Bible Commentaries

These chapters form a section by themselves, and give some closing scenes of Joshua's life, as well as his two farewell discourses to the people.

Dismissal of the Two and a Half Tribes. The Axtar set up at Ed, and the Controversy it Raised

1-9. The dismissal of the tribes.

10-34. The controversy at Ed. Here, as in Numbers 25:7-9, we see Phinehas playing a prominent part, and the contrast between the scenes is instructive. Swift, stern, and relentless when occasion demanded, he appears in Numbers as the hero who, by prompt execution of judgment, stayed the plague at Shittim (cp. Psalms 106:30); here, on the other hand, though not unmindful of that crisis (Joshua 22:17), he shows tact and gentleness, and under circumstances of the utmost delicacy and tension, helps to avert a disastrous civil war.

12. At Shiloh] the natural place to assemble for so solemn an undertaking. The idea of the tribes is that their brethren are falling into the sin of apostasy (cp. Joshua 22:16; Leviticus 17:8-9; Deuteronomy 12:5-7), and that therefore it is incumbent on them to enforce the provisions of Deuteronomy 13:12-18. These provisions, however, included a careful and searching investigation (Deuteronomy 13:14) before the declaration of exterminating war upon the offenders.

17. The iniquity of Peor] the occasion of Phinehas' former intervention: see Numbers 25.

22. The Lord God of gods] the original most impressively combines Hebrew names of God: El Elohim Jehovah.