“And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.”
This verse is part of the account of the Israelites’ conquest and division of the Promised Land. After Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River, they engaged in battles to claim various territories. Once most of the land had been divided among the tribes, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh approached Joshua with a special request. They had noticed that the land on the east side of the Jordan River, known as Gilead, was suitable for their livestock. Therefore, they asked for permission to settle in that region rather than in Canaan proper, which was on the west side of the Jordan.
This request might have raised concerns among the other tribes. They might have wondered if the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh were shirking their responsibilities in the conquest or if they were separating themselves from the rest of Israel. The other tribes had fought alongside Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh to conquer the land, so it was important for them to understand the intentions behind this request.
In response to their concern, Joshua assembled the leaders of Israel and praised the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh for their faithfulness and obedience. He acknowledged that they had done their part in helping to conquer the land and then granted them permission to return to their allotted land in Gilead (Joshua 22:21-23).
This verse in Joshua 22:9 marks the departure of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh from the main camp at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They went back across the Jordan River to the region of Gilead, which was the land of their possession. The passage emphasizes that they did so in accordance with the word of the Lord delivered through Moses.
This event highlights the importance of unity among the tribes of Israel. Though the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh settled on the east side of the Jordan River, they remained connected to the other tribes and were committed to fulfilling their duties. It serves as a reminder that even when there are differences or varying roles within a community, unity and cooperation are essential for the overall success and well-being of the group.
Overall, Joshua 22:9 recounts the departure of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh to their allotted land in Gilead and demonstrates the importance of maintaining unity and trust among the tribes of Israel.
