Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
accordance with the instructions which Moses had given them with reference to the
war with the Midianites (Num 31:25ff.).
Joshua 22:9-10
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.
On the way home, when the two tribes and a half had reached the border of Canaan,
they built a large conspicuous altar in the district of the Jordan, in the land of Canaan,
i.e., on this side of the Jordan: "a great altar to see to," i.e., one which caught the eye
on account of its size, since it was to serve for a memorial (vv. 24ff.). The definition
appended to Shiloh, "in the land of Canaan" (v. 9), serves to bring out the antithesis
"into the land of Gilead," by which we are to understand the whole of the country to
the east of the Jordan, as in Num 32:29; Deut 34:1; Judg 5:17, etc. no'chaz (OT:270),
both in the form and meaning the same as in Num 32:30, made possessors , i.e.,
settled down. hayarªdeen (OT:3383) gªliylowt (OT:1552), the circles of the Jordan ,
is synonymous with hayarªdeen (OT:3383) kikar (OT:3603) in Gen 13:10, and
signifies that portion of the Ghor which was upon the western side of the Jordan.
Joshua 22:11-12
And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the
children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the
land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
The Israelites (on this side) heard that the tribes in question had built the altar
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