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 children of Reuben, the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel: 22“God of gods is Adonai! God of gods is Adonai! He knows, and may Israel itself know! If we acted in rebellion or in treachery against Adonai, don’t spare us this day! If we have built an altar to turn away from following Adonai, or if it was to offer burnt offering or grain offering on it, or to offer sacrifices of fellowship offerings on it, let Adonai Himself require it. 24But we have done this rather out of anxious concern, for a reason, saying: ‘In the future, your children might say to our children: “What have you to do with Adonai, God of Israel? 25For Adonai has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad—you have no share in Adonai!” So your children may make our children stop fearing Adonai.

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 9:4Only flesh with its life—that is, its blood—you must not eat!
• Deuteronomy 18:19Now whoever does not listen to My words that this prophet speaks in My Name, I Myself will call him to account.
• 1 Samuel 20:16So Jonathan cut a covenant with the house of David, “So may Adonai requite David’s enemies.”
• 2 Chronicles 24:22Thus King Joash disregarded the loyalty which his father Jehoiada had shown to him—and slew Jehoiada’s son. As he was dying, he said: “May Adonai see and avenge!”
• Psalms 10:13Why does the wicked one revile God? He says in his heart: “You will never require anything.”
• Ezekiel 3:18When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak to warn the wicked of his wicked way, to save his life, that wicked person will die in his iniquity, but I will require his blood from your hand.
• Ezekiel 33:6But if the watchman sees the sword come and does not blow the shofar, the people are not warned. Then the sword does come and takes a person from among them—he is taken away in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at the watchman’s hand.’

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