Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version The LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the LORD.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. New Living Translation The LORD has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no claim to the LORD.’ So your descendants may prevent our descendants from worshiping the LORD. English Standard Version For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the LORD. Berean Standard Bible For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. Berean Literal Bible For YHWH a border has given between us and between you⁺, sons of Reuben and sons of Gad—the Jordan. To you⁺ is no portion in YHWH.’ And your⁺ sons would make our sons cease from fearing YHWH. King James Bible For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. New King James Version For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between you and us, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no part in the LORD.” So your descendants would make our descendants cease fearing the LORD.’ New American Standard Bible For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no portion in the LORD.” So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the LORD.’ NASB 1995 “For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no portion in the LORD.” So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the LORD.’ NASB 1977 “For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no portion in the LORD.” So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the LORD.’ Legacy Standard Bible And Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no portion in Yahweh.” So your sons may make our sons stop fearing Yahweh.’ Amplified Bible For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; you have no part in the LORD.” So your sons (descendants) may cause our sons to stop fearing the LORD.’ Berean Annotated Bible For the LORD {YHWH} has made the Jordan (flowing down) a border between us and you⁺ Reubenites (behold a son) and Gadites (troop). You⁺ have no share in the LORD! So your⁺ descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. Christian Standard Bible For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you descendants of Reuben and Gad. You have no share in the LORD! ’ So your descendants may cause our descendants to stop fearing the LORD. Holman Christian Standard Bible For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you descendants of Reuben and Gad. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants may cause our descendants to stop fearing the LORD.” American Standard Version for Jehovah hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in Jehovah: so might your children make our children cease from fearing Jehovah. English Revised Version for the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. GOD'S WORD® Translation The LORD has made the Jordan River a dividing line between us and you, the descendants of Reuben and Gad. You have no connection with the LORD!' So your descendants would stop our descendants from worshiping the LORD. Good News Translation He made the Jordan a boundary between us and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have nothing to do with the LORD.' Then your descendants might make our descendants stop worshiping the LORD. International Standard Version The LORD has established the Jordan River to be a territorial border between us and you. descendants of Reuben and descendants of Gad have no allotment from the LORD." So your descendants may cause our descendants to stop fearing the LORD.' NET Bible The LORD made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no right to worship the LORD.' In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying the LORD. New Heart English Bible For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD."' So your children might make our children cease from fearing the LORD. Webster's Bible Translation For the LORD hath made Jordan a boundary between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD. So shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleFor the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. World English Bible For Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no portion in Yahweh.”’ So your children might make our children cease from fearing Yahweh. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionFor YHWH has put a border between us and you, O sons of Reuben, and sons of Gad—Jordan; you have no portion in YHWH—and your sons have caused our sons to cease, not to fear YHWH. Berean Literal Bible For YHWH a border has given between us and between you⁺, sons of Reuben and sons of Gad—the Jordan. To you⁺ is no portion in YHWH.’ And your⁺ sons would make our sons cease from fearing YHWH. Young's Literal Translation for a border hath Jehovah put between us and you, O sons of Reuben, and sons of Gad -- Jordan; ye have no portion in Jehovah -- and your sons have caused our sons to cease, not to fear Jehovah. Smith's Literal Translation Jehovah gave the bound of our sons and your sons, ye sons of Reuben and sons of Gad; Jordan not to you a part in Jehovah. And your sons caused our sons to cease from fearing Jehovah. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleThe Lord hath put the river Jordan for a border between us and you, O ye children of Ruben, and ye children of Gad: and therefore you have no part in the Lord. And by this occasion you children shall turn away our children from the fear of the Lord. We therefore thought, it best, Catholic Public Domain Version The Lord has stationed the river Jordan as the border between us and you, O sons of Reuben, O sons of Gad. And therefore, you have no part in the Lord.’ And by this occasion, your sons would turn away our sons from the fear of the Lord. And so we sought something better, New American Bible For the LORD has placed the Jordan as a boundary between you and us, you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD.’ Thus your children would prevent ours from revering the LORD. New Revised Standard Version For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites; you have no portion in the LORD.’ So your children might make our children cease to worship the LORD. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleFor the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you; now therefore you have no part in the LORD; so in time to come shall your children make our children cease from worshipping the LORD. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Behold LORD JEHOVAH put the border between us and you, this Jordan, therefore there is not a portion for you in LORD JEHOVAH the God of Israel, and your children of tomorrow shall prevent our children that they would not worship LORD JEHOVAH” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917for the LORD hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in the LORD; so might your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. Brenton Septuagint Translation Whereas the Lord has set boundaries between us and you, even Jordan, and ye have no portion in the Lord: so your sons shall alienate our sons, that they should not worship the Lord. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Offensive Altar…24But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. 26That is why we said, ‘Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.… Cross References For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. Deuteronomy 3:18-20 At that time I commanded you: “The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor are to cross over, armed for battle, ahead of your brothers, the Israelites. / But your wives, your children, and your livestock—I know that you have much livestock—may remain in the cities I have given you, / until the LORD gives rest to your brothers as He has to you, and they too have taken possession of the land that the LORD your God is giving them across the Jordan. Then each of you may return to the possession I have given you.” Joshua 1:14-15 Your wives, your young children, and your livestock may remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your mighty men of valor must be armed for battle to cross over ahead of your brothers and help them, / until the LORD gives them rest as He has done for you, and your brothers also possess the land that the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may return to the land of your inheritance and take possession of that which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the east side of the Jordan.” Numbers 32:33 So Moses gave to the Gadites, to the Reubenites, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the land including its cities and the territory surrounding them. You have no share in the LORD!’ Numbers 18:20 Then the LORD said to Aaron, “You will have no inheritance in their land, nor will you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the Israelites. Deuteronomy 10:9 That is why Levi has no portion or inheritance among his brothers; the LORD is his inheritance, as the LORD your God promised him. 1 Samuel 26:19 Now please, may my lord the king hear the words of his servant: If the LORD has stirred you up against me, then may He accept an offering. But if men have done it, may they be cursed in the presence of the LORD! For today they have driven me away from sharing in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. Judges 2:10-13 After that whole generation had also been gathered to their fathers, another generation rose up who did not know the LORD or the works that He had done for Israel. / And the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals. / Thus they forsook the LORD, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and they followed after various gods of the peoples around them. They bowed down to them and provoked the LORD to anger, … Deuteronomy 13:6-10 If your very own brother, or your son or daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your closest friend secretly entices you, saying, “Let us go and worship other gods” (which neither you nor your fathers have known, / the gods of the peoples around you, whether near or far, whether from one end of the earth or the other), / you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. … Deuteronomy 6:12-15 be careful not to forget the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. / Fear the LORD your God, serve Him only, and take your oaths in His name. / Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you. … Numbers 32:19 Yet we will not have an inheritance with them across the Jordan and beyond, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.” Deuteronomy 12:5-7 Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. / To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks. / There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you. Judges 5:16-17 Why did you sit among the sheepfolds to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the clans of Reuben there was great indecision. / Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you linger by the ships? Asher stayed at the coast and remained in his harbors. 2 Kings 17:21 When the LORD had torn Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat king, and Jeroboam led Israel away from following the LORD and caused them to commit a great sin. 2 Chronicles 10:19 So to this day Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David. Psalm 78:9-11 The archers of Ephraim turned back on the day of battle. / They failed to keep God’s covenant and refused to live by His law. / They forgot what He had done, the wonders He had shown them. Isaiah 7:17 The LORD will bring on you and on your people and on the house of your father a time unlike any since the day Ephraim separated from Judah—He will bring the king of Assyria.” Treasury of Scripture For the LORD has made Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad; you have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. ye have Joshua 22:27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. 2 Samuel 20:1 And there happened to be there a man of Belial, whose name was Sheba, the son of Bichri, a Benjamite: and he blew a trumpet, and said, We have no part in David, neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel. 1 Kings 12:16 So when all Israel saw that the king hearkened not unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? neither have we inheritance in the son of Jesse: to your tents, O Israel: now see to thine own house, David. So Israel departed unto their tents. make 1 Samuel 26:19 Now therefore, I pray thee, let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If the LORD have stirred thee up against me, let him accept an offering: but if they be the children of men, cursed be they before the LORD; for they have driven me out this day from abiding in the inheritance of the LORD, saying, Go, serve other gods. 1 Kings 12:27-30 If this people go up to do sacrifice in the house of the LORD at Jerusalem, then shall the heart of this people turn again unto their lord, even unto Rehoboam king of Judah, and they shall kill me, and go again to Rehoboam king of Judah… 1 Kings 14:16 And he shall give Israel up because of the sins of Jeroboam, who did sin, and who made Israel to sin. Jump to Previous Border Boundary Cause Cease Children Descendants Jordan Ours Part Portion Reuben Reubenites Share Worship YouJump to Next Border Boundary Cause Cease Children Descendants Jordan Ours Part Portion Reuben Reubenites Share Worship YouJoshua 22 1. The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home,10. They build the altar of testimony in their journey 11. The Israelites are offended thereat 21. They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. This phrase highlights the geographical division established by the Jordan River, which served as a natural boundary between the tribes settling on the east and west sides. The Reubenites and Gadites, along with the half-tribe of Manasseh, chose to settle east of the Jordan (Numbers 32:1-5). This decision was made with Moses' approval, provided they assisted in the conquest of Canaan. The Jordan River, therefore, became a significant marker of tribal territories. Theologically, this boundary was seen as divinely ordained, emphasizing God's sovereignty in the allocation of the Promised Land. The division also foreshadows later tensions between the tribes, as seen in this passage, where concerns about unity and shared worship arise. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD. Persons / Places / Events 1. Reubenites and GaditesThese are two of the tribes of Israel who settled on the eastern side of the Jordan River. They are central to the discussion in this passage as they are being addressed by the other tribes of Israel. 2. Jordan River A significant geographical and symbolic boundary in the account. It represents a division between the tribes on the east and west sides. 3. The LORD (Yahweh) The covenant God of Israel, whose commands and promises are central to the identity and unity of the Israelite tribes. 4. The Altar of Witness Built by the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh as a witness between them and the other tribes, signifying their shared worship of Yahweh despite the physical separation. 5. Phinehas The son of Eleazar the priest, who plays a key role in mediating the potential conflict between the tribes by investigating the intentions behind the altar. Teaching Points Unity in DiversityThe tribes of Israel, though separated by the Jordan, are called to maintain unity in their worship and fear of the LORD. This teaches us the importance of unity in the body of Christ, despite physical or denominational differences. The Importance of Intentions The Reubenites and Gadites built the altar with good intentions as a witness, not for sacrifice. This reminds us to seek understanding and clarity in others' actions before jumping to conclusions. Fear of the LORD The concern was that separation might lead to a loss of reverence for God. We must ensure that nothing in our lives causes us or others to lose the fear of the LORD. Mediation and Reconciliation Phinehas' role as a mediator highlights the importance of seeking peaceful resolutions and understanding in conflicts within the community of believers. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 22:25?2. How does Joshua 22:25 warn against creating divisions among God's people today? 3. What role does fear play in the actions described in Joshua 22:25? 4. How can we ensure our actions align with God's will, unlike in Joshua 22:25? 5. Compare Joshua 22:25 with Ephesians 4:3 on maintaining unity. What insights emerge? 6. How can we prevent misunderstandings like those in Joshua 22:25 in our church? 7. What historical context led to the division mentioned in Joshua 22:25? 8. How does Joshua 22:25 address the theme of unity among the tribes of Israel? 9. What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Joshua 22:25? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 22? 11. Where is the historical or archaeological evidence of this altar mentioned in Joshua 22:10, considering its significance to the nation's unity? 12. How do we reconcile the building of a separate altar in Joshua 22:10 with earlier commands to worship at one central sanctuary? 13. If the eastern tribes truly risked idolatry, as it appears in Joshua 22:16-18, why does the narrative not record any divine punishment or sign to confirm the seriousness of the offense? 14. How does Joshua 22 align with other passages that mandate a single place of worship (e.g., Deuteronomy 12), and why is there no mention of God's direct intervention here? What Does Joshua 22:25 Mean For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between usThe men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh know that God Himself set geography in place. • Numbers 34:12 records the Jordan as God’s chosen eastern boundary for Canaan. • Joshua 1:2 shows the Lord commanding Israel to cross the river into their inheritance; by implication, what lay east was outside that promised territory. Because God drew this line, it carried covenant weight. The tribes feared that later generations on the west side might forget the divine origin of the boundary and treat it merely as a political line rather than a God-ordained marker. between us and you Reubenites and Gadites Naming the eastern tribes highlights the human reality that physical distance can breed relational distance. • Deuteronomy 3:12-17 details Moses giving Reuben and Gad the Transjordan land, making their settlement legitimate yet separate. • Joshua 22:7-8 underscores that separation again when Joshua blesses them and sends them home. The concern is not rivalry but erosion of unity: Israel is one nation under one covenant, yet the river could become a psychological barrier. The altar they built (Joshua 22:10) was meant as a witness to oneness, not rebellion. You have no share in the LORD! This is the nightmare scenario the eastern tribes want to prevent. • Deuteronomy 12:5-14 commands worship at the place God chooses; if the western tribes later claim that only landholders west of the Jordan can approach that place, the eastern tribes would be cut off from corporate worship. • 2 Chronicles 15:2 reminds Israel, “The LORD is with you when you are with Him.” Being told they have "no share" would imply covenant exclusion and loss of God’s presence. Thus the altar of witness testifies that the eastern tribes do, in fact, share in the LORD—standing as a perpetual rebuttal to any future accusation. So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD The chief danger is spiritual drift. If one generation questions another’s covenant status, the next may: • stop traveling to the tabernacle (Joshua 18:1) or later the temple, neglecting prescribed sacrifices (Leviticus 17:8-9), • abandon mutual accountability (Joshua 24:14-27), • eventually adopt the idolatry of surrounding nations (Judges 2:10-12). “Fearing the LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:13) means revering, trusting, and obeying Him. Anything that blocks access to collective worship threatens that healthy fear, and the eastern tribes act proactively to safeguard their children’s faith. summary Joshua 22:25 captures the eastern tribes’ anxiety that a God-given geographic boundary might one day be twisted into a spiritual barrier. By erecting an altar of witness, they affirm that the Jordan marks territory, not covenant participation. The verse teaches that when God’s people allow physical or cultural differences to question each other’s standing, future generations risk losing reverence for the LORD. Vigilant remembrance of shared faith is essential to preserving unity and true worship. Hebrew For the LORDיְ֠הוָה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel has made נָֽתַן־ (nā·ṯan-) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 5414: To give, put, set the Jordan הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן (hay·yar·dên) Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular Strong's 3383: Jordan -- the principal river of Palestine a border וּגְב֣וּל (ū·ḡə·ḇūl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1366: A cord, a boundary, the territory inclosed between us בֵּינֵ֨נוּ (bê·nê·nū) Preposition | first person common plural Strong's 996: An interval, space between and you— וּבֵינֵיכֶ֜ם (ū·ḇê·nê·ḵem) Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's 996: An interval, space between you Reubenites רְאוּבֵ֤ן (rə·’ū·ḇên) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7205: Reuben -- 'behold a son!' oldest son of Jacob, also his desc and Gadites. גָד֙ (ḡāḏ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 1410: Gad -- a son of Jacob, also his tribe and its territory, also a prophet You have no אֵין־ (’ên-) Adverb Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle share חֵ֖לֶק (ḥê·leq) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2506: Portion, tract, territory in the LORD!’ בַּֽיהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh) Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel So your descendants וּבְנֵי־ (ū·ḇə·nê-) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 1121: A son could cause בְנֵיכֶם֙ (ḇə·nê·ḵem) Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural Strong's 1121: A son ours בָּנֵ֔ינוּ (bā·nê·nū) Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural Strong's 1121: A son to stop וְהִשְׁבִּ֤יתוּ (wə·hiš·bî·ṯū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common plural Strong's 7673: To repose, desist from exertion fearing יְרֹ֥א (yə·rō) Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten the LORD. יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Links Joshua 22:25 NIVJoshua 22:25 NLT Joshua 22:25 ESV Joshua 22:25 NASB Joshua 22:25 KJV Joshua 22:25 BibleApps.com Joshua 22:25 Biblia Paralela Joshua 22:25 Chinese Bible Joshua 22:25 French Bible Joshua 22:25 Catholic Bible OT History: Joshua 22:25 For Yahweh has made the Jordan (Josh. 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