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 ."
30 So when Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the congregation , even the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the sons of Manasseh spoke , it pleased e them. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Manasseh , "Today we know that the Lord is in our midst , because you have not committed this unfaithful act against the Lord ; now you have delivered the sons of Israel from the hand of the Lord ." 32 Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the leaders returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad , from the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan , to the sons of Israel , and brought back word to them. 33 The word pleased e the sons of Israel , and the sons of Israel blessed God ; and they did not speak of going up against them in war to destroy the land in which the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad were living . 34 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad called the altar Witness; "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the Lord is God ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Joshua 22:21-34
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.
Commentary on Joshua 22:30-34
(Read Joshua 22:30-34)
It is well that there was on both sides a disposition to peace, as there was a zeal for God; for quarrels about religion, for want of wisdom and love, often prove the most fierce and difficult to be made up. Proud and peevish spirits, when they have passed any unjust blame on their brethren, though full evidence be brought of its unfairness, can by no means be persuaded to withdraw it. But Israel was not so prejudiced. They looked upon their brethren's innocence as a token of God's presence. Our brethren's zeal for the power of godliness, and faith and love, notwithstanding the fears of their breaking the unity of the church, are things of which we should be very glad to be satisfied. The altar was called ED, a witness. It was a witness of their care to keep their religion pure and entire, and would witness against their descendants, if they should turn from following after the Lord. Happy will it be when all professed Christians learn to copy the example of Israel, to unite zeal and steady adherence to the cause of truth, with candour, meekness, and readiness to understand each other, to explain and to be satisfied with the explanations of their brethren. May the Lord increase the number of those who endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace! may increasing grace and consolation be with all who love Jesus Christ in sincerity!