Joshua 22:11 - The children of Israel heard this, “Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the border of the land of Canaan, in the region around the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the children of Israel.”
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What does "Joshua 22:11" mean?
This verse from Joshua 22:11 sets the stage for a conflict between the tribes of Israel. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The children of Israel heard this...": This refers to the rest of the tribes of Israel (those who lived west of the Jordan River) receiving alarming news.
"Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar...": The core of the verse is that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (who had settled east of the Jordan River) had built an altar. This was significant because:
Unauthorized Altars were a Problem: The Israelites were commanded to worship God at a central sanctuary (which at this time was the Tabernacle), later to become the Temple in Jerusalem. Building an altar elsewhere was seen as a potential act of rebellion against God, potentially leading to idolatry or division. It could imply a deviation from centralized worship and allegiance to God.
Reuben, Gad, and Half Manasseh: These tribes had requested to settle east of the Jordan because it was good for their livestock. However, they had promised to help the other tribes conquer Canaan before settling down.
"...in the border of the land of Canaan, in the region around the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the children of Israel.": This clarifies the location of the altar. The other tribes believed it was being built on their side of the Jordan, within the land of Canaan proper. This would mean the eastern tribes were potentially claiming territory west of the Jordan, which was a direct challenge to the established land divisions. It heightened the fear that this altar was a sign of rebellion and territorial ambition.
In essence, the verse introduces a major misunderstanding that threatened to erupt into civil war. The other tribes interpreted the building of the altar as an act of rebellion and a sign that the eastern tribes were breaking their covenant with God and their brethren. The subsequent chapters describe the tense dialogue and clarification that follows, ultimately averting conflict.
Joshua 22:11 - The children of Israel heard this, “Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the border of the land of Canaan, in the region around the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the children of Israel.”
What does "Joshua 22:11" mean?
This verse from Joshua 22:11 sets the stage for a conflict between the tribes of Israel. Here's a breakdown of what it means:
"The children of Israel heard this...": This refers to the rest of the tribes of Israel (those who lived west of the Jordan River) receiving alarming news.
"Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar...": The core of the verse is that the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh (who had settled east of the Jordan River) had built an altar. This was significant because:
Unauthorized Altars were a Problem: The Israelites were commanded to worship God at a central sanctuary (which at this time was the Tabernacle), later to become the Temple in Jerusalem. Building an altar elsewhere was seen as a potential act of rebellion against God, potentially leading to idolatry or division. It could imply a deviation from centralized worship and allegiance to God.
Reuben, Gad, and Half Manasseh: These tribes had requested to settle east of the Jordan because it was good for their livestock. However, they had promised to help the other tribes conquer Canaan before settling down.
"...in the border of the land of Canaan, in the region around the Jordan, on the side that belongs to the children of Israel.": This clarifies the location of the altar. The other tribes believed it was being built on their side of the Jordan, within the land of Canaan proper. This would mean the eastern tribes were potentially claiming territory west of the Jordan, which was a direct challenge to the established land divisions. It heightened the fear that this altar was a sign of rebellion and territorial ambition.
In essence, the verse introduces a major misunderstanding that threatened to erupt into civil war. The other tribes interpreted the building of the altar as an act of rebellion and a sign that the eastern tribes were breaking their covenant with God and their brethren. The subsequent chapters describe the tense dialogue and clarification that follows, ultimately averting conflict.