Ed

Ed (meaning witness) is the name given to the altar built by the eastern tribes of Israel — Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh — after they crossed the Jordan to return to their inheritance. The name does not appear in the Hebrew text of Joshua 22:34 as a proper noun but is supplied in many translations from context; the verse states that "the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed, meaning: it is a witness between us that the LORD is God."

The altar caused a crisis in Israel: the western tribes assembled for war against the eastern tribes, fearing that the altar represented a schismatic rival sanctuary in violation of the centralized worship law. The eastern tribes clarified that the altar was not for burnt offering or sacrifice but solely as a memorial witness (ed) between the two groups of tribes — that the eastern tribes retained their portion in the LORD even though separated by the Jordan. The crisis resolved peacefully when the intent was understood. The episode illustrates the high value Israel placed on unity of worship and the potential for symbols to be misread without explanation.