“When the sons of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the sons of Israel gathered themselves at Shiloh to go up against them in war.” Joshua 22:12
Chapter 22 of Joshua should be titled, “Jumping to Conclusions”. If you remember the story back in Numbers, Israel had been attacked by Sihon, King of the Amorites, and Og, King of Bashan, and conquered their land. Reuben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh received this land as their Inheritance and left their Wives, Children, and Livestock there until they had helped Israel conquer Canaan. In Today’s Reading, they are returning to that inheritance east of the Jordan River. Before crossing, they erect a large altar on the west side. Word gets back to Joshua and the rest of Israel, and Today’s Verse describes their reaction.
WAR! There was no hesitation. How dare they build another Altar than the one God has designated! True, there was to be only One Altar; but that’s not what this one was for. It was to be a Witness to their children, and to the other tribes, that they were still part of Israel. They had reasoned among themselves that years down the road, their Children might be accused of not belonging to the People of God. That this border of the Jordan River separated them both Physically as well as Spiritually from their Covenant God. But as we read today, that would have been wrong.
Today’s Lesson? Let us not Jump to Conclusions regarding others. We do not always know the circumstances that govern those that we are so quick to Judge! See Matthew 7:1-6 for more information.