Joshua 22:6
So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient military discharge ceremonies involved formal recognition, division of spoils, and authoritative release from obligation. Joshua's blessing established that the Transjordan tribes departed with honor, not as deserters or covenant breakers. The journey from Shiloh to Transjordan crossed the Jordan River valley and ascended the eastern highlands—approximately 40-60 miles depending on destination. After seven years of military campaigns, these men returned as veterans to families who had maintained farms, raised children, and defended settlements in their absence. The reunion would have been bittersweet—joy at return tempered by grief for casualties who fell in Canaan's conquest. Archaeological evidence from this period (Late Bronze/Early Iron I transition, c. 1400-1200 BCE) shows settlement expansion in Transjordan, consistent with biblical chronology of tribal establishment.
Questions for Reflection
- Who in your spiritual community needs your blessing and affirmation as they transition to new seasons of service or life?
- How do you handle endings and transitions—with gratitude and blessing, or with unexpressed resentment or premature detachment?
- What does it mean to bless those you've served alongside, especially when their departure creates inconvenience or loss for you personally?
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Analysis & Commentary
So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
The blessing (barak, בָּרַךְ) was more than well-wishes—it invoked divine favor and prosperity on their journey and future. Ancient Near Eastern blessings carried covenantal weight, pronouncing God's goodness on those departing. Joshua, as God's appointed leader, functioned in priestly capacity, speaking God's benediction over faithful servants. The act of blessing before departure appears throughout Scripture (Genesis 24:60; Numbers 6:24-26), expressing both gratitude and intercession.
The phrase "sent them away" (shalach, שָׁלַח) means to release, dispatch, or send forth with purpose. This wasn't dismissal but commissioning to their inheritance. The repetition "and they went unto their tents" emphasizes the completion of their military obligation—they transition from warriors to settlers, from temporary military camps to permanent family dwellings. The simplicity of the statement belies the emotional weight: reunions with wives, children grown unrecognized, parents aged or deceased.