Division of Canaan
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riches ... and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and
with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment,” all of which
they were to share with those who had remained with the families and
flocks.
They were now to dwell at a distance from the sanctuary of the
Lord, and it was with an anxious heart that Joshua witnessed their
departure, knowing how strong would be the temptations, in their
isolated and wandering life, to fall into the customs of the heathen
tribes that dwelt upon their borders.
While the minds of Joshua and other leaders were still oppressed
with anxious forebodings, strange tidings reached them. Beside the
Jordan, near the place of Israel’s miraculous passage of the river, the
two and a half tribes had erected a great altar, similar to the altar of
burnt offering at Shiloh. The law of God prohibited, on pain of death,
the establishment of another worship than that at the sanctuary. If such
was the object of this altar, it would, if permitted to remain, lead the
people away from the true faith.
The representatives of the people assembled at Shiloh, and in the
heat of their excitement and indignation proposed to make war at
once upon the offenders. Through the influence of the more cautious,
however, it was decided to send first a delegation to obtain from the
two and a half tribes an explanation of their conduct. Ten princes, one
from each tribe, were chosen. At their head was Phinehas, who had
distinguished himself by his zeal in the matter of Peor.
The two and a half tribes had been at fault in entering, without
explanation, upon an act open to such grave suspicions. The ambas-
sadors, taking it for granted that their brethren were guilty, met them
with sharp rebuke. They accused them of rebelling against the Lord,
and bade them remember how judgments had been visited upon Israel
for joining themselves to Baalpeor. In behalf of all Israel, Phinehas
stated to the children of Gad and Reuben that if they were unwilling to
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abide in that land without an altar for sacrifice, they would be welcome
to a share in the possessions and privileges of their brethren on the
other side.
In reply the 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 brethren in Canaan. They had
feared that in future years their children might be excluded from the