Joshua 22:1-8·~1 min

The Eastern Tribes Return Home

Joshua summons the eastern tribes, praises their obedience and steadiness, and tells them the time has come to return because the LORD has given their brothers rest. Before they go, he presses them to love the LORD and keep His commands with whole hearts.

T¹hen Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh ²and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you. ³All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God. ⁴And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan. ⁵But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Joshua blesses the tribes and sends them home, noting the divided inheritance of Manasseh. He tells them to return with the spoils of war and to share that wealth with their brothers.

⁶So Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way, and they went to their homes. ⁷(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them, ⁸saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

Section summaryJoshua commends the eastern tribes for keeping faith with their brothers through the long campaign and tells them they may now return home. He sends them away with blessing, wealth, and a charge to hold fast to the LORD with full devotion.

Role in the chapterThis opening section closes the eastern tribes' wartime obligation and marks a peaceful transition back to their inheritance. It also frames the rest of the chapter by placing their departure under Joshua's blessing and covenant charge.