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men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh ... prepared for war
crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho.”
(
Joshua 4:12, 13
). For years they fought bravely by the side of their
brethren. As they had united with them in the battles, they also
shared the spoils. They returned “with much riches ..., with very
much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and
with very much clothing”—all of which they were to share with
those who had remained with the families and flocks.
[259]
With a burdened heart Joshua watched them leave, knowing how
strong the temptations would be in their isolated and wandering
life to fall into the customs of the heathen tribes that lived on their
borders.
While Joshua and other leaders were still troubled with anxious
worries, strange news reached them. Beside the Jordan, the two and
a half tribes had erected a great altar similar to the altar of burnt
offering at Shiloh. On pain of death, the law of God prohibited the
establishment of any other worship than the one at the sanctuary—
because it would lead the people away from the true faith.
It was decided to send a delegation to get an explanation of their
conduct from the two and a half tribes. Ten princes were chosen, one
from each tribe. Their leader was Phinehas, who had distinguished
himself by his zeal in the situation at Peor.
Taking it for granted that their brethren were guilty, the ambas-
sadors met them with sharp words. They told them to remember
how judgments had come on Israel for joining themselves to Baal
Peor. Phinehas told the Gadites and Reubenites that if they were
unwilling to live in that land without an altar for sacrifice, they would
be welcome to share in the possessions and privileges of the tribes
on the other side.
In reply, those accused explained that their altar was not intended
for sacrifice, but simply as a witness that, although separated by the
river, they were of the same faith as their relatives in Canaan. They
had feared that in future years their children might be excluded
as having no part in Israel. This altar, patterned after the altar of
the Lord at Shiloh, would be a witness that its builders were also
worshipers of the living God.
The ambassadors accepted this explanation with great joy, and
the people united in rejoicing and praise to God.