John Gill Commentary


John Gill Commentary
"And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them well." — Joshua 22:30 (ASV)
And when Phinehas the priest
He was the son of Eleazar the high priest. The word "priest" (Joshua 22:13) is to be joined not to Eleazar but to Phinehas:
and the princes of the congregation ;
the ten princes, who were sent by the congregation of Israel, one out of each tribe:
and heads out of the thousands of Israel ;
these are the same with the princes, and this belongs to their title, who were heads of the Chiliarchs, or those who were rulers of thousands in Israel:
which [were] with him ;
with Phinehas, who were joined with him in the embassy, and now present with him:
heard the words that the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad ,
and the children of Manasseh; spoke ;
in defence of themselves, explaining the meaning and design of the altar they had built:
it pleased them ;
they were not only satisfied with their answer, but highly delighted with what they had done, as tending to preserve the common faith and fellowship of Israel.