Joshua 22:14

14 Accompanying him were ten chiefs, one chief for each of the ten tribes, each the head of his ancestral family. They represented the military divisions of Israel.

Joshua 22:14 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 22:14

And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince,
throughout all the tribes of Israel
The nine tribes and a half, so that the half tribe of Manasseh sent a prince, as well as the whole tribes:

and each one [was] an head of the house of their fathers among the
thousands of Israel;
that is, among the rulers of the thousands of Israel; and so the Greek version calls them Chiliarchs, rulers of thousands; for the people were divided into tens, fifties, hundreds, and thousands, over whom there were distinct rulers, ( Exodus 18:25 ) . Now these were among the chief of them, of the highest rank and authority; they were the chief princes, heads of several tribes; a very honourable deputation this! the son of the high priest, and ten princes, the heads of the tribes; these were chosen and sent, partly in honour to their brethren beyond Jordan, and partly that they might carry the greater authority with them, and prevail upon them to hearken to them.

Joshua 22:14 In-Context

12 When the People of Israel heard this, the entire congregation mustered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

13 They sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (that is, to the land of Gilead).

14 Accompanying him were ten chiefs, one chief for each of the ten tribes, each the head of his ancestral family. They represented the military divisions of Israel.

15 They went to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh and spoke to them:

16 "The entire congregation of God wants to know: What is this violation against the God of Israel that you have committed, turning your back on God and building your own altar - a blatant act of rebellion against God?