Joshua 22:9-34

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:15

And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead ,.... The deputation came thither; they either sent for the chiefs among the two tribes and a half, to meet them at some place, or they, having a notion of their coming, assembled together to receive them, and hear what they had to say to them: and they spake with them, saying ; as follows; very probably Phinehas was the mouth of the whole, for there could be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:16

Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord ,.... By whom they were sent, and whom they represented; and they do not call them the congregation of Israel, but of the Lord, because it was not on a civil but religious account they were come, and not to plead their own cause, but the cause of God; and not so much to show a concern for their own honour and interest as for the glory of God: what trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel ; they took it for granted... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:17

Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us ,.... The worshipping of that idol, when in the plains of Moab; the history of which, see in Numbers 25:2 , was that so small a sin, that another must be added to it, or a greater committed? since building an altar seemed designed not for a single action of idolatrous worship, but for the continuance of it, whereas the sin of Peor was only committed at one time, and not continued in: from which we are not cleansed until this day ; not cleared... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:18

But that you must turn away this day from following the Lord ?.... From the worship of the Lord, as the Targum, and so on Joshua 22:16 ; not content with the former transgression, but must add this revolt unto it, and at a time which sadly aggravates it: and it will be, that seeing ye rebel to, day against the Lord ; against the Word of the Lord, as the Targum, and so on Joshua 22:16 , that tomorrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel ; or, in a little time,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:19

Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean ,.... That is, if it was judged to be so by them, because not cleansed from the sins of the former inhabitants of it by sacrifice, or because there was no altar in it to offer up sacrifice for the expiation of sin: then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the Lord , wherein the Lord's tabernacle dwelleth ; if you repent of the choice you have made of a country to dwell in, quit it, and come over into the land... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:20

Did not Achan the son of Zerah ,.... One that descended from Zerah the son of Judah, Joshua 7:18 , commit a trespass in the accursed thing ; in taking what was devoted to sacred uses: and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel ? and which was what was feared now; and this instance is brought to show that such fears were not groundless: and that man perished not alone in his iniquity : which seems to confirm the notion of those who think that his children suffered with... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:21

Then the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, answered ,.... By some person whom they appointed to deliver the answer in their name: and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel ; who were over those that were rulers of the thousands of Israel, persons of greater authority than they, being princes of the respective tribes to which they belonged. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:22

The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods ,.... They first set out in their answer with asserting their firm belief of Jehovah, the God of Israel, being the supreme God, God over all; over all that are called gods, whether angels, of whom Kimchi and Ben Melech interpret it; or civil magistrates and judges of the earth, who bare the same name; nor are the gods of the Gentiles to be spoken of with Jehovah, the God of Israel, who is the supreme Being, self-existent, the Being of beings,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:23

That we have built us an altar, to turn from following the Lord ,.... That is, we desire, as we deserve, to be cut to pieces, and not saved, if it should appear to be our view, in building this altar, to revolt from the pure worship of God: or if to offer thereon burnt offering, or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings ; even to the Lord himself: they declare that as they had no design to apostatize from God, and worship idols, so it was not their intention to offer any kind of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:24

And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing ,.... So far they suggest were they from doing this, in order to turn from the pure worship of God, and introduce idolatrous worship, that it was to guard against everything of that kind for the future; and through fear of it, and anxiety and distress of mind, lest some time or another there should be any temptation to it in their posterity, had they built this altar: saying, in time to come your children might speak unto our... read more

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