Not only had the Lord kept His promises to Israel, but Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh had kept their promise as well (Num. 32:25–32). It was time for them to cross the Jordan and join their families.
神不仅遵守了祂对以色列的承诺，流便、迦得和玛拿西半个支派也遵守了自己的诺言（民32:25-32）。这是他们再过约旦河，与家人团圆的时候了。
Joshua commended them for their faithful service, something that all of us should do for those who have ministered well (1 Thess. 5:12–13). He also commanded them to obey the Lord and serve Him sincerely. Finally, he cautioned them not to become selfish but to share the spoils with their brethren. Perhaps Achan came to mind as Joshua spoke to them.
约书亚因他们忠心的事奉称赞他们，这也是我们应该对那些忠心服侍的弟兄姊妹所做的事（帖前5:12-13）。约书亚也吩咐他们要顺服主，并真诚侍奉祂。最后，约书亚告诫他们不要自私，要把从仇敌夺来的物与弟兄分享。当约书亚与他们说这番话时，他或许想起了亚干。
The land was at rest, but the eastern tribes were restless because the Jordan River separated them from their brethren. Would their children grow up and think they were not truly Israelites? They should have considered that when they set the boundary!
地得享安息了，但东部的支派却焦躁不安，因为约旦河使他们与他们的弟兄分隔。当孩子们长大后，他们是否会认为自己不是真正的以色列人呢？这是他们在划定界线前就应该考虑的事！
The building of the altar was at first misunderstood as a declaration of war, but then it became a witness of peace and unity. It is too bad when God’s people are forced to manufacture evidence to bear witness of their unity. Before you declare war on the brethren, stop to find out what is going on. Maybe you agree after all! Ponder Proverbs 18:13 and James 3:13–18.
祭坛的建立起初被误解为宣战的象征，但后来却成了和平与团结的见证。神的子民竟被迫制造证据作他们团结的见证，真是悲哀。在你向弟兄宣战之前，请先停下脚步来查清到底发生了什么事。也许你们并无异议！请思考箴言18:3和雅各书3:13-18的话。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- We have just entered the last major division of the Book of Joshua. The book of Joshua can be divided into 1) Entering the land (chapters 1–4); 2) Taking the land (chapters 5–12); 3) Possessing the land (chapters 13–21); and finally 4) retaining the land (chapters 22–24). Each of these last three chapters begins when Joshua summons (Hebrew, qara’) Israel (22:1; 23:2; 24:1). Thus the book closes with three assemblies of the people of God. Remember that all this immediately follows the heavy theological text, 21:43–45, which emphatically underscores Yahweh’s fidelity to His promise. By contrast, chapters 22–24 are preoccupied with the theme of Israel’s fidelity to Yahweh (22:5, 16, 18, 19, 25, 29, 31; 23:6, 8, 11; 24:14–15, 16, 18, 21, 23, 24). Hence the last three chapters constitute the writer’s major application: Israel must respond in kind to Yahweh’s unwavering faithfulness. “Are you faithful to this faithful God?” was the question Joshua asked the people. Let’s pray that our response is a resounding yes.
我们已来到了约书亚记最后的一部。约书亚记可分为1)进入土地（1-4章）；2)夺下土地（5-12章）；3)占领土地（13-21章）；4)保守土地（22-24章）。而最后的三个篇章皆以约书亚传召（希伯来文：加拉）以色列作开头（22:1;23:2; 24:1）。因此，本书便是以神子民的三次聚集作总结。要记得，紧跟着这一切的是一段沉重的神学篇幅，即23:43-45，其强调的是耶和华忠于自己的诺言。相比之下，22-24章讲述的要点是以色列对耶和华的忠诚（22:5, 16, 18, 19, 25, 29, 31; 23:6, 8, 11; 24:14-15, 16, 18, 21, 23，24）。因此，笔者在最后三个篇章要传达的是：以色列必须对耶和华不变的信实作出同样的回应。“你是否忠于这位信实的神？”这就是约书亚问百姓的问题。让我们祈祷我们的答案是正面、坚定的。
- In the few verses of this chapter, we find a gracious commendation of the two-and-a-half eastern tribes on the part of Joshua (vv. 1–8). Joshua’s commendation for obedience (vv. 1–4) precedes an exhortation to fidelity (v. 5) and a direction regarding generosity (vv. 6, 7b–8). How beautiful such obedience is! It should remind all of God’s people that it is possible not to sin (1 John 2:1). No one knows the virility of sin like the saints of God, and sometimes in our struggle with sin we can wearily come to think that we are doomed to lose the fight. We need the right perspective: sin will not lord it over us, for we are under the Grace (Rom. 6:14). Let’s pray that we will keep fighting for His glory.
在这篇章的前几个章节中，我们看到约书亚对两个半东部支派的宽厚表彰（1-8节）。约书亚首先表扬他们的顺服之心（1-4节），然后告诫他们要忠心（5节），最后叫他们有个慷慨的心（6-8节）。这等顺服是何等美啊！这当提醒所有属神的人：我们是可以不犯罪的（约一2:1）。无人能比神的圣徒更知罪的性质，而在与罪恶争战时，我们或许会因疲惫认为我们必将败阵。但我们需要有正确的观点：罪必不能做我们的王，因我们乃在恩典之下（罗6:14）。让我们祈祷，叫我们会继续为神的荣耀争战到底。
