Verse 1

Then a Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

(a) After that the Israelites enjoyed the land of Canaan.

Verse 2

And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD b commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:

(b) Which was to go armed before their brethren, (Numbers 32:29).

Verse 5

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to c love the LORD 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.

(c) He shows where fulfilling the Law consists.

Verse 6

So Joshua d blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.

(d) He commended them to God, and prayed for them.

Verse 8

And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your e brethren.

(e) Who remained at home and did not go to the war, (Numbers 31:27) ; (1 Samuel 30:24).

Verse 10

And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that [are] in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built f there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.

(f) That is, beyond Jordan: for sometime the whole country on both sides of Jordan is referred to as Canaan.

Verse 12

And when the children of Israel heard [of it], the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up g to war against them.

(g) Such was their zeal, that they would rather lose their lives, that allow the true religion to be changed or corrupted.

Verse 16

Thus saith h the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass [is] this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?

(h) Not only of the princes, but also of the common people.

Verse 17

[Is] the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not l cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,

(l) Meaning, God is not fully pacified, in that no punishment can be sufficient for such wickedness and idolatry.

Verse 19

Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession [be] k unclean, [then] pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD'S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but l rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.

(k) In your judgment.

(l) To use any other service than God has appointed is to rebel against God, (1 Samuel 15:23).

Verse 20

Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man m perished not alone in his iniquity.

(m) Signifying, that if many suffered for one man's sin, for the fault of many, all should suffer.

Verse 23

That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD n himself require [it];

(n) Let him punish us.

Verse 25

For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children o cease from fearing the LORD.

(o) Or, to turn back from the true God.

Verse 28

Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should [so] say to us or to our p generations in time to come, that we may say [again], Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it [is] a witness between us and you.

(p) They signify a wonderful care that they bore toward their posterity, that they might live in the true service of God.

Verse 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 the LORD [is] q among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have r delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.

(q) By preserving and governing us.

(r) Whom if ye had offended; he would have punished with you.