* the children.
   This verse should probably be rendered, "And when they came to
   the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the
   children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half
   tribe of Manasseh, Then built an altar by (or beyond, {al})
   Jordan, a great altar to the view."  It would appear, that
   when they came to the river, they formed the purpose of
   building the altar; and when they crossed it they put that
   purpose into execution.  It is evident that they did not build
   it west of the Jordan, for that was not in their territories,
   and the next verse expressly says that it was built over
   against the land of Canaan.

 * built.
  25-28  4:5-9  24:26,27  Ge 28:18  31:46-52