The Altar beside the Jordan

Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. He said they had faithfully stood with the other tribes and had obeyed what Moses and Joshua commanded. Now that the Lord had given the others rest, Joshua sent them back to their own land beyond the Jordan. He urged them to love the Lord, walk in his ways, keep his commands, and serve him with all their heart and soul.

Joshua blessed them and sent them home with great wealth, livestock, silver, gold, bronze, iron, and clothing, telling them to divide the plunder with their brothers. So they left Shiloh in Canaan and travelled towards Gilead, the land given to them. Near the Jordan, they built a great altar there, impressive to look at.

When the rest of Israel heard about this altar, they gathered at Shiloh, preparing for war. They feared the eastern tribes had turned away from the Lord. Before fighting, they sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest and ten leaders to speak with them. The messengers warned them not to rebel, reminding them that Israel had suffered before when people sinned, and that one person’s wrong had brought trouble on all.

The eastern tribes answered seriously. If they had built the altar for sacrifices or rebellion, they said, then let the Lord judge them. But that was not their purpose. They were concerned that later generations might say that the tribes beyond the Jordan had no share in the Lord. So they made this altar as a witness, a reminder that they too served the Lord and came to his altar before the tabernacle.

Phinehas and the leaders were pleased when they heard this answer. They recognised that the eastern tribes had not been unfaithful to the Lord. So they returned to Canaan and reported back. Then the people of Israel blessed God and gave up their plan to go to war. The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar as a witness between them that the Lord is God. What can we learn here about listening carefully before judging others?