Joshua 22:14 kjv
And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
Joshua 22:14 nkjv
and with him ten rulers, one ruler each from the chief house of every tribe of Israel; and each one was the head of the house of his father among the divisions of Israel.
Joshua 22:14 niv
With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.
Joshua 22:14 esv
and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one of them the head of a family among the clans of Israel.
Joshua 22:14 nlt
In this delegation were ten leaders of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each the head of his family within the clans of Israel.
Joshua 22 14 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Point) |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 18:25 | And Moses chose able men out of all Israel and made them heads over the people, commanders of thousands... | Delegation of leaders (chieftains of thousands) |
| Num 1:4 | With you there shall be a man from each tribe, each being the head of his father’s house. | Representative tribal leadership, father's house |
| Num 1:16 | These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their fathers’ tribes... | Leaders chosen to represent tribes |
| Deut 1:15 | So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and made them heads over you, commanders of thousands... | Appointed tribal heads/commanders |
| Josh 22:12 | When the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the people of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go up to war against them. | Unified response of Israel's assembly |
| Josh 22:16 | “Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, ‘What is this breach of faith that you have committed against the God of Israel... | Corporate understanding of a national offense |
| Josh 22:17 | Have we not had enough of the sin at Peor from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day... | Fear of corporate judgment from past sins (Peor) |
| Deut 4:3 | Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal-peor, for everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, the Lord your God destroyed him... | Reminder of consequences of idolatry at Peor |
| Deut 12:5 | But you shall seek the place that the Lord your God will choose out of all your tribes... to put his name and make his habitation there. | Centralization of worship to one authorized place |
| Lev 17:8-9 | If any one of the house of Israel or of the sojourners who sojourn among them offers a burnt offering... and does not bring it to the entrance... | Unity of worship at central tabernacle |
| Judg 6:15 | "Oh, my Lord, how can I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” | Concept of 'father's house' and 'thousands' (clans) |
| 1 Chr 13:1 | David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, with every leader. | Consultation with tribal/military leaders |
| Ezra 10:14 | Let our officials stand for the whole assembly, and let all in our cities who have married foreign women come at appointed times... | Delegation for resolution of communal sin |
| Prov 15:22 | Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed. | Wisdom in broad consultation/representation |
| Isa 1:18 | “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord...” | Seeking dialogue for resolution before judgment |
| 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 and avoidance of division |
| Eph 4:3 | eagerly endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. | Importance of maintaining unity |
| Matt 18:15-17 | “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone... And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church." | Principle of confrontational, representative dispute resolution |
| John 17:21 | that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. | Unity as a testimony to God's purpose |
| Acts 15:1-29 | The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter... So they sent chosen men... with Barnabas and Paul. | Representative delegation to address theological dispute |
| Num 26:55 | The land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. | Structure of 'tribes of fathers' related to land |
| Judg 20:2 | The chiefs of all the people, of all the tribes of Israel, presented themselves in the assembly of the people of God... | Representative assembly of all tribes for judgment |
| 1 Kgs 8:29 | that your eyes may be open night and day toward this house, the place of which you have said, ‘My name shall be there’... | Singular place for God's presence and worship |
| Num 10:4 | If they blow only one trumpet, then the chiefs, the heads of the thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves to you. | Mobilization of chiefs of thousands |
Joshua 22 verses
Joshua 22 14 Meaning
Joshua 22:14 describes the highly authoritative and broadly representative nature of the delegation sent by the nine and a half tribes settled west of the Jordan River to confront the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh regarding the altar they built by the Jordan. It highlights that the delegation consisted of ten top leaders, each representing one of the major tribal divisions and embodying the paternal leadership from among the structured military/clan units of Israel, emphasizing the gravity and united front of the concern for covenant fidelity.
Joshua 22 14 Context
Joshua chapter 22 recounts a critical juncture following Israel's conquest and allocation of the land. Joshua is dismissing the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh who had fought alongside the other tribes west of the Jordan, allowing them to return to their inherited lands east of the Jordan. As these tribes journey, they build a large, prominent altar by the Jordan (Josh 22:10). This act immediately provokes alarm and anger among the tribes settled in Canaan. They interpret this altar as an act of apostasy, a violation of the centralized worship commanded by God (Deut 12), and an act that could provoke God's wrath upon the entire nation, similar to the devastating sin at Peor (Num 25). Verse 14 specifically describes the meticulous formation of the delegation sent by the western tribes—led by Phinehas and these ten princes—to investigate and address the potential religious transgression. Their very composition signifies the gravity of the situation and the desire to confront the issue with full communal authority and spiritual leadership before resorting to war.
Joshua 22 14 Word analysis
- And with him (wə‘immô): Indicates that these ten princes are accompanying Phinehas, the priest, who leads the delegation (Josh 22:13). Phinehas, son of Eleazar, represented the spiritual authority and zealousness against idolatry (Num 25:7-13), lending significant religious weight to the diplomatic mission.
- ten princes (‘ăśārāh nəśî’îm):
- Ten: Represents each of the nine remaining tribes (Judah, Simeon, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun) plus one representing the other half-tribe of Manasseh, ensuring comprehensive tribal representation. Levi is excluded as they did not receive a territorial inheritance like the others but rather scattered cities among the other tribes.
- Princes (nəśî’îm): A significant Hebrew term for leaders, chieftains, or heads of a group, often used for tribal leaders appointed by God or recognized in the community (e.g., Num 1). These were not just random individuals but established, authoritative figures. Their presence indicated the official and unified concern of all western tribes.
- a prince for each tribal house (nāśî’ ’îš ləbêt ’āḇôt):
- Tribal house (bêt ’āḇôt): Literally, "house of fathers." This refers to a primary subdivision of a tribe, a family or clan unit descended from a common patriarch, indicating deeply rooted lineage and representation. It stresses that each delegate genuinely embodied the entire socio-religious fabric of their respective tribal group. This underlines that the complaint wasn't from a few individuals but from the core representative units of Israel.
- of all the tribes of Israel (ləḵōl maṭṭôt yiśrā’ēl): "Tribes" (maṭṭeh) emphasizes the comprehensive national scope of this delegation, not just certain regions or interests. "All" (כֹּל, kol) signifies unity in purpose and shared covenant responsibility among all non-Transjordanian tribes, stressing that the concern about the altar affected the entire covenant community.
- and each one was the head of the house of his fathers (wə’îš rō’š bêt ’āḇōṯāyw):
- Head (rō’š): Signifies leadership, authority, and prominence within their specific family or clan unit. It's a high level of responsibility and trust.
- House of his fathers (bêt ’āḇōṯāyw): Reiteration of the delegate's high status within the paternal lineage and clan, reinforcing their legitimacy and representativeness within the Israelite societal structure.
- among the thousands of Israel (bə’alpê yiśrā’ēl):
- Thousands (’eleph or ’alaphim): In Hebrew military and social contexts, "thousands" did not always mean literally "one thousand." It could refer to a large division, clan, or a significant unit within a tribe (e.g., Exod 18:21, Judg 6:15). Its inclusion here signifies that these princes were not just clan heads but also leaders of significant organizational or military units within Israel, reinforcing their authority and standing within the broader community structure. Their influence extended to the military and administrative aspects of the tribal structure.
Joshua 22 14 Bonus section
The composition of this delegation also illustrates a foundational aspect of Israelite social and military organization rooted in the wilderness wanderings, specifically from the instructions given at Sinai (e.g., Num 1-4). The "thousands" (or eleph) functioned as basic units, combining military, genealogical, and administrative roles. These leaders, being heads of their father's houses within these "thousands," were integral to the very fabric of Israelite identity and functioning, making their deputation highly authoritative. Their presence implicitly highlights the strong commitment of the Israelite leadership to Yahwistic monotheism and the exclusive covenant, viewing any potential deviation (like unauthorized altars) as a direct threat to the very existence and favor of the entire nation under God.
Joshua 22 14 Commentary
Joshua 22:14 serves to amplify the seriousness and legitimate concern of the tribes west of the Jordan. By detailing the careful selection of this delegation—Phinehas the zealous priest, and ten preeminent tribal leaders—the text establishes the magnitude of the potential offense and the depth of the western tribes' apprehension. This was not a rash or impulsive decision, but a considered, official response from all segments of Israel. Each "prince for each tribal house," acting as the "head of the house of his fathers among the thousands," represented the established, God-ordained social and administrative order of Israel. This thorough representation underscores the principle of corporate responsibility: a transgression by one segment of the nation could invoke divine judgment upon all. The meticulous composition of the delegation reflects wisdom (Prov 15:22) and an earnest desire to discern the truth and prevent communal catastrophe. It was an act of both diplomatic prudence and theological vigilance, aimed at preserving the unity of God's people and the purity of their worship according to the Deuteronomic covenant, avoiding fragmentation or apostasy within the unique, holy nation. The goal was to secure peace and maintain Israel's collective standing before God.