Joshua 22:32
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 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.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad with half Manasseh received their inheritance east of the Jordan in the grazing plains and forests of Gilead and Bashan, pledging their armed men to cross the Jordan and share the battles until their brethren entered upon their inheritance. Forty thousand prepared for war passed over to the plains of Jericho and fought bravely for years, then returned with much riches of very much cattle, silver, gold, brass, iron and very much clothing to share with those who had remained with the families and flocks. Their dwelling at a distance from the sanctuary brought anxious fear that their isolated life would tempt them to fall into the customs of the bordering heathen tribes.
The verse reports Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and the princes returning from the children of Reuben and Gad in the land of Gilead to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan with word again. It belongs to the response to the altar built by Reuben and Gad, when zeal to guard against sin led the Israelites to suspect their brethren before learning the facts, though a courteous inquiry should have come first. The ten tribes acted promptly because they feared their brethren's supposed defection would divide Israel in worship.
The account shows a grave misunderstanding among Israel resolved before it led to division and bloodshed. Even zeal to defend God's honor can bring serious harm when it rests on a misunderstanding. Phinehas and the princes carried the Reubenites' explanation back to the Israelites, and once the people heard it they abandoned plans for war and rejoiced together praising God.
Those who were honestly seeking to promote true religion were misjudged and reprimanded, yet their wise conduct under accusation is an example to follow. When unjustly suspected or censured a person should not give way to anger or retaliation but show meekness and forbearance.