Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 22:10-20

Here is, I. The pious care of the separated tribes to keep their hold of Canaan's religion, even when they were leaving Canaan's land, that they might not be as the sons of the stranger, utterly separated from God's people, Isa. 56:3. In order to this, they built a great altar on the borders of Jordan, to be a witness for them that they were Israelites, and as such partakers of the altar of the Lord, 1 Cor. 10:18. When they came to Jordan (Josh. 21:10) they did not consult how to preserve the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 22:10

And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan ,.... To the banks of it, or the sand heaps, some take the word to signify, which were thrown up to restrain the waters from overflowing; some by Geliloth understand a place so called; and Jerom F7 De loc. Heb. fol. 92. C. says it was near Jordan in the tribe of Benjamin: but rather the word signifies the meanders, windings, and turnings, of the river F8 Vid. Gusset. Ebr. Comment. p. 170, 573. Reland.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 22:10

The borders of Jordan , that are in - Canaan - This verse can never mean that they built the altar on the west side of Jordan, for this was not in their territories; nor could it be a place for the purpose of public worship to their own people, if built on the opposite side of Jordan; besides, the next verse says it was built over against the land of Canaan. It appears that when they came to the river they formed the purpose of building the altar; and when they had crossed it... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 22:10

Verse 10 10.And when they came unto the borders, etc The history here is particularly deserving of notice, when the two tribes and half-tribe, intending to erect a memorial of common faith and fraternal concord, allowed themselves from inconsiderate zeal to adopt a method which was justly suspected by their brethren. The ten tribes, thinking that the worship of God was violated with impious audacity and temerity, were inflamed with holy wrath, and took up arms to use them against their own... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 22:1-34

Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh at home. Three points are especially noticeable in this chapter. First, the reward of those who have laboured on behalf of their brethren; next, the duty of claiming our privileges as Christians when severed from our brethren; and lastly, the necessity of zeal for the purity of religion. I. SELF DENIAL SHALL HAVE ITS REWARD . Our Lord tells us that he who gives a cup of cold water to his brother shall not lose his reward. We... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 22:9-21

The Cause of this Outbreak of Wrath The feeling excited in the people of Israel by the news that the Reubenites and Gadites had set up an altar beyond Jordan is a proof that the religious condition of the nation after the great benefits received by it was very healthy, while the act of the Reubenites and Gadites is no less an evidence of their gratitude to God. The indignation of the ten tribes is aroused by their impression that the Reubenites and Gadites have committed an act of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 22:10

The borders of Jordan . Literally, the circles (cf. notes on Joshua 13:2 ; Joshua 18:17 ; Joshua 20:7 ; Joshua 21:32 ). Conder suggests downs, and it is most probable that the word refers to curved outlines, such as we frequently see in the hollows of our own chalk downs, or in any place where the strata do not yield easily to the action of water, and yet have been moulded by such action. That are in the land of Canaan. Again the intention is to lay stress upon the fact that... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 22:10

Trespass . The Hebrew word signifies to act deceitfully or faithlessly. It was an act of ingratitude towards the God who had established them in the good land in which they now found themselves. Such ingratitude and desertion of God was equivalent to rebellion, the term used immediately afterwards. The embassy clearly assumed that the fault had been committed, and that it would be necessary to proceed to extremities. Yet, deeply moved as they were, they did not refuse to listen to reason,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 22:10-34

Misunderstandings among good people. Bitter contention often arises from simple misunderstanding. The Israelites were on the verge of a civil war as a result of a simple mistake of judgment. Much unhappiness might be avoided if the lessons of this incident were well considered by Christian people. I. CONSIDER THE INCIDENT IN RELATION TO THE TRANS - JORDANIC TRIBES . They erected an altar of witness which was supposed by their brethren to be an altar of sacrifice, a... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Joshua 22:10

The two tribes and a half erected this altar in order to keep alive their claim to have the same interest as the other tribes had in the sanctuary of God, which was established on the west side of Jordan: and in order to forestall any assertion that the Jordan itself was a natural barrier of exclusion between them and the sanctuary, they built it on the west or Canaanite bank of the Jordan and not on the east.The word rendered “borders” is noteworthy; it means circuits, arrondissements. read more

Group of Brands