Joshua 22:26
New International Version
“That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’

New Living Translation
“So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices,

English Standard Version
Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice,

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

King James Bible
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:

New King James Version
Therefore we said, ‘Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice,

New American Standard Bible
“Therefore we said, ‘Let’s build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice;

NASB 1995
“Therefore we said, ‘Let us build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice;

NASB 1977
“Therefore we said, ‘Let us build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice;

Legacy Standard Bible
“Therefore we said, ‘Let us build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice;

Amplified Bible
“So we said, ‘Let us prepare and build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice,

Christian Standard Bible
“Therefore we said: Let’s take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offering or sacrifice.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore we said: Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offering or sacrifice.

American Standard Version
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice:

Contemporary English Version
That's why we decided to build the altar. It isn't for offering sacrifices, not even sacrifices to please the LORD.

English Revised Version
Therefore we said, Let as now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then we said, 'Let's build an altar for ourselves. It will not be for burnt offerings or sacrifices,

Good News Translation
So we built an altar, not to burn sacrifices or make offerings,

International Standard Version
"That's why we said, 'Let's build an altar for ourselves, not for burnt offerings or sacrifice,

Majority Standard Bible
That is why we said, ?Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.

NET Bible
So we decided to build this altar, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices,

New Heart English Bible
Therefore we said, 'Let's now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice:

World English Bible
“Therefore we said, ‘Let’s now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And we say, Now let us prepare to build the altar for ourselves—not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice—

Young's Literal Translation
'And we say, Pray let us prepare for ourselves to build the altar -- not for burnt-offering nor for sacrifice --

Smith's Literal Translation
And we shall say, We will do now for ourselves to build an altar, not for burnt-offerings and not for sacrifice:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And said: Let us build us an altar, not for holocausts, nor to offer victims,

Catholic Public Domain Version
and we said: Let us build us an altar, not for holocausts, and not to offer victims,

New American Bible
So we thought, ‘Let us act for ourselves by building this altar of our own’—not for burnt offerings or sacrifice,

New Revised Standard Version
Therefore we said, ‘Let us now build an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Because of this we said, ‘We shall make for ourselves a place and we shall build for ourselves an altar, not for sacrifice and not for offering
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore we said: Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And we gave orders to do thus, to build this altar, not for burnt-offerings, nor for meat-offerings;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Offensive Altar
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!’…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 12:5-7
Instead, you must seek the place the LORD your God will choose from among all your tribes to establish as a dwelling for His Name, and there you must go. / To that place you are to bring your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and heave offerings, your vow offerings and freewill offerings, as well as the firstborn of your herds and flocks. / There, in the presence of the LORD your God, you and your households shall eat and rejoice in all you do, because the LORD your God has blessed you.

Numbers 32:16-18
Then the Gadites and Reubenites approached Moses and said, “We want to build sheepfolds here for our livestock and cities for our little ones. / But we will arm ourselves and be ready to go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them into their place. Meanwhile, our little ones will remain in the fortified cities for protection from the inhabitants of the land. / We will not return to our homes until every Israelite has taken possession of his inheritance.

1 Kings 8:29-30
May Your eyes be open toward this temple night and day, toward the place of which You said, ‘My Name shall be there,’ so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. / Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

Exodus 20:24
You are to make for Me an altar of earth, and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and peace offerings, your sheep and goats and cattle. In every place where I cause My name to be remembered, I will come to you and bless you.

Leviticus 17:8-9
Tell them that if anyone from the house of Israel or any foreigner living among them offers a burnt offering or a sacrifice / but does not bring it to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting to sacrifice it to the LORD, that man must be cut off from his people.

2 Chronicles 6:20-21
May Your eyes be open toward this temple day and night, toward the place where You said You would put Your Name, so that You may hear the prayer that Your servant prays toward this place. / Hear the plea of Your servant and of Your people Israel when they pray toward this place. May You hear from heaven, Your dwelling place. May You hear and forgive.

Deuteronomy 27:5-7
Moreover, you are to build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. You must not use any iron tool on them. / You shall build the altar of the LORD your God with uncut stones and offer upon it burnt offerings to the LORD your God. / There you are to sacrifice your peace offerings, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God.

1 Samuel 7:12
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Genesis 31:48-52
Then Laban declared, “This mound is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore the place was called Galeed. / It was also called Mizpah, because Laban said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are absent from each other. / If you mistreat my daughters or take other wives, although no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.” ...

1 Kings 18:30-32
Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come near to me.” So all the people approached him, and he repaired the altar of the LORD that had been torn down. / And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of the LORD had come and said, “Israel shall be your name.” / And with the stones, Elijah built an altar in the name of the LORD. Then he dug a trench around the altar large enough to hold two seahs of seed.

Hebrews 13:10
We have an altar from which those who serve at the tabernacle have no right to eat.

Ephesians 2:14-16
For He Himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has torn down the dividing wall of hostility / by abolishing in His flesh the law of commandments and decrees. He did this to create in Himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace / and reconciling both of them to God in one body through the cross, by which He put to death their hostility.

John 4:20-24
Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews say that the place where one must worship is in Jerusalem.” / “Believe Me, woman,” Jesus replied, “a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. / You worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ...

Acts 17:24-25
The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. / Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:

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Altar Beasts Build Burned Burnt Burnt-Offering Let's Offering Offerings Ourselves Prepare Ready Sacrifice Sacrifices
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Joshua 22
1. The two tribes and a half with a blessing are sent home,
10. They build the altar of testimony in their journey
11. The Israelites are offended thereat
21. They vindicate their conduct, and give them good satisfaction














That is why we said, 'Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.'
That is why we said
This phrase indicates a decision-making process that was rooted in a specific rationale. The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh are explaining their motives. In the Hebrew context, the word for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) often implies a thoughtful declaration or intention. This reflects a careful consideration of their actions, emphasizing the importance of communication and clarity in communal decisions.

Let us take action
The phrase suggests a proactive approach. The Hebrew root for "take action" (עָשָׂה, 'asah) means to do, make, or accomplish. This indicates a deliberate and purposeful initiative. In the context of the Israelites, taking action was often a response to divine instruction or a communal need, highlighting the importance of aligning actions with God's will.

and build an altar for ourselves
Building an altar was a significant act in ancient Israelite culture, symbolizing worship, remembrance, and covenant. The Hebrew word for "altar" (מִזְבֵּחַ, mizbeach) is derived from a root meaning "to sacrifice." However, the tribes clarify that this altar is not for sacrifices, indicating a different purpose. This reflects the importance of altars as places of witness and unity, not just sacrifice.

but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices
This clarification is crucial. The Hebrew terms for "burnt offerings" (עוֹלָה, olah) and "sacrifices" (זֶבַח, zevach) refer to specific types of offerings commanded by God. By stating that the altar is not for these purposes, the tribes are emphasizing their respect for the central place of worship established by God at the tabernacle. This distinction underscores the importance of obedience to God's commands regarding worship and the centralization of sacrificial practices, which were meant to prevent idolatry and maintain unity among the tribes.

(26) An altar.--Rather, the altar. It was not an altar (Joshua 22:23), but the altar, i.e., the pattern or copy of the altar of Jehovah, to prove that the two and a half tribes had the same right to approach Him as all the rest.

Verse 26. - Let us now prepare to build us an altar. Literally, let us make now to build to us an altar. Burnt offering, nor for sacrifice. In the "burnt offering" the whole victim was consumed. In the "sacrifice" part only was offered on the altar. The rest was eaten by the priest or the person who offered it.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
That is why we said,
וַנֹּ֕אמֶר (wan·nō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

‘Let us take action
נַעֲשֶׂה־ (na·‘ă·śeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

and build
לִבְנ֖וֹת (liḇ·nō·wṯ)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 1129: To build

an altar for ourselves,
הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ (ham·miz·bê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4196: An altar

but not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

for burnt offerings
לְעוֹלָ֖ה (lə·‘ō·w·lāh)
Preposition-l | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5930: Whole burnt offering

or sacrifices.
לְזָֽבַח׃ (lə·zā·ḇaḥ)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2077: A slaughter, the flesh of an animal, a sacrifice


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OT History: Joshua 22:26 Therefore we said 'Let's now prepare (Josh. Jos)
Joshua 22:25
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