Joshua 22:23-25

Ver. 23-25. What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel? &c.— Not satisfied with justifying themselves from the crime imputed to them, of having dared to erect a new altar, to rival, as it were, the holy altar: not content with having submitted in that case to whatever the most formidable judgment of divine vengeance might inflict, let the Lord himself require it; (see Deuteronomy 18:19.) the accused candidly explain what were their views in the step which had alarmed the other tribes; an ill-grounded though a pious fear. "We apprehended," say they, "that in a course of time, on seeing ourselves separated by the Jordan from the place at which the sanctuary of the Lord is situated, we should be looked upon as strangers, as a people who had no share or right in the worship of the tabernacle, and that our posterity, biassed and persuaded by speeches to this purpose, should absolutely grow relaxed, and turn aside from the fear and worship of the true God."