Eastern Tribes Return Home
February 3, 2023
Commentary
The armed forces of the two and one half tribes (The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh) east of the Jordan had kept their pledge to Moses and had gallantly supported the other nine and one half tribes in their conquest of the promised land. Moses had granted these two- and one-half tribes their request of the pasture lands on the east side of the Jordan which strongly appealed to them (Numbers 32:1-33). He had permitted them to occupy the land on condition that they aid the other tribes in the occupation of Canaan. For seven long years these men had been separated from their wives and families. Joshua dismissed these 40,000 soldiers with honor. They were now at liberty to rejoin their families and friends on the east side of the Jordan. Joshua exhorted these departing tribes to do the following (v. 5):
1. To love the Lord.
2. To walk in all His ways.
3. To keep His commandments.
4. To cleave to Him.
5. To serve Him with all their heart and soul.
These departing tribes were also permitted to take with them their share of the booty captured in the war (v. 8). Joshua’s departing counsel to these soldiers was for them to share their medals, clothing, cattle, etc. with their brothers who had remained at home. Thus, the principle was established that honors and rewards are not to go just to those who carry arms, but also to those who stay home to perform the commonplace duties (I Sam. 30:24). Although these Israelites had completed their military responsibility, Joshua reminded them of their spiritual responsibility. Sometimes we think so much about what we are to do that we neglect thinking about who we are to be. It does not mean waiting until we are wealthy to share but to willingly share what we have right now.
Application
I must not let daily service take away from my love for God and other people. I must be careful to not neglect this vital part of the Christian life of sharing what God has given to me with others.
Joshua 22:1– 9 (NET)
1 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2 and told them: “You have carried out all the instructions of Moses the Lord’s servant, and you have obeyed all I have told you. 3 You have not abandoned your fellow Israelites this entire time, right up to this very day. You have completed the task given you by the Lord your God. 4 Now the Lord your God has made your fellow Israelites secure, just as he promised them. So now you may turn around and go to your homes in your own land that Moses the Lord’s servant assigned to you east of the Jordan. 5 But carefully obey the commands and instructions Moses the Lord’s servant gave you. Love the Lord your God, follow all his instructions, obey his commands, be loyal to him, and serve him with all your heart and being!”
6 Joshua rewarded them and sent them on their way; they returned to their homes. 7 (Now to one half-tribe of Manasseh, Moses had assigned land in Bashan; and to the other half Joshua had assigned land on the west side of the Jordan with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he rewarded them, 8 saying, “Take home great wealth, a lot of cattle, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and a lot of clothing. Divide up the goods captured from your enemies with your brothers.” 9 So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and headed home to their own land in Gilead, which they acquired by the Lord’s command through Moses.
Illustration: President Truman announces VDay
I remember VE-Day, May 8, 1945, when we heard President Truman share with us on the radio that Germany had surrendered and again on VJ-Day, August 14, 1945, when the Japanese agreed to the Allied terms of surrender, and the war was over. (Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).