The two and a half tribes had been at fault in entering, without explanation, upon an act open to such grave suspicions. The ambassadors, taking it for granted that their brethren were guilty, met them with sharp rebuke. They accused them of rebelling against the Lord, and bade them remember how judgments had been visited upon Israel for joining themselves to Baalpeor. In behalf of all Israel, Phinehas stated to the children 519 of Gad and Reuben that if they were unwilling to abide in that land without an altar for sacrifice, they would be welcome to a share in the possessions and privileges of their brethren on the other side.

Det var forkert af rubenitterne, gaditterne og Manasses halve stamme at gennemføre en plan, der vakte en så alvorlig mistanke, uden at forklare formålet dermed. Udsendingene anså det for givet, at deres brødre var skyldige, og irettesatte dem skarpt. De beskyldte dem for at gøre oprør imod Herren og opfordrede dem til at tænke på, hvorledes Israel var blevet straffet, da de holdt til med Baal-Peor. På Israels vegne sagde Pinehas til Gads og Rubens børn, at hvis de ikke ønskede at bo i et land, hvor der intet brændofferalter var, ville deres brødre på den anden side af floden med glæde dele deres besiddelser og deres forrettigheder med dem.