Focused Passage

Joshua 22:21-29

The Eastern Tribes Return Home and the Altar of Witness

Joshua blesses and dismisses the eastern tribes, they build a large altar by the Jordan, the western tribes prepare for war, Phinehas leads an inquiry, the eastern tribes explain that the altar is a witness rather than a rival altar, and Israel’s unity is preserved.

Berean Standard Bible, Public Domain - Translation notes - Reference sources

21Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel:

22“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.

23If we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice peace offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.

24But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?

25For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.

26That is why we said, ‘Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.

27Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD!’

28Therefore we said, ‘If they ever say this to us or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the altar of the LORD that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’

29Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from Him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle.”

Study Helps

References and Original Words

Verse 21

Original words

Then the Reubenitesבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural construct. . .רְאוּבֵ֣ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Gaditesוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural construct. . .גָ֔דH1410Noun - proper - masculine singularand the half-tribeוַחֲצִ֖יH2677Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct. . .שֵׁ֣בֶטH7626Noun - masculine singular constructof Manassehהַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑הH4519Article | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּH1696Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural. . .אֶת־H854Direct object markeransweredוַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙H6030Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralthe leadersרָאשֵׁ֖יH7218Noun - masculine plural constructof the clansאַלְפֵ֥יH505Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 22

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 10:17Classic cross-references Psalms 50:1Classic cross-references 1 Corinthians 13:6Classic cross-references 1 Kings 8:39Classic cross-references Psalms 44:21Classic cross-references

Original words

The LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Mighty Oneאֵל֩׀H410Noun - masculine singular[is] Godאֱלֹהִ֨ים׀H430Noun - masculine pluralThe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Mighty Oneאֵ֣ל׀H410Noun - masculine singular[is] Godאֱלֹהִ֤ים׀H430Noun - masculine pluralHeה֣וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularknowsיֹדֵ֔עַH3045Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularand may Israelוְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖לH3478Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular. . .ה֣וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularalso knowיֵדָ֑עH3045Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularIf [this]אִם־H518Conjunctionwas in rebellionבְּמֶ֤רֶדH4777Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular. . .וְאִם־H518Conjunctionor breach of faithבְּמַ֙עַל֙H4604Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singularagainst the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֔הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singulardo notאַל־H408Adverbspare usתּוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּH3467Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine singular | first person common pluraltodayהַיּ֥וֹםH3117Article | Noun - masculine singular. . .הַזֶּֽה׃H2088Article | Pronoun - masculine singular

Verse 23

Cross-references

1 Samuel 20:16Classic cross-references Deuteronomy 18:19Classic cross-references

Original words

If we have builtלִבְנ֥וֹתH1129Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructfor ourselvesלָ֙נוּ֙Preposition | first person common pluralan altarמִזְבֵּ֔חַH4196Noun - masculine singularto turn awayלָשׁ֖וּבH7725Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructfromמֵאַחֲרֵ֣יH310Preposition-mHimיְהוָ֑הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularandוְאִם־H518Conjunctionto offerלְהַעֲל֨וֹתH5927Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive constructburnt offeringsעוֹלָ֣הH5930Noun - feminine singularand grain offeringsוּמִנְחָ֗הH4503Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singularon itעָלָ֜יוH5921Preposition | third person masculine singularorוְאִם־H518Conjunctionto sacrificeלַעֲשׂ֤וֹתH6213Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructpeaceשְׁלָמִ֔יםH8002Noun - masculine pluralofferingsזִבְחֵ֣יH2077Noun - masculine plural constructon itעָלָיו֙H5921Preposition | third person masculine singularmay the LORDיְהוָ֖הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularHimselfה֥וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularhold us accountableיְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃H1245Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person masculine singular

Verse 24

Cross-references

Joshua 4:6Classic cross-references

Original words

But in factוְאִם־H518Conjunctionלֹ֤אלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particlewe have doneעָשִׂ֥ינוּH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthisזֹ֖אתH2063Pronoun - feminine singular. . .מִדָּבָ֔רH1697Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singularfor fearמִדְּאָגָה֙H1674Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singularthat in the futureמָחָ֗רH4279Adverb-יֹאמְר֨וּH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralyour descendantsבְנֵיכֶ֤םH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralmight sayלֵאמֹ֑רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructto oursלְבָנֵ֙ינוּ֙H1121Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural. . .לֵאמֹ֔רH559Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructWhatמַה־H4100Interrogativehave you to doלָּכֶ֕םPreposition | second person masculine pluralwith the LORDוְלַֽיהוָ֖הH3068Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singularthe Godאֱלֹהֵ֥יH430Noun - masculine plural constructof Israelיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃H3478Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 25

Cross-references

1 Samuel 26:19Classic cross-references Acts 8:21Classic cross-references

Original words

For the LORDיְ֠הוָהH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularhas madeנָֽתַן־H5414Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularthe Jordanהַיַּרְדֵּ֔ןH3383Article | Noun - proper - feminine singulara borderוּגְב֣וּלH1366Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singularbetween usבֵּינֵ֨נוּH996Preposition | first person common pluraland youוּבֵינֵיכֶ֜םH996Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine pluralvvvבְּנֵי־H1121Noun - masculine plural constructReubenitesרְאוּבֵ֤ןH7205Noun - proper - masculine singularandוּבְנֵי־H1121Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine plural constructGaditesגָד֙H1410Noun - proper - masculine singular-אֶת־H853Direct object markerYou have noאֵין־H369Adverbshareחֵ֖לֶקH2506Noun - masculine singularin the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֑הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularSo your descendants {could cause}בְנֵיכֶם֙H1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markeroursבָּנֵ֔ינוּH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural. . .לְבִלְתִּ֖יH1115Preposition-lto stopוְהִשְׁבִּ֤יתוּH7673Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - third person common pluralfearingיְרֹ֥אH3372Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe LORDיְהוָֽה׃H3068Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 26

Cross-references

Judges 6:24Classic cross-references Isaiah 19:19Classic cross-references

Original words

That is why we saidוַנֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common pluralLet us take actionנַעֲשֶׂה־H6213Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural. . .נָּ֣אH4994Interjectionand buildלִבְנ֖וֹתH1129Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object markeran altar for ourselvesהַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַH4196Article | Noun - masculine singularbut notלֹ֥אH3808Adverb - Negative particlefor burnt offeringsלְעוֹלָ֖הH5930Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular. . .וְלֹ֥אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleor sacrificesלְזָֽבַח׃H2077Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular

Verse 27

Cross-references

Joshua 24:27Classic cross-references Genesis 31:48Classic cross-references Genesis 31:44Classic cross-references Joshua 22:34Classic cross-references Joshua 4:6Classic cross-references

Original words

Ratherכִּי֩H3588Conjunctionlet it beה֜וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singulara witnessעֵ֨דH5707Noun - masculine singularbetween usבֵּינֵ֣ינוּH996Preposition | first person common pluraland youוּבֵינֵיכֶ֗םH996Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine pluralandוּבֵ֣יןH996Conjunctive waw | Prepositionthe generationsדֹּרוֹתֵינוּ֮H1755Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralto comeאַחֲרֵינוּ֒H310Preposition | first person common pluralthat we will worshipלַעֲבֹ֞דH5647Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct-אֶת־H853Direct object marker-עֲבֹדַ֤תH5656Noun - feminine singular constructthe LORDיְהוָה֙H3068Noun - proper - masculine singularin His presenceלְפָנָ֔יוH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine singularwith our burnt offeringsבְּעֹלוֹתֵ֥ינוּH5930Preposition-b | Noun - feminine plural construct | first person common pluralsacrificesוּבִזְבָחֵ֖ינוּH2077Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluraland peace offeringsוּבִשְׁלָמֵ֑ינוּH8002Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralThen in the futureמָחָר֙H4279Adverbyour descendantsבְנֵיכֶ֤םH1121Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine pluralcannotוְלֹא־H3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particlesayיֹאמְר֨וּH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralto oursלְבָנֵ֔ינוּH1121Preposition-l | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralYou have noאֵין־H369Adverbshareחֵ֖לֶקH2506Noun - masculine singularin the LORDבַּיהוָֽה׃H3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singular

Verse 28

Original words

Therefore we saidוַנֹּ֕אמֶרH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural. . .וְהָיָ֗הH1961Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singularIf they everכִּֽי־H3588Conjunctionsay [this]יֹאמְר֥וּH559Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralto usאֵלֵ֛ינוּH413Preposition | first person common pluralorוְאֶל־H413Conjunctive waw | Prepositionto our descendantsדֹּרֹתֵ֖ינוּH1755Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural. . .מָחָ֑רH4279Adverbwe will answerוְאָמַ֡רְנוּH559Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common pluralLook atרְא֣וּH7200Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural-אֶת־H853Direct object markerthe replicaתַּבְנִית֩H8403Noun - feminine singular constructof the altarמִזְבַּ֨חH4196Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֜הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularthatאֲשֶׁר־H834Pronoun - relativeour fathersאֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּH1Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralmadeעָשׂ֣וּH6213Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common pluralnotלֹ֤אH3808Adverb - Negative particlefor burnt offeringsלְעוֹלָה֙H5930Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular. . .וְלֹ֣אH3808Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particleor sacrificesלְזֶ֔בַחH2077Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularbutכִּי־H3588Conjunctionas a witnessעֵ֣דH5707Noun - masculine singular. . .ה֔וּאH1931Pronoun - third person masculine singularbetween usבֵּינֵ֖ינוּH996Preposition | first person common pluraland youוּבֵינֵיכֶֽם׃H996Conjunctive waw | Preposition | second person masculine plural

Verse 29

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:13Classic cross-references Joshua 24:16Classic cross-references 1 Samuel 20:2Classic cross-references

Original words

Far be itחָלִילָה֩H2486Interjection | third person feminine singularfrom usלָּ֨נוּPreposition | first person common pluralto rebelלִמְרֹ֣דH4775Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructagainst the LORDבַּֽיהוָ֗הH3068Preposition-b | Noun - proper - masculine singularand turn awayוְלָשׁ֤וּבH7725Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructfromמִמֶּ֜נּוּH4480Preposition | first person common plural. . .מֵאַחֲרֵ֣יH310Preposition-mHimיְהוָ֔הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singulartodayהַיּוֹם֙H3117Article | Noun - masculine singularby buildingלִבְנ֣וֹתH1129Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructan altarמִזְבֵּ֔חַH4196Noun - masculine singularfor burnt offeringsלְעֹלָ֖הH5930Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singulargrain offeringsלְמִנְחָ֣הH4503Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singularor sacrificesוּלְזָ֑בַחH2077Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singularother thanמִלְּבַ֗דH905Preposition-m, Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular constructthe altarמִזְבַּח֙H4196Noun - masculine singular constructof the LORDיְהוָ֣הH3068Noun - proper - masculine singularour Godאֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּH430Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common pluralwhich [stands]אֲשֶׁ֖רH834Pronoun - relativebeforeלִפְנֵ֥יH6440Preposition-l | Noun - common plural constructHis tabernacleמִשְׁכָּנֽוֹ׃פH4908Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular

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