I just noticed something about Joshua chapter 22. It contains one single name, a proper name, more times than any other chapter in the whole Bible. That fact alone may shed some light on how to interpret our Text, all 34 verses of Joshua 22.

And that name is Phinehas!

Who?

Phinehas, the High Priest of Israel.

The questionable (at best) act of the Tribes of Reuben and Gad (plus half of Manasseh) in building a makeshift (unauthorized) altar near the Jordan … must be investigated by the leaders of Israel.

So Joshua sent Phinehas, son of Eleazar, grandson of Aaron … to head the enquiring delegation. (“And Eleazar Aaron’s son took him one of the daughters of Putiel to wife; and she bare him PHINEHAS: these are the heads of the fathers of the Levites according to their families.” Exodus 6:25)

Yes, the name Phinehas occurs 4 times in Joshua 22.

The name is a blend of 2 Hebrew words, meaning “mouth of brass!”

Wow!

Joshua 22:13 … “And the children of Israel (led by Joshua) sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, PHINEHAS the son of Eleazar the priest, and with him ten princes ” … as I’ve said, to investigate the newly constructed “altar” situation.

 This fact alone (his being the head of the committee) shows confidence in the man!

Then, after hearing those Tribes’ explanation for building that altar … verses 30-33 mention PHINEHAS and his delegation 3 more times! For example: “When PHINEHAS the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.

These men, led by Phinehas, were satisfied (“pleased”) that no RANK HERESY had been committed. (And with that, I guess no matter how we might feel otherwise, we must be satisfied as well.)

And at least, civil war had been averted.

Nearly the end of the story.

But now, a little more about Phinehas.

One day when Israel was committing open and unashamed adultery with the heathen Midianites (because of Balaam’s unwise, wicked counsel) Phinehas took action!

“And, behold, one of the children of Israel came and brought unto his brethren a Midianitish woman in the sight of Moses, and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping before the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; and he went after the man of Israel into the tent (where they were sinning), and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.” Numbers 25:6-8 … Phinehas clearly hated sin! But, was he too harsh?

“And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of Israel, while he was zealous for my sake among them, that I consumed not the children of Israel in my jealousy.” Numbers 25:10-11, God just gave the man an A+ it seems! Plus now (immediately) two more verses about Phinehas’ zeal for God … “Wherefore say, Behold, I give unto him my covenant of peace: and he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was zealous for his God, and made an atonement for the children of Israel.” Wow!

Phinehas also likely knew of the immediate judgment God had earlier sent on his two uncles (Nadab and Abihu) when they offered “strange fire” on the altar, Leviticus 10:1-7. Thus even more, he well may have had a “fear” of sin.

I have begun (rather inadvertently) a character study of this man, Phinehas, haven’t I?

He may even be the person (a hero indeed) the prophet Malachi had in mind here, preaching to the terribly sinful priests of his day … “And now, O ye priests (of Malachi’s time), this commandment is for you. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory unto my name, saith the LORD of hosts, I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will corrupt your seed, and spread dung upon your faces, even the dung of your solemn feasts; and one shall take you away with it. And ye shall know that I have sent this commandment unto you, that my covenant might be with Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. My covenant was with him of life and peace; and I gave them to him for the fear wherewith he feared me, and was afraid before my name. The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. For the priest’s lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts.” Malachi 2:1-8, that heritage (the godly Levite in Malachi had in mind) well could have been Phinehas!

If I ever preach through the book of Joshua (its highlights) … I certainly want to include this chapter (and Phinehas) in the Series!

A healthy hatred of sin!

Yet apparently, a love (tolerance) for his brethren in the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I see here a Grandson being more religiously vigorous (diligent) than his Grandfather! Aaron allowed Israel to sin in the golden calf incident! Phinehas stopped Israel from sinning in the Midianite incident … and carefully investigated for sin in the 2 1/2 tribes (altar) incident!

Thrilling!

 

“And he (Joshua) spake unto them (the Tribes of Reuben and Gad and half of Manasseh), saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.” Joshua 22:8

Yes, even though the men (soldiers) of the 2 1/2 Tribes who did NOT choose to live in the Promised Land returned to their homes (their wives and families) east of Jordan … they were awarded their share of the “spoils” of war, the “gatherings” (“booty”) of seven years of battle!

Joshua to those men: “Return with MUCH RICHES unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.”

Wow!

God had previously allowed (legislated) this benefit (this perk) to the people of Israel … as per Numbers 31:26-27. “Take the sum of the prey that was taken, both of man and of beast, thou, and Eleazar the priest, and the chief fathers of the congregation: and divide the prey into two parts; between them that took the war upon them, who went out to battle, and between all the congregation.”

These (apparently vast) holdings (their portion of them anyway) are now being meted to the 2 1/2 Tribes. In today’s Verse, our Text, I mean. After all, these men had left their families and cattle behind (across the Jordan, just short of the Land God granted the whole Nation) and had fought for the other 9 1/2 tribes, helping them conquer their lands!

God is so good!

“The men are coming back home,” so thought the wives and boys and girls of these 2 1/2 Tribes (again, Reuben and Gad and half of Manasseh) … with lots of riches too!

Yes, (elderly) Moms and Dads and (juvenile) Sons and Daughters would get to share in the riches as well! Even the men who could not fight (due to disabilities or old age, etc.) would get a share!

Wow!

To this degree … and in a specific use of the Law of Moses … “As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike.” 1 Samuel 30:24

Look … the man (the solider, warrior) who risked his life and fought gallantly … of course, will be rewarded with the spoils!

But now we learn … those who stayed home “by the stuff” (taking care of the non-military things there) will be rewarded too, equally rewarded!

Astounding!

And the point to this Lesson today?

Simply this. Ponder this Truth with me, please.

The missionary (spiritual warrior) who goes to a foreign field (for example) and “fights the good fight of faith” … will be rewarded by Jesus (of course) at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Certainly!

But the people who stay behind (keeping home base strong), financially supporting that missionary or faithfully praying for him … will be rewarded as well, having “stayed by the stuff!” Will be (looks like) equally rewarded!

This is true (I believe) for those who stay by an Evangelist’s side, as well!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

I just noticed a great “summary” verse in Joshua 22, that being verse 5 specifically.

Joshua the General of the army of Israel is dismissing some of his “troops” … the seven year war for Canaan being virtually over.

His “commission” to them:

“But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Again, this is Joshua 22:5, King James Version.

The expression “diligent heed” translates two words, “meod” (meaning “exceedingly, mightily, greatly, abundantly”) and “shamar” (meaning “guardianship, watchcare, awareness”).

With all one’s being, 100% dedication!

The nouns “commandment” and “law” both refer to what we now call “the Word of God!” Of necessity here the Old Testament is in view, of course!

And the verb “charged” means “ordered,” spelled “tzsavah.”

Then today’s Lesson … today’s verse …

Five verbs, action words!

” … to LOVE the Lord your God, and to WALK in all his ways, and to KEEP his commandments, and to CLEAVE unto him, and to SERVE him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Wow!

“Ahab” (“to love”) means with passion, deeply felt in one’s soul!

“Yalak” (“to walk”) includes all times of life, 24/7 it’s called these days! To behave properly!

“”Shamar” (” to keep”) means here I think “to obey.” Not to neglect!

“”Dabaq” (” to cleave”) means “to cling, to be glued, be joined, to follow hard (close by)” all one’s days!

And “abad” (“to serve”) means “to obey one’s Master as if His slave!”

Wow!

What a verse to learn!

“But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

The Godly life in summary!

In the New Testament, is there a parallel?

Maybe … “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Or Jesus’ Words … “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” Mark 12:30

But I still wonder if our text today might not say it most succinctly of all!

One more time … “But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to LOVE the Lord your God, and to WALK in all his ways, and to KEEP his commandments, and to CLEAVE unto him, and to SERVE him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Today’s Lesson might be an example of Bible hermeneutics, the study and practice of “interpretation.” From Joshua 22, next in line in our short journey through this key Old Testament Book of history.

I’d like to ask each of you to read the entire chapter (all 34 verses) when you can. It tells a story. I just can’t decide (yet) if it’s a good story or a bad story!

Truthfully I have mixed feelings, conflicting ideas, about the event being described here.

I have for years been suspicious of the 2 1/2 tribes of Israel who would NOT claim their inheritance on the west side of Jordan, in the actual “Promised Land!” (Those being Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh.)

Looks to me like they “fell short” or did not want the “inconvenience” of following God fully!

And even though God allowed them this concession, it was NOT His Idea, not originally, not by a long shot!

Even now I am thinking of Psalm 106:15. “And he (the Lord) gave them (Israel) their request; but sent leanness (a wasting away) into their soul.“ Wow, keep “pestering” God and He may just “give” you want you’re wanting (lusting after) … but in the process send “leaness” to you very soul!

Yes, the soldiers of the 2 1/2 tribes were required to accompany their brethren across Jordan and help fight to expel the enemies, in the REAL Promised Land. But these folk’s families and possessions stayed behind!

And now in Joshua chapter 22 (our text again tomorrow) we see (I sense) another problem caused by these Tribes’ lethargy, by their “short-cut” mentality.

(It is just I can’t find a commentator or scholar yet to agree with what I “sense” in my heart and soul.)

Our verse today: “Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar.” Joshua 22:26, they wanted to build themselves an altar, far away from Jerusalem!

An altar just like (patterned after) the One in front of the Tabernacle!

It just sounds suspicious to me.

DO NOT TAMPER WITH GOD’S MODE OF WORSHIP!

If I am right, all this “extra-Mosaic legislation” (man-made doing) stems from not being willing to go all the way to Jerusalem to worship as God had clearly prescribed.

More tomorrow, but in the mean time … today please obey God fully!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

“And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand. There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:44-45

The ending sentences of Joshua chapter 21 can be summarized like this: GOD IS FAITHFUL!

The word “rest” is “nuach” in Hebrew, meaning “to be quiet,” in a peaceful, serene sense. (It is the root for the word, the proper name Noah!)

The verb “to swear” literally means “to say seven times!” (All God need do is say something once, but to set our minds at ease He often “swears” or “promises” something.)

God essentially took care of Israel’s enemies. He can do the same for us, really. Remember the prayer Moses voiced every day: “Rise up, LORD, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.” Numbers 10:35

There’s coming yet another day (in the future as I write these words) when God will “scatter” Israel’s growing number of enemies! I’m thinking of Passages like Ezekiel 38 and 39 or Revelation 19.

Then the Holy Spirit wrote that glorious last line of chapter 21. “There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.” What a record!

God kept ALL His Promises!

Reminds me of Hebrews 13:8 … “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”

And the words of the old song: “What He has done for others, He will do for you!”

Thank God this week for His Consistency, Dependability, Steadfastness … same as His FAITHFULNESS in your life, dear Christian friend.

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell