And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
Study Helps
Interpretation
Here is the care of the separated tribes to keep their hold of Canaan's religion. At first sight it seemed a design to set up an altar against the altar at Shiloh.
Glossary
- Jordan Place
- Biblical river. Modern identification: Jordan River.
- Canaan Place
- Biblical region. Modern identification: Canaan.
- Gad Person
- Fortune; luck. (1. ) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher ( Gen. 30:11-13 ; 46:16 , 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc.
- Reuben Person
- Behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 29:32 ). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22 , brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4).
- Geliloth Place
- Circles; regions, a place in the border of Benjamin ( Josh. 18:17 ); called Gilgal in 15:7. Modern identification: Araq ed Deir.