In this chapter, the tribes of Rueben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh are allowed to return home to their land east of the Jordan River, but before they left Canaan, they built an altar that caused some controversy between them and the rest of Israel. The chapter begins, “Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He told them, “You have done as Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you. You have not deserted the other tribes, even though the campaign has lasted for such a long time. You have been careful to obey the commands of the Lord your God up to the present day. And now the Lord your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go home now to the land Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you on the east side of the Jordan River. But be very careful to obey all the commands and the law that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord our God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, be faithful to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” (Joshua 22:1-5)
After leaving Shiloh in the land of Canaan, the tribe of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh decided to build an altar near the Jordan River at Geliloth, west of the river. When the rest of Israel heard about the altar, they were ready to go to war with their brothers. However, they sent leaders from the other ten tribes, along with other high officials to talk with the eastern tribes. “...They said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, “The whole community of the Lord demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the Lord and build an altar in rebellion against him? Was our sin at Peor not enough? We are not yet fully cleansed of it, even after the plague that struck the entire assembly of the Lord. And yet today you are turning away from following the Lord. If you rebel against the Lord today, he will be angry with all of us tomorrow. If you need the altar because your land is defiled, then join us on our side of the river, where the Lord lives among us in his Tabernacle, and we will share our land with you. But do not rebel against the Lord or draw us into your rebellion by building another altar for yourselves. There is only one true altar for the Lord our God. Didn’t God punish all the people of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the Lord? He was not the only one who died because of that sin.” (Joshua 22:15-20)
The eastern tribes responded, “The Lord alone is God! The Lord alone is God! We have not built the altar in rebellion against the Lord. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day. But the Lord knows, and let all Israel know, too, that we have not built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the Lord. Nor will we use it for our burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings. If we have built it for this purpose, may the Lord himself punish us.” (Joshua 22:21-23)
The chapter ends with the eastern tribes explaining their purpose for building the altar, indicating that they feared their western descendants would possibly prevent them from worshiping the Lord because the Jordan River divided them. As a result, they built an altar as a memorial to remind everyone (eastern and western) descendants that they too have the right to worship the Lord at His sanctuary. “When Phinehas the priest and the high officials heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied.” (Joshua 22:30) Phinehas then said, “Today we know the Lord is among us because you have not sinned against the Lord as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the Lord.” (Joshua 22:31)
Lord, thank you for your Word today! When our accusers challenge and misunderstand us, help us remain confident, knowing you know our hearts and our intentions. We love you!
May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
….AND MAY WE ALL PRACTICE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER.
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