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The Scriptorium

Eastern Tribes Dismissed

Joshua sends the eastern tribes home with commendation, reminder, and blessing.

Joshua 22 (1)

Read Joshua 22.1-9.

Reflect.
1.  Why were the eastern tribes being dismissed? What charge does Joshua lay on them? 

2.  How can you see in Joshua’s charge a kind of reprise of themes we have seen in this book so far?

Think about it.
The work of conqueringthe land is finished, although much remains to be done in settlingit. Nevertheless, Joshua determined that the eastern tribes – Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh – have fulfilled their duty. So he dismisses them with his blessing, and with a charge that reminds us of the opening chapters of this book. The writer of the book of Joshua is never very far away from his main point.

Joshua, at least, has not lost sight of what God had spoken to him. As we shall see, the people were beginning to waver even during his lifetime, so a reminder of God’s calling to the nation was most appropriate here. Love the Lord your God. Keep His commandments. Serve Him “with all your heart and with all your soul.” Go with His blessings.

God lavished wealth and possessions on the eastern tribes with which to rejoin their families and begin to settle their own allotments and all their cities and villages. We can only imagine the joy and rejoicing with which they must have returned to their lands. 

Meditate and discuss.
1.  Joshua publicly commended the eastern tribes. Was that a good idea?  

2.  How can you see that Joshua kept the Lord in the forefront of this dismissal? How many different ways did he point the people to the Lord?

3.  Do you think it’s a good idea, whenever we commend someone for a job well done, to include with that commendation a reminder of God’s role in it and of His ongoing requirements? Explain.

“He thus releases and frees them from temporary service, that he may bind them for ever to the authority of the one true God. He therefore permits them to return home, but on the condition that wherever they may be they are to be the soldiers of God; and he at the same time prescribes the mode, namely, the observance of his Law.” John Calvin, Commentary on Joshua (1509-1564 AD)

Lord, I belong to You, and Your promises belong to me! Help me to gain more of Your precious and very great promises as I…

Pray Psalm 44.1-8.

As you pray, ask the Lord to bring to mind victories and blessings He has provided for you recently. Praise and thank Him for them, and commit yourself to Him anew.

Psalm 44.1-8, 23-26 (Faithfulness: Great is Thy Faithfulness)
O God our ears have heard, ancients have taught us, 
All that You did for them long years ago, 
How by Your hand You defeated the nations, 
And to the promised land let Israel go.
Refrain vv. 23-26
Rise up, awake, O Lord! Hide not Your face from us, 
See our affliction, our suffering and pain!
See how our soul is sunk down with oppression; 
Rise up and help and redeem us we pray!

Not by their sword did they drive out the nations; 
Not by their arm did they settle the land.
Your saving mercy and light triumphed for them:
Victories for us, our King, please now command.
Refrain

Through You shall we all our enemies vanquish; 
Them will we trample in Your mighty Name.
We will not trust in our strength or our wisdom;
Jesus will save us; we’ll boast of His fame!
Refrain


T. M. Moore

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Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click hereAnd when you order, we’ll send you a free copy of Bricks and Rungs: Poems on Calling.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).

T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He and his wife, Susie, make their home in the Champlain Valley of Vermont.
Books by T. M. Moore

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