Is the iniquitie of Peor too litle for vs, from which we are not cleansed vntil this day, (although there was a plague in the Congregation of the Lord ) Joshua 22:17 (KJV)
In Joshua 22 the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half‑tribe of Manasseh erected an altar on the east side of the Jordan River. The western tribes, fearing that the new altar might become a centre of idolatry or a sign of rebellion against the Lord, sent a delegation that included Eleazar the priest and Phinehas to confront their eastern brethren. In the course of that confrontation the western representatives quoted the painful memory of Peor, asking, “Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord?” (Joshua 22:17). Their reference recalled the Baal‑Peor incident recorded in Numbers 25, when Israelite men engaged in sexual immorality and worship of Moabite gods, provoking a divine plague that killed many Israelites.
The western tribes used that historical warning to seek clarification about the purpose of the altar, emphasizing that the community must not repeat the sins that once brought severe judgment. Their approach demonstrated accountability and a willingness to address concerns through open communication rather than through rash assumptions or immediate retaliation. By bringing the matter before the eastern tribes, they modeled a constructive response that protects unity in worship and preserves obedience to God’s commands.
The passage also reminds believers that the guilt of the Baal‑Peor sin was dealt with by divine judgment in the generation of Moses, with no explicit indication of lingering effects beyond that time. Nevertheless, the memory of that disaster serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of idolatry and disobedience. The episode encourages the church today to learn from past failures, to confront potential divisions with humility, and to maintain faithful worship rooted in the covenant relationship with the Lord.
