God on Both Sides

Joshua 22 and the two sides of the Jordan River.

Welcome to the Daily Bible Chapter. My name is James Leroy Wilson and I invite you to join me as I attempt to read the Bible with fresh eyes, as if I don’t know anything about it, and without consulting experts on what it “really” means. Let’s see where this takes us!

Joshua 22

I’m reading Young’s Literal Translation (YLT) and the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Joshua 22 features a misunderstanding between the Israelites who settled west of the Jordan and those who settled to the east (Reubenites, Gadites, half of Manasseh).

I’m struck by two things.

The first is that Joshua isn’t involved in the dispute. The tribes that Moses had agreed could settle to the east had faithfully joined the majority in conquering Israel before Joshua sent them back with his blessing. Joshua doesn’t protest against the altar the easterners built; he isn’t mentioned at all.

It is others, led by Phinehas, the son of the chief priest Eleasar, who confused the altar memorializing unity to be an altar of sacrifice. He thought the tribes across the Jordan were going to start “doing their own thing” in rebellion against The LORD and the nation as a whole. This would reduce the power and influence of……