The two and a half tribes of Israel that had opted to settle on the east side of the Jordan, as agreed with Moses, had fulfilled their promise to fight on the side of the other tribes during the conquest of Canaan. Now that they had fulfilled their mission Joshua told them that they were free to return to their families and develop their livelihoods. So on the way east the Reubenites, the Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh built a very large altar near the Jordan as a witness of their unity with the whole of Israel. However the 9 and a half tribes misunderstood this gesture and it almost led to civil war! For the western tribes understood the altar to have pagan connotations, or to be a rival altar to that of the tabernacle, and were horrified and aghast. It was only when the eastern tribes clarified the matter and assured them of their commitment to the Lord that Phineas the priest praised God, accepted the explanation and the altar was given the name as a witness between the eastern and western tribes.
No comments:
Post a Comment