Eastern Tribes Return Home

Transcription

1 1 Eastern Tribes Return Home Joshua 22:1-34

2 2 Text: Joshua 22:1-34, Eastern Tribes Return Home 1. Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2. and said to them, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3. For a long time now to this very day you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you. 4. Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers 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. 5. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul." 6. Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. 7. (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan with their brothers.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8. 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 with your brothers the plunder from your enemies." 9. So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own

3 3 land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses. 10. When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11. And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12. the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them. 13. So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14. With him they sent ten of the chief men, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans. 15. When they went to Gilead to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh they said to them: 16. "The whole assembly of the LORD says: 'How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 17. Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the LORD! 18. And are you now turning away from the LORD? " 'If you rebel against the LORD today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. 19. If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the LORD's land, where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the LORD our God. 20. When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things, did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.' "

4 Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: 22. "The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the LORD, do not spare us this day. 23. If we have built our own altar to turn away from the LORD and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD himself call us to account. 24. "No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, 'What do you have to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25. The LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the LORD.' So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. 26. "That is why we said, 'Let us get ready and build an altar but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.' 27. On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no share in the LORD.' 28. "And we said, 'If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the LORD's altar, which our fathers built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.' 29. "Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle." 30. When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community the heads of the clans of the Israelites heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. 31. And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is with us, because

5 5 you have not acted unfaithfully toward the LORD in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the LORD's hand." 32. Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 33. Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. 34. And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God. (NIV) Introduction: I. Coffman outlines Joshua 22 as follows: A. The Transjordanic tribes, having discharged their duty, are sent home, with the compliments and encouragement of their great commander, who also gave a solemn warning against apostasy (vv. 1-9). B. On the way home, the tribes of Gad, Reuben, and the half-tribe of Manasseh constructed an impressive altar near the Jordan (vv ). C. The remainder of Israel was greatly disturbed and demanded an explanation (vv ). D. The eastern tribes responded with a full explanation (vv ). E. Western Israel was pleased and satisfied with the explanation, and perfect unity was restored (vv ). II. Ziese observed the fact that Israel sought to be and was one nation, but the geography of the region separates the east from the west by the

6 6 Great Rift Valley including the Sea of Galilee, the descending Jordan River, the Dead Sea and the continuing Araba. A. Reuben, Gad and the eastern half-tribe of Manasseh had faithfully discharged their responsibilities to their western brethren. B. They had now been honorably discharged and were to cross the Great Rift Valley on their way home. C. They wanted to remain one with their western brethren and chose to build an altar to indicate their desire for continuing unity. D. Regrettably, this way of testifying to this desire for unity was a poor and very dangerous choice. III. Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh had been given their land grants east of the Jordan during the lifetime of Moses, their territories having been conquered early on. A. Numbers 32:1-42, The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, "Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon-the land the LORD subdued before the people of Israel are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. If we have found favor in your eyes," they said, "let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan." Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, "Shall your countrymen go to war while you sit here? Why do you discourage the Israelites from going over into the land the LORD has given them? This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. After they went up to the Valley of Eshcol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land

7 7 the LORD had given them. The LORD's anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath: 'Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years old or more who came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob- not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly.' The LORD's anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the desert forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone. "And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the LORD even more angry with Israel. If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the desert, and you will be the cause of their destruction." Then they came up to him and said, "We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. But we are ready to arm ourselves and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has received his inheritance. We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan." Then Moses said to them, "If you will do this if you will arm yourselves before the LORD for battle, and if all of you will go armed over the Jordan before the LORD until he has driven his enemies out before him-then when the land is subdued before the LORD, you may return and be free from your obligation to the LORD and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the LORD. "But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the LORD; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised." The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, "We your servants will do as our lord commands. Our

8 8 children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead. But your servants, every man armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the LORD, just as our lord says." Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes. He said to them, "If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the LORD, then when the land is subdued before you, give them the land of Gilead as their possession. But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan." The Gadites and Reubenites answered, "Your servants will do what the LORD has said. We will cross over before the LORD into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan." Then Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan the whole land with its cities and the territory around them. The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks. And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim, as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt. The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there. So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there. Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth Jair. And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself. (NIV) B. Deuteronomy 3:12-20, Of the land that we took over at that time, I gave the Reubenites and the Gadites the territory north of Aroer by the Arnon Gorge, including half the hill country of

9 9 Gilead, together with its towns. The rest of Gilead and also all of Bashan, the kingdom of Og, I gave to the half tribe of Manasseh. (The whole region of Argob in Bashan used to be known as a land of the Rephaites. Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, took the whole region of Argob as far as the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites; it was named after him, so that to this day Bashan is called Havvoth Jair.) And I gave Gilead to Makir. But to the Reubenites and the Gadites I gave the territory extending from Gilead down to the Arnon Gorge (the middle of the gorge being the border) and out to the Jabbok River, which is the border of the Ammonites. Its western border was the Jordan in the Arabah, from Kinnereth to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea), below the slopes of Pisgah. I commanded you at that time: "The LORD your God has given you this land to take possession of it. But all your able-bodied men, armed for battle, must cross over ahead of your brother Israelites. However, your wives, your children and your livestock (I know you have much livestock) may stay in the towns I have given you, until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they too have taken over the land that the LORD your God is giving them, across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you." (NIV) C. Joshua 1:1-5, After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates all the Hittite country to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. (NIV)

10 10 Commentary: Eastern Tribes Return Home Joshua 22:1, Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh (NIV) I. Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the halftribe of Manasseh, Joshua 22:2, and said to them, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. (NIV) I. and said to them, You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. A. Joshua 1:12-18, But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, "Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: 'The LORD your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.' Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise." Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey

11 11 your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!" (NIV) 1. These soldiers were heroes and were here highly commended and honorably discharged! 2. East and west were one people! 3. Deuteronomy 3:19-20, However, your wives, your children and your livestock (I know you have much livestock) may stay in the towns I have given you, until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as he has to you, and they too have taken over the land that the LORD your God is giving them, across the Jordan. After that, each of you may go back to the possession I have given you." (NIV) 4. Joshua 1:15, until the LORD gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise." (NIV) 5. Joshua 21:44-45, The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them. Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled. (NIV) B. Moses in four verses is designated, the servant of the LORD. 1. There is no greater designation than the servant of the LORD.

12 Search your heart. Are you truly the servant of the LORD. Joshua 22:3, For a long time now to this very day you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you (NIV) I. For a long time now to this very day you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you. A. This long time, many days likely covered some seven years of warfare. B. Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh were loyal and devoted soldiers, faithful in the discharge of their duties. Joshua 22:4, Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers 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. (NIV) I. Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers 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 22:5, But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul." (NIV) I. But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you, A. This is the parting charge from Joshua, the commander-in-chief, to his loyal soldiers.

13 13 B. Keep on doing God s will: Don t waver in his service ever! C. Joshua commanded Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh to: 1. be very careful, 2. keep the commandments and law of Moses, 3. walk in all of God s ways, 4. obey the LORD s commands, 5. hold fast to the LORD, 6. serve him with all your heart and soul. D. Related Scriptures: 1. Deuteronomy 30:15-16, See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. (NIV) 2. Micah 6:8, He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (NIV) 3. Matthew 22:36-37, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. (KJV)

14 Joshua 1:7, Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (NIV) II. to love the LORD your God, A. Mark 12:29-30, And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. (KJV) B. John 14:15, 23, If ye love me, keep my commandments. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. (KJV) III. to walk in all his ways, IV. to obey his commands, V. to hold fast to him and, VI. to serve him with all your heart and all your soul. Joshua 22:6, Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. (NIV) I. Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. Joshua 22:7, (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan with their brothers.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, (NIV)

15 15 I. (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Basham, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan with their brothers.) A. Joshua 13:8, The other half of Manasseh, the Reubenites and the Gadites had received the inheritance that Moses had given them east of the Jordan, as he, the servant of the LORD, had assigned it to them. (NIV) B. Joshua 14:3, Moses had granted the two-and-a-half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest, (NIV) C. Joshua 18:7, The Levites, however, do not get a portion among you, because the priestly service of the LORD is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan. Moses the servant of the LORD gave it to them." (NIV) II. When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,... Joshua 22:8, 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 with your brothers the plunder from your enemies." (NIV) A. The Eastern Tribes had fought the Canaanites, had taken great booty, spoils from these victories and were permitted to return home with this great wealth. B. The soldiers, upon their return to Bashan and Gilead, were ordered to share their wealth obtained in warfare with their relatives who had kept the home fires burning during the cisjordan wars.

16 Numbers 31:27, Divide the spoils between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. (NIV) 2. Deuteronomy 20:10-18, When you march up to attack a city, make its people an offer of peace. If they accept and open their gates, all the people in it shall be subject to forced labor and shall work for you. If they refuse to make peace and they engage you in battle, lay siege to that city. When the LORD your God delivers it into your hand, put to the sword all the men in it. As for the women, the children, the livestock and everything else in the city, you may take these as plunder for yourselves. And you may use the plunder the LORD your God gives you from your enemies. This is how you are to treat all the cities that are at a distance from you and do not belong to the nations nearby. However, in the cities of the nations the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. Completely destroy them the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites as the LORD your God has commanded you. Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the LORD your God. (NIV) Joshua 22:9, 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. (NIV) I. 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

17 17 they had acquired in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses. Eastern Tribes Build an Altar Joshua 22:10, When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. (NIV) I. When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan,... A. While on their way home, but still west of the Jordan River, the Eastern Tribes make a fateful decision. B. Geliloth (regions, borders, circles), apparently the same place as Gilgal, was located on the border between Judah and Benjamin on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. (Youngblood) 1. Joshua 18:17, It then curved north, went to En Shemesh, continued to Geliloth, which faces the Pass of Adummim, and ran down to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben. (NIV) 2. Joshua 15:7, The boundary then went up to Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north to Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim south of the gorge. It continued along to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel. (NIV) II. The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. A. Coffman wrote that what was so serious about this action was that the Mosaic religion held the principle that there was to be only one sanctuary for the entire nation.

18 This sanctuary was to be under the authority of the high priest. 2. This sanctuary as to location had been moved many times in the wilderness (no less than forty-two (42) times, Coffman concluded) and to Shiloh from Gilgal after Israel entered the Promised Land. B. Although this was a well intentioned action on the part of the Eastern Tribes to evidence their connection with the Western Tribes, it was an unwise action which almost plunged the nation into a civil war,... so quickly after the long and faithful service by the Eastern Tribes. Joshua 22:11, And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, (NIV) I. And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side,... A. the Israelites heard and became disturbed. 1. Be very careful about believing and acting upon gossip, rumor and innuendo! 2. Always get the facts and then decide what God would have you do. B. The building of this imposing altar by Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh and the rallying of the remaining tribes to go to war with those who had valiantly fought with them shoulder to shoulder and to whose land God had just granted peace leaves the reader in astounded shock! (See Ziese)

19 These turns of events also leave us bewildered? a. Why was such a provoking altar built on the west side of Jordan even? b. Why were their fellow Israelites so quick to be ready for a return to war with their brethren even? c. By this time we may be astounded, shocked, bewildered, confused and perplexed, among other things. Joshua 22:12, the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them. (NIV) I. The whole assembly of Israel gathered at shiloh to go to war against them. A. All this readiness to go to war was on the basis of rumor, hearsay. 1. Does this ever happen today? 2. How often do level heads prevail? 3. Hot head need to be doused with a big bucket of ice water! B. Did Israel over-react? Do we ever over-react?

20 20 Israelites Were Greatly Disturbed Joshua 22:13, So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. (NIV) I. So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest,... A. Coffman wrote, From this it is clear that all Israel accepted the principle of only one sanctuary and one God. 1. Leviticus 17:1-9, The LORD said to Moses, "Speak to Aaron and his sons and to all the Israelites and say to them: 'This is what the LORD has commanded: Any Israelite who sacrifices an ox, a lamb or a goat in the camp or outside of it instead of bringing it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to present it as an offering to the LORD in front of the tabernacle of the LORD -that man shall be considered guilty of bloodshed; he has shed blood and must be cut off from his people. This is so the Israelites will bring to the LORD the sacrifices they are now making in the open fields. They must bring them to the priest, that is, to the LORD, at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and sacrifice them as fellowship offerings. The priest is to sprinkle the blood against the altar of the LORD at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting and burn the fat as an aroma pleasing to the LORD. They must no longer offer any of their sacrifices to the goat idols to whom they prostitute themselves. This is to be a lasting ordinance for them and for the generations to come.' "Say to them: 'Any Israelite or any alien living among them who offers a burnt offering or sacrifice and does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the LORD -that man must be cut off from his people. (NIV)

21 Deuteronomy 12:4-14, You must not worship the LORD your God in their way. But you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to put his Name there for his dwelling. To that place you must go; there bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, what you have vowed to give and your freewill offerings, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks. There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the LORD your God has blessed you. You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he sees fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the LORD your God is giving you. But you will cross the Jordan and settle in the land the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, and he will give you rest from all your enemies around you so that you will live in safety. Then to the place the LORD your God will choose as a dwelling for his Name there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all the choice possessions you have vowed to the LORD. And there rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from your towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. (NIV) 3. Deuteronomy 12:12-16, And there rejoice before the LORD your God, you, your sons and daughters, your menservants and maidservants, and the Levites from

22 22 your towns, who have no allotment or inheritance of their own. Be careful not to sacrifice your burnt offerings anywhere you please. Offer them only at the place the LORD will choose in one of your tribes, and there observe everything I command you. Nevertheless, you may slaughter your animals in any of your towns and eat as much of the meat as you want, as if it were gazelle or deer, according to the blessing the LORD your God gives you. Both the ceremonially unclean and the clean may eat it. But you must not eat the blood; pour it out on the ground like water. (NIV) B. Phinehas was a properly appointed delegate of the Israelites and their leaders to get the facts. C. Ten princes, one prominent leader from each of the ten tribes west of the Jordan River were also sent as delegates. D. All these were well respected, honorable and trustworthy people. E. Notice that those gathered at Shiloh are called Israelites in contrast with their brethren east of the Jordan River. (See Ziese). II. to the land of Gilead to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. A. By this time Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh were east of the Jordan. Joshua 22:14, With him they sent ten of the chief men, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans. (NIV) I. With him they sent ten of the chief men, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.

23 23 Joshua 22:15, When they went to Gilead to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh they said to them: (NIV) I. When they went to Gilead to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh they said to them: A. Ziese wrote, The words of the representatives are caustic and loaded. 1. Ziese continued, The delegates claimed they represented all the congregation of Yahweh and that the Transjordan folk were unfaithful and against the God of Israel. 2. The actions in regard to building the imposing altar are compared with idolatry, adultery, thievery and covetousness although they only had rumors and gossip on which to base their opinions. Joshua 22:16, "The whole assembly of the LORD says: 'How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? (NIV) I. The whole assembly of the LORD says: A. How could you break forth with the God of Israel like this? II. This accusation was made without all the facts, on the basis of rumor and pre-conceived ideas. III. How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now?

24 24 Joshua 22:17, Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the LORD! (NIV) I. Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? A. Numbers 25:1-18, While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to the sacrifices to their gods. The people ate and bowed down before these gods. So Israel joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor. And the LORD's anger burned against them. The LORD said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of these people, kill them and expose them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that the LORD's fierce anger may turn away from Israel." So Moses said to Israel's judges, "Each of you must put to death those of your men who have joined in worshiping the Baal of Peor." Then an Israelite man brought to his family a Midianite woman right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, saw this, he left the assembly, took a spear in his hand and followed the Israelite into the tent. He drove the spear through both of them through the Israelite and into the woman's body. Then the plague against the Israelites was stopped; but those who died in the plague numbered 24,000. The LORD said to Moses, "Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the priest, has turned my anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for my honor among them, so that in my zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making my covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites." The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a

25 25 Simeonite family. And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Cozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family. The LORD said to Moses, "Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them, because they treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the affair of Peor and their sister Cozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of Peor." (NIV) II. Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the LORD! A. The effects of sin is long lasting. B. Phinehas was fearful that the altar built by Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh would bring long lasting devine displeasure on Israel! Joshua 22:18, And are you now turning away from the LORD? " 'If you rebel against the LORD today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. (NIV) I. And are you now turning away from the LORD? II. If you rebel against the LORD today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. Joshua 22:19, If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the LORD's land, where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the LORD our God. (NIV) I. If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the LORD s land, where the LORD s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us.

26 26 A. This verse attests to the fact that Phinehas was a peace loving man. B. Evidently Israel did not want to go to war with their brethren. C. Phinehas may have been trying to provide a means to resolve the crisis by giving the eastern tribes a way out. D. Phinehas may be asserting that the land west of the Jordan was God s country which, in his opinion, the land east of the Jordan was not God s country. (See Ziese). E. Phinehas may then have disparaged the altar the eastern tribes had built saying that the only altar good for purification was the one at Shiloh and that their imposing altar was useless. (See Ziese). II. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the LORD our God. A. Again the singularity of the worship of Israel at one central altar is stressed. B. The eastern tribes were urged to carefully adhere to this principle. Joshua 22:20, When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things, did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.' " (NIV) I. When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things,...

27 27 A. Joshua 7:1-26, But the Israelites acted unfaithfully in regard to the devoted things; Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven to the east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and spy out the region." So the men went up and spied out Ai. When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the people will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary all the people, for only a few men are there." So about three thousand men went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai, who killed about thirty-six of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water. Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell facedown to the ground before the ark of the LORD, remaining there till evening. The elders of Israel did the same, and sprinkled dust on their heads. And Joshua said, "Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?" The LORD said to Joshua, "Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction. "Go, consecrate the people. Tell

28 28 them, 'Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: That which is devoted is among you, O Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove it. " 'In the morning, present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD takes shall come forward clan by clan; the clan that the LORD takes shall come forward family by family; and the family that the LORD takes shall come forward man by man. He who is caught with the devoted things shall be destroyed by fire, along with all that belongs to him. He has violated the covenant of the LORD and has done a disgraceful thing in Israel!' " Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was taken. The clans of Judah came forward, and he took the Zerahites. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was taken. Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken. Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and give him the praise. Tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me." Achan replied, "It is true! I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: When I saw in the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylonia, two hundred shekels of silver and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath." So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the LORD. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold wedge, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, "Why have you brought this trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had

29 29 stoned the rest, they burned them. Over Achan they heaped up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor ever since. (NIV) B. Joshua 8:1-29, Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city." So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night with these orders: "Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, 'They are running away from us as they did before.' So when we flee from them, you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The LORD your God will give it into your hand. When you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do what the LORD has commanded. See to it; you have my orders." Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai but Joshua spent that night with the people. Early the next morning Joshua mustered his men, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai. The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city. Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. They had the soldiers take up their positions all those in the camp to the north of the city and the

30 30 ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley. When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah. But he did not know that an ambush had been set against him behind the city. Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back before them, and they fled toward the desert. All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away from the city. Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the javelin that is in your hand, for into your hand I will deliver the city." So Joshua held out his javelin toward Ai. As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire. The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising against the sky, but they had no chance to escape in any direction, for the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the desert had turned back against their pursuers. For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from the city, they turned around and attacked the men of Ai. The men of the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives. But they took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua. When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the desert where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. Twelve thousand men and women fell that day all the people of Ai. For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin until he had destroyed all who lived in Ai. But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the LORD had instructed

31 31 Joshua. So Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent heap of ruins, a desolate place to this day. He hung the king of Ai on a tree and left him there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them to take his body from the tree and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day. (NIV) II. did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? A. The Western Tribes are to be commended for their handling of this crisis in a number of instances; viz., (Morton via Coffman) 1. They investigated before beginning hostilities. 2. Competent men were appointed to investigate. 3. They presented their concerns directly, face to face, with the people with whom they had the conflict. 4. They listened carefully to the response of the accused. 5. They accepted the explanation of their accused brethen. B. Rumor was supplanted by reason; reason led to understanding; understanding averted war; God was in their midst. (Morton via Coffman) III. He was not the only one who died for his sin. Eastern Tribes Explain Joshua 22:21, Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: (NIV)

32 32 I. Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: A. Coffman observed that this section contains a number of exceedingly interesting thins including: 1. The transjordan group listened patiently without interruption until Phinchas has completed making his charges and until these charges were understood. 2. The accused tribes professed total innocence of the charges of rebelling against God. 3. The accused patiently explained why they had built this great altar. 4. The accused tribes accepted fully the fact that Israel was to have only one altar at any one time. Joshua 22:22, "The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the LORD, do not spare us this day. (NIV) I. The Mighty One, God, the LORD! the Mighty One, God, the LORD! He Knows!... A. Psalm 50:1, The Mighty One, God, the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets. (NIV) B. These divine designations are here repeated, but nothing can do justice to the majesty of Almighty God!