Joshua 22
- Objective: To help the participants experience the importance of unity for the people of God, and how hard one needs to strive to maintain this unity.
Background for Joshua 22
Verses 1-8
The Transjordan Tribes
- Reuben (流便)
- Gad (迦得)
- East Manasseh (瑪拿西半支派)
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約書亞對流便人、迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人說：Prime Directive for the Transjordan Tribes
你們要追念耶和華的僕人摩西所吩咐你們的話說：耶和華─你們的神使你們得享平安，也必將這地賜給你們。
你們的妻子、孩子，和牲畜都可以留在約但河東、摩西所給你們的地；但你們中間一切大能的勇士都要帶著兵器在你們的弟兄前面過去，幫助他們，
等到耶和華使你們的弟兄像你們一樣得享平安，並且得著耶和華─你們神所賜他們為業之地，那時才可以回你們所得之地，承受為業，就是耶和華的僕人摩西在約但河東、向日出之地所給你們的。
約書亞記1:12-15
只要切切地謹慎遵行耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的誡命、律法，愛耶和華你們的神，行他一切的道，守他的誡命，專靠他，盡心、盡性侍奉他。Vv. 1-8
約書亞記 22:5
- This passage forms the backdrop to Joshua 22:9-34. Philip will give an introduction to the passage, highlighting the background that the participants need in order to make sense of the rest of the story. Here is a summary of the important points.
- The tribes of Reubenites (流便人), the Gadites (迦得人) and the half-tribe of Manasseh (瑪拿西半支派的人) were allotted lands to the East of the Jordan River. They are known as the Transjordan tribes. The other 9 ½ tribes are called Cisjordan tribes.
- In Joshua 1:12-15, Joshua requested the Transjordan tribes to assist in the conquest of Canaan (i.e., the land West of Jordan). Now that the conquest is complete, Joshua sends the Transjordan tribes back to their allotted regions East of Jordan (vv. 1-4).
- The prime directive given by Joshua to the Transjordan tribes is found in v. 5, which echoes the language of Deuteronomy 6:4-9. (This Deuteronomy passage is known as Shema, and is a foundational passage that defines the Jewish identity.) The rest of Joshua 22 should be interpreted in light of this prime directive.
- The 9 ½ tribes are ready to go to war because the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh build an altar. Describe the altar built by the 2 ½ tribes.
- Size: imposing size, giant (v. 10).
- Shape: replica of the Lord’s altar (v. 28).
- Location: on the east side of Jordon, where the 9 ½ tribes are settled (vv. 10-11).
- What are the fears of the 9 ½ tribes? (This is when the bible study leader needs to present the background of the many allusions in this section.)
- V. 17: “Sin of Peor” (拜毗珥的罪孽) refers to the incident recorded in Numbers 民數記 25. The Israelites were seduced by Moabite women (摩押女子), and made sacrifices to the Baal of Peor (巴力毗珥). The Lord sent a plague to the Israelites, causing 24,000 to perish. The crisis was resolved only when Phinehas (非尼哈) the priest (the same priest in Joshua 22) made atonement (贖罪) for the Israelites. While the plague itself has stopped, the effect is still felt in the days of Joshua 22, since many families have lost some members in the incident.
- V. 20: The mentioning of “Achan son of Zerah” (謝拉的曾孫亞干) refers to the story in Joshua 7, in which Achan acted against the explicit instruction of the Lord, and took some of the spoils (戰利品) that should have been devoted to the Lord (i.e., should have been destroyed). The result was that the Israelites were defeated in a subsequent battle against the Ai (艾城). A total of 36 Israelites fell in that battle.
- If the participants’ answers are overly cerebral, help them to gain an affective appreciation by this follow-up question: Have you ever experienced similar fears in a Christian community?
- Judging from how the 9 ½ tribes interpret the situation, what would be the likely consequences if war breaks out?
- Leviticus 利未記 17:8-9
- 你要曉諭他們說：凡以色列家中的人，或是寄居在他們中間的外人，獻燔祭或是平安祭，若不帶到會幕門口獻給耶和華，那人必從民中剪除。
- Deuteronomy 申命記13:12-15
- 在耶和華你神所賜你居住的各城中，你若聽人說，有些匪類從你們中間的一座城出來勾引本城的居民，說『我們不如去侍奉你們素來所不認識的別神』，你就要探聽、查究，細細地訪問。果然是真，準有這可憎惡的事行在你們中間，你必要用刀殺那城裡的居民，把城裡所有的，連牲畜，都用刀殺盡。
- If the above laws are implemented, civil war will break out. This involves the killing of brothers.
- In addition, v. 33 implies that the 9 ½ tribes will need to “devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived” (毀壞他們所住的地了). The wordings employed here include both the annihilation of people and the complete destruction of cities (this is consistent with the requirements of Deuteronomy 13:12-15).
- Despite their fears, what have the 9 ½ tribes done to attempt preventing civil war and the annihilation of the 2 ½ tribes?
- Sending a team of delegates to investigate and negotiate
- Willing to accommodate the 2 ½ tribes in their own land (v. 19)
- “If the land you possess is defiled …”: i.e., if you (the Transjordan tribes) consider the land East of Jordan to be undesirable because it is not properly part of the promise land (i.e., “the Lord’s land”).
- Highlight: This is an extremely selfless offer by the 9 ½ tribes.
- Use appropriate probing questions to ensure the participants realize the sacrifice that the 9 ½ tribes are willing to make.
- From the hint of v. 22, what do you think is the tone of the response given by Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh? When would you speak in such a tone?
- What are the fears of the 2 ½ tribes?
- Again, use appropriate follow-up questions to ensure that the discussion does not stay at the cerebral level: Have you every experienced similar fears in a Christian community?
- According to vv. 24-29, what purpose does the altar serve? How does building a giant replica of the Lord’s altar on the other side of Jordon serve this purpose?
- Highlight: Enacting the altar/monument does not make the Jordan River disappear. The act, however, represents a commitment on the part of the Transjordan tribes to worship with their brothers on the West of Jordan. After all, unity is the result of commitment rather than circumstances.
Vv. 30-34
- If the crisis was not resolved, and civil war and great destruction indeed broke out, how would the neighboring nations perceive who God is?
- There is a curious comment at the climax of this story. In v. 34, the altar is called a Witness to the fact that “the Lord is God.” How do you think the unity of Israel is related to the witnessing of who God is?
- Connection: God calls his people to reflect his goodness. This is achieved by the forming of a just and compassionate society. Failure to maintain unity and engaging in mutual annihilation go against the very vocation of Israel – to reflect the goodness of the one who brought them out of Egypt.
- This echoes the teaching of Jesus in John 13:35: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
- The river Jordan threatens to divide Israel. In our fellowship, what are the things that tend to divide us? (Another way to ask the question: If Israel is divided along the line of Jordon, what are the “lines” that tend to divide Journey into parties and cliques?)
- Fears cause the 2 sides (the 9 ½ and 2 ½ tribes) to doubt the good will of the other. What are issues in our fellowship that tend to cause us to be suspicious of the good will of our brothers and sisters?
- How do we implement the insights of the 9 ½ and 2 ½ tribes when we address the above issues in our fellowship?
- Prayer: Pray for unity in the above issues of our fellowship.
References
Howard, David M. Joshua. The New American Commentary, Volume 5. Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman & Holman, 1998.
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