Joshua 22 8

Joshua 22:8 kjv

And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.

Joshua 22:8 nkjv

and spoke to them, saying, "Return with much riches to your tents, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren."

Joshua 22:8 niv

saying, "Return to your homes with your great wealth?with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing?and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites."

Joshua 22:8 esv

he said to them, "Go back to your tents with much wealth and with very much livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with much clothing. Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers."

Joshua 22:8 nlt

he said to them, "Go back to your homes with the great wealth you have taken from your enemies ? the vast herds of livestock, the silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and the large supply of clothing. Share the plunder with your relatives."

Joshua 22 verses

Joshua 22 8 Meaning

Joshua 22:8 conveys Joshua's final blessing and instruction to the two and a half tribes who had fulfilled their commitment to assist in the conquest of Canaan. It commands them to return to their homes east of the Jordan River with the vast wealth, livestock, and goods they acquired from their campaigns, emphasizing that this "spoil of your enemies" is a blessing from God. Crucially, they are instructed to share this abundance generously with their tribal brothers who remained behind. This directive underscores principles of shared community, divine provision, communal responsibility, and generous stewardship of God-given wealth.

Joshua 22 8 Context

Joshua chapter 22 marks a pivotal moment at the close of the Canaanite conquest. After years of loyal service fighting alongside the other Israelite tribes, the two and a half tribes—Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh—who had received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan River, are being dismissed by Joshua. Joshua commends them for their faithfulness to the covenant, specifically their fulfillment of the vow made to Moses to aid their brethren in securing their land (Num 32; Deut 3:18-22; Josh 1:12-18). Verse 8 is part of Joshua's farewell address to these returning tribes, in which he blesses them and instructs them not only to return to their homes but also to carry with them the immense spoil gained from the successful campaigns and, critically, to share it with their families who remained behind. This directive prefaces the immediate challenge that arises as these tribes build an altar by the Jordan, leading to a near-conflict due to misunderstanding, before ultimately affirming their unity as one people of God. The verse highlights the culmination of God's promise, the reward for obedience, and the communal responsibility within Israel.

Joshua 22 8 Word analysis

• And spoke to them, saying: (Hebrew: וַיְדַבֵּ֤ר אֲלֵיהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר - vaydabber aleihem lemor) This phrase is a common biblical narrative marker indicating a direct, formal, and authoritative address. It highlights Joshua's position as God's chosen leader, delivering vital instructions.
• Return (Hebrew: שׁוּבוּ - shuvu): A command, in the imperative plural form, literally "turn back" or "go back." It signifies the completion of their designated military task and their impending journey home to their allocated land. It implies fulfillment of their earlier oath to Moses.
• with much wealth (Hebrew: בְּרָכ֣וּשׁ רָב֒ - b'rakhush rav): "Wealth" (rakhush) here denotes accumulated possessions, plunder, and goods obtained through warfare. "Much" (rav) emphasizes the great quantity, indicating significant blessing from the Lord as a result of successful campaigns against their enemies. This points to God's hand in their victories.
• to your tents (Hebrew: לְאָהֳלֵיכֶ֑ם - l'ohaleikhem): "Tents" (ohelem) here refers metaphorically to their permanent residences and family dwellings in their designated inheritance land east of the Jordan, though traditionally "tents" suggest a nomadic lifestyle, it signifies "home" or "camps." It marks the return to domestic and settled life.
• with very much livestock (Hebrew: וּמִקְנֶ֣ה רַב־מְאֹ֗ד - u'mikneh rav-me'od): Livestock (mikneh) were the primary form of wealth in ancient agrarian societies, signifying prosperity, food source, labor, and tradable goods. The intensified "very much" (rav me'od) underscores the extensive provision and blessing God granted them.
• with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron: These refer to precious metals and utilitarian metals obtained as war spoil. Silver and gold were measures of wealth and luxury; bronze and iron were essential for tools, weapons, and household items. The enumeration highlights the comprehensive nature of the bounty and its material value. This also demonstrates the complete subjugation of their enemies.
• and with very much clothing (Hebrew: וּבְגָדִ֖ים הַרְבֵּה־מְאֹֽד - uv'gadim harbeh-me'od): Clothing was a valuable and durable asset, often looted during warfare. "Very much" again emphasizes abundance, reflecting significant accumulated resources.
• Divide (Hebrew: חִלְק֛וּ - hilku): An imperative command meaning "share" or "apportion." It emphasizes active, deliberate distribution rather than mere retention. This is the central command of the verse, dictating the disposition of their acquired wealth.
• the spoil of your enemies (Hebrew: שְׁלַל֙ אֹיְבֵיכֶ֔ם - sh'lal o'yeveikhem): "Spoil" (shelal) directly denotes the booty taken from vanquished foes. Attributing it to "your enemies" (rather than generically "wealth") emphasizes its source as the result of divine victory in warfare against God's adversaries.
• with your brothers (Hebrew: עִם־אֲחֵיכֶֽם - im acheikhem): This is a crucial phrase. It extends the blessing beyond those who actively fought to the entire community of their tribes. It promotes kinship, communal solidarity, and the recognition that the conquest was a collective Israelite effort, even if certain individuals stayed behind to protect their families and flocks. This is rooted in principles found earlier in Mosaic Law (e.g., Num 31).

Word Group Analysis:

• "Return with much wealth... to your tents": This encapsulates the divine reward for their completed faithfulness and labor. The journey home is not empty-handed but filled with tangible blessings, symbolizing God's faithfulness to their obedience.
• "with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very much clothing": This comprehensive list details the extent of the acquired wealth. It highlights the vast material blessings from the Lord and indicates a foundation for economic stability in their inherited lands. It speaks to both intrinsic and functional value.
• "Divide the spoil of your enemies with your brothers": This is the ethical and theological heart of the verse. It transforms a military success into a communal blessing, preventing selfish hoarding and fostering tribal unity. It establishes a principle of shared reward, acknowledging that the entire community, directly and indirectly, contributed to the conquest. It reinforces the concept that divine blessings are meant to be distributed and benefit the collective body, embodying a form of generous stewardship.

Joshua 22 8 Bonus section

The command to share the spoil finds its roots in Mosaic Law, particularly the division of plunder after battle (e.g., Num 31:25-47). This previous law dictated how spoil was to be divided between the warriors, the congregation, and a portion set apart for the Lord. While Joshua 22:8 is specific to the "two and a half tribes" sharing with their immediate "brothers" (who presumably guarded the camp or homes), it echoes the broader principle of communal distribution. This demonstrates the consistency of divine principles from generation to generation and leader to leader within Israel. It implicitly acts as a safeguard against hubris and isolation among the tribes, emphasizing that their prosperity is intertwined with their fidelity to one another and the covenant. Furthermore, the act of "dividing the spoil" prevents the creation of a mercenary or acquisitive spirit, reframing military success within the context of communal welfare and God's overarching blessing.

Joshua 22 8 Commentary

Joshua 22:8 serves as a profound capstone to the faithfulness of the trans-Jordan tribes and encapsulates vital theological and ethical principles for Israel. By commanding these tribes to return with great wealth and to divide it generously with their brothers, Joshua articulates that God's blessings, manifest in material prosperity from conquest, are not merely individual rewards for service but communal provisions intended for the welfare and unity of the entire people of God.

This directive is far more than a practical instruction on logistics; it reinforces the concept of shared identity and mutual responsibility within the covenant community. The specific mention of various forms of wealth—livestock, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and clothing—underscores the magnitude of divine favor and the totality of their success. However, the true significance lies in the instruction to "divide the spoil with your brothers." This counters any potential self-serving attitude from those who directly participated in the arduous campaigns, reminding them that the entire tribe, including those who protected families and property, contributed to the overall national effort. This practice safeguards against division, jealousy, and social stratification, fostering cohesion as they settle into their respective territories. It exemplifies an early application of generous stewardship and mutual care within God's people, reflecting an economy of abundance meant to flow through all members, building the body of Israel. This prefigures New Testament principles of giving, sharing, and unity within the church (e.g., Acts 4, 2 Cor 9), where spiritual and material blessings are to be channeled for the common good and flourishing of the community.