Joshua 22:23

Joshua 22:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That we have built us an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the Lord himself require it;
• New International Version (NIV)If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.
• English Standard Version (ESV)for building an altar to turn away from following the Lord. Or if we did so to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings on it, may the Lord himself take vengeance.
• New King James Version (NKJV)If we have built ourselves an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer on it burnt offerings or grain offerings, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the Lord Himself require an account.

Context of Joshua 22:23

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. If 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.

Joshua 22:23 word by word

לִבְנ֥וֹת לָ֙נוּ֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לָשׁ֖וּב מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְאִם־לְהַעֲל֨וֹת עָלָ֜יו עוֹלָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֗ה וְאִם־לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת עָלָיו֙ זִבְחֵ֣י שְׁלָמִ֔ים יְהוָ֖ה ה֥וּא יְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃Read the interlinear

• If we have builtבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• an altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
• to turn awayשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• fromאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• Himיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• andאִם'im · ifH518
• to offerעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: offer upH5927
• burnt offeringsעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
• and grain offeringsמִנְחָהminchâh · offeringH4503
• on itעַל‛al · uponH5921
• to sacrificeעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: offerH6213
• peaceשֶׁ֫לֶםshelem · peace offeringH8002
• offeringsזֶ֫בַחzebach · sacrificeH2077
• Himselfהוּאhû' hîy' · he/she/itH1931
• hold us accountableבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245

Cross-references for Joshua 22:23

• Genesis 9:4But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
• Deuteronomy 18:19And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.
• 1 Samuel 20:16So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”
• 2 Chronicles 24:22Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”
• Psalms 10:13Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
• Ezekiel 3:18If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood.
• Ezekiel 33:6But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’

Commentaries on Joshua 22:23

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 21-29Verses 21-29 The tribes took the reproofs of their brethren in good part. With solemnity and meekness they proceeded to give all the satisfaction in their power. Reverence of God is expressed in the form of their appeal. This brief confession of faith would remove their brethren's suspicion that they intended to worship other gods. Let us always speak of God with seriousness, and mention his name with a solemn pause. Those who make appeals to Heaven with…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23The eastern tribes swore by the name of the LORD that they were not guilty. The instructions for sacrificing required burnt offerings, grain offerings, or peace offerings (Leviticus 1–3). At this time, Israel worshiped at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Offering sacrifices anywhere other than the central holy place violated God's covenant.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 11-2911-29. and the children of Israel heard say--Fame speedily spread intelligence of what the trans-jordanic tribes had done. The act being suspected of some idolatrous design, the tribes rose in a mass, and repairing to the tabernacle at Shiloh, resolved to declare war against the two tribes and a half as apostates from God. On calmer and more mature consideration, however, they determined, in the first instance, to send a deputation consisting of the son…Read the comment

Topics related to Joshua 22:23

• Government
• Haste
• Misjudgment
• Motive
• Phinehas
• Prudence
• Reubenites
• Uncharitableness
• War

In the dictionaries

• Burnt offering
• Peace offerings
• Meat Offering
• Manasseh
• Rebel
• Altar
• Criticism
• Gad (1)
• Joshua (2)
• Joshua, Book of

Commentaries on Joshua 22

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings