Keraia
Joshua 22

Joshua 22:20

The Altar of Witness · Joshua 22:9–34
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Translations

Modern
Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”
Traditional
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.
Literal
Did not Achan son of Zerah act unfaithfully—an unfaithfulness—with the devoted thing, so that wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? And not only he, one man, perished in his iniquity.’”
Latin
Nonne Achan filius Zare præteriit mandatum Domini, et super omnem populum Israël ira ejus incubuit? et ille erat unus homo, atque utinam solum periisset in scelere suo.

Original

Hebrew
English
Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”

Notes

Joshua 22:20

Achan: See chapter 7. The group of chiefs from the western tribes feared that Achan's sin and its consequences might happen again.

Joshua 22:15–20

The direct statements and questions of the group of ten chiefs guaranteed that God's anger did not fall on the nation because of rebellion, like Achan's incident or the event at Peor (7:1–15; Numbers 25).

Joshua 22:10–20

Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built their own altar, which caused a conflict with the rest of Israel.

Joshua 22:1–34

Joshua first said goodbye to the tribes east of the Jordan River when he sent them home. As usual, he urged them to remain loyal to God.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Altars

People

Achan: An Israelite who stole devoted things, causing Israel's defeat Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Zerah: Son of Judah, twin of Perez

Glossary

Ammon, Ammonites Edh Gad, Tribe of Joshua, Book of Manasseh, Tribe of Phinehas Shiloh Tribe of Dan Witness, Altar of Zerah

Topics

Achan: Sin and Punishment of Fear of God: The Nine and One-Half Tribes of Israel West of the Jordan River Government: Executive officers of Tribes and Cities Haste in Judgment, by Moses and the Israelites Misjudgment of the Reubenites and Gadites Motive: Misunderstood: when They Built the Memorial Phinehas: Sent Prudence: The Israelites, in the Threatened War with the Two and One-Half Tribes Religious Zeal in Punishing Evil People: Israelites Reproof: Faithfulness in Israelites, of the Two and One-Half Tribes Reubenites: Unite with the Other Tribes in Building a Monument the Tribe of Gad: Assisted in Building the Altar of Witness Which Excited The the Tribe of Reuben: Assisted in Building the Altar of Witness Which offended The Uncharitableness: The Tribes West of the Jordan River Toward the Two and a Half Tribes War: Averted War: Counsels of