Joshua 22:10

“And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that [are] in the land of Canaan, etc.] To the banks of it, or the sand heaps, some take the word to signify, which were thrown up to restrain the waters from overflowing; some by Geliloth understand a place so called; and Jerom f512 says it was near Jordan in the tribe of Benjamin: but rather the word signifies the meanders, windings, and turnings, of the river f513; and such circuits and compasses it fetched near Jericho, as the same writer f514 observes, where we may suppose these tribes went over, and at a place where the river jetted out into the land of Canaan: the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, built there an altar by…”

“THEY BUILD THE ALTAR OF TESTIMONY ON THEIR JOURNEY. (Jos 22:10) when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben . . . built there an altar by Jordan--This altar was probably an immense pile of stones and earth. The generality of our translators supposes that it was reared on the banks of the Jordan, within the limits of Canaan proper. But a little closer examination seems to make the conclusion irresistible that its position was on the eastern side of the river, for these two reasons; first, because it is said (Jos 22:11) to have been built "over against," or in the sight of the land of Canaan--not within it; and secondly, because the…”

“The two tribes and a half erected this altar in order to keep alive their claim to have the same interest as the other tribes had in the sanctuary of God, which was established on the west side of Jordan: and in order to forestall any assertion that the Jordan itself was a natural barrier of exclusion between them and the sanctuary, they built it on the west or Canaanite bank of the Jordan and not on the east. The word rendered “borders” is noteworthy; it means circuits, arrondissements. return to 'Top of Page'”

“Built an altar - About that time when they came to them, they designed it, and as soon as they were got over Jordan, which was in a very little time, they effected and perfected it. They built it, no doubt, on their own side of the water: for how could they build on other men's land, without their consent? And it is said, in the following verse, to be over against the land of Jordan. Nor would there have been cause to suspect that it was designed for sacrifice, if they had not built it among themselves. Joshua 22:11”

“22:10-20 Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built their own altar, triggering a confrontation with the rest of Israel. 22:10 to a place called Geliloth: It is reasonable to presume that Geliloth and the altar were on the west bank of the Jordan.”

“the children: This verse should probably be rendered, "And when they came to the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, Then built an altar by (or beyond, al) Jordan, a great altar to the view." It would appear, that when they came to the river, they formed the purpose of building the altar; and when they crossed it they put that purpose into execution. It is evident that they did not build it west of the Jordan, for that was not in their territories, and the next verse expressly says that it was built over against the land of Canaan. built: Jos 22:25-28, Jos 4:5-9, Jos 24:26, Jos 24:27; Gen 28:18,…”