but to be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we do perform the service of the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings and sacrifices and peace offerings, so your children will not say to our children in time to come, “You have no portion in the LORD.”’
Therefore said we,.... To prevent any such usage of our children, and that they might have a ready answer to give: that it shall be, when they should so say unto us, or to our generations, in time to come; as above suggested, that they were a separate people from them, and had no interest in the Lord, nor right to his altar, nor concern...
News of that altar spread instantly, and at first the tribes meant war, they saw apostasy and prepared to strike. But they paused, resolved instead to send inquiry first: the high priest's son and ten eminent men, one from each tribe. That such quality was sent showed how deeply they felt the danger to the worship of God and the unity of His people.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 22:11-29
Jos 22:26-28 “So we thought, we will make ourselves to build an altar (an expression derived from the language of ordinary life, for 'we will build ourselves an altar'), not for burnt-offerings and slain-offerings; but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Jehovah before His face (i.e., before the tabernacle...
Commenting on Joshua 22:26-28