And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
Then Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, said to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, 'Today we can see that the LORD is with us, because you have not betrayed the LORD. Now you have saved the people of Israel from the LORD's punishment.'
Phinehas is relieved and grateful that the eastern tribes remained faithful to God, preventing divine judgment on all of Israel.
📚 Historical Context
In the Book of Joshua, after the Israelites had conquered much of Canaan, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan River, having fulfilled their obligation to help in the conquest. When these tribes built a large altar, the other tribes suspected it was an act of idolatry or rebellion against God, prompting a delegation led by Phinehas to confront them and prevent potential divine judgment. Upon learning that the altar was meant as a witness to their shared faith and not for sacrifices, Phinehas affirmed God's presence among the people, relieving the tension and avoiding conflict.
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