Charles Ellicott Commentary Joshua 22:27

"but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may do the service of Jehovah 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 portion in Jehovah." — Joshua 22:27 (ASV)

Ye have no part in the Lord. —Something of the kind was insinuated in the abuse of the Gileadites by the men of Ephraim (Judges 12:4), when they said, Ye Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites, and among the Manassites. That taunt cost the Ephraimites the lives of 42,000 men. The person who made it the law of Israel to have no part in Jehovah was Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who made Israel to sin by setting up the calves, and thus diverting the stream of national worshippers from Jerusalem, the place chosen by the Lord.

It may be further observed that Joshua’s efforts under the direction of Jehovah for the establishment of national unity in Israel are proved by the narrative in this chapter to have taken considerable effect. At whatever cost, it was felt that the unity of national worship must be maintained. Rebellion against Jehovah is treated by the heads of Israel (Joshua 22:19) as rebellion against us.