I include all these verses in one point of view, because so delightful a passage of scripture, which takes in the whole of the meek and candid answer of the accused, ought not to be broken. The thing speaks for itself, and the words are too plain, and the answer too, satisfactory, to need a comment. The opening of it is very striking, solemn, and affecting. Looking up to, and calling in for, a witness of truth, the glorious covenant Jehovah Aleim, Israel's God, was bringing the point to a speedy issue. Pleading the purity of their intentions, and then the apparent usefulness of their designs, very properly succeeds to that appeal. And, observe, above every other reason, which they offer for the erection of this altar, that it was only an altar of remembrance, and not for use in sacrifice. Doth not this plainly show, that those tribes, in common with the rest, had an eye to one sacrifice and one offering? And to whom could this refer, but to him, who in gospel times, was to offer himself without spot to God, through the Eternal Spirit, for the salvation of his people? With an eye to this the prophet beautifully speaks: Malachi 1:11.
Joshua 22:21-29
21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;
24 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?
25 For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
29 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.