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
This verse concludes the story of a near civil war among the Israelite tribes. The eastern tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) had built an altar by the Jordan River, which the western tribes initially thought was an act of rebellion against God. After sending a delegation to investigate, they discovered the altar was actually built as a witness to future generations that the eastern tribes also belonged to the Lord, not for forbidden sacrifices.
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