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More Joshua commentaries
Joshua 19:1-51
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Joshua 20:1-9
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Joshua 21:1-45
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Joshua 22:21-34
A witness to all generations
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A witness to all generations
Joshua 22:21–34
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Leonard Bernstein was once asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. He thought for a moment and then replied, “The second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm - that’s a problem. And if … More
The Israelite delegation was soon to learn that their suspicions were wrong. Instead of responding in anger the eastern tribes hastened to explain their reason for building the altar. It was not for the purpose of sacrifice (vv. 21-23). The eastern tribes realized the validity of the altar in Shiloh. They were not trying to compete with it, nor substituting another place of worship for the one God had ordained. In fact, their purpose was precisely the opposite (vv. 24-26).
These two and one half tribes were only desirous of maintaining the unity of Israel through the erection of the altar. They explained their concern that being separated by many miles from Shiloh, their next generation might begin to wonder whether they were an integral part of Israel (vv. 27-29). At the same time, the new generations in the west might begin to consider them as outcasts. The altar would be a constant visible reminder of the altar at Shiloh and promote a challenge to maintain religious harmony (unity) within the nation for years to come. This explanation by the eastern tribes was accepted by Phinehas and his delegation and thus by the Western tribes (vv. 30-31).
A war was averted and a happy ending came to this grave crisis (vv. 32-34). The harmony of the nation seemed assured. This incident simply illustrates certain principles that were vital to Israel living together in the land harmoniously. Our actions need to demonstrate to our children and grandchildren our reliance on God and remind them of what He has done for us, just as the altar the Israelites built as a reminder for their next generation (v. 27).
Application
The same principles apply to me as a member of God’s family today. How do I rate myself on a scale of 1-10 (10 being excellent)?
Joshua 22:21-34 (English Standard Version)
Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh said in answer to the heads of the families of Israel, "The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance. No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no portion in the LORD.' So your children might make our children cease to worship the LORD. Therefore we said, 'Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, "You have no portion in the LORD."' And we thought, If this should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we should say, 'Behold, the copy of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifice, but to be a witness between us and you.' Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away this day from following the LORD by building an altar for burnt offering, grain offering, or sacrifice, other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle!" When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation, the heads of the families of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their eyes. And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the people of Reuben and the people of Gad and the people of Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is in our midst, because you have not committed this breach of faith against the LORD. Now you have delivered the people of Israel from the hand of the LORD." Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the chiefs, returned from the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead to the land of Canaan, to the people of Israel, and brought back word to them. And the report was good in the eyes of the people of Israel. And the people of Israel blessed God and spoke no more of making war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and the people of Gad were settled. The people of Reuben and the people of Gad called the altar Witness, "For," they said, "it is a witness between us that the LORD is God."
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