And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
So this could have been one of the biggest disasters in the history of the Bible. Talk about a misunderstanding! Reuben, Gad, and Mannaseh had fulfilled their obligations on this side of the river Jordan. They fought with their brethren and subdued the land (for the most part). So now they’ve returned home. On the way home, they build an altar there by the Jordan to be a memorial to all of Israel that Reuben, Gad, and Mannaseh had part in the Lord. It was built as witness to ensure that they would be able to cross back over the river Jordan and offer their sacrifices and offerings with all the children of Israel.
Of course, the other tribes heard of it, and they thought the worst. They thought that this was a separate altar from the tabernacle where they would offer sacrifice contrary to the law. So the whole congregation gathered themselves together to go up to war against them.
Or course, this seems a bit drastic. And yes, cooler heads prevailed. However, if an understanding between the tribes would not have been reached, we could have very well seen the slaughter of a quarter of all Israel. It was a tense moment for the people of Israel. That would not have been good. Up until now, you hadn’t seen tribe fight against tribe. So here’s the New Testament verse that comes to mind in all this:
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25
When the children of Israel fought together they conquered 31 kings with great speed and power. They seemed to take a break after that drive. This is when Rueben, Gad, and Mannaseh went back over the Jordan. (Joshua 22) The land had already been divided up (in a book at least). The bible says, “And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.” (Joshua 18:1) At that point it sounded like the children of Israel were done.
But they weren’t done. After the 31 kings were conquered, God said unto Joshua, “Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.” (Joshua 13:1) So after it was all divided up, and they set up the tabernacle in Shiloh, Joshua said unto the children of Israel, “How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?” (Joshua 18:3) But here’s the great truth of the matter:
- The children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites and the Maachathites. (Joshua 13:13)
- Judah could not drive out the Jebusites out of Jerusalem. (Joshua 15:63)
- Ephraim could not drive out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer. (Joshua 16:10)
- Manasseh could not drive out the Canaanites that dwelled in their cities. (Joshua 17:12, Judges 1:27,28)
- Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites. (Judges 1:21)
- Zebulun did not drive out Canaanites of Kitron and Nahalol (Judges 1:30)
- Asher did not drive out Canaanites of Accho, Zidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik, nor of Rehob (Judges 1:31)
- Naphtali did not drive out Canaanites of Bethshemeth and Bethanath (Judges 1:33)
- Dan was held up in a mountain by the Amorites (Judges 1:34)
Here’s my point: When one of the tribes failed to drive out the inhabitants of the land, all the other tribes did not rush to gather themselves together, help the weaker brother, and fight together against his enemies. But they did gather themselves together to fight against their own when they misunderstood their intentions in religious matters, and came pretty close to slaughtering themselves.
Do you detect a sense of hypocrisy in all this? If they were so concerned about not having other gods before them, then why didn’t they stick together, finish the job, and wipe the Canaanites off the face of the earth, especially when Joshua warned them that letting them live would be their greatest snare.
“If ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.” (Joshua 23:12,13)
When we gather together, let it not be to tear our own down, and to hurt one another. But let us gather together in preaching and prayer to make war against our enemies: the flesh, the devil, and this old world. Let us gather together to drive out our troubles and trials.
On a positive note, In Joshua it was said that Judah could not drive out the inhabitants of their lot. Well, it so happens when we get to the book of Judges, “Judah said unto Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with thee into thy lot.” (Judges 1:3) Together, they drove them out!
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Matthew 18:19
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