Verse-by-Verse Commentary
The Book of Joshua
Chapter 22: The Altar Called Ed, a Witness
With the land subdued, Joshua sends the eastern tribes, Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, home to their possession beyond the Jordan, commending their faithfulness and charging them to love and cleave to the LORD. On the way they build 'a great altar' by the Jordan, and when the other tribes hear of it, they fear apostasy and gather for war. But before striking, they send a delegation to inquire, and learn the truth: the altar was not for sacrifice but 'a witness' that the eastern tribes, though separated by the river, share the same LORD and faith. They call it Ed, 'witness,' 'for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.' A near-tragedy of misunderstanding is turned to peace by inquiry and honest speech.
About This Commentary
This is a verse-by-verse study of Joshua chapter 22. For each section you will find the KJV text, the Hebrew words that sharpen the meaning, plain explanation, and a Gospel Focus. Here the eastern tribes are sent home, build an altar that nearly sparks civil war, and reveal it to be an altar of witness to their shared faith in the LORD. Every Scripture quotation is from the King James Version.
Setting the Stage
Return and Cleave
Joshua commends the eastern tribes and sends them home.
A Great Altar
Built by the Jordan, and the nation fears rebellion.
Ask Before You Strike
A delegation is sent to learn the truth first.
A Witness
The altar testifies: "the LORD is God."
What Trespass Is This? (Joshua 22:1-20)
Joshua sends the eastern tribes home with a charge to cleave to the LORD; they build a great altar by the Jordan, and the other tribes, fearing apostasy, gather for war but first send Phinehas to inquire.
Cleave Unto Him, and Serve Him With All Your Heart
"Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh, And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan. But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to 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. So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents. Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them, 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 brethren. 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 unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 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 there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. 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 borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel. 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 to war against them. And the children of Israel sent unto 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, And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel. And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying, Thus saith 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? 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 congregation of the LORD, But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel. Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be 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 rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God. 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 perished not alone in his iniquity."
Word Study
"trespass," Hebrew maal (מַעַל). The word means unfaithfulness, treachery, a breach of trust against God, an act of covenant betrayal. It is the very word used of Achan's sin, "Did not Achan... commit a trespass (maal) in the accursed thing," which the delegation cites as the fearful precedent. When the western tribes heard of the great altar, they assumed the worst: that their brethren had committed maal, turning from the LORD to set up a rival place of sacrifice, and they gathered for war. Two things here are worthy of note, and both are commendable and cautionary. First, their zeal for God's holiness was right. They knew that unfaithfulness by one part of Israel could bring wrath "on all the congregation," as it had with Achan and at Peor; sin is not merely a private matter, and they would not tolerate apostasy in their midst. This jealousy for the honor of God and the purity of His worship is a good thing, sorely needed among God's people. Second, however, they nearly acted on an assumption. They were ready to go to war before they knew the facts. It is to their great credit that, before striking, they sent Phinehas and ten princes to inquire, exactly as the law required, "then shalt thou enquire, and make search, and ask diligently" (Deuteronomy 13:14). Zeal without knowledge can do great harm; zeal that first inquires preserves both truth and peace. So maal holds together two lessons. We should share the west's holy jealousy against unfaithfulness to God, refusing to tolerate apostasy; yet we must also share their wisdom in inquiring before we condemn, for many a brother has been wrongly accused, and many a needless conflict started, by acting on an assumption before knowing the truth. Be zealous for God's honor, but ask before you strike.
Explanation
A day of blessing nearly ends in civil war. Joshua sends the eastern tribes home with high praise, and on the way they build "a great altar" by the Jordan. The western tribes, seeing it, assume the worst — a rival altar is forbidden (Deuteronomy 12) — and "gathered... to go up to war against them." But before a sword is drawn, they send Phinehas and ten princes to investigate, invoking the sins of Peor and of Achan as warnings. Here is hard-won wisdom: zeal for God's honor is right, but it must first ask questions, lest brothers destroy one another over a misunderstanding.
Gospel Focus
The chapter opens with a warm and worthy scene. Joshua commends the eastern tribes: they had "kept all that Moses... commanded," and, though their own land lay east of the Jordan, they had crossed over and fought alongside their brethren "these many days" until the land was subdued. They kept their word and helped their brothers before settling in their own rest. Now Joshua sends them home with a blessing and a charge that gathers up the heart of the whole law: "love the LORD your God, and... walk in all his ways, and... keep his commandments, and... cleave unto him, and... serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." This is the sum of true religion, wholehearted love and cleaving to the LORD. But on the way home, the eastern tribes build "a great altar" by the Jordan, and the nation is thrown into alarm. Fearing their brethren had turned to false worship, "the whole congregation... gathered themselves together... to go up to war against them." Here the story could have ended in tragedy, brother against brother, over a misunderstanding. But wisdom prevailed: before drawing the sword, they sent Phinehas and ten princes to ask. Their charge was blunt, "What trespass is this?", and they cited Achan and Peor, real warnings that unfaithfulness brings wrath on all. Their zeal for God was right; their readiness to inquire before condemning was wise. For the Apostolic reader this section teaches two things God's people constantly need. First, a holy jealousy for the honor of God and the purity of His worship, refusing to tolerate apostasy, for one member's sin can grieve the whole body. Second, the wisdom to inquire before we judge. How much strife among brethren, how many broken relationships and needless wars, come from acting on an assumption before knowing the truth. Love "thinketh no evil" (1 Corinthians 13:5) and does not condemn a brother unheard. So we hold both: zealous for God, yet careful to ask, refusing both to wink at real sin and to accuse a brother falsely.
It Shall Be a Witness (Joshua 22:21-34)
The eastern tribes explain that the altar was not for sacrifice but a witness, that their children would never be told they had no part in the LORD; the matter is resolved in peace, and the altar is called Ed.
A Witness Between Us That the LORD Is God
"Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,) 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 himself require it; And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel? 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 cease from fearing the LORD. Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice: But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD 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 time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD. Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our 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. God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle. And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them. 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 among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD. 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, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again. And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God."
Word Study
"witness," Hebrew ed (עֵד). The word means a witness, a testimony; the altar was named "Ed," "for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God." The eastern tribes explain that the great altar was never meant for sacrifice, that would have been rebellion, a rival to the one altar at the tabernacle. It was built as a witness, a memorial to testify, to them and to future generations, that though the Jordan divided the land, the tribes on both sides belonged to the same LORD and shared one faith. Their deepest fear was for their children: that one day the western tribes might say to the eastern children, "Ye have no part in the LORD," and so their descendants would "cease from fearing the LORD." The altar of witness stood to answer that lie forever: we too worship the LORD; we are one people with one God. This is a moving concern, that faith be preserved and passed to the next generation, that no child be told he has no part in God. And the name itself confesses the great truth: "the LORD is God." The whole episode had turned on the honor of the one LORD, and it ends with a monument proclaiming Him. This joins the witness-memorials of Scripture, the stones at Gilgal (Joshua 4), the heap of witness between Jacob and Laban (Genesis 31:48), all set up so that truth would not be forgotten. So ed teaches the value of a witness. God's people rightly set up testimonies, memorials, confessions, ordinances, that proclaim the truth and preserve it for their children. The altar of Ed stood to say to every generation, on both sides of the river: the LORD is God, and we are His. Let us likewise leave witnesses that our children will never doubt they too have a part in the LORD.
Explanation
The eastern tribes' answer clears everything: the altar was never for sacrifice but for witness. They feared that one day the Jordan might become a border, and the western tribes might tell their children, "ye have no part in the LORD." So they built a replica altar as a testimony that they too belonged to Israel's God — and they named it "Ed," "for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God." What looked like the seed of division was in truth a monument to unity. Phinehas is satisfied, and the threatened war dissolves into peace.
Gospel Focus
The eastern tribes answer with a confession that clears the air, and it opens with a thunderous naming of God: "The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth." They call on the one true God, the Mighty God, the LORD above all, twice over, as their witness that they had not rebelled. Far from apostasy, their altar sprang from faith and love for the LORD. They explain the fear behind it: they dreaded that in generations to come, the western tribes might tell their children, "Ye have no part in the LORD," cutting them off from the worship of God because the Jordan lay between. So they built the altar, not to sacrifice on, but as "a witness between us and you," a standing testimony that the eastern tribes shared the same LORD and the same faith. Their whole concern was that their children not be severed from God. When Phinehas and the princes hear this, "it pleased them," and Phinehas declares, "This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass." The near-war ends in blessing: "the children of Israel blessed God," and the altar is named Ed, "a witness between us that the LORD is God." For the Apostolic reader this resolution is rich with wisdom. Notice how a potential tragedy was averted: by honest inquiry on one side and honest explanation on the other. The west asked instead of assuming; the east explained instead of taking offense. Where brethren speak the truth in love, misunderstanding is cleared and unity is preserved. Notice, too, the deep care for the next generation: the eastern tribes' great fear was that their children would be cut off from the LORD, and they built a witness to prevent it. God's people are always to labor that their children have a part in the LORD, leaving witnesses of faith that the generations to come will not forget. And notice the confession at the heart of it all, "the LORD is God." The whole matter, threatened war and restored peace alike, turned on the honor of the one LORD, and ended in a monument to Him. So we learn to inquire before we condemn, to speak the truth that clears misunderstanding, to guard the faith of our children, and to let all we build be a witness that the LORD is God.
Chapter 22 in Review
Joshua 22 tells how a near civil war was turned to peace. Joshua sends the faithful eastern tribes home with a charge to "love the LORD... and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart." On the way they build "a great altar" by the Jordan, and the other tribes, fearing apostasy, gather "to go up to war." But before striking, they send Phinehas and ten princes to inquire, "What trespass is this?" The eastern tribes answer that the altar was not for sacrifice but "a witness between us and you," lest their children one day be told, "Ye have no part in the LORD." The explanation "pleased them," peace is restored, "the children of Israel blessed God," and the altar is named Ed, "a witness between us that the LORD is God."
For the Apostolic reader this chapter is full of practical wisdom for the people of God. It commends a holy jealousy for the honor of God and the purity of His worship: the western tribes would not tolerate apostasy, for they knew one member's sin can bring wrath on the whole body, as with Achan and at Peor. Yet it also commends the wisdom of inquiry: before condemning their brethren, they sent to ask, exactly as the law required, and so averted a needless war. How much strife among believers comes from acting on assumptions before knowing the truth; love "thinketh no evil" and does not condemn a brother unheard. The chapter also shows the power of honest speech to clear misunderstanding and preserve unity: the west asked, the east explained, and peace was kept. And it reveals a deep and holy care for the next generation: the eastern tribes' great fear was that their children would be cut off from the LORD, and they built a witness so that no child would ever be told he had no part in God. Above all, it ends in a confession, "the LORD is God." So we learn to be zealous for God yet careful to inquire, to speak the truth that clears misunderstanding, to labor that our children have a part in the LORD, and to let all our witnesses proclaim the one great truth: the LORD is God, and we are His.
- The eastern tribes helped their brethren before settling in their own rest (22:1-4).
- Joshua's charge sums up true religion: love and cleave to the LORD with all your heart (22:5).
- Holy jealousy against apostasy is right; one member's sin can grieve the whole (22:16-20).
- Inquire before you condemn: they asked before they warred (22:13-16; Deuteronomy 13:14).
- Honest speech clears misunderstanding and preserves unity among brethren (22:21-31).
- The altar Ed is a witness for the children that "the LORD is God" (22:34).
Questions for Reflection
- Do you have a holy jealousy for the honor of God, yet inquire before you condemn?
- How often does strife come from acting on assumptions before knowing the truth?
- Are you laboring that your children have a part in the LORD?
- What witnesses have you set up that proclaim, "the LORD is God"?
References & Sources
Scripture is quoted from the King James Version (KJV). Supporting passages are listed so every claim can be verified in its own setting. The eastern tribes commended and charged; cleave to the LORD: Joshua 22:1-9; Numbers 32:16-32; Joshua 1:12-18; Deuteronomy 10:12-13, 20; 11:22. The feared altar; zeal against apostasy; Achan and Peor: Joshua 22:10-20; Joshua 7:1, 24-26; Numbers 25:1-9; Leviticus 17:8-9; Deuteronomy 12:5-14; 13:12-16. The altar of witness; care for the next generation; the confession of the one LORD: Joshua 22:21-34; Genesis 31:44-49; Joshua 4:6-7; Deuteronomy 6:20-25; 1 Corinthians 13:5-7; Ephesians 4:3; Matthew 18:15. If anything here does not look right, a verse, a reference, or a wording, please tell us at info@FruitBearers.net. Thank you for helping us keep Bible Learning error free.
- The eastern tribes sent home with a charge to cleave to the LORD: Joshua 22:1-9; Deuteronomy 10:20.
- Zeal against apostasy, yet inquiry before condemnation: Joshua 22:10-20; Joshua 7:1; Deuteronomy 13:14.
- The altar of witness; care that the children have a part in the LORD: Joshua 22:21-29; Deuteronomy 6:20-25.
- Peace restored; the altar Ed, "a witness that the LORD is God": Joshua 22:30-34; Genesis 31:48.