22:1-8
The book closes with three separate tales, all dealing with commitment to the Lord. The first involves the Transjordanian tribes, the Reubenites, Gadites and the famous half-tribe of Manasseh. Joshua summoned them and declared that they had fulfilled the requirements laid upon them by Moses, i.e. fighting with their fellow Israelites until the land was conquered. The Lord had given the people rest, so the tribes were free to return home. Joshua reminds them that they must keep the Law of Moses, living in obedience to God “with all your heart and with all your soul”. The tribes were blessed by Joshua. They also took with them a great deal of plunder, obtained during the various conquests.
22:9-14
It didn’t take long for trouble to arise. The Transjordanian tribes built an “imposing altar”. Now this was not an idol, but an altar. It seems clear that there was suspicion between the Israel tribes and Transjordanian tribes. For the Israel tribes feared that they had built an idol, and their recent history had demonstrated beyond doubt that this was a very bad idea. Phinehas along with a representative from each of the tribes was sent to investigate the matter. It was Phinehas who had brought the plague after the Moab debacle to an end (Num 25), so he was a trusted man, as well as being a priest. So if there was something wrong he would spot it. The whole of Israel was ready to go to war with their brothers.
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