Joshua 22:4
And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
The timing of this dismissal corresponds to Joshua 14:10, which indicates approximately seven years elapsed since Kadesh Barnea. The major Canaanite coalitions were defeated (southern campaign Joshua 10; northern campaign Joshua 11), though mopping-up operations would continue (Joshua 13:1-7 notes much land remained unconquered). The strategic military victory allowed tribal settlement even while localized conflicts continued. The Transjordan territory—conquered from Sihon king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan (Numbers 21:21-35)—was already developed with existing cities and agricultural infrastructure. Unlike western Canaan requiring clearance and settlement, the eastern territory was ready for immediate occupation. The dismissal occurred from Shiloh, where the tabernacle was established (Joshua 18:1), approximately 20 miles north of Jerusalem and 40 miles from the Jordan River.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you discern when God has brought sufficient 'rest' to move from one season of service to the next He's prepared for you?
- What possessions or callings that God has given you are you neglecting while pursuing obligations that He's already fulfilled?
- How does understanding 'rest' as God-given (not self-achieved) change your approach to work-life balance and the transition between ministry seasons?
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Analysis & Commentary
And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
The word "rest" (heniach, הֵנִיחַ) comes from nuach (נוּחַ), meaning to settle, be quiet, or cease from warfare. This rest fulfills God's explicit promise in Deuteronomy 3:20: "Until the LORD have given rest unto your brethren." The conquest phase is complete enough that the condition for their release is met. This "rest" is partial—localized peace allowing settlement, not the permanent eschatological rest Hebrews 4 describes. Yet it represents substantial fulfillment of covenant promises.
The phrase "therefore now return" (ve'atah shuvu, וְעַתָּה שׁוּבוּ) uses shuv (שׁוּב), the rich Hebrew word meaning to turn back, return, or restore. Their return isn't retreat or abandonment but rightful inheritance of what God promised. "Get you unto your tents" refers to their family dwellings—after years of military tents, they can return to domestic life. The phrase "land of your possession" (eretz achuzatkhem, אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶם) uses achuzah (אֲחֻזָּה), meaning inherited property or permanent holding—not temporary residence but ancestral inheritance for their descendants.