With the fighting completed, the eastern tribes can go home to their wives and children. They have kept the promise they made to Moses and Joshua, and they are graciously rewarded with silver, gold, and clothing for their loved ones (Joshua 22:1–8). On the way, they decide to build a massive altar, probably on some kind of hill so that it can be clearly seen from the other side of the river. And they do so with good reason. They want their families to know that they also have a portion in the Lord (Joshua 22:25). They might be living on the opposite side of the Jordan, but the river must not stop them from being part of God’s people. The altar is meant to serve as a witness that the Lord is God also in the land east of the Jordan and they have the right to worship him.

The western tribes, not being party to this thinking, are confused and upset when they discover the existence of the altar. To their minds this is an unlawful worship site. The Lord has said that he must only be worshipped at the tabernacle, that all the high places of the Canaanites must be broken down. But now it seems as if the eastern tribes are making plans to worship God in their own way, plans maybe even to worship another god. And so in obedience to Deuteronomy 13, they prepare to go to battle and they send a delegation to make inquiries. They do not want covenant curses to come upon them; they want to make sure that God’s Word rules in his land. Thankfully, however, when the delegation arrives they are given a solid explanation, the matter is resolved, and there is peace once again.