me... If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones..." | Altars must be built according to divine command. |
| Jos 8:30-31 | "At that time Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded..." | Contrast with proper altar construction/location. |
| Num 25:1-3 | "While Israel remained at Shittim, the people began to whore with the daughters of Moab... They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and bowed down to their gods." | Illustrates the danger of idolatry and foreign gods. |
| 1 Kgs 12:28-30 | "So the king took counsel and made two calves of gold... and the one he put in Bethel, and the other in Dan. Then this thing became a sin..." | Jeroboam's sin of creating rival worship centers. |
| 2 Kgs 17:10-11 | "They set up for themselves sacred pillars and Asherim on every high hill and under every green tree, and there they burned incense on all the high places..." | Israelites falling into widespread unauthorized worship. |
| Hos 8:11 | "Because Ephraim has multiplied altars for sin, altars have become to him altars for sinning." | Critiques multiplication of altars for improper worship. |
| Amos 4:4-5 | "'Come to Bethel, and transgress; to Gilgal, and multiply transgression...' says the Lord GOD." | Irony of bringing offerings to unauthorized places. |
| Judg 2:11-13 | "The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals... They abandoned the Lord... and served Baal and Astartes." | Warning from history of future apostasy. |
| Prov 18:13 | "If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and his shame." | Relevant to the Israelites' hasty judgment before hearing the explanation. |
| Num 32:20-22 | "So Moses said to them, 'If you do this, if you take up arms before the Lord for the war... you shall be free from obligation to the Lord and to Israel...'" | Reminder of the Transjordan tribes' initial promise. |
| Gen 31:46-49 | "So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar... Then Laban said, 'This heap is a witness between you and me this day.' Therefore he called its name Galeed..." | Concept of a heap/pillar as a witness, as the altar later proved to be. |
| Jos 24:26-27 | "And Joshua took a large stone and set it up there under the terebinth... And Joshua said to all the people, 'Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words...'" | Another example of a witness monument to a covenant. |
| Ps 133:1 | "Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!" | Contrasts with the potential disunity depicted. |
| Mal 1:7-10 | "By offering polluted food upon my altar... 'Is there not one among you who will shut the doors, that you may not kindle fire on my altar in vain?'" | Critique of desecrated altars/worship. |
| Heb 10:25 | "not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another..." | Emphasizes importance of community in worship (NT). |
| Eph 4:3-6 | "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit... one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all..." | Emphasizes Christian unity (NT principle, but applicable). |
| 1 Cor 1:10 | "I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you..." | Call for unity against schism. |
| Rom 15:5-6 | "May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." | God enables unity for His glory. |
Joshua 22 verses
Joshua 22 11 Meaning
Joshua chapter 22 verse 11 records the unsettling news that reached the main body of the Israelite tribes west of the Jordan River. It states that the Transjordanian tribes—Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh—had constructed an altar near the Jordan River, on what was perceived as the Israelite side (meaning the west bank, or at least highly visible from it and considered belonging to the land of Canaan proper). This report immediately caused alarm among the Israelites because it appeared to be a direct violation of God's command for a single, central place of worship, raising fears of apostasy, idolatry, or a schism within the nation.
Joshua 22 11 Context
Joshua chapter 22 recounts the moment when the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who had fought alongside their brethren in the conquest of Canaan, were finally dismissed by Joshua to return to their inherited lands east of the Jordan River. Joshua blesses them and encourages them to remain faithful to God's commandments (v. 1-9). The issue described in verse 11 ignites a grave misunderstanding shortly after their departure. The news of an altar built by these tribes is interpreted by the other Israelite tribes as an act of rebellion against the singular sanctuary commanded by God (Deut 12), a deviation into idolatry, or an attempt to establish a separate worship center, thus potentially severing the spiritual and covenantal unity of Israel. This grave concern quickly escalates, prompting the main Israelite body to prepare for war (v. 12). This immediate crisis highlights the intense post-conquest focus on covenant fidelity and the pervasive fear of spiritual compromise within the newly settled nation. Historically, Israel had often struggled with syncretism and polytheism, and this perceived deviation immediately raised fears of repeating past errors like the Baal of Peor incident.
Joshua 22 11 Word analysis
- And the children of Israel: Refers to the tribes who inherited land west of the Jordan River. Their reaction embodies the collective concern of the Israelite community committed to covenant fidelity.
- heard it said: The Hebrew word šāmaʿ (שָׁמַע, "heard") indicates the receiving of information, likely through a formal report or circulating rumor. It suggests the news spread quickly and caused widespread agitation.
- “Behold: The Hebrew hinneh (הִנֵּה), an interjection meaning "look," "pay attention," or "lo," signals an immediate and surprising discovery, emphasizing the startling nature of the report. It heightens the tension and drama of the revelation.
- the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh: Specifically names the two and a half Transjordanian tribes who were given their inheritance east of the Jordan and had fulfilled their military vow (Num 32; Jos 22:1-4). They are singled out as the perceived perpetrators of the offense.
- have built: The Hebrew verb bānan (בָּנָה, "to build") is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action. The altar had been constructed. The definitive nature of this action triggers the immediate Israelite response.
- an altar: The Hebrew mizbēaḥ (מִזְבֵּחַ), meaning "place of sacrifice" (from zābaḥ - "to slaughter"). This term itself evokes worship and covenant, hence the alarm. In Mosaic Law, specific instructions for altars (Ex 20:24-25) and the principle of a singular central sanctuary (Deut 12) were paramount to prevent apostasy and maintain unity. Any unauthorized altar was a direct challenge to God's ordained system and the integrity of Israel's worship.
- at the frontier: The Hebrew gĕvūl (גְּבוּל), meaning "border," "territory," or "boundary." The location is crucial, indicating a point of demarcation.
- of the land of Canaan: Refers to the main land west of the Jordan, understood as the holy land promised by God. Building an altar so close, or even within, its perceived jurisdiction heightened concerns about illegitimate worship encroaching on sacred ground.
- in the region near the Jordan: The Hebrew giləylôth hayYardēn (גְּלִילוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן), "circles/districts of the Jordan." This phrase specifies the general geographical area, near the river that served as a natural divide but also a prominent landmark for all Israel.
- on the side that belongs to the people of Israel: This phrasing is key to the misunderstanding. It could be interpreted as physically on the west side (Cisjordanian land) or merely facing or visible from the west side, giving the impression of being within the jurisdiction of the western tribes. For the Western tribes, the construction of this altar by the Transjordanian tribes on "their side" (or what they considered "their side," implicitly associated with the sanctuary) appeared to be an egregious trespass or an assertion of rival religious authority, violating the exclusivity of the Tabernacle/sanctuary in Shiloh. This polemic highlights the early biblical tension between geographical land claims and adherence to central, covenantal worship, preventing religious decentralization or schism that could lead to syncretism and idolatry.
Joshua 22 11 Bonus section
The swift and drastic reaction of the western tribes, who gathered for war immediately upon hearing the news (Jos 22:12), reveals the intensity of their fear concerning covenant infidelity and apostasy. This highlights the post-conquest period as a fragile time, where the purity of worship and the unity of the twelve tribes were paramount to maintaining their identity and covenant relationship with God. The Jordan River, which was overcome by miraculous divine power to enter the promised land, also served as a natural geographic and potentially symbolic dividing line between the two and a half tribes and the rest of Israel, creating a heightened sense of 'otherness' that fueled suspicion. This event thus provides an invaluable insight into the collective psychology of early Israel, underscoring their sensitivity to threats against their unique relationship with the Lord and their foundational religious laws.
Joshua 22 11 Commentary
Joshua 22:11 represents the tipping point of a grave national crisis born out of misunderstanding and intense religious fervor. The main body of Israel, having just settled the land, reacts with extreme alarm upon hearing that their Transjordanian brethren have erected an altar. This seemingly simple act is interpreted as a profound act of apostasy, a direct violation of the foundational Mosaic command for a single, central place of worship (Deut 12). Their immediate fear is of a repeat of previous national sins, such as the episode of Baal of Peor (Num 25), which incurred God's wrath and severe punishment. The proximity of the altar to the Jordan, especially if perceived as being on the "Israelite" side (the western side associated with the primary holy land), fuels suspicion that it is intended as a rival sanctuary. This incident underscores Israel's deep commitment to monotheism and the exclusive worship of Yahweh, and their preparedness to wage civil war to defend covenant purity. It powerfully demonstrates how an outward act, innocent in its true intention (as later revealed), could be easily misconstrued when viewed through the lens of strong theological conviction and historical precedents of deviation.