“How Could You?” Joshua 22:9-31

Communication is one of the most critical things in relationships, but it is also one of the difficult things to do. Sometimes we “hear” what’s not being said, other times we don’t hear what is being said. We see things differently. A tone of voice, a poorly chosen phrase or set of words—any number of things can derail communication. Sometimes, a person does something with one intent, but another sees it with a different intent and becomes offended, hurt or both.

In today’s passage, an event takes place that almost leads to civil war between the tribes of Israel.

Background

This passage takes place after all the land has been allotted to the various tribes. Prior to crossing the Jordan River to claim the Promised Land, two and a half tribes—the Reubenites, Gadites and half the tribe of Manasseh—had received permission from God to remain on the eastern shore of the Jordan. The land was good, and they wanted to stay there. The only condition of receiving this land was that these tribes were required to help the other 9½ tribes in the conquest of the land. They willingly did so, and for the time needed to take the land, the eastern bank tribes fought with their brothers to achieve God’s command.

After the fighting was over and the land apportioned, it was time for the Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites returned home. When they got to the Jordan River, they did something that so perplexed and vexed the remaining tribes that they planned to go to war against their brothers on the east side.

Fortunately, saner heads prevailed, and our passage shows us how a war was averted.

Central Truth: Only when we are willing to talk with people are we able to overcome misperceptions about others.

The action (9-12)

It had been a while since the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had seen their new homes. Using Caleb as a guide, the conquest of Canaan took at least five years. Now that the fighting was over, the tribes returned home. Everyone was in agreement that this was appropriate and in accord with the promises made when they received the land in the east.

One of the last things the eastern tribes did as they parted ways with the western tribes is they built a rather large altar—an imposing altar, according to the Bible—near the Jordan River. The Bible says it was near a town in Canaan, which suggests this altar was built on the western banks of the river, and v. 11 confirms it was built on the western bank. Having built this imposing altar, the two and a half tribes went their merry way and returned home.

Apparently, as the eastern tribes returned home, there was no delegation that travelled with them. We know that Israel did not immediately find out about the altar until someone mentioned it was built. Immediately upon learning of this altar, “the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against [the eastern tribes]” (v. 12b).

Why was the building an altar seen as an act of war? The next few verses tell us why.

The misunderstanding (13-20)

Israel has gathered at Shiloh, preparing to take up arms against their brothers. They were so concerned at this altar that they saw no other choice. Fortunately, Israel had the idea to send emissaries to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh and find out what exactly was meant by the building of the imposing altar.

Israel chose as their spokeman Phinehas, the son of Eleazar. Eleazar was one of Aaron’s sons, so Phineas was Aaron’s grandson, and a rather prominent priest of Isreal. Everyone would know who he was, so choosing Phineas was a smart move.

Phinehas led a delegation of ten men, each representing the tribes west of the Jordan. The delegation met with representatives of Reuben, Gad and Manasseh at Gilead. There, Phineas explained why Israel was prepared to go to war.

The fear for Israel was that the eastern tribes were turning away from God. Phinehas began his speech with, “How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against Him now?” (vs. 16). Phineas then mentions the “sin of Peor” as a reminder of what they fear.

To understand what the sin of Peor is, we need to look back at Numbers 25. While Israel was camped near a village called Shittim, they began to intermingle with the Moabites who lived there. Specifically, the Bible says, “the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with Moabite women, who invited them to their sacrifices to their gods” (Numbers 25:1-2a). Israel began to indulge not just in sexual immorality but also idol worship and other things that raised God’s anger.

A plague came upon Israel, and God told Moses to kill the leaders as a warning to the others. During this time, an Israelite man brought a Moabite woman to his tent, “right before the eyes of Moses and the whole assembly of Israel while they were weeping at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting” (Numbers 25:6). Phinehas saw this and he took a spear, skewing both the Israelite man and the Moabite woman. This ended the plague that had killed 24,000 people.

As a result, God blessed Phinehas, and ordered the complete destruction of the Moabite people for leading Israel astray. We understand why this is so fresh in Phinehas’ mind as he confronts the eastern tribes. He told them, “Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord!” (v. 17).

Phinehas then tells the eastern tribes that if they insist on this rebellion against God, God’s judgment will come upon the entire nation of Israel. He offers to let them come to the western shore if their land is defiled. Raising the issue of Achan and his sin, Phinehas concludes his argument with the reminder that all Israel suffered because of Achan’s sin.

Israel’s fear is that the eastern tribes are already turning away from God, even though only a short time has passed from the conquest of Canaan. Rather than bring judgment upon all Israel, the western tribes are prepared to destroy the eastern tribes, just as they destroyed the conquered people of the Promised Land, because such people could turn them away from the Lord.

The explanation (21-29)

Have you ever done something that you thought was an innocent gesture, only to have someone accuse you of quite the opposite? I imagine the eyes of the representatives from the eastern tribes must have grown wide and their faces took on a look of shock and consternation. They were being accused of abandoning God all because of the erection of an altar. How would they respond?

They began their response with a strong affirmation of God. “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Might One, God the Lord! He knows!” (v.22). God knows their intent and God will protect them. Now it’s time for Israel to also come to an understanding.

The reason for the building of this altar on the banks of the Jordan was intended as a reminder to the western tribes not to forget or forsake the eastern tribes. In their words, “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord” (vs. 24-25).

The purpose of the altar was a reminder to the western tribes that there is a commonality between those on both sides of the Jordan River. The altar, according to the eastern representatives, was to be a witness of the eastern tribes’ devotion to God and to His ways.

It’s not unusual for someone to build a structure as a witness of an event or covenant. God instructed Joshua to erect a column of rocks where they crossed the Jordan River as a reminder how God stopped the flow of the river to allow Israel to cross and enter the Promised Land (cf. Joshua 4:4-9). The various altars and rocky columns were a reminder of how God had done a remarkable thing or to remind those there was a bond between the people of the area.

The western tribes were prepared to go to war to protect the devotion to God. The eastern tribes had built their altar to remind the westerners that they, too, had a devotion to God. There was no need for war; only the need to talk out the matter.

The resolution (30-31)

Phinehas was pleased to hear the real purpose of the altar. In fact, he thanked the Reubenites and Gadites for rescuing the western tribes from the Lord’s hand. Had the western tribes acted rashly in their intentions, God would have brought judgment upon them, either through a massive defeat at the hands of the eastern tribes or in some other way. We know from past experiences that Israel had a propensity to go out without seeking God’s direction. They had done it when they first tried to defeat Ai, and they did it again when they made a treaty with the Gibeonites. Now they were prepared to go to war against their brothers for something that was completely misunderstood on their parts.

“Well, at least Israel was zealous for God,” you may say. And that’s true. But remember that Saul of Tarsus was also zealous for the Lord, to the point of persecuting the church. Sometimes, our zeal for God can lead us to do things in His name that He has no desire to be involved with. The lesson to be learned is that zeal for God can only be successful if we are clear where God wants us to go and what He wants us to do. That comes about only through listening to His counsel through prayer and an awareness of Scripture.

Phinehas was grateful for the clarification, and he returned home to report to the western tribes that there was a misunderstanding and no need for war. The Bible says Israel was glad to hear the good news and rejoiced in the Lord for the turn of events.

To the tribes in the east, the altar needed a name, so they called it, “A Witness Between Us that the Lord is God.” Maybe they put a plaque there so everyone who passed would read and know that this altar had an entirely different purpose than what was assumed.

Conclusion

What do we learn from this event in the history of Israel? A few things.

First, be clear about your reasons for doing what you’re doing. Had the Reubenites, Gadites and Manassites told the other tribes what they were doing and why they were doing it, there would have never been any misunderstanding to begin with. Sometimes, we do things and just assume people understand. Be clear in our communications.

Second, sometimes communications are jumbled. Even if we tell someone what we’re doing and why, they may not understand or mis-hear what we just said. Be prepared to explain again when conflict arises.

Third, and most importantly, always go to God when you’re unsure about something. Seek God always first and foremost. When we seek God, He will guide us and lead us from making foolish mistakes or rash decisions. If we will let God direct our paths, we will always find success. Perhaps not in the eyes of men, but God will know what we have done and why, and He will bless our efforts.

Sometimes, it’s easy to jump to the wrong conclusion. It happens to all of us. Before we do something rash, talk to someone. Talk to God; talk to those we are ready to judge. In the talking, be sure to listen, to hear what is actually being said, and act accordingly.

If we will do these things, we can avoid so much conflict in our world.