Joshua 22:33

The Israelites were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Israelite assembly receives Phinehas’s report regarding the eastern tribes’ altar and abandons plans to wage war against the Reubenites and Gadites. This moment follows the delegation’s return to Canaan and precedes the eastern tribes’ formal naming of the structure.

The words — The phrase וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (va/yi.Tav ha.da.Var be./'ei.Nei be.Nei Yis.ra.'El) literally means "and it was good the word in the eyes of the people of Israel." The verb phrase וַיְבָרֲכוּ אֱלֹהִים (va/y.va.ra.Khu 'E.lo.Him) translates directly as "and they blessed God."

The thread — The pattern of blessing God after receiving a report or revelation recurs in 1 Chronicles 29:20, Daniel 2:19, and Luke 2:28. These texts record communal or individual praise triggered by divine communication or deliverance.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that clear divine communication halts human violence and demands gratitude. It asks for immediate restraint and worship when God’s purpose is confirmed.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיִּיטַ֣בva/i.yi.Tavand/ it was good הַדָּבָ֗רha./da.Varthe/ word בְּעֵינֵי֙be./'ei.Neiin/ [the] eyes of בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וַיְבָרֲכ֥וּva/y.va.ra.Khuand/ they blessed אֱלֹהִ֖ים'E.lo.HimGod בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsrael וְלֹ֣אve./Lo'and/ not אָמְר֗וּ'a.me.Ruthey said לַעֲל֤וֹתla./'a.Lotto/ go up עֲלֵיהֶם֙'a.lei./Hemon/ them לַצָּבָ֔אla./tza.Va'for <the>/ war לְשַׁחֵת֙le./sha.Chetto/ destroy אֶת־'et-<obj.>הָאָ֔רֶץha./'A.retzthe/ land אֲשֶׁ֛ר'a.Sherwhich בְּנֵי־be.nei-[the] descendants of רְאוּבֵ֥ןre.'u.VenReuben וּבְנֵי־u./ve.nei-and/ [the] descendants of גָ֖דgadGad יֹשְׁבִ֥יםyo.she.Vim[were] dwellingבָּֽהּ׃Ba/hin <the>/ it

King James Version

And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.

Cross-references

1 Chronicles 29:20 Then David said to the whole assembly, “Bless the LORD your God.” So the whole assembly blessed the LORD, the God of their fathers. They bowed down and paid homage to the LORD and to the king.
Daniel 2:19 During the night, the mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision, and he blessed the God of heaven
Luke 2:28 Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:
Joshua 22:30 When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.
1 Samuel 25:32 Then David said to Abigail, “Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who sent you to meet me this day!
Nehemiah 8:5 Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up.
Acts 15:12 The whole assembly fell silent as they listened to Barnabas and Paul describing the signs and wonders God had done among the Gentiles through them.
Acts 15:31 When the people read it, they rejoiced at its encouraging message.
2 Corinthians 7:7 and not only by his arrival, but also by the comfort he had received from you. He told us about your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me, so that I rejoiced all the more.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms.