And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
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.
Read with
This thought runs through Joshua 22:11-14.
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.