Reading for October 30th

Read Joshua 22.10-34
In 22.10-34: he altar of witness.
In verse 10: The story presupposes that only one altar for sacrifice is permissible.
Dissension focuses on whether this altar by the Jordan is evidence of apostasy (vv. 16-20) or actually a token of loyalty (vv. 22-29).
Its great size relates to its intended function as a visible witness (vv. 27-28, 34).
In verse 12: The story is told from the perspective of the western tribes, describing them as the Israelites to the exclusion of the eastern tribes ( also vv. 32, 33).
In verse 17: The incident as Peor is reported in Num 25.
In verse 18: The principle of collective responsibility means the whole nation is endangered by the rebellion of some (compare v. 20).
In verse 19: Territory outside of Canaan might be ritually unclean, a place where loyalty to the Lord would be impossible.
In verse 22: The eastern tribes begin with confessional exclamation (compare 1 Kings 18.19) and a hypothetical self-condemnation that asserts their fidelity in the strongest terms.
In verse 27: The eastern tribes repeatedly cite lists of sacrifices (vv. 23, 26, 29) to deny that they intend to offer them at the newly built altar.
Here they use a similar catalog to affirm their loyalty.
In verse 28: The altar's purpose is finally revealed.
It is only a copy, a replica pointing to loyal service at the legitimate altar at Shiloh.
In verse 34: The altar's name does not appear in the Hebrew text.
What is important is it function as a witness between us, that is, between the eastern and western tribes.
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