Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
The two and a half tribes of Gad and Reuben with half Manasseh were returning to their inheritance east of the Jordan in the upland plains and forests of Gilead and Bashan, a region chosen for grazing flocks and herds. They had pledged their proportion of armed men to accompany their brethren across the Jordan and share their battles, and forty thousand prepared for war passed over to the plains of Jericho. Those men fought bravely for years until the other tribes entered Canaan, then returned with much riches, very much cattle, silver, gold, brass, iron and very much raiment to share with those who had remained with the families and flocks. They were to dwell at a distance from the sanctuary, where isolation and a wandering life brought strong temptation to fall into the customs of the heathen tribes on their borders.
The altar of which the verse speaks was not intended for burnt offerings or for sacrifices. It was built by the tribes east of the Jordan as a witness that they too worshiped the living God and belonged to Israel. Its purpose looked to the future, so that their descendants would not be treated as having no share in Israel's worship and community.
The verse belongs to an episode in which Israel's zeal to guard faithfulness, sharpened by what happened in Achan's case, led them to act against Gad and Reuben before learning all the facts. That concern went to the opposite extreme, for a courteous inquiry should have come before judging their brethren. The episode shows how a good-faith effort to serve true religion could be mistaken for defection and lead to grave danger. The accused tribes answered the misunderstanding with wisdom, giving an example of meekness and forbearance rather than anger or retaliation.
The two and a half tribes of Gad and Reuben with half Manasseh were returning to their inheritance east of the Jordan in the upland plains and forests of Gilead and Bashan, a region chosen for grazing flocks and herds. They had pledged their proportion of armed men to accompany their brethren across the Jordan and share their battles, and forty thousand prepared for war passed over to the plains of Jericho. Those men fought bravely for years until the other tribes entered Canaan, then returned with much riches, very much cattle, silver, gold, brass, iron and very much raiment to share with those who had remained with the families and flocks. They were to dwell at a distance from the sanctuary, where isolation and a wandering life brought strong temptation to fall into the customs of the heathen tribes on their borders.
The altar of which the verse speaks was not intended for burnt offerings or for sacrifices. It was built by the tribes east of the Jordan as a witness that they too worshiped the living God and belonged to Israel. Its purpose looked to the future, so that their descendants would not be treated as having no share in Israel's worship and community.
The verse belongs to an episode in which Israel's zeal to guard faithfulness, sharpened by what happened in Achan's case, led them to act against Gad and Reuben before learning all the facts. That concern went to the opposite extreme, for a courteous inquiry should have come before judging their brethren. The episode shows how a good-faith effort to serve true religion could be mistaken for defection and lead to grave danger. The accused tribes answered the misunderstanding with wisdom, giving an example of meekness and forbearance rather than anger or retaliation.