Justin Houtz

Joshua 22, Hebrews 5

DateVersionReading Plan
July 28, 2025ESV (2016)OT/NT Plan 2025 – 2027

Joshua 22

Observation & Interpretation

Josh. 22:1-9 – Joshua summoned the Rebenites, Gadites and half-tribe of Manasseh, told them that tey had kept all that Moses had commanded them and sent them away to their tents

Josh. 22:10 – The transjordan tribes built an altar of imposing size

Josh. 22:11 – The altar of witness built by the transjordan tribes was on the side that belongs to the people of Israel

Josh. 22:12 – The reaction of the people of Israel upon hearing of the altar was to make war against the transjordan tribes

Josh. 22:13-20 – The people of Israel sent Phinehas, the son of Eleazer, and ten chiefs (one from each o the tribal families of Israel) to confront the transjordan tribes on what they assumed to be idolatrous behavior and the creation of a pagan altar

  • They told the transjordan tribes not to rebel against the LORD or make the Israelite tribes rebels by their idolatrous actions (Josh. 22:19)
  • In their address of the transjordan tribes, the tribes of Israel used the specific example of Achan and the subsequent wrath that fell upon all the congregation of Israel (Josh. 22:20)

Josh. 22:21-29 – The transjordan tribes → the tribes of Israel that the altar they built was to be witness for future generations, not a pagan altar

Josh. 22:30-34 – Upon hearing the purpose of the transjordan altar, it was good in the eyes of Phinehas and the tribal leaders of Israel

  • Phinehas and the tribal leaders of Israel brought back the report and it was good in the eyes of the people of Israel
  • The people of Reuben and Gad called the altar Witness — a witness between the tribes that the LORD is God

Josh. 22:1-34 – A nonsacrificial altar is the oddest of memorials to leave for future generations to remember their solidarity before God…(comparison is made to the memorial stones put in place at the crossing of the Jordan)…The memorial stones seem a much safer symbol than a large and attractive altar also by the Jordan! (ESVEC – Response)

Hebrews 5

Observation & Interpretation

Heb. 5:1 – Every high priest is chosen from among men to act on behalf of men in relation to God

Heb. 5:2 – The high priest is himself beset with weakness and thus can deal gently with the ignorant and wayward

  • The high priest’s own frail flesh equipped him to understand the problems his people were facing (BBC)

Heb. 5:3 – The high priest was to offer sacrifice for his own sins just as he did for other people

  • Sacrifices were needed for him just as they were needed for the people

Heb. 5:4 – The honor of the priest was a calling by God, not an honor taken for himself

  • The office of priest was not something that men chose as a vocation. They had to be called to the work by God, just as Aaron was (BBC)

Heb. 5:5 – Comparison is made to Christ’s being made high priest

  • As to Christ’s appointment, its source was God Himself. It was a sovereign call, having nothing to do with human genealogy (BBC)

Heb. 5:6 – Christ is not in the line of the Levitical priests but after the order of Melchizedek

  • The thought here is that, unlike the Aaronic priesthood, this one is forever (BBC)

Heb. 5:13-14 – “Discernment” (aisthētēria; only here in the NT) is accurate perception of reality, enabling one to weigh the relative value of alternate courses of action and choose what is superior (ESVEC – Comment)

Application

Heb. 5:11-6:3 – The maturity we need in order to ingest, digest and profit from “solid food” is not merely theological insight. Like athletes in training, we must exercise our will by constant practice, again and again choosing good over evil, faith over unbelief. Throughout the discipline that builds discernment, we know we can grow only as “God permits.” And so we draw near in humble dependence, relying on his grace to bring us timely help as we strive for holiness. (ESVEC – Response)

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