The Answer - Joshua 22:21

In the book of Joshua, we learned how Eleazar’s son Phinehas and ten princes asked the tribe of Reuben, Gad and one-half the tribe of Manasseh, “What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, … 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?”, and in chapter twenty-two and verse twenty-one of Joshua we learn how, “the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered” where we read, 

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,

The verse reads, “Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, …” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “then the children of Reuben” which means “at that time the offspring and progeny belonging to Reuben whose name lands ‘behold a son’ and was the eldest son of Jacob by Leah and the male progenitor who descended from Reuben” “and the children of Gad”  or “and the offspring and progeny belonging to Gad whose name means ‘troop’ and was seventh son of Jacob by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, and full brother of Asher and the tribe who descended from Gad” “and the half tribe of Manasseh” which refers to “the one-half clan or people group belonging to Manasseh whose name means ‘causing to forget’ and was the eldest son of Joseph and progenitor of the tribe of Manasseh” “answered” which means “responded, testified and spoke loudly”. Joshua or the write shared how the offspring belonging to “Reuben, Gad and one half of the tribe of Manasseh” responded to the charges made by “Phinehas and the ten princes”. 

The verse continues, “… and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,” Joshua or the writer added the words, “and said unto the heads” which means “and uttered, declared and proclaimed toward the chiefs, captains, rulers and leaders” “of thousands of Israel” or “belonging to thousands of people from Israel whose name means ‘God prevails’ and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob”. Joshua or the writer said the “Reubenites, Gadites and one half of the tribe of Manasseh” began to speak to the leaders and rulers.

When we think through the words in this verse, we learn how the people from “Reuben, Gad and one half tribe of Manasseh” responded to “Phinehas and the ten princes” who were the leaders of “thousands of” the people of “Israel”. We shall see what they say in the next few verses, but for now let us be reminded that the “Reubenites, Gadites and half tribe of Manasseh” were to continue in their mission work to the world. God wants us to be involved in His Kingdom, and when we yield to His Son Jesus who died on the cross for the sins of all mankind and was resurrected from the dead after three days as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and empower us to manage our lives in keeping with His perfect and holy way that blesses and pleases Him. (See John 3:15; 16:13; Acts 1:8; Revelation 4:11)

Next time we learn how, “the LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knows, and Israel he shall know”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".