The Eastern Tribes Build the Altar of Witness at Geliloth — Bible Events

After the conquest of Canaan was complete, Joshua sent the warriors of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh home to their inheritance east of the Jordan with a blessing and a warning to keep the Law of Moses (Joshua 22:1-9). When they reached Geliloth — a site on the western bank of the Jordan opposite Gilead — they built a great altar, "imposing in appearance," before crossing back over (Joshua 22:10-11). News of the altar reached the rest of Israel at Shiloh, where the tabernacle stood, and the western tribes immediately assembled for war, believing the eastern tribes had set up a rival sanctuary in rebellion against the Lord.

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The Division of the Promised Land

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JoshuaThe Altar That Almost Started a War

The eastern tribes finally head home after years of fighting alongside their brothers — and then build something by the Jordan River that nearly triggers a civil war. What looked like betrayal turned out to be the opposite. It's a story about what happens when people assume the worst before asking questions.

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Joshua Phinehas

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Geliloth Shiloh Gilead Jordan River