Two and a Half Tribes and the Altar of Ed
Joshua 22
Joshua 22
Joshua 22. This chapter illustrates the spiritual danger of self-imposed separation among the people of God. The two and a half tribes’ decision to settle east of Jordan—symbolically outside the full enjoyment of the believer’s death and resurrection of Christ—led to a felt distance from their brethren. This perceived separation prompted them to construct an altar as a human-made witness to unity. However, the Jordan barrier existed by their own choice, and the solution they devised reflected human wisdom, not divine instruction. The altar was not needed—what was needed was faithfulness to God’s prescribed center of worship at Shiloh, regular participation in the feasts, and submission to Levitical instruction. Neither the eastern nor western tribes consulted the Lord in this matter. While the confrontation is resolved peacefully, and though there are positive things throughout, the chapter ultimately reflects the sadness and subtle danger of compromise among believers.
Dismissal with Blessing (22:1-9)
CHAPTER 22
1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, 2 and said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, and have hearkened to my voice in all that I commanded you. 3 Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, and ye have kept the charge of the commandment of Jehovah your God. 4 And now Jehovah your God hath given rest to your brethren, as he said unto them; and now return, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of Jehovah gave you beyond the Jordan. 5 Only, take great heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of Jehovah commanded you, to love Jehovah your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. 6 And Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went to their tents.
vv.1-6 Joshua’s Charge. As the two and a half tribes prepared to return to their inheritance east of Jordan, Joshua publicly commended their obedience and faithfulness. He acknowledged that they had kept their word to Moses (Num. 32), and faithfully assisted their brethren in the conquest of Canaan. They were now released from that charge! It is a good thing to be faithful in our commitments, especially when is comes to helping our brethren. However, this moment of commendation carried with it a solemn charge. Joshua warned them to “take great heed” to love the Lord, walk in His ways, and serve Him with all their hearts. We can take from this a warning against shallow Christianity. The fact that such a serious exhortation is needed at the moment of their departure suggests the precariousness of their position. Though they had acted honorably, they were returning to dwell in a region separated from the Lord’s dwelling at Shiloh—a land they had chosen for its pasture, not because it was within God’s appointed inheritance. J.N. Darby acknowledges that “these tribes were faithful at heart…Nevertheless, their position had done them harm, their self-seeking having somewhat marred the energy of their faith”.1 The initial compromise in choosing a land outside the full boundary of promise had long-term implications. It placed them at a physical and spiritual remove, which would soon bear consequences. The tribes’ faithfulness is commended, but their departure is marked not only by blessing but also by solemn caution, hinting at the deeper issue that will soon unfold.
7 And to half the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan, and to the other half thereof had Joshua given among their brethren on this side the Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away to their tents, he blessed them also, 8 and spoke to them, saying, Return unto your tents with much wealth and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with copper, and with iron, and with clothing, in very great quantity; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren. 9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the country of Gilead, into the land of their possession, of which they had become possessed, according to the word of Jehovah through Moses.
vv.7-9 Tribes Return East. Joshua dismisses the two and a half tribes to return to their homes beyond the Jordan. They depart with great wealth, a reward for their faithfulness in aiding their brethren. The journey home might seem like a moment of satisfaction, but spiritually it carries weight: there were burdens that came with their choice. Their wives and children had remained at home, deprived of witnessing the marvels displayed by Jehovah on behalf of of the children of Israel. This is part of the cost of settling for what was outside God’s full purpose. Often the trade Christians make to become materially rich results in spiritual poverty.
The Altar Controversy (22:10-20)
10 And they came to the districts of the Jordan that are in the land of Canaan; and the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, an altar of grand appearance.
v.10 Altar Built by Jordan. Upon reaching the Jordan area, the returning tribes erected a massive altar: “a great altar to see to” (c.p. Genesis 11:1-9). There was no word from the Lord to do this. It could have been near the pillar of twelve stones that was erected at the command of the Lord, as a testimony to the unity of Israel in being brought into the land properly. One cannot find another instance in scripture where an altar was built merely as a witness. This act, while claiming to preserve unity, actually betrays the separation already present.2 Though the altar was meant to witness to shared worship, it revealed an uneasiness in their position and suggested to some minds a potential rival to the divinely-appointed altar at Shiloh.
11 And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the districts of the Jordan, separately from the children of Israel. 12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh, to go up against them to war.
vv.11-12 War Considered. When the rest of Israel heard of the altar, they respond with rapid zeal, suspecting schism on the parts of the eastern tribes. They gathered at Shiloh to prepare for war. This reflects a commendable zeal for the holiness of God (Deut. 13:12-15), but the Lord was not consulted.
13 And the children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14 and with him ten princes, of each father’s house a prince, out of all the tribes of Israel; and each of them was head of a father’s house, of the thousands of Israel. 15 And they came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and spoke with them, saying, 16 Thus saith the whole assembly of Jehovah: What wickedness is this which ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following Jehovah, in that ye have built yourselves an altar, rebelling this day against Jehovah? 17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us? from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the assembly of Jehovah. 18 And ye turn away this day from following Jehovah; and it will be, that since ye rebel this day against Jehovah, to-morrow he will be wroth with the whole assembly of Israel. 19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession is unclean, come over into the land of the possession of Jehovah, where Jehovah’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession amongst us; but rebel not against Jehovah, and rebel not against us, in building for yourselves an altar besides the altar of Jehovah our God. 20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing? and wrath fell on all the assembly of Israel, and he perished not alone in his iniquity.
vv.13-20 Phinehas Investigates and Excoriates. Thankfully they thought to first send Phinehas, known for his zeal, but also a high priest having Urim and Thummim. Along with Phinehas, they sent ten princes, representatives of the nine and a half tribes, to confront the two and a half tribes. They accused the trans-Jordanic tribes of departing from the Lord, for rebelling against Him, and falling into idolatry. Phinehas reminding them of the sins of Peor and Achan. The first being the sin of idolatry, Phinehas himself was present for the event, through it took place on the wilderness journey. The second being the sin of lusting for the things of the world, which was very recent history. Both were corporate sins with corporate consequences. Phinehas was rightly concerned that all of Israel would come under judgment; “it will be, that since ye rebel this day against Jehovah, to-morrow he will be wroth with the whole assembly of Israel”. It is beautiful to see that even now, the door was open for the two and half tribes to resettle on the west of Jordan: Phinehas generously offers, “if the land of your possession is unclean, come over into the land of the possession of Jehovah, where Jehovah’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession amongst us”. The fear is that by building another altar different from the brazen altar in Shiloh, it would fracture the unity of the nation. Now, the two and a half tribes were not guilty of all of this, at least as far as their intention goes. However, by placing themselves in a compromising position, the consequences of it gave rise to this issue.3
Resolution and Reconciliation (22:21-34)
21 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 The GOD of gods, Jehovah, the GOD of gods, Jehovah, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know it; if it is in rebellion, or if in trespass against Jehovah, — save us not this day! 23 — that we have built for ourselves an altar to turn from following Jehovah, and if it is to offer up burnt-offering and oblation on it, and if to offer peace-offerings thereon, let Jehovah himself require it from us; 24 and if we have not done it from fear of this thing, saying, In future your children will speak to our children, saying, What have ye to do with Jehovah the God of Israel? 25 Jehovah hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad, ye have no portion in Jehovah! And so shall your children make our children cease from fearing Jehovah. 26 And we said, Let us now set to work to build an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice, 27 but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we might do service to Jehovah before him with our burnt-offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace-offerings; that your children may not say to our children in future, Ye have no portion in Jehovah. 28 And we said, If it shall be that in future they so say to us and to our generations, we will say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice, but as a witness between us and you. 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against Jehovah, and turn this day from following Jehovah, in building an altar for burnt-offering, for oblation, and for sacrifice, besides the altar of Jehovah our God that is before his tabernacle.
vv.21-29 The Two and a Half Tribes Explain. The eastern tribes explained that their altar was not for sacrifices, but to stand as a witness lest future generations be excluded. Let us beware of wrong or misguided steps taken to preserve our children from the consequences of decisions that we, as parents, have made! They called God as witness, affirming their continued faithfulness to the Lord. The explanation satisfies the delegation—but the deeper issue remains. The altar may have been innocent in intent, but it was unnecessary if faith had been maintained.
30 And when Phinehas the priest and the princes of the assembly and the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it was good in their sight. 31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that Jehovah is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against Jehovah: now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of Jehovah.
vv.30-31 Conflict Resolved. Phinehas and the leaders accepted the explanation and rejoiced that the Lord’s wrath had been averted. This reflects their spiritual maturity in accepting humble words over hasty judgment.4 This episode stands as a reminder of how humility and grace in communication can preserve unity even when misunderstanding arises.
32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. 33 And the thing was good in the sight of the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God, and no more said that they would go up in warfare against them, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad dwelt. 34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad gave a name to the altar; for it is a witness between us that Jehovah is God.
vv.32-34 Altar Named Ed. The altar was named “Ed,” meaning “witness.” Its purpose is confirmed: not a rival altar but a memorial. Yet its very existence continues to underscore the unnatural divide introduced by the eastern settlement. The chapter ends without judgment or rupture, but with a lingering sense of spiritual sadness. The unity was preserved, but not restored in its fullest sense. The altar was a witness to the truth that Jehovah is God. This was surely a sublime and paramount truth, and yet it was a bare minimum. It reminds one of Christian creeds, which are human constructions that Christians confess as a bare minimum and in an attempt to create unity. We are thankful that all can agree on the deity of Christ, the trinity, etc. and yet there is so much more! At the conclusion, the eastern tribes remained across the Jordan, and the altar of witness stood as both a symbol of their loyalty and a symptom of their distance.
- J.N. Darby. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.
- “Their own wisdom leads them to set up this testimony. I might venture to call it a confession of faith, a thing in itself perhaps perfectly correct, as was the altar of Ed, and against which for the moment nothing could be said, but which had the appearance, nevertheless, of another gathering-point.” – H.L. Rossier. Meditations on Joshua.
- “Nevertheless these tribes were faithful at heart…Their position had done them harm” – J.N. Darby. Synopsis of the Books of the Bible.
- “The holy zeal of Phinehas meets the danger, which in principle indeed existed, but the intentions of heart were right, and the evil was stayed.” – H.L. Rossier. Meditations on Joshua.