An Altar named Witness

Mo. 11/18/13: Joshua 22:10, 12                  What did Reuben and Gad build?

And when they came to the region of the Jordan which is in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan—a great, impressive altar.

And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered together at Shiloh to go to war against them.

What did they build? They built an altar outside Jerusalem.

Tu. 11/19/13: Joshua 22:16, 20                  Why was Israel inflamed?

… They (a delegation of leaders) spoke with them, saying, “Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord: ‘What treachery is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that you have built for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel this day against the Lord?

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 did not perish alone in his iniquity.’”

Why was Israel inflamed? Israel recalled the nationwide penalty at Ai-Ai.

We. 11/20/13: Joshua 22:22                  What was Reuben and Gad’s answer?

“The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, He knows, and let Israel itself know—if it is in rebellion, or if in treachery against the Lord, do not save us this day.

What was Reuben and Gad’s answer? If the claim of rebellion was correct, they were willing to die.

Th. 11/21/13: Josh. 22:23, 26 – 27                  Why did they build the altar?

If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer on it burnt offerings or grain offerings, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the Lord Himself require an account.

Therefore we said, ‘Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us …

Why did they build the altar? They built a witness for their children, not sacrifice.

Fr. 11/22/13: Joshua 22:33 – 34                  How did it end?

So the thing pleased the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God; they spoke no more of going against them in battle, to destroy the land where the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.

The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar, Witness, “For it is a witness between us that the Lord is God.”

How did it end? Israel was satisfied: the altar was named ‘Witness.’