Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
Parallel translations
- WEB Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
- BSB Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel:
- NKJV Then the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the divisions of Israel:
- NASB Then the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the families of Israel.
- NLT Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel:
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The eastern tribes begin their reply to the accusation. It opens their heartfelt defense and explanation.
Overview
Now the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh respond to the charge leveled against them. Their answer will reveal that their motive was the opposite of rebellion. This turning point shows the value of allowing the accused to explain before judgment is rendered.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- Exod 18:21–25Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:
- Prov 16:1The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the LORD.
- Prov 18:13He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
- Prov 15:1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
- Prov 24:26Every man shall kiss his lips that giveth a right answer.
- Mic 5:2But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
- Acts 11:4But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,
- Jas 1:19Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
- 1 Pet 3:15But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 22:21 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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