Joshua 22:15
“They came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying,”
What does Joshua 22:15 mean?
After the Israelites conquered Canaan, the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh settled east of the Jordan River in a region called Gilead. When these tribes built an altar there, the other Israelite tribes became alarmed, thinking they were turning away from God's worship. So a delegation was sent to confront them and find out what was happening. This moment captures something very human: when we see something that looks wrong from the outside, our first instinct is often to assume the worst. The visiting leaders are about to accuse their fellow tribes of rebellion, even though they haven't heard the full story yet. It's a good reminder that misunderstandings can build quickly when we don't take time to listen first and judge later.