John Calvin Commentary Joshua 22:17

"Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves unto this day, although there came a plague upon the congregation of Jehovah," — Joshua 22:17 (ASV)

Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us? They represent the crime as more heinous, stemming from their perverse obstinacy in not ceasing repeatedly to provoke the Lord by their abominations. They bring forward one notable example of recent occurrence. While they were encircling the sanctuary of God from the four cardinal points, like good watchmen of God, and when they had received the form of due worship and were accustomed to it by constant practice, they had allowed themselves, through the seductive allurements of harlots, to be polluted by foul superstitions and had worshipped Baal-Peor.

As the whole people were implicated in this crime, the ten ambassadors do not hesitate to admit that they were partners in the guilt. They therefore ask, "Is not the iniquity which we incurred in the matter of Baal-Peor sufficient?" They add that they were not yet purified from it, as if to say that its remembrance was not yet entirely buried, or that God's vengeance was not yet extinguished.

From this, they infer that the two tribes and the half-tribe, by turning aside from God with impious contumacy and shaking off His yoke, not only act unwisely for themselves but are also calling down similar destruction on the whole people. This is because God will avenge the insult offered to Him more broadly.

They confirm this by the example of Achan. Although he was alone when he secretly stole some of the accursed thing, he did not undergo the punishment for his sacrilege alone but also dragged others along with him. This was evident when some fell in the line of battle, while all were shamefully put to flight, because pollution had attached to the people.

They reason from the lesser to the greater. If God's anger burned against many for the clandestine misdeed of one man, much less would He allow the people to escape if they connived at manifest idolatry.

A middle view, however, is inserted: if the two tribes and the half-tribe built an altar, and if their condition was worse because they did not dwell in the land of Canaan, they should rather come and obtain a settlement also in the land of Canaan, but they must not provoke God by a wicked rivalry.

From this, we infer that they were not driven by some arrogant impulse, since, even at their own loss and expense, they were willing to kindly offer partnership to those who had demanded a settlement and dwelling place for themselves elsewhere.