And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
For the Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you,.... And by it separated them from them, as if they were a distinct people; not that this was really the case, but so they feared it would be represented in time to come; for though Jordan was the border of the land of Canaan, strictly so called, eastward, Num 34:12; yet it did...
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
For fear of this thing - The motive that actuated us was directly the reverse of that of which we have been suspected.