Josué 22
Wayne Barber · Citado em PreceptAustin
Josué 22
Barber - So far the book of Joshua has been concerned with God’s initiatives. For example, He enabled the Israelites to cross the Jordan; He enabled them to take Jericho; He gave them victories over the people of the land; He supervised the division of the land; and He provided cities of refuge. Now, in these remaining chapters, Joshua undertakes to admonish the Israelites to obey and serve the Lord. (Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) Hess has an interesting introduction to these closing chapters - “Each of the final three chapters describes a single event. At first glance, these events seem to be a random collection of leftovers: a dispute between the tribes about an altar, a farewell address, and another covenant ceremony. However, upon closer examination it becomes apparent that they all focus on a single matter, the proper worship of Israel’s God—how to offer it and what will happen if Israel does not do so.” (Joshua: An Introduction and Commentary) JOSHUA'S FAREWELL SPEECH TO TRANSJORDAN TRIBES Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh - Now that the land allotments were completed, one other piece of unfinished business was to release the soldiers of Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh who had crossed the Jordan (from their allotment of land on the east side of the Jordan) to fight with the other 91/2 tribes until the latter had received their allotment.
Josué 22
Barber - The obedience of the two and a half tribes was threefold: to God, to Moses, and to Joshua. Now these warriors are complimented by their general and honorably discharged. With light hearts and loaded with spoil they re-cross the River Jordan en route to their homes. (Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) Rest (Lxx = katapauo as in Heb 4:4, 8)(05117) nuach/nuah means to rest or pause and derives from a root signifying absence of movement/being settled in a particular place with overtones of finality. It can describe a period of relaxing or ceasing to engage in strenuous or stressful activity. Ideas include settle down; dwell, stay, place, let alone, give comfort, cease,let down, be quiet, remain, cause to rest, set down. The ark "rested" on Mount Ararat (Ge 8:4) The first use in Ge 2:15 describes how God "put" Adam in the Garden. The next use describes a physical setting down of something (Ge 8:4, cp 2Sa 21:10, Ex 10:14, Josh 3:13). In its most general and literal sense, the verb means "to settle down" in a place or to be at rest. God's promise (Dt 12:10) and fulfillment (Jos 21:44) to give Israel rest (victory and security) in the promised land. Uses of nuach in Joshua and Judges - Jos. 1:13; Jos. 1:15; Jos. 3:13; Jos. 4:3; Jos. 4:8; Jos. 6:23; Jos. 21:44; Jos. 22:4; Jos. 23:1; Jdg. 2:23 = "allowed to remain"; Jdg. 3:1 = "left"; Jdg. 6:18; Jdg. 6:20 Possession (property, site) (0272) ahuzzah/achuzzah from achaz = to grasp, to take hold, take possession) is a feminine noun meaning something seized or grasped a picture of the root verb achaz we see when Jacob "took hold" of Esau's heel (Gn 25:26); Samson "took hold" of the city gate (Judges 16:3) and Ruth "held" the cloak as Boaz poured six measures of barley into it (Ruth 3:15). Given this meaning of the root (achaz to seize) it is a somewhat ironic wordplay that the land of Canaan (Israel's inalienable possession) was conquered by Israel "seizing" the promised land as ordained by God. In Psalm 2 the Father makes a promise to His Son declaring "Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the [very] ends of the earth as Your possession. " (Ps 2:8). Ahuzzah is usually translated possession (slaves only in Lev 25:45, 46) or property and has the nuances of either "personal property" or more frequently, "landed property." Jehovah rather than giving the Levites land (although they did own houses in the Levitical cities) would be their possession (Nu 18:20; Ezek. 44:28). In regard to property, ahuzzah refers primarily to the possession of Promised Land in Canaan by Israel. While the Promised Land is said to be the possession of Israel, the true Landlord is the Lord Himself ("for the land is Mine" Lev 25:23) Who Alone is strong and sovereign enough to give Abraham and his seed the land as an everlasting possession. (Ge 17:8), this being the first use of ahuzzah. Ahuzzah refers to a burial site in Ge 23:4,9,20. Achuzzah - 58v - Gen. 17:8; Gen. 23:4; Gen. 23:9; Gen. 23:20; Gen. 36:43; Gen. 47:11; Gen. 48:4; Gen. 49:30; Gen. 50:13; Lev. 14:34; Lev. 25:10; Lev. 25:13; Lev. 25:24; Lev. 25:25; Lev. 25:27; Lev. 25:28; Lev. 25:32; Lev. 25:33; Lev. 25:34; Lev. 25:41; Lev. 25:45; Lev. 25:46; Lev. 27:16; Lev. 27:21; Lev. 27:22; Lev. 27:24; Lev. 27:28; Num. 27:4; Num. 27:7; Num. 32:5; Num. 32:22; Num. 32:29; Num. 32:32; Num. 35:2; Num. 35:8; Num. 35:28; Deut. 32:49; Jos. 21:12; Jos. 21:41; Jos. 22:4; Jos. 22:9; Jos. 22:19; 1 Chr. 7:28; 1 Chr. 9:2; 2 Chr. 11:14; 2 Chr. 31:1; Neh. 11:3; Ps. 2:8; Ezek. 44:28; Ezek. 45:5; Ezek. 45:6; Ezek. 45:7; Ezek. 45:8; Ezek. 46:16; Ezek. 46:18; Ezek. 48:20; Ezek. 48:21; Ezek. 48:22 GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 22 Get you unto your tents. To your settled habitations, frequently called tents in the scriptures. 2 Sam. 18:17; Hos. 9:6; Mal. 2:12. It is probable, however, that they still retained somewhat of the nomade habits of their ancestors, and that tents were by no means uncommon among them. (ED: BUT THEY ALSO HAD TAKEN OVER CANAANITE TOWNS WITH BUILDINGS - cf Dt 19:1+). Joshua 22:4 Dr. Woodrow Kroll Rest for the Weary Joshua 22:4 - And now the Lord your God has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them; now therefore, return and go to your tents and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. Rest for the Weary - William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, received a letter from his wife while he was on a long trip. She wrote in part, "Your Tuesday's notes arrived safe, and I was rejoiced to hear of the continued prosperity of the work, though sorry you were so worn out. I fear the effect of all this excitement and exertion upon your health, and though I would not hinder your usefulness, I would caution you against an injudicious prodigality of your strength. Remember a long life of steady, consistent, holy labor will produce twice as much fruit as one shortened and destroyed by spasmodic and extravagant exertions; be careful and sparing of your strength when and where exertion is unnecessary." God also is aware of this truth. After five years of battles, Joshua declared, "God has given rest." It was not that the land had been completely conquered, but it was time for the people to rest anyway. Some Christians are quick to remind us that "Satan never takes a vacation." That may be true, but Satan is not the example we want to follow. One scholar who studied the Gospels claims that during the three years of Jesus' ministry, ten periods of resting are mentioned. If Jesus felt it necessary to punctuate His ministry with seasons of rest, how much more so should we. Being alone and resting for a while is not selfish; it's Christlike. Taking a vacation is not fleshly; it's spiritual. God's kingdom is not advanced by those who work themselves into a coronary or nervous breakdown. God gives rest to the weary, so don't be too proud to take it. Come apart for rest or you may come apart forever Joshua 22:5 "Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." KJV Joshua 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. NET Joshua 22:5 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!" BGT Joshua 22:5 ἀλλὰ φυλάξασθε ποιεῖν σφόδρα τὰς ἐντολὰς καὶ τὸν νόμον ὃν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν ποιεῖν Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς κυρίου ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν πορεύεσθαι πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ φυλάξασθαι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκεῖσθαι αὐτῷ καὶ λατρεύειν αὐτῷ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν NLT Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul." ESV Joshua 22:5 Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." NIV Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul." YLT Joshua 22:5 Only, be very watchful to do the command and the law which Moses, servant of Jehovah, commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commands, and to cleave to Him, and to serve Him, with all your heart, and with all your soul.' LXE Joshua 22:5 But take great heed to do the commands and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you to do; to love the Lord our God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commands, and to cleave to him, and serve him with all your mind, and with all your soul. CSB Joshua 22:5 Only carefully obey the command and instruction that Moses the LORD's servant gave you: to love the LORD your God, walk in all His ways, keep His commands, remain faithful to Him, and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul." NKJ Joshua 22:5 "But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." NRS Joshua 22:5 Take good care to observe the commandment and instruction that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to hold fast to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." Only be very careful to observe the commandment : Ex 15:26 De 4:1,2,6,9 6:6-9,17 11:22 1Ch 28:7,8 Ps 106:3 Ps 119:4-6 Pr 4:23 Isa 55:2 Jer 12:16 Heb 6:11,12 12:15 2Pe 1:5-10 love: Ex 20:6 De 6:5 10:12,13 11:1,13 Mt 22:37 Joh 14:15,21-23 Joh 21:15-17 Ro 8:28 Jas 1:12 2:5 1Jn 5:2,3 cling: Jos 23:8 De 4:4 10:20 13:4 Ac 11:23 Ro 12:9 serve: Jos 24:14,15 1Sa 7:3 12:20,24 Mt 4:10 6:24 Lu 1:74 Joh 12:26 Ac 27:23 Ro 1:9 Joshua 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passages: Joshua 23:6-8 Be very firm, then, to keep and do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, so that you may not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left, 7 so that you will not associate with these nations, these which remain among you, or mention the name of their gods, or make anyone swear by them, or serve them, or bow down to them. 8 “But you are to cling to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day. Deuteronomy 4:9+ “Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, so that you do not forget the things which your eyes have seen and they do not depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons. Deuteronomy 4:29+ (A PROPHECY ISRAEL WOULD FULFILL IN THE LAST DAYS) But from there (Dt 4:27-28) you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. COMMENT - with all your heart - 21x in 21v - note concentration of this important phrase in Deuteronomy as God's Spirit prepares the second generation of Israel for entry into the promised land. Notice Dt 30:6 explains how it is possible to love God with all one's heart! Deut. 4:29; Deut. 6:5; Deut. 10:12; Deut. 11:13; Deut. 13:3; Deut. 26:16; Deut. 30:2; Deut. 30:6; Deut. 30:10; Jos. 22:5; 1 Sam. 7:3; 1 Sam. 12:20; 1 Sam. 12:24; Prov. 3:5; Jer. 29:13; Joel 2:12; Zeph. 3:14; Matt. 22:37; Mk. 12:30; Lk. 10:27; Acts 8:37 Deuteronomy 6:5+ “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 10:12-13+ Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 and to keep the LORD’S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? Deuteronomy 10:16+ “So circumcise your heart (MORE LITERALLY - "THE FORESKIN OF YOUR HEART" - SEE NOTE BELOW), and stiffen your neck no longer. Deuteronomy 11:13-14+ “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, that He will give the rain for your land in its season, the early and late rain, that you may gather in your grain and your new wine and your oil. Deuteronomy 26:16+ “This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 30:1-3+ (A PROPHECY ISRAEL WILL FULFILL IN THE LAST DAYS) “So it shall be when all of these things have come upon you, the blessing and the curse which I have set before you, and you call them to mind in all nations where the LORD your God has banished you (SEE the Diaspora), 2 and you return to the LORD your (WHOSE GOD?) God and obey Him with ALL your heart and soul (READ THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE TO SEE HOW THEY CAN FULFILL THIS GREAT PROPHECY) according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, 3 then (MARKS PROGRESS IN NARRATIVE - CONDITIONED ON THEIR OBEDIENCE) the LORD your God will restore you from captivity, and have compassion on you, and will gather you again from all the peoples (GENTILE NATIONS) where the LORD your God has scattered you (Diaspora). Deuteronomy 30:6+ (GOD PROMISES TO CIRCUMCISE THEIR HEART IN THE FUTURE SEE NOTE BELOW) “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. JOSHUA'S WORDS OF WARNING In these farewell chapters (Joshua 22-24), the Spirit filled, wise, aging Joshua speaks his last words (which should always be "lasting words") to the young nation of Israel. He gives three strong closing exhortations replete, the last 2 including warnings for disobedience - (1) Joshua 22:5-6 to the 2.5 tribes (2) Joshua 23:6-13 (3) Joshua 23:14-28. The book of Judges is a sad testimony that the following generations did not heed his warnings. This is a good pattern for leaders to follow - commend (vv 2-4) before you command! Ryrie - Having discharged their military commitments, the 2 1/2 tribes are reminded by Joshua of their continuing spiritual responsibilities. It is unnecessary to suppose that these tribes were not in God's will in settling E of the Jordan. God had given them that land (Josh 24:8), and it was part of Palestine, the mountains of Gilead, E of the Jordan (and not the Jordan itself), being the eastern boundary of Palestine. Irving Jensen - notes that Joshua "did not bless them without exhorting them to take diligent heed to fulfill the conditions for continual blessing, namely, to do, to love, to walk, to keep, to cleave unto , and to serve. It was a brief but passionate charge." (Joshua- Everyman's Bible Commentary: Rest-Land Won) Anderson - Joshua commends them for their actions in the past, but ne challenges them for the future if they want to continue to be successful . Madvig - Be very careful to keep” (šimrû meʾōḏ laʿaśôṯ) is a common expression in Deuteronomy. This is the key verse in this chapter. It is another statement of the theme of the book that the people must be faithful to the Lord and obey (ED: "TRUST AND OBEY") his laws if they wish to be blessed and live in the land. In order to urge the Transjordanian tribes to continue to be faithful, Joshua reminded them of the way God had rewarded their faithfulness during the Conquest. (The Expositor's Bible Commentary Volume 3) Observe the verbs Joshua used - be very careful to observe, love, walk, hold fast. Note also they qualifier "all His ways." Only be very careful ("diligent heed" where "heed" = shamar) to observe ("just do it" - asah) the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep (shamar) His commandments - Note two commands (be very careful to observe) and the associated actions (love, walk, keep, hold fast, serve). In his last farewell message in Joshua 24:14 the wise old general would charge Israel to "put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt." Some think these were not actual idols (only "idols in their heart"), but I think they were actual tangible idols (cf Amos 5:26, Acts 7:42, 43+). The best way to put away idols is to be very careful...to observe...(and) to love Yahweh, for Jesus taught "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth (Mammon)." (Mt 6:24+, cf The Expulsive Power of a New Affection and "Vertical Vision") Young's Literal has "be very watchful to DO the command and the law," which reminds us of James 1:22+ "prove (present imperative see our need to depend on the Holy Spirit to obey) yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves." Yes "DO" the law, but be careful not to attempt to "DO" the law in your own strength. That's called legalism, which nullifies grace, grieves the Spirit, and ends in futility and frustration in your walk ("Been there, done that!") The only way Israel could DO the law was by the sanctifying power of the Spirit (Who was "alive and well" in the Old Testament contrary to what many think! Ge 1:2, Micah 3:8, 1Pe 1:10-11). They (like all believers) needed the Spirit in the Old Testament and so do we in the New Testament! THOUGHT - Is Joshua's charge not a call to holiness and a holy walk? The way to receive and retain divine blessing is to trust and obey. This principle is timeless and was not just for Israel in the promised land but for followers of Jesus seeking to experience a promised life, an abundant life (Jn 10:10b) truly partaking of His precious and magnificent promises (2Pe 1:4+). If we love the LORD, we will show it by a Spirit empowered walk of obedience (cf Jn 14:15, 21, Jn 15:10). Talk is cheap as they say. We need to substantiate our talk with our walk. And remember that God's commandments ALWAYS come "prepackaged" with His enablements, His supernatural power to enable us to keep His commandments (see circumcision of the heart below) (cf the command to "work out your salvation in fear and trembling" with the "power" He supplies in Phil 2:13NLT+). Note that Joshua is not calling for rigid obedience to the law for that would be legalism. He is calling for obedience from the heart (ultimately only possible from a circumcised heart), which is really the only obedience that is pleasing to the LORD.
Josué 22
Barber adds "How simple this all sounds, and yet how difficult to perform. Faithfulness to the Lord necessitates continued diligence. It requires of us the same commitment to God’s Word that the Lord required of Joshua (Joshua 1:8). And it is the only way to continuously walk in His ways, keep His commandments, hold fast to Him, and serve Him with all of our being!" (Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) (ED: SEE Filled with His Spirit/Richly Indwelt with His Word) Hold fast (cling, cleave) (1692) dabaq means to stick to, adhere to, cling to, join with, stay with, stay in close proximity to and which yields the noun form for "glue". Dabaq describes something that sticks or clings to something else (Ezek 29:4 and Ezekiel’s tongue to roof of his mouth Ezek. 3:26). It is interesting that one of the most concentrated uses of "dabaq" in the OT is found in this short story of Ruth (Ru 1:14, 2:8, 2:21, 23-see notes Ru 1:14; 2:8; 21; 23) -- Ruth 2:8 "stay here with my maids"; Ruth 2:21 "‘You should stay close to my servants"; Ruth 2:23 "So she stayed close by the maids of Boaz"; Dabaq often refers to physical things sticking to each other, especially parts of the body as described vividly by Job who said "My bone clings to my skin and my flesh, and I have escaped only by the skin of my teeth" (Job 19:20, cf one's tongue "stuck to their palate" Job 29:10). King Hezekiah heeded this instruction and "clung to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses." and the result of his clinging was that "Jehovah was with him; wherever he went he prospered." (2Ki 18:6 18:7, cf : Ps 63:8) A vivid picture of the meaning of dabaq is found in David's declaration "I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not fasten its grip on me." (Ps 101:3), picturing the power of sin to entrap the sinner. (Spurgeon on Ps 101:3) Positive clinging and negative clinging: Deuteronomy 10:20 “You shall fear the LORD your God; you shall serve Him and cling to Him, and you shall swear by His name. Deuteronomy 11:22 “For if you are careful to keep all this commandment which I am commanding you to do, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and hold fast to Him, Deuteronomy 13:4 “You shall follow the LORD your God and fear Him; and you shall keep His commandments, listen to His voice, serve Him, and cling to Him. Deuteronomy 13:17 “Nothing from that which is put under the ban shall cling to your hand, in order that the LORD may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, just as He has sworn to your fathers, Deuteronomy 28:21 “The LORD will make the pestilence cling to you until He has consumed you from the land where you are entering to possess it. Deuteronomy 28:60 “He will bring back on you all the diseases of Egypt of which you were afraid, and they will cling to you. Deuteronomy 30:19-20 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants, by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.” Serve (worship) (05647) abad means to work (to cultivate, till - Ge 2:5, 15 - Lxx = ergazomai before the fall! Ge 3:23 after the fall, Lxx = ergazomai), to serve (be enslaved or hold in bondage - Ex 6:6 - Lxx = katadouloo = make a slave; Lev 25:38, 39 Lxx = douleuo)(Ge 14:4, 15:13, 14 - Lxx = douleuo), worship. It is interesting that abad is translated labor when Israel was in Egyptian bondage (Ex 1:13,14) but is translated worship after Israel was redeemed from slavery (Ex 3:12 translated in Lxx = latreuo). In Joshua 23:7NET (And Josh 23:16NET) abad is translated "worship" (Lxx = latreuo) = "you must not worship or bow down to them!" In sum, there is a very clear association between what/who one serves and what/who one worships. When the focus of the labor is the Lord, it is a religious service to worship Him. In other words our service is really an act of worship. Moreover, in these cases, the word does not have connotations of toilsome labor but instead of a joyful experience of liberation (Ex. 3:12; 4:23; 7:16; Josh. 24:15, 18). Unfortunately, this worship service was often given to false gods (Deut. 7:16; 2 Ki. 10:18, 19, 21-23). Abad in Joshua especially in Joshua 24! - Jos. 16:10; Jos. 22:5; Jos. 22:27; Jos. 23:7; Jos. 23:16; Jos. 24:2; Jos. 24:14; Jos. 24:15; Jos. 24:16; Jos. 24:18; Jos. 24:19; Jos. 24:20; Jos. 24:21; Jos. 24:22; Jos. 24:24; Jos. 24:31 CIRCUMCISION OF THE HEART IN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT Passages on Spiritual Circumcision: Leviticus 26:41+ I also was acting with hostility against them, to bring them into the land of their enemies–or if their uncircumcised (Heb = arel = having foreskin) heart becomes humbled so that they then make amends for their iniquity, Deuteronomy 10:16+ “So circumcise (Heb - mul) your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer. (ESV = "circumcise the foreskin of your heart") Deuteronomy 30:6+ “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise (Heb - mul) your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. Jeremiah 4:4 “Circumcise (Heb - mul) yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.” Jeremiah 6:10 To whom shall I speak and give warning That they may hear? Behold, their ears are closed (Heb - arel = having foreskin = uncircumcised) And they cannot listen. Behold, the word of the LORD has become a reproach to them; They have no delight in it. Jeremiah 9:25-26 Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “that I will punish all who are circumcised (Heb - mul) and yet uncircumcised (Hebrew = orlah = foreskin)–Egypt and Judah, and Edom and the sons of Ammon, and Moab and all those inhabiting the desert who clip the hair on their temples; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised of heart.” Acts 7:51+ “You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Romans 2:28-29+ For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. 29But he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter; and his praise is not from men, but from God. Colossians 2:11+ and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. One other point to make is to notice the repetition of the phrase all your heart in the context of the frequent call for obedience... Deuteronomy 4:29+ “But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul. Deuteronomy 6:5+ “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Deuteronomy 10:12+ “Now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, Deuteronomy 11:13+ “It shall come about, if you listen obediently to my commandments which I am commanding you today, to love the LORD your God and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul, Deuteronomy 13:3+ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 26:16+ “This day the LORD your God commands you to do these statutes and ordinances. You shall therefore be careful to do them with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 30:2+ and you return to the LORD your God and obey Him with all your heart and soul according to all that I command you today, you and your sons, Deuteronomy 30:6+ “Moreover the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, so that you may live. Deuteronomy 30:10+ if you obey the LORD your God to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law, if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul. Joshua 22:5+ “Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God and walk in all His ways and keep His commandments and hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Joshua 23:14+ “Now behold, today I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one word of all the good words which the LORD your God spoke concerning you has failed; all have been fulfilled for you, not one of them has failed. 1 Samuel 7:3 (Read this entire chapter 1Sa 7:1-17 for the context) Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.” 1 Samuel 12:20 Samuel said to the people, “Do not fear. You have committed all this evil, yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. Joel 2:12+ “Yet even now,” declares the LORD, “Return to Me with all your heart, And with fasting, weeping and mourning; Zephaniah 3:14 Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! Matthew 22:37 And He said to him, “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ Mark 12:30+ AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ Luke 10:27+ And he answered, “YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND; AND YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.” The question arises "How is wholehearted obedience humanly possible?" My contention is that it is not humanly possible, that is possible by the natural man, for as Paul explained in Colossians we were ALL "formerly (BEFORE THE COLOSSIANS' HEARTS WERE "CIRCUMCISED" - Col 2:11+) alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds," (Col 1:21+) and we were God's enemies (Ro 5:10+, cf Ro 8:7-8+). Therefore it is clear that the only way Israelites could truly love God with all their heart and soul was if they had a "new heart," which in OT terms would be a "circumcised heart." Notice the the stringent requirements of God in Deuteronomy 10:12-13+. And then 3 verses later in Dt 10:16+ there is a "clue" as to how it is possible to fulfill the stringent requirements, for in that verse Moses tells Israel to "circumcise (Hebrew verb is Perfect tense -"denoting completed [or "perfected"] action" - which would imply a permanent change) your heart, and stiffen your neck no longer." The NET Note says the Hebrew literally reads "circumcise the foreskin of" (and adds that) "Reference to the Abrahamic covenant prompts Moses to recall the sign of that covenant, namely, physical circumcision (Ge 17:9–14). Just as that act signified total covenant obedience, so spiritual circumcision (cleansing of the heart) signifies more internally a commitment to be pliable and obedient to the will of God (cf. Dt 30:6+; Jer 4:4; Jer 9:26)." The Holy Spirit is omnipresent in space and time (Ge 1:2), and He is the member of the Trinity who is convicting men and constraining them. Somehow, some men are moved by Him to begin then to seek God for themselves, and God "is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" (Hebrews 11:6+, cf Jer 29:13). The Gentile Cornelius was evidently one such man, so God then led Peter to go to Cornelius to instruct Him concerning Christ (Acts 10:1-2+). Notice that in Jeremiah 4:4 the prophet issues two commands calling for his hearers (Jews in Judah about to be taken into captivity in Babylon) to experience spiritual circumcision calling on them... Circumcise (Heb = mul; Lxx = peritemno) yourselves to the LORD And remove the foreskins of your heart, Men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, Or else My wrath will go forth like fire And burn with none to quench it, Because of the evil of your deeds.” (Jeremiah 4:4) Note - Circumcise in the Lxx is a command in the aorist imperative ("Just do it!") which can only be carried out by depending on the Holy Spirit to obey! (cf Ro 2:29+). It is also in the passive voice, in this context clearly a "divine passive" (the Spirit of course being the effecting Agent.) The second command to remove (also aorist imperative) the foreskins of your heart is translated in the Lxx with peritemno and sklerokardia (skleros = hard + kardia = heart) which reads "circumcise the hardness of your hearts." Human beings cannot carry out this "internal circumcision" without the enabling power of the Holy Spirit! Clearly, Jeremiah is calling for spiritual circumcision just as Moses was calling for the second generation of Israelites to circumcise their hearts in Dt 10:16+ And so in calling for circumcision of their hearts, Moses and Jeremiah are not speaking of a human (natural) work, as with external circumcision, but a supernatural work of internal heart circumcision, a work made possible and carried out only by the Holy Spirit of God, not by the will of man. This would be the OT equivalent of being "born again" in the New Covenant and receiving a new heart (cf Ezekiel 36:26-27+, Jer 31:31-34+). It follows that when Abram believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness in Genesis 15:6+, the Spirit of God in effect "circumcised" Abram's heart. As we look at Israel's behavior toward God beginning with the unbelief and disobedience of the majority of the nation at Kadesh-Barnea, it seems that many, if not most, of the Israelites in the Old Testament failed to believe in the manner of their physical father Abraham, and thus they failed to have a "circumcised heart," and were not even able to obey God's commandments from an internal motivation and energization. Any obedience that many of the Israelites did show to God had to be external obedience, energized by their flesh and not by the Holy Spirit. Caleb, Joshua, Moses, Aaron and doubtless others not named would of course be exceptions. Stephen's sermon in Acts 7 would support this idea of "heart circumcision" as an absolute necessity to enable a person to truly obey God with all one's heart and all one's soul as in Dt 10:12. In his message to the Jews who were opposing his ministry (Acts 6:8-15+), he boldly (remember he was Spirit filled/empowered Acts 6:3, 5, 8+) declared "You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always (NOT JUST "SOMETIMES") resisting (present tense = continuous attitude/action) the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did (see COMMENT below)." (Acts 7:51+) The Greek word for stiff-necked is sklerotrachelos (skleros = hard + trachelos = the neck). COMMENT - Read 2 Ki 17:7-20 which explains why God sent the fathers into exile. Israel stiffened their neck and would not listen to Yahweh, they rejected His statutes and His covenant and forsook all His commandments! A stiffened neck is a manifestation of an uncircumcised heart, which was the tragic condition of most of Israel, but God always preserved a remnant of Israel who had circumcised hearts (cf 2 Ki 19:18) In the Septuagint Translation of Dt 10:16+ we find two similar Greek words, sklerokardia (skleros = hard + kardia = the heart) which translates as "the foreskin of your heart" and skleruno (from skleros = hard) which translates stiff-necked. Stephen explains that these Jews were continually (present tense and active voice = making a choice of their will) resisting (antipipto) the Holy Spirit, which clearly teaches that the Holy Spirit was the member of the Trinity Who produced heart circumcision in the New Testament (as Paul taught in Ro 2:29+, cf Col 2:11+) and also in the Old Testament. It also implies that in those Israelites who did not resist the work of the Holy Spirit, He would supernaturally "circumcise" their hearts. Notice Stephen's statement "just as your fathers did" indicates that OT Israelites had also been resistant to the work of the Spirit and thus their hearts remained uncircumcised and unable to obey God with all their heart and all their soul. Physical circumcision was originally intended by God to be a sign that one had entered into the Abrahamic covenant (Ge 17:9, 10). In other words, physical circumcision was an outward act which testified that the individual had experienced an inner "circumcision" of their heart. While God is calling on Israel to "circumcise" their hearts, clearly no human being can carry out such an act without supernatural intervention. As the ESV Study Bible says that "Circumcision of the heart comes from renewal through the Spirit of Christ." God's charge is not just for Israel to "get a grip" and change their rebellious attitude toward Him! Our hearts are intractably deceitful and sick (Jer 17:9) and we are all by nature, hard hearted, stiff necked rebels toward God and His Word, unless and until He graciously brings about an individual's "heart circumcision" in response to that individual's faith - in other words, "spiritual circumcision" is by grace through faith, which sounds like salvation in the NT, because it is! Of course, some Israelites did yield to the work of the Spirit and they would have been part of the believing remnant of Israel. Obviously Joshua and Caleb were prime examples of the remnant, for God Himself testified that "they have followed the LORD fully." (Nu 32:12+), something they could not have accomplished without a "circumcised heart," and the sanctifying influence (power) of the Holy Spirit. We need to remember that the Agent of regeneration and of subsequent sanctification in both testaments is the Holy Spirit. Have you experienced supernatural circumcision of your heart? Related Resources: See more notes below on circumcision of the heart See related comments on Deuteronomy 30:6 and comments on Deuteronomy 10:16 Scriptures on Circumcision Excursus on Circumcision - duplicates some of "Scriptures on Circumcision" What is circumcision of the heart? | GotQuestions.org Integrity - A Whole Heart Give Me An Undivided Heart QUESTION - What was the role of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament? ANSWER - The role of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament is much like His role in the New Testament. When we speak of the role of the Holy Spirit, we can discern four general areas in which the Holy Spirit works: 1) regeneration, 2) indwelling (or filling), 3) restraint, and 4) empowerment for service. Evidence of these areas of the Holy Spirit’s work is just as present in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament. The first area of the Spirit’s work is in the process of regeneration. Another word for regeneration is “rebirth,” from which we get the concept of being “born again.” The classic proof text for this can be found in John’s gospel: “I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3). This begs the question: what does this have to do with the Holy Spirit’s work in the Old Testament? Later on in His dialogue with Nicodemus, Jesus has this to say to him: “You are Israel’s teacher…and do you not understand these things?” (John 3:10). The point Jesus was making is that Nicodemus should have known the truth that the Holy Spirit is the source of new life because it is revealed in the Old Testament. For instance, Moses told the Israelites prior to entering the Promised Land that “The LORD your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live” (Deuteronomy 30:6). This circumcision of the heart is the work of God’s Spirit and can be accomplished only by Him. We also see the theme of regeneration in Ezekiel 11:19-20 and Ezekiel 36:26-29. The fruit of the Spirit’s regenerating work is faith (Ephesians 2:8). Now we know that there were men of faith in the Old Testament because Hebrews 11 names many of them. If faith is produced by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, then this must be the case for Old Testament saints who looked ahead to the cross, believing that what God had promised in regard to their redemption would come to pass. They saw the promises and “welcomed them from a distance” (Hebrews 11:13), accepting by faith that what God had promised, He would also bring to pass. The second aspect of the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament is indwelling, or filling. Here is where the major difference between the Spirit’s roles in the Old and New Testaments is apparent. The New Testament teaches the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit in believers (1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 6:19-20). When we place our faith in Christ for salvation, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us. The Apostle Paul calls this permanent indwelling the “guarantee of our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:13-14). In contrast to this work in the New Testament, the indwelling in the Old Testament was selective and temporary. The Spirit “came upon” such Old Testament people as Joshua (Numbers 27:18 = " a man in whom is the Spirit"), David (1 Samuel 16:12-13) and even Saul (1 Samuel 10:10). In the book of Judges, we see the Spirit “coming upon” the various judges whom God raised up to deliver Israel from their oppressors. The Holy Spirit came upon these individuals for specific tasks. The indwelling was a sign of God’s favor upon that individual (in the case of David), and if God’s favor left an individual, the Spirit would depart (e.g., in Saul’s case in 1 Samuel 16:14). Finally, the Spirit “coming upon” an individual doesn’t always indicate that person’s spiritual condition (e.g., Saul, Samson, and many of the judges). (ED: THE SAME COULD BE SAID OF BELIEVERS TODAY WHEN THEY FALL INTO SOME SIN OR BACKSLIDE) So, while in the New Testament the Spirit only indwells believers and that indwelling is permanent, the Spirit came upon certain Old Testament individuals for a specific task, irrespective of their spiritual condition. Once the task was completed, the Spirit presumably departed from that person. (ED: THIS IS A PRESUMPTION AND NOT CLEARLY STATED IN THE OT - DID THE SPIRIT LEAVE JOSHUA ALL THE DAYS HE LED ISRAEL AND EVEN TO THE END WHEN HE EXHORTED THEM AT AGE 110 TO BE FAITHFUL?) The third aspect of the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament is His restraint of sin. Genesis 6:3 would seem to indicate that the Holy Spirit restrains man’s sinfulness, and that restraint can be removed when God’s patience regarding sin reaches a "boiling point." This thought is echoed in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-8, when in the end times a growing apostasy will signal the coming of God’s judgment. Until the preordained time when the “man of lawlessness” (v. 3) will be revealed, the Holy Spirit restrains the power of Satan and will release it only when it suits His purposes to do so. The fourth and final aspect of the Spirit’s work in the Old Testament is the granting of ability for service. Much like the way the spiritual gifts operate in the New Testament, the Spirit would gift certain individuals for service. Consider the example of Bezalel in Exodus 31:2-5 who was gifted to do much of the artwork relating to the Tabernacle. Furthermore, recalling the selective and temporary indwelling of the Holy Spirit discussed above, we see that these individuals were gifted to perform certain tasks, such as ruling over the people of Israel (e.g., Saul and David). We could also mention the Spirit’s role in creation. Genesis 1:2 speaks of the Spirit “hovering over the waters” and superintending the work of creation. In a similar fashion, the Spirit is responsible for the work of the new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) as He is bringing people into the kingdom of God through regeneration. All in all, the Spirit performs much of the same functions in Old Testament times as He does in this current age. The major difference is the permanent indwelling of the Spirit in believers now. As Jesus said regarding this change in the Spirit’s ministry, “But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:17).GotQuestions.org C H
Josué 22
Barber has an interesting note on Joshua blessing the people - Then Joshua blessed them. In Scripture we are told that “the lesser is blessed by the greater” (Hebrews 7:7). Blessing is the enrichment of someone or something beyond what is expected. When applied to people it involves making them happy. For example, in Psalm 1:1, because there is no verb in the original, the truest translation of “How blessed is the man who …” is “O the happiness of the man who.…” Someone who is in vital touch with the Members of the Godhead has the God-given power to bless others. Others may mouth the words, but they lack the unction of the Holy Spirit. Joshua was God’s representative to the people, and he possessed the intrinsic power to bless others." (Joshua: A Devotional Exposition)
Josué 22
Barber comments that "The transgression of the Israelites at Baal-peor and their subsequent punishment made such a lasting impression on the nation that it was even mentioned by the prophet Hosea approximately 675 years later (see Hosea 9:10),(Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) Keil and Delitzsch - To show the greatness of the sin through apostasy from the Lord, the speaker reminds them of two previous acts of sin on the part of the nation, which had brought severe judgments upon the congregation. “ Is there too little for us in the iniquity of Peor (i.e., with Peor, or through the worship of Peor, Numbers 25:3), from which we have not cleansed ourselves till this day, and there came the plague upon the congregation of Jehovah? ”...That plague, of which 24,000 Israelites died, was stayed through the zeal of Phinehas for the honour of the Lord (Numbers 25:4-11). The guilt connected with the worship of Peor had thereby been avenged upon the congregation, and the congregation itself had been saved from any further punishment in consequence of the sin. When Phinehas, therefore, affirmed that the congregation had not yet been cleansed from the crime, he did not mean that they were still bearing or suffering from the punishment of that crime, but that they were not yet cleansed from that sin, inasmuch as many of them were still attached to idolatry in their hearts, even if they had hitherto desisted from it outwardly from fear of the infliction of fresh judgment.
Josué 22
Barber comments that "The motivation behind building the altar was one of fear. The eastern tribes were concerned lest in time they cease to be regarded as a part of the nation. The altar was designed as a memorial, nothing more."(Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) Teach me to feel that you are always nigh; teach me the struggles of the soul to bear, to check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh; teach me the patience of unceasing prayer. Joshua 22:30 So when Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation, even the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them. it pleased them: Jos 22:33 Ge 28:8 Jdg 8:3 1Sa 25:32,33 29:6 2Ch 30:4 Es 1:21 *margins Pr 15:1 Ac 11:18 Joshua 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THEIR EXPLANATION WAS ACCEPTED So when Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation, even the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke - Crisis averted! Civil war shelved! They heard the transjordan tribes' words and believed them. It pleased them Hebrew literally is "it was good in their eyes." A Song of Ascents, of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity! -- Psalm 133:1
Josué 22
Barber - What is important for us to realize is that certain actions taken unilaterally, even those free from ulterior motives, may result in misunderstanding and schism. And if there is no one like Phineas to heal the breach that is forming, then an irreparable rift may be the result. (Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) GEORGE BUSH Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 22 Did not intend to go up. Heb. ‘said not to go up.’ So 2 Sam. 21:16, ‘And Ishbi-benob—thought to have slain David;’ Heb. ‘said to have slain;’ i. e. purposed, intended. They renounced the intention of going up. They had at first intended it, but the statements of their delegates convinced them there was no necessity for it, and they accordingly abandoned the idea entirely. To destroy the land. To lay waste, to ravage, to make desolate the land. Joshua 22:34 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar [Witness]; "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the LORD is God." KJV Joshua 22:34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God. NET Joshua 22:34 The Reubenites and Gadites named the altar, "Surely it is a Reminder to us that the LORD is God." BGT Joshua 22:34 καὶ ἐπωνόμασεν Ἰησοῦς τὸν βωμὸν τῶν Ρουβην καὶ τῶν Γαδ καὶ τοῦ ἡμίσους φυλῆς Μανασση καὶ εἶπεν ὅτι μαρτύριόν ἐστιν ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτῶν ἐστιν NLT Joshua 22:34 The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar "Witness," for they said, "It is a witness between us and them that the LORD is our God, too." ESV Joshua 22:34 The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the LORD is God." NIV Joshua 22:34 And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God. YLT Joshua 22:34 And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad proclaim concerning the altar, that 'it is a witness between us that Jehovah is God.' LXE Joshua 22:34 And Joshua gave a name to the altar of the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse; and said, It is a testimony in the midst of them, that the Lord is their God. CSB Joshua 22:34 So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar: It is a witness between us that the LORD is God. NKJ Joshua 22:34 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar, Witness, "For it is a witness between us that the LORD is God." NRS Joshua 22:34 The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar Witness; "For," said they, "it is a witness between us that the LORD is God." NAB Joshua 22:34 The Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar its name as a witness among them that the LORD is God. NJB Joshua 22:34 The Reubenites and the Gadites called the altar . . . , 'Because', they said, 'it will be a witness between us that Yahweh is God.' witness Jos 22:27 24:27 1Ki 18:39 Isa 43:10 Mt 4:10 Joshua 22 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE ALTAR -- WITNESS OF UNITY The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar Witness; "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the LORD (Jehovah) is God - The altar was a Witness to the unity of the 12 tribes and reminds us of the work of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 4:3 for the Western tribes had been "diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." Mattoon - Frank, open discussion cleared the air and lead to reconciliation and rest. The stones of the altar were a witness, but unfortunately the people were not a witness. They fell quickly into idolatry (1 Chronicles 5:25-26). But they acted treacherously against the God of their fathers and played the harlot after the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed before them. 26 So the God of Israel stirred up the spirit of Pul, king of Assyria, even the spirit of Tilgath-pilneser king of Assyria, and he carried them away into exile, namely the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and brought them to Halah, Habor, Hara and to the river of Gozan, to this day.
Josué 22
Barber - From this chapter we glean several important truths, foremost of which is the danger of basing our actions on hearsay. In classical literature we come across a race of women warriors called Amazons who lived near the Black Sea. They were more than a figment of storytellers’ imagination, for history records their invasion of Lycia, attack on Phyrigia, and defeat by Theseus, king of Attica, in the Battle of Thermodon. Of the many stories told about these women one explained the absence of men in their society. According to this tradition, when their husbands were away fighting in a war, a messenger came bringing news of their victory. Among the spoils of war were beautiful women, and each of the soldiers supposedly took one or more of them in marriage.8 This was only a rumor, but it was believed by their wives. When their husbands came home, their wives arranged for them to be murdered. A similar story became the basis for Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello. The Bard showed how dangerous misinformation can be. As a result of cunningly contrived slander Othello murdered his wife Desdemona for her supposed infidelity. Too late he realized what he had done. When he was told that he must be tried for murder, he killed himself. Slander involves bearing false witness against your neighbor out of malignity or vanity so as to prejudice his fame, safety or welfare. As such it is condemned in Scripture (cf. Exodus 20:16). The principal kinds of slander are: (1) charging others with acts they are not guilty of having committed; (2) affixing odious motives to the actions of individuals; (3) maligning a person’s actions by implying that they proceed from evil principles; (4) perverting a man’s words or actions disadvantageously; (5) a partial or lame representation of men’s discourse or practice, suppressing some part of the truth or concealing some circumstances which ought to be explained; (6) resorting to cunningly contrived suggestions which create prejudice in the minds of hearers; (7) magnifying and aggravating the faults of others; and (8) imputing to a person’s practice, judgment, or profession evil consequences which have no foundation in truth. Those who engage in such acts are guilty of character assassination and inflict untold hurt on the guiltless. In Othello people who were innocent died along with the guilty. It is no wonder that Scripture exhorts us to banish from our lives all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander, along with all malice, and to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven us (cf. Ephesians 4:31–32; see also Mark 7:20–22; Colossians 3:8; 1 Peter 2:1). (Joshua: A Devotional Exposition) J