And when Phinehas the priest,.... For he was, being the son of Eleazar the high priest, so the word "priest", Jos 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; spake; 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.