24: The Altar of Witness (Josh 22:1 – 34)

On their way home, the two and a half tribes east of the Jordan built an altar before crossing the river. As a result, the other nine and a half tribes prepared to attack them.

πŸ‘‰ Read Joshua 22:1 - 34


Q1. Joshua commended the eastern tribes for having completed the task given to them by (        ), Joshua, and (           ) (1-3). As he sent them back to their homeland, Joshua exhorted them to love the Lord and obey His (          ) (4-5). Also, Joshua (             ) them so that they returned home with great wealth (6 – 9). 

Joshua commended the eastern tribes for having completed the task given to them by ( Moses ), Joshua, and ( the Lord ) (1-3). As he sent them back to their homeland, Joshua exhorted them to love the Lord and obey His ( commands ) (4-5). Also, Joshua ( rewarded ) them so that they returned home with great wealth (6 – 9). 

Note that Joshua commended their faithfulness and rewarded them. 


Q2. When they built another altar, what did the other tribes do?

They gathered at Shiloh to launch an attack against them

Look at their zeal for spiritual purity, though it was from their misunderstanding. Such a response contrasts with what the later generation did when King Jeroboam erected an altar at Bethel. At that time, they accepted it and worshiped at Bethel.



Q3. (13 – 20) The Western tribes sent Phinehas and the tribal leaders to the Eastern tribes and took issue with the altar. According to Phinehas’ words, what was wrong with building an altar? (19, 29) 

The Eastern tribes built an altar other than the Lord’s altar.

The Lord had asked them to offer sacrifices on the designated place and altar. Before Jesus Christ fully revealed who God is and the Holy Spirit came to the church, the people of the Old Testament could only worship Him through specific rituals, at designated times and places..



Q4. Why does it matter to the Western tribes, for it was the Eastern tribes who built the altar? (18, 20)

The entire community will be punished for a sin of a few. They referenced two historical examples of the whole nation being punished because of the wrongdoing of a small group: the incident at Peor and Achan's stealth.


Q5. (21 – 29) The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh responded this way. “We decided to build this altar, not for (               ), but as a (              ) to us and you, that we will honor the Lord in (                 ) with our offerings.” 

“We decided to build this altar, not for ( burnt offerings and other sacrifices ), but as a ( reminder ) to us and you, that we will honor the Lord in ( his very presence ) with our offerings.”

They emphasized that the altar was not for offerings (23, 26-27, 29)

This replica altar will serve as a reminder to their descendants that the designated place of worship is on the western side of the Jordan, where the altar stands. It will prevent them from building their own altar on the eastern side of the river.



Q6. (30 – 34) As they heard their reply, they said, “Today we know that the Lord is (                 ).” They named the altar, “Surely it is a (             ) to us that the Lord is God.”

Among us, Reminder

It must be a joy that they confirmed their fellow Israelites have not disobeyed the Lord, rather, that they were zealous to stay as the covenant people and built the altar of witness. 



Their commitment to the Canaanite conquest and their zeal for the Lord serves as a model of faithfulness for future generations and for us.


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