Joshua 22:4 kjv
And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
Joshua 22:4 nkjv
And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them; now therefore, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
Joshua 22:4 niv
Now that the LORD your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
Joshua 22:4 esv
And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
Joshua 22:4 nlt
And now the LORD your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go back home to the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you as your possession on the east side of the Jordan River.
Joshua 22 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 2:2-3 | On the seventh day God finished His work... He rested. | God's own example of resting after work. |
| Num 32:20-22 | If you will do this thing... then afterward you may return. | Moses' original condition for Transjordan tribes. |
| Deut 3:20 | until the LORD gives rest to your brethren, as he has given you. | Moses' prophecy and Joshua's direct fulfillment. |
| Deut 7:9 | Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love... | God's enduring faithfulness to His promises. |
| Deut 12:10 | But when you go over the Jordan and live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for an inheritance, and He gives you rest from all your enemies around you... | Divine promise of rest linked to land possession. |
| Josh 1:13-15 | "Remember the word that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you... until the LORD has given rest to your brethren... then you shall return..." | Joshua recalling the initial command & promise. |
| Josh 11:23 | So Joshua took the whole land... and the land had rest from war. | Summary of conquest completion and resulting peace. |
| Josh 21:43-45 | The LORD gave to Israel all the land that He swore to give to their fathers... Not one word of all the good promise which the LORD had spoken to the house of Israel failed... | Emphasizes God's total faithfulness and fulfillment. |
| Josh 23:14 | "I am about to go the way of all the earth; and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good promises that the LORD your God made to you has failed." | Joshua's later testament to God's unfailing word. |
| 1 Kgs 8:56 | "Blessed be the LORD who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. Not one word has failed..." | Solomon's later recognition of God's fulfilled promises. |
| Neh 9:8 | You found his heart faithful before You, and made a covenant with him... and You have performed Your words, for You are righteous. | God's righteousness tied to promise fulfillment. |
| Psa 37:3-5 | Trust in the LORD and do good... Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He will do it. | Encouragement to trust God's active faithfulness. |
| Psa 105:8-11 | He remembers His covenant forever... the oath He swore to Isaac... a decree to Jacob... "To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance." | God's eternal memory of His covenant land promise. |
| Isa 60:21 | Then your people will all be righteous; they will possess the land forever. | Prophecy of righteous possessing the promised land. |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." | Jesus offers a spiritual rest beyond physical. |
| Rom 3:3-4 | What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every man a liar. | Affirmation of God's unwavering faithfulness. |
| Rom 4:21 | and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was also able to perform. | Abraham's faith in God's ability to fulfill promises. |
| 2 Cor 1:20 | For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. | God's promises confirmed and fulfilled in Christ. |
| Heb 4:1-11 | Therefore, while the promise of entering His rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it... there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. | New Testament theological understanding of "rest" beyond physical land. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. | Spiritual inheritance for believers. |
Joshua 22 verses
Joshua 22 4 Meaning
This verse signifies a pivotal moment for the Transjordan tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh. Joshua acknowledges the LORD's fulfillment of His promise to provide "rest" (security and cessation of warfare) to all the tribes of Israel, including those on the west bank of the Jordan. With this divine commitment now accomplished, he formally discharges these eastern tribes from their military duty, instructing them to return to their rightful "land of possession" that Moses had previously allocated to them on the east side of the Jordan River. It underscores God's faithfulness in fulfilling His word and celebrates the conclusion of the major military campaign for the land.
Joshua 22 4 Context
Joshua 22 marks a significant transition following the successful conquest and initial division of the land of Canaan. The Transjordan tribes—Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh—had been commanded by Moses (and reaffirmed by Joshua) to send their armed men across the Jordan River to assist their Israelite brethren in conquering the land on the western side before returning to their own allocated territories. For approximately seven years, these warriors faithfully participated in the campaigns under Joshua's leadership. Chapter 22 opens with Joshua commending them for their unwavering obedience and commitment to the covenant. Verse 4 serves as the formal decree for their dismissal, signifying the culmination of their arduous task and the fulfillment of God's promise to establish His people securely in the land. This moment celebrates God's faithfulness and the unity of Israel in achieving their divinely appointed task.
Joshua 22 4 Word analysis
And now (וְעַתָּה - ve'attah): A transitional phrase, frequently used in biblical discourse to signal a significant conclusion based on what precedes it, leading to a new command or directive. It indicates the fulfillment of a period and the commencement of another phase.
the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal relationship with Israel, His faithfulness, and His active role as the deliverer and sovereign giver of the land. It underlines the divine agency behind the achieved "rest."
your God (אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - Eloheikhem): Emphasizes the particular and intimate covenant relationship between God and Israel, underscoring that it is their God who has acted on their behalf.
has given rest (הֵנִיחַ - heniakh): Derived from the root נוּחַ (nuakh), meaning "to rest, settle down, grant quiet." This is a central theme in the conquest narratives, denoting not merely the cessation of warfare but a state of secure habitation, peace from enemies, and divine provision. It signifies God providing a stable, peaceful dwelling place free from immediate threats.
to your brethren (לַאֲחֵיכֶם - la'akheikhem): Refers to the other Israelite tribes who settled west of the Jordan. It highlights the collective fulfillment of God's promise to the entire nation, not just a select few, reinforcing tribal unity.
as He promised them (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם - ka'asher dibber lahem): A crucial phrase that reiterates God's fidelity. It directly connects the current state of "rest" to explicit divine declarations made earlier (e.g., Num 32, Deut 3). It underscores the principle that God's word is reliable and always comes to pass.
therefore return now (וְעַתָּה שׁוּבוּ - ve'attah shuvu): The command given to the Transjordan tribes. The repeated "now" emphasizes the urgency and immediacy of their dismissal after their long service. "Return" signifies going back to their established homes.
and go to your tents (וּלְכוּ לְאָהֳלֵיכֶם - ulekhoo le'ohaleihem): While literally "tents," this term is idiomatic for "homes" or "dwellings." It reflects their intention to settle permanently and resume their domestic lives after years of military campaigning.
to the land of your possession (אֶל-אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶם - el-eretz akhuzzatkhem): Refers to the inherited territory legally and divinely allotted to them (specifically Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh). "Possession" (אֲחֻזָּה - akhuzzah) signifies their permanent, God-given inheritance.
which Moses the servant of the LORD (אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָכֶם מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד יְהוָה - asher natan lakhem Moshe eved YHWH): This emphasizes the divine authority behind their inheritance. Moses' title "servant of the LORD" is a theological term of highest honor, affirming his role as God's faithful agent in transmitting God's will and dividing the land according to divine instruction. It validates the legitimacy of their land east of the Jordan.
gave you beyond the Jordan (בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן - be'ever haYarden): Specifies their unique geographic location, east of the Jordan River, differentiating their land from that of the nine and a half tribes who settled on the western side.
"the LORD your God has given rest... as He promised them": This phrase highlights divine faithfulness. The achieved "rest" is not a human accomplishment but God's gift, fulfilling His explicit promise. It underlines YHWH's sovereignty and His commitment to His covenant.
"therefore return now and go to your tents, to the land of your possession": This phrase emphasizes the tangible outcome of God's fulfilled promise and the Transjordan tribes' diligent obedience. It is a clear command for them to occupy their divinely appointed inheritance, transitioning from military service to domestic settlement.
"which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you beyond the Jordan": This validates the legitimacy and divine origin of the Transjordan inheritance. It underscores the continuity of leadership from Moses to Joshua and the consistency of God's plan through His chosen servants.
Joshua 22 4 Bonus section
The concept of "rest" (menuchah) in this verse is a foundational theological theme that runs throughout the Old Testament, pointing to a future, ultimate rest. It starts with God's Sabbath rest in creation (Gen 2:2-3) and is a frequent motif in Exodus and Deuteronomy, promising deliverance from enemies and secure dwelling in the land. While Joshua brings physical rest in Canaan, it is incomplete and foreshadows the fuller spiritual rest found only in Christ (Heb 4). The faithful fulfillment of this specific promise for the Transjordan tribes reinforces the trustworthiness of God's character and sets a precedent for understanding how God interacts with His people, fulfilling His word throughout history and culminating in salvation through Jesus. The careful validation of their Transjordan inheritance, often perceived as a "second-class" land due to its position outside the "central" promised land, shows that God honors His Word even in the specific details given through Moses. This highlights God's particular care for each tribal portion and His recognition of their obedience.
Joshua 22 4 Commentary
Joshua 22:4 encapsulates the climax of God's fulfillment of His covenant promises to Israel. The declaration of "rest" signifies more than merely the cessation of warfare; it implies a state of secure habitation and peace within their divinely appointed land. This "rest" was the ultimate goal of the exodus and the conquest, a tangible demonstration of God's fidelity. Joshua's words not only dismiss the Transjordan warriors with honor but also serve as a profound testament to God's character as the promise-keeper. The mention of Moses emphasizes the continuity of divine command and the legitimacy of the Transjordan tribes' inheritance, tying the current fulfillment back to initial instructions given years earlier. It subtly highlights that despite their geographic separation, they are an integral part of the united nation of Israel, bound by shared covenant obligations and divine blessing.
- Example for Practical Usage: Just as the Lord brought the Israelites into physical rest in the promised land, He invites believers today into spiritual rest in Christ from the burdens of sin and striving (Matt 11:28). This verse can remind us that God always fulfills His promises, both physically (in history) and spiritually (in our lives).