Joshua 22:21-29 ▼

21 Then the Reubenites (behold a son), the Gadites (troop), and the half-tribe of Manasseh (causing to forget) answered the leaders of the clans of Israel (he wrestles with God):

22 “The LORD {YHWH}, the Mighty One, is God {Elohim}! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel (he wrestles with God) also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.

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

24 But 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 {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God)?

25 For the LORD {YHWH} has made the Jordan (flowing down) a border between us and you⁺ Reubenites (behold a son) and Gadites (troop). You⁺ have no share in the LORD!’ So your⁺ descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.

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

27 Rather, let it be a witness between us and you⁺ and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD {YHWH} 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!’

28 Therefore 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 {YHWH} that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you⁺.’

29 Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD {YHWH} 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 {YHWH Elohenu}, which stands before His tabernacle.”