Joshua 22 9

Joshua 22:9 kjv

And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

Joshua 22:9 nkjv

So the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they had obtained according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.

Joshua 22:9 niv

So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses.

Joshua 22:9 esv

So the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned home, parting from the people of Israel at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, their own land of which they had possessed themselves by command of the LORD through Moses.

Joshua 22:9 nlt

So the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the rest of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They started the journey back to their own land of Gilead, the territory that belonged to them according to the LORD's command through Moses.

Joshua 22 verses

Joshua 22 9 Meaning

Joshua 22:9 describes the journey of the Transjordanian tribes – Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh – returning to their designated land east of the Jordan River, after fulfilling their pledge to assist the rest of Israel in conquering Canaan. This verse marks a significant transition, signaling the end of a major phase of conquest and the return of these tribes to their permanent tribal territories, a possession granted to them by God's commandment through Moses. It highlights the successful completion of their shared military duty and their return to a distinct geographical and socio-political space within the unified nation of Israel, established according to divine promise and covenant.

Joshua 22 9 Context

Joshua chapter 22 marks a pivotal moment in the history of Israel's settlement in Canaan. The previous chapters detail the conquest and division of the land among the tribes west of the Jordan. Joshua 22:9 stands at the culmination of a major phase: the fulfillment of the Transjordanian tribes' (Reuben, Gad, and half-Manasseh) oath to Moses. They had pledged to cross the Jordan and assist the other tribes in conquering Canaan before returning to their assigned territories east of the river. This verse describes their actual return journey from Shiloh, the central tabernacle site where the tribal divisions had been confirmed, to their permanent homes. Their departure, however, immediately leads to tension in the following verses (Josh 22:10-34), as their construction of a prominent altar on the Jordan border is initially misinterpreted by the other tribes as an act of secession or idolatry, threatening to break the unity of Israel and potentially ignite a civil war. Thus, verse 9 sets the stage for a critical challenge to Israel's hard-won unity, which ultimately reinforces their shared identity and commitment to the Lord.

Joshua 22 9 Word analysis

• So the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh:
  • This opening clearly identifies the specific parties involved, emphasizing their distinct tribal identities within the larger Israelite nation. Their unique request for land east of the Jordan was granted earlier (Num 32) under specific conditions.
  • "Children" (בְּנֵי, bᵉnē): Signifies direct lineage and tribal identity, connecting them back to their patriarchs and Moses' initial allocation.
• returned (וַיָּשֻׁבֽוּ, vayyāshuvū):
  • The verb shuv (שוב) means "to turn back, return, restore." This implies not merely moving back but a decisive turning from one state/place to another. It signifies the fulfillment of a commitment and the completion of a shared national task. It also carries the connotation of reverting to their "proper" place of rest.
• and departed (וַיֵּלְכוּ, vayyēlᵉḵû):
  • The verb halak (הלך) means "to go, walk." This indicates the physical journey and separation from the main body of Israel. Paired with "returned," it highlights the act of physically leaving a location (Shiloh) to return to another (Gilead). The usage emphasizes movement away.
• from the children of Israel:
  • This phrase emphasizes a geographical separation, not a spiritual or national one, although the ensuing conflict in the chapter shows how quickly physical distance could breed misunderstanding about national unity and loyalty to Yahweh. It highlights the main body of the tribes who received inheritance west of the Jordan.
• at Shiloh:
  • Shiloh was the central place of worship and tribal assembly in this period (Josh 18:1; 19:51; Judg 18:31; 1 Sam 1:3). It served as the spiritual and political capital where the Tabernacle resided and land allotments were made. Departing from Shiloh underscores the official conclusion of their shared military and administrative duties.
• which is in the land of Canaan:
  • This explicitly states the geographical location of Shiloh, situating the main body of Israel within the Promised Land west of the Jordan, differentiating it from the Transjordanian territory.
• to go to the land of Gilead:
  • Gilead (גִּלְעָ֫ד, Gil‘ad) is a key geographical region east of the Jordan River. It identifies their ultimate destination, the region allotted to them by Moses. It was known for its pasturage (Num 32:1) which was a key reason for their initial request for that land.
• to the land of their possession (אֶל־אֶ֨רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָ֜ם, ʾel-ʾereṣ ʾăḥuzzātām):
  • ʾaḥuzzāh (אחזה) means "possession, property, holding." This term consistently refers to their permanent, divinely-allotted inheritance. It reinforces the concept of a guaranteed, unalienable portion of land given by God. It signifies the finality and legitimacy of their claim.
• which they had possessed (הֽוֹרָ֖שׁוּ, hôrāshû):
  • From yarash (ירש), "to inherit, take possession." It emphasizes that they had already been formally given and established in this land. This underlines the established nature of their claim prior to the full conquest of Canaan.
• according to the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses:
  • This crucial phrase legitimizes their inheritance and return. It ties their entire enterprise directly to divine command, establishing the sacred foundation of their territorial claims and actions. It underlines that their return was not a deviation, but a fulfillment of God's revealed will mediated through His servant, Moses (referencing Num 32, Deut 3). It served as the theological underpinning for both their initial claim to Transjordanian land and their temporary obligation to assist their brethren across the Jordan.

Joshua 22 9 Bonus section

The concept of "land of their possession" (achuzzah) is deeply rooted in Israel's theology, representing not just ownership but a divinely ordained, unalienable inheritance. It speaks to God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promises and providing for His people. While these tribes were geographically separate by the Jordan River, this verse, by emphasizing their return to their divinely appointed possession, maintains their full integration into the Israelite covenant community. The very need to clarify that their land was "according to the commandment of the Lord" pre-empts any notion of them being 'lesser' or outside the main fold of Israel simply because they settled east of the Jordan. This emphasis sets the theological stage for the conflict in the subsequent verses, where their loyalty to this same God and the one central sanctuary at Shiloh is briefly, but seriously, questioned. The subsequent resolution of this conflict (Joshua 22:30-34) validates their claim and affirms the unity of the entire Israelite nation, underscoring that possession of land, while distinct, does not negate the bond of a shared covenant and allegiance to Yahweh.

Joshua 22 9 Commentary

Joshua 22:9 serves as the final narrative stage for the Transjordanian tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh) in the conquest narrative. It explicitly states their physical return to their promised land east of the Jordan after honorably fulfilling their commitment to Moses to aid the western tribes. This return, from the central spiritual hub of Shiloh, underscores the conclusion of a major cooperative enterprise for the Israelite nation. The mention of "the commandment of the Lord by the hand of Moses" is vital, grounding their distinct possession in divine ordination, which also implicitly legitimizes their earlier choice of territory outside central Canaan. The very precision of the language — identifying the tribes, their departure from Shiloh (symbol of Israel's unity and covenant presence), their journey to Gilead, and the explicit linkage to God's command through Moses — frames this event not as a simple physical movement, but as the fulfillment of prophecy and covenant. Yet, this verse sets the stage for a critical moment of tension in the next verses, revealing how geographical separation could easily be misconstrued, threatening the deep spiritual and national unity mandated by God's covenant with Israel. Their returning marks the end of warfare for all Israelites, leading them back to their assigned inheritance given to them by God's promises through Moses. It exemplifies faithful service and then receiving your rightful possession, reminding believers of commitment and reward within God's plan.