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spoils which they would carry with them-the cattle, silver, gold, brass, iron, and raiment-and enjoining them to give a suitable portion of these spoils to their brethren who had remained at home to protect their families, and conduct the management of their affairs.

Under these favorable auspices, they took their departure from Shiloh, and soon after crossing the Jordan, erected a great altar, of such height and extent that it was visible at a very considerable distance.

It was not long before the other tribes on the west side of the river heard of what was done; and their fears were awakened lest the transaction was an act of direct disobedience to the divine commands, and perhaps of open idolatry, For God had given an express injunction to the whole nation to offer up their sacrifices on but one altar, and only at the place which he should appoint for its erection. The most exemplary punishment, too, was required to be inflicted by the Israelites upon the individuals or the cities who should establish any idolatrous rites or worship.

Had their brethren done this? It might prove to be the case. Their jealousy for the divine honor was aroused. The people were assembled, and after deliberation on the subject, it was concluded, before setting out with an army to inflict

the merited chastisement upon the offenders, to send an embassy, to inquire more particularly into the matter. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, and ten princes of as many of the tribes of Israel, were deputed on this important errand. They were, undoubtedly, men of distinction, cool judgment, and weight of character, fitted to the magnitude of the trust reposed in them, and who would act with prudence, and all necessary forbearance. It was a wise measure, as the result proved, and furnishes one, among many similar instances, how much it is the part of candor and forbearance towards others, to examine the motives and ends of their conduct, before hastily concluding from mere appearances or reports, that they are wrong. If a little more of this charity were exercised by men, in their intercourse with each other, it would save a great deal of secret heart-burning, and of open strife.

The deputation arrived in the land of Gilead, the residence of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh. They immediately made known the object of their errand, and inquired why it was that their brethren had thus, as it would seem, been guilty of an open and flagrant act of disobedience to the Lord, in erecting a new altar for his worship. They reminded them of the awful displeasure of the Almighty,

in consequence of some former transgressions of the Israelites, and of their rashness in again provoking his judgments, not only upon themselves but upon the whole nation. If they were dissatisfied with the allotment of their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan, thinking that of the other tribes, on the opposite side, a more favorable one, especially because the tabernacle of the Lord was there, they might pass over and have provision made for them among their brethren, who would cheerfully make any sacrifices for such a purpose. "But rebel not," said they, against the Lord, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of the Lord our God. Did not Achan, the son of Zerah, commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity."

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What a noble example of disinterestedness, and of pious regard for the honor of God, and the true welfare of their whole nation! When will individuals, and families, and civil communities imbibe such a spirit, and carry it out in the management of their various affairs. To seek first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and to be willing to make sacrifices and practise self-denial, that ourselves and others may be led to love and obey him, is both our highest duty and happiness. Would men universally do this, our

world would become like heaven. How much, my young friend, have you of this spirit? How much are you endeavoring to diffuse it all around you?

CHAPTER XV.

Reasons for building the altar. Joshua one hundred and ten years of age. He assembles the heads of the Israelites, to give them his counsels.

The two tribes and a half who had built the altar on the east side of Jordan, replied promptly and kindly to the inquiry of their brethren. They appealed to the great Searcher of hearts for the purity of their intentions in what they had done, and declared that they were ready to abide their doom, if their conduct had in it aught of disobedience to the divine commands. Let the Lord himself requite them, they said, if they had erected the altar, to turn away from following him, or that they might offer thereon burnt-offering, meat-offering, or peace-offerings.

Nay, it was for the very purpose of preserving

the love and service of God among their descendants, that they had done it. For, in after times, those on the west side of the Jordan might say to those on the east; "What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel? 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." Claiming thus their exclusive privilege to the protection and blessing of Jehovah, because they were on that side of the river where his altar stood, and the place of his worship was established, and denouncing those on the east of the Jordan, the latter might, at length, consider themselves as a repudiated race, degenerate into a forgetfulness of the true God, and adopt the practices of heathenism.

It was especially to guard against this great evil, that they had built the altar. Being made after the pattern of the one on the west side of Jordan, while the use of it for sacrifice was scrupulously to be avoided, it would stand an imperishable monument of their belonging to the true Israel; and their descendants could always appeal to it as proof of this, and thus meet with a triumphant reply any reproach that might be cast upon them in the way that has been mentioned. God forbid," said they, that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord, to build an altar

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