10 When they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan , the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe e of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan , a large altar in appearance . 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 .' "
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 22:10-20
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.