Joshua 22:30

¶ And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which [were] with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.

And when Phinehas {H6372} the priest {H3548}, and the princes {H5387} of the congregation {H5712} and heads {H7218} of the thousands {H505} of Israel {H3478} which were with him, heard {H8085} the words {H1697} that the children {H1121} of Reuben {H7205} and the children {H1121} of Gad {H1410} and the children {H1121} of Manasseh {H4519} spake {H1696}, it pleased {H3190}{H5869} them.

When Pinchas the cohen and the leaders of the community, the heads of the thousands of Isra'el who were with him, heard what the descendants of Re'uven, the descendants of Gad and the descendants of M'nasheh said, it satisfied them.

When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.

And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them well.

Commentary

Joshua 22:30 marks a pivotal moment of relief and reconciliation in a tense standoff between the Israelite tribes. The verse describes the reaction of Phinehas the priest and the other leaders from the western tribes (those settled west of the Jordan) after hearing the explanation from the children of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh regarding the large altar they had built.

Context

This verse comes at the climax of a significant misunderstanding. After the successful conquest of Canaan, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, who had helped their brethren, were returning to their allotted inheritance east of the Jordan River. On their journey, they constructed a prominent altar by the Jordan. The other Israelite tribes, upon hearing of this, immediately feared it was an act of rebellion against the Lord, a move towards idolatry, or an attempt to establish a rival sanctuary, directly violating God's command for a single central place of worship (Deuteronomy 12:5). This potential breach of the covenant threatened to ignite a devastating civil war, reminiscent of past apostasies like Baal-Peor (Numbers 25:3).

Before resorting to war, the western tribes, led by the zealous Phinehas (Numbers 25:7-8), sent a delegation to confront the Transjordan tribes. The explanation provided in Joshua 22:21-29 clarified their true intent: the altar was not for sacrifices, but as a "witness" (Hebrew: ed) to future generations that they, too, had a share in the Lord and were part of the covenant community, preventing their children from being denied access to God's worship.

Key Themes

  • Unity and Peacemaking: The verse highlights the successful resolution of a grave misunderstanding, averting bloodshed and preserving the unity of the twelve tribes of Israel. It underscores the importance of communication and dialogue over immediate conflict.
  • Spiritual Discernment and Due Diligence: The leaders, particularly Phinehas, demonstrated wisdom by investigating the situation thoroughly before acting on assumptions. Their willingness to listen and understand prevented a catastrophic outcome, showcasing responsible biblical leadership.
  • Covenant Faithfulness: Both sides were deeply committed to upholding God's covenant. The western tribes' concern stemmed from protecting the purity of worship, while the eastern tribes' motive was to ensure their future generations would remain connected to the Lord and His blessings.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "it pleased them" (Hebrew: vayyitab be'eineihem) literally means "it was good in their eyes." This simple expression conveys profound relief and satisfaction on the part of Phinehas and the other leaders. It signifies that the explanation was entirely satisfactory, aligning with their understanding of God's law and allaying their fears of apostasy. The altar itself was later named "Ed" (Witness) (Joshua 22:34), emphasizing its memorial purpose, similar to the memorial stones taken from the Jordan in Joshua 4:7.

Practical Application

Joshua 22:30 offers timeless lessons for believers and communities today:

  1. Assume the Best: Before reacting to potentially offensive actions, seek clarification and assume good intentions. Misunderstandings often arise from a lack of information or differing perspectives.
  2. Prioritize Communication: Open and honest dialogue is crucial for resolving conflicts and maintaining peace within families, churches, and communities.
  3. Value Unity: The narrative underscores the immense value of unity among God's people. Striving for peace and reconciliation should be a high priority, even when differences arise.
  4. Wise Leadership: Leaders are called to exercise patience, discernment, and a willingness to listen, guiding their people towards understanding and harmony rather than hasty judgment.
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Cross-References

  • Joshua 22:33 (3 votes)

    And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.

  • Acts 11:18 (2 votes)

    When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

  • 1 Samuel 25:32 (2 votes)

    ¶ And David said to Abigail, Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me:

  • 1 Samuel 25:33 (2 votes)

    And blessed [be] thy advice, and blessed [be] thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to [shed] blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand.

  • Proverbs 15:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

  • 2 Chronicles 30:4 (2 votes)

    And the thing pleased the king and all the congregation.

  • Genesis 28:8 (2 votes)

    And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father;