And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
This news made the Israelites happy, and they praised God. They decided not to go to war against the tribes of Reuben and Gad or destroy the land where they lived.
The Israelites were relieved and grateful to God when they learned the truth, choosing peace over war with their fellow tribes.
📚 Historical Context
After the Israelites had conquered much of the Promised Land, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh settled on the east side of the Jordan River. They built an altar that the other tribes initially saw as a potential act of rebellion or idolatry, fearing it would divide the nation. Once the eastern tribes explained that the altar was meant as a memorial to unite them in worshiping God, the misunderstanding was resolved, and the Israelites decided against going to war.
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