Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
Joshua 22:1 records the summoning and dismissal of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh after they had faithfully kept their pledge to help in the conquest of Canaan. Those two and a half tribes had chosen their inheritance east of the Jordan, in the upland plains and forests of Gilead and Bashan, a region suited to the grazing of their flocks and herds. They had promised to send armed men to fight alongside their brethren until all had entered upon their inheritance, and forty thousand of them prepared for war crossed over to the plains of Jericho and fought bravely beside them for years.
At this summons the time had come for them to go to the land of their possession, sent home with great riches in cattle, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and much clothing, to be divided with those who had stayed behind with the families and flocks. Their departure was watched with an anxious heart, for dwelling at a distance from the sanctuary in an isolated position exposed them to strong temptation to fall into the customs of the heathen tribes on their borders.
Joshua 22:1 records the summoning and dismissal of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh after they had faithfully kept their pledge to help in the conquest of Canaan. Those two and a half tribes had chosen their inheritance east of the Jordan, in the upland plains and forests of Gilead and Bashan, a region suited to the grazing of their flocks and herds. They had promised to send armed men to fight alongside their brethren until all had entered upon their inheritance, and forty thousand of them prepared for war crossed over to the plains of Jericho and fought bravely beside them for years.
At this summons the time had come for them to go to the land of their possession, sent home with great riches in cattle, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and much clothing, to be divided with those who had stayed behind with the families and flocks. Their departure was watched with an anxious heart, for dwelling at a distance from the sanctuary in an isolated position exposed them to strong temptation to fall into the customs of the heathen tribes on their borders.