Friday, January 16, 2004
Joshua 22 - preemptive war averted
It is easy to get things very wrong. After the Reubenites, Gadites and the half-tribe of Mannasseh returned east of Jordan, they decided to build a conspicuous temple in the midst of their land. Word of this came back to the ten tribes west of Jordan and they immediately came to the conclusion that the eastern tribes were in rebellion: setting up a temple in conflict with the Deuteronomistic requirement of one site for sacrifices (Dt 12) which would be in the center of "the land" (west of Jordan).
Joshua 22:12 And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh, to make war against them.
Fortunately, the ten western tribes had the wisdom to send a high-level delegation to find out what was going on before they commenced hostilities. They sent the priest Phinehas with ten leaders, one from each of the western tribes. This is what they heard from the eastern tribes:
Joshua 22:22 "The LORD, God of gods! The LORD, God of gods! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith toward the LORD, do not spare us today 23 for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or offerings of well-being on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance. 24 No! We did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites; you have no portion in the LORD....'"
What they heard, first, was a repeated and emphatic declaration of loyalty to YHWH. Second, they heard that the eastern tribes were themselves fearful that the western tribes would disassociate from them. The action of building this Temple was, indeed, ambiguous. It could have been used to set up a separate sacrifice (a serious violation of the unity of the faith as envisioned by Moses). But, that was not the intention of the hearts of those who built it. Instead, they built it to be a symbol of unity with the eastern tribes. Only talk could determine that.
TNK Joshua 22:30 When the priest Phinehas and the chieftains of the community -- the heads of the contingents of Israel -- who were with him heard the explanation given by the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites, they approved. 31 The priest Phinehas son of Eleazar said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites, "Now we know that the LORD is in our midst, since you have not committed such treachery against the LORD. You have indeed saved the Israelites from punishment by the LORD."
It is a commonplace among cynical people today to say that "talk is well and good, but show me what you mean by your actions," -- or as President Reagan said of treaties with Russia, "trust, but verify." In reality, it is not enough simply to observe actions. Here, a tragic and unnecessary war was averted because the people who felt threatened had the wisdom to go beyond the appearances of action to inquire about intent.
Will we be wise enough to listen to the hearts of those whom we fear as enemies?
Joshua 22:12 And when the people of Israel heard of it, the whole assembly of the Israelites gathered at Shiloh, to make war against them.
Fortunately, the ten western tribes had the wisdom to send a high-level delegation to find out what was going on before they commenced hostilities. They sent the priest Phinehas with ten leaders, one from each of the western tribes. This is what they heard from the eastern tribes:
Joshua 22:22 "The LORD, God of gods! The LORD, God of gods! He knows; and let Israel itself know! If it was in rebellion or in breach of faith toward the LORD, do not spare us today 23 for building an altar to turn away from following the LORD; or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or offerings of well-being on it, may the LORD himself take vengeance. 24 No! We did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, 'What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? 25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you, you Reubenites and Gadites; you have no portion in the LORD....'"
What they heard, first, was a repeated and emphatic declaration of loyalty to YHWH. Second, they heard that the eastern tribes were themselves fearful that the western tribes would disassociate from them. The action of building this Temple was, indeed, ambiguous. It could have been used to set up a separate sacrifice (a serious violation of the unity of the faith as envisioned by Moses). But, that was not the intention of the hearts of those who built it. Instead, they built it to be a symbol of unity with the eastern tribes. Only talk could determine that.
TNK Joshua 22:30 When the priest Phinehas and the chieftains of the community -- the heads of the contingents of Israel -- who were with him heard the explanation given by the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites, they approved. 31 The priest Phinehas son of Eleazar said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites, "Now we know that the LORD is in our midst, since you have not committed such treachery against the LORD. You have indeed saved the Israelites from punishment by the LORD."
It is a commonplace among cynical people today to say that "talk is well and good, but show me what you mean by your actions," -- or as President Reagan said of treaties with Russia, "trust, but verify." In reality, it is not enough simply to observe actions. Here, a tragic and unnecessary war was averted because the people who felt threatened had the wisdom to go beyond the appearances of action to inquire about intent.
Will we be wise enough to listen to the hearts of those whom we fear as enemies?
