11 And the sons of Israel heard it said , "Behold , the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe e of Manasseh have built an altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan , in the region of the Jordan , on the side belonging to the sons of Israel ." 12 When the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel gathered themselves at Shiloh to go up against them in war . 13 Then the sons of Israel sent to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe e of Manasseh , into the land of Gilead , Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest , 14 and with him ten chiefs , one chief for each father's household from each of the tribes of Israel ; and each one of them was the head of his father's household among the thousands of Israel . 15 They came to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe e of Manasseh , to the land of Gilead , and they spoke with them saying , 16 "Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord , 'What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel , turning away from following the Lord this day , by building yourselves an altar , to rebel against the Lord this day ? 17 'Is not the iniquity of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day , although a plague came on the congregation of the Lord , 18 that you must turn away this day from following the Lord ? If you rebel against the Lord today , He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel tomorrow . 19 'If , however , the land of your possession is unclean , then cross into the land of the possession of the Lord , where e the Lord'S tabernacle stands , and take possession among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord , or rebel against us by building an altar for yourselves, besides e the altar of the Lord our God . 20 'Did not Achan the son of Zerah act unfaithfully in the things under the ban , and wrath fall on all the congregation of Israel ? And that man did not perish alone in his iniquity .' "
21 Then the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe e of Manasseh answered and spoke to the heads of the families of Israel . 22 "The Mighty One , God , the Lord , the Mighty One , God , the Lord ! He knows , and may Israel itself know . If it was in rebellion , or if in an unfaithful act against the Lord do not save us this day ! 23 "If we have built us an altar to turn away from following the Lord , or if to offer a burnt offering or grain offering on it, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings on it, may the Lord Himself require it. 24 "But truly e we have done this out of concern , for a reason , saying , 'In time to come your sons may say to our sons , "What have you to do with the Lord , the God of Israel ? 25 "For the Lord has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you sons of Reuben and sons of Gad ; you have no portion in the Lord ." So your sons may make our sons stop fearing the Lord .' 26 "Therefore we said , 'Let us build e an altar , not for burnt offering or for sacrifice ; 27 rather it shall be a witness between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to perform the service of the Lord before Him with our burnt offerings , and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings , so that your sons will not say to our sons in time to come , "You have no portion in the Lord ."' 28 "Therefore we said , 'It shall also come about if they say this to us or to our generations in time to come , then we shall say , "See the copy of the altar of the Lord which our fathers made , not for burnt offering or for sacrifice ; rather it is a witness between us and you."' 29 "Far be it from us that we should rebel against the Lord and turn away from following the Lord this day , by building an altar for burnt offering , for grain offering or for sacrifice , besides e the altar of the Lord our God which is before His tabernacle ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 22:11-29
Commentary on Joshua 22:10-20
(Read Joshua 22:10-20)
Here is the care of the separated tribes to keep their hold of Canaan's religion. At first sight it seemed a design to set up an altar against the altar at Shiloh. God is jealous for his own institutions; we should be so too, and afraid of every thing that looks like, or leads to idolatry. Corruptions in religion are best dealt with at first. But their prudence in following up this zealous resolution is no less commendable. Many an unhappy strife would be prevented, or soon made up, by inquiries into the matter of the offence. The remembrance of great sins committed formerly, should engage us to stand on our guard against the beginnings of sin; for the way of sin is down-hill. We are all concerned to reprove our neighbour when he does amiss, lest we suffer sin upon him, Leviticus 19:17. The offer made that they should be welcome to come to the land where the Lord's tabernacle was, and settle there, was in the spirit of true Israelites.
Commentary on Joshua 22:21-29
(Read Joshua 22:21-29)
The tribes took the reproofs of their brethren in good part. With solemnity and meekness they proceeded to give all the satisfaction in their power. Reverence of God is expressed in the form of their appeal. This brief confession of faith would remove their brethren's suspicion that they intended to worship other gods. Let us always speak of God with seriousness, and mention his name with a solemn pause. Those who make appeals to Heaven with a careless "God knows," take his name in vain: it is very unlike this. They express great confidence of their own uprightness in the matter of their appeal. "God knows it," for he is perfectly acquainted with the thoughts and intents of the heart. In every thing we do in religion, it highly concerns us to approve ourselves to God, remembering that he knows the heart. And if our sincerity be known to God, we should study likewise to let others know it by its fruits, especially those who, though they mistake us, show zeal for the glory of God. They disdained the design of which they were suspected to be guilty, and fully explained their true intent in building this altar. Those who have found the comfort and benefit of God's ordinances, cannot but desire to preserve them to their seed, and to use all possible care that their children may be looked upon as having a part in him. Christ is the great Altar that sanctifies every gift; the best evidence of our interest in him is the work of his Spirit in our hearts.