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

21The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the Israelite clans: 22“El, God, the Lord! El, God, the Lord! He knows the truth! Israel must also know! If we have rebelled or disobeyed the Lord, don’t spare us today! If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn back from following the Lord by making burnt sacrifices and grain offerings on it, or by offering tokens of peace on it, the Lord himself will punish us. 24We swear we have done this because we were worried that in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, ‘What relationship do you have with the Lord God of Israel? 25The Lord made the Jordan a boundary between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no right to worship the Lord.’ In this way your descendants might cause our descendants to stop obeying 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• That we have builtבָּנָהbânâh · to buildH1129
• us an altarמִזְבֵּחַmizbêach · altarH4196
• to turnשׁוּבshûb · to return: turn backH7725
• from followingאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• or if to offerעָלָה‛âlâh · to ascend: offer upH5927
• thereon burnt offeringעֹלָה‛ôlâh ‛ôlâh · burnt offeringH5930
• or meat offeringמִנְחָהminchâh · offeringH4503
• or if to offerעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: offerH6213
• peaceשֶׁ֫לֶםshelem · peace offeringH8002
• offeringsזֶ֫בַחzebach · sacrificeH2077
• himself requireבָּקַשׁbâqash · to seekH1245

Cross-references for Joshua 22:23

• Genesis 9:4But you must not eat meat with its life (that is, its blood) in it.
• Deuteronomy 18:19I will personally hold responsible anyone who then pays no attention to the words that prophet speaks in my name.
• 1 Samuel 20:16and called David’s enemies to account.” So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David.
• 2 Chronicles 24:22King Joash disregarded the loyalty his father Jehoiada had shown him and killed Jehoiada’s son. As Zechariah was dying, he said, “May the Lord take notice and seek vengeance!”
• Psalms 10:13Why does the wicked man reject God? He says to himself, “You will not hold me accountable.”
• Ezekiel 3:18When I say to the wicked, “You will certainly die,” and you do not warn him – you do not speak out to warn the wicked to turn from his wicked deed and wicked lifestyle so that he may live – that wicked person will die for his iniquity, but I will hold you accountable for his death.
• Ezekiel 33:6But suppose the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people. Then the sword comes and takes one of their lives. He is swept away for his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for that person’s death.’

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