Joshua 22:30
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.
The moment belongs to the return of Reuben and Gad and half Manasseh to their inheritance east of the Jordan after they faithfully kept their pledge to fight alongside their brethren in Canaan, for forty thousand of them had passed over to battle in the plains of Jericho and fought for years, and now they returned with much riches, cattle, silver, gold, brass, iron, and clothing to share with those who had remained with the families and flocks. They were now to dwell at a distance from the sanctuary, where their isolated and wandering life would bring strong temptation to fall into the customs of the heathen tribes on their borders. It follows Israel's alarmed response to the altar built by the eastern tribes, whose concern about sin and unfaithfulness was earnest, but whose fear of repeating the failure in Achan's case led them to judge too quickly.
When Phinehas the priest and the princes heard the explanation of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh concerning their altar, they were pleased and readily accepted the candid explanation. They expressed great joy that the hearts of their brethren were still true to God, and the good tidings were immediately carried back to the congregation of Israel so that all thoughts of war were dismissed and the people united in heartfelt rejoicing and praise to God. The explanation thus resolved the suspicion of religious defection and kept a misunderstanding from leading to division and bloodshed.
The episode teaches those under unjust suspicion to patiently explain themselves and to respond with meekness and forbearance rather than with anger or retaliation. It teaches those who suspect wrong to learn the facts through courteous inquiry rather than beginning with censure.