Joshua 22 · Verse 21

Joshua 22:21

Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
Joshua 22:21, King James Version

Joshua 22:21 in other translations

BSBThen the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel:
WEBThen the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
ASVThen the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spake unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
YLTAnd the sons of Reuben, and the sons of Gad, and the half of the tribe of Manasseh, answer and speak with the heads of the thousands of Israel:
DARBYAnd the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
BBEThen the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel,
WebsterThen the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel,

What does Joshua 22:21 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 22:11-29

Jos 22:11-29. Contention Thereupon. 11-29. and the children of Israel heard say--Fame speedily spread intelligence of what the trans-jordanic tribes had done. The act being suspected of some idolatrous design, the tribes rose in a mass, and repairing to the tabernacle at Shiloh, resolved to declare war against the two tribes and a half as apostates from God. On calmer and more mature consideration, however, they…

Read the full comment on Joshua 22:11-29 →

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 21 Then the children of Reuben - answered - Though conscious of their own innocency they permitted Phinehas to finish his discourse, though composed of little else than accusations; there was a decency in this, and such a full proof of good breeding, as does them the highest credit. There are many public assemblies in the present day which lay claim to the highest refinement, who might take a very useful lesson from these Reubenites and their associates.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Joshua 22:21-29
The tribes took the reproofs of their brethren in good part. With solemnity and meekness they proceeded to give all the satisfaction in their power. Reverence of God is expressed in the form of their appeal. This brief confession of faith would remove their brethren's suspicion that they intended to worship other gods. Let us always speak of God with seriousness, and mention his name with a solemn pause. Those who make appeals to Heaven with a careless "God knows," take his name in vain: it is very unlike this. They express great confidence of their own uprightness in the matter of their appeal. "God knows it," for he is perfectly acquainted with the thoughts and intents of the heart. In every thing we do in religion, it highly concerns us to approve ourselves to God, remembering that he knows the heart. And if our sincerity be known to God, we should study likewise to let others know it by its fruits, especially those who, though they mistake us, show zeal for the glory of God. They disdained the design of which they were suspected to be guilty, and fully explained their true intent in building this altar. Those who have found the comfort and benefit of God's ordinances, cannot but desire to preserve them to their seed, and to use all possible care that their children may be looked upon as having a part in him. Christ is the great Altar that sanctifies every gift; the best evidence of our interest in him is the work of his Spirit in our hearts.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Joshua 22:21 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙vai.ya.'a.Nuand they answeredH6030
בְּנֵי\־be.nei-[the] descendants ofH1121
רְאוּבֵ֣ןre.'u.VenReubenH7205
וּבְנֵי\־u.ve.nei-and [the] descendants ofH1121
גָ֔דGadGadH1410
וַחֲצִ֖יva.cha.Tziand [the] half ofH2677
שֵׁ֣בֶטShe.vet[the] tribe ofH7626
הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑הham.na.Sheh<the> ManassehH4519
וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּvay.da.be.Ruand they spokeH1696
אֶת\־'et-withH854
רָאשֵׁ֖יra.Shei[the] leaders ofH7218
אַלְפֵ֥י'al.Fei[the] families ofH505
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Joshua 22:21

  • Proverbs 24:26

    Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.

  • 1 Peter 3:15

    But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

  • Proverbs 16:1

    The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord.

  • Proverbs 18:13

    He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

  • Exodus 18:21-25

    Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens: And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee. If thou shalt do this thing, and God command thee so, then thou shalt be able to endure, and all this people shall also go to their place in peace. So Moses hearkened to the voice of his father in law, and did all that he had said. …

  • Acts 11:4

    But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

  • James 1:19

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

  • Micah 5:2

    But thou, Beth–lehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

  • Proverbs 15:1

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

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Then the children.The conduct and answer of these Reubenites and the associates are worthy of admiration and imitation. Though conscious of their innocence, they permitted Phinehas to finish his speech, though composed of little else than accusations, without any interruption; and taking in good part the suspicions, reproofs, and even harshness of their brethren, with the utmost meekness and solemnity they explain their intention, give all the satisfaction in their power, and with great propriety and reverence, appeal to that God against whom they were supposed to have rebelled.
answered.
Pr 15:1; 16:1; 18:13; 24:26; Ac 11:4; Jas 1:19; 1Pe 3:15
heads.
Ex 18:21-25; Mic 5:2

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Joshua 22:20

    Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

  • Joshua 22:21

    Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,

  • Joshua 22:22

    The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day,)

Read all of Joshua 22

Joshua 22:21 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces los hijos de Rubén y los hijos de Gad, y la media tribu de Manasés, respondieron y dijeron á los principales de la multitud de Israel:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et les fils de Ruben, et les fils de Gad, et la demi-tribu de Manassé, répondirent et dirent aux chefs des milliers d’Israël:
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und die Kinder Ruben und die Kinder Gad und der halbe Stamm Manasse antworteten und sprachen zu den Häuptern der Tausende Israels:
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Responderuntque filii Ruben et Gad, et dimidia tribus Manasse, principibus legationis Israël: