Joshua 22:23
in Joshua 22If 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 fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Jehovah; or if to offer thereon burnt-offering or meal-offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace-offerings thereon, let Jehovah himself require it;
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;
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This verse in Joshua 22
Commentary
5 notes on this verseBut let us see what sacrament lies within this deed. The former people of the circumcision are represented in Reuben, who was the firstborn; but also in Gad, who also is the firstborn out of Zilpah; and Manasseh, no less a firstborn. But insofar as I say "firstborn," I speak chronologically. Therefore, these things are said not that it might be evident some division and separation is between us and those who were righteous before the coming of Christ, but that they might reveal themselves to still be our brothers even if they existed before the coming of Christ.
This site's exposition
answered the leaders of the clans of Israel
on Joshua 22:21-23
The answer opens with a divine name said twice, which is El Elohim Jehovah repeated in the form an oath takes. A self-curse follows, "do not spare us today", and the Lord himself is asked to hold them accountable. The reason for the stones waits three more verses.
This site's exposition
burnt offerings and grain offerings
The burnt, grain and fellowship offerings are the offerings of Leviticus 1 to 3, where Leviticus 3:1 calls the last the peace offering. The builders deny every use an altar has. Leviticus 1:3 required the burnt offering at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, which then stood at Shiloh.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
That we have built us an altar, to turn from following the Lord,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
The quality of the deputies evinced the deep solicitude that was felt on the occasion to maintain the purity of the divine worship throughout Israel. In the presumptive belief that the two tribes and a half had really built an altar, the deputies expressed astonishment at their so soon falling into such a heinous crime as that of violating the unity of divine worship (Ex 20:24;
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Almighty God is Adonoy. He is God over all divine beings. He is Adonoy, Who knows that our intent was not rebellion etc. By repeating this declaration twice, [they declared] that He is God in this world and in the World to Come.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
19 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| לִבְנ֥וֹת | livnot | to build | H1129 → | 376 times |
| לָ֙נוּ֙ | lanu | for <the> ourselves | ||
| מִזְבֵּ֔חַ | mizbeach | an altar | H4196 → | 401 times |
| לָשׁ֖וּב | lashuv | to turn back | H7725 → | 1056 times |
| מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י | meacharei | from after | H310 → | 715 times |
| יְהוָ֑ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לְהַעֲל֨וֹת | lehaalot | to offer up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| עָלָ֜יו | ʾalav | on it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| עוֹלָ֣ה | olah | a burnt offering | H5930 → | 287 times |
| וּמִנְחָ֗ה | uminchah | and a grain offering | H4503 → | |
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת | laasot | to make | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| עָלָיו֙ | ʾalav | on it | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| זִבְחֵ֣י | zivchei | sacrifices of | H2077 → | 162 times |
| שְׁלָמִ֔ים | shelamim | peace offerings | H8002 → | 87 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| ה֥וּא | hu' | he | H1931 → | 1879 times |
| יְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ | yevakesh | may he require | H1245 → |
לִבְנ֥וֹתto build
livnotH1129 →376 times
לָ֙נוּ֙for <the> ourselves
lanu
מִזְבֵּ֔חַan altar
mizbeachH4196 →401 times
לָשׁ֖וּבto turn back
lashuvH7725 →1056 times
מֵאַחֲרֵ֣יfrom after
meachareiH310 →715 times
יְהוָ֑הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
וְאִם־and if
veim-H518 →1069 times
לְהַעֲל֨וֹתto offer up
lehaalotH5927 →890 times
עָלָ֜יוon it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
עוֹלָ֣הa burnt offering
olahH5930 →287 times
וּמִנְחָ֗הand a grain offering
uminchahH4503 →
וְאִם־and if
veim-H518 →1069 times
לַעֲשׂ֤וֹתto make
laasotH6213 →2628 times
עָלָיו֙on it
ʾalavH5921 →5755 times
זִבְחֵ֣יsacrifices of
zivcheiH2077 →162 times
שְׁלָמִ֔יםpeace offerings
shelamimH8002 →87 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
ה֥וּאhe
hu'H1931 →1879 times
יְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃may he require
yevakeshH1245 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 9:4But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 12:23
Only be sure not to eat the blood, because the blood is the life, and you must not eat the life with the meat.
- Deuteronomy 15:23
But you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
- Deuteronomy 12:16
but you must not eat the blood; pour it on the ground like water.
- Acts 15:20
Instead, we should write and tell them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals, and from blood.
- Leviticus 7:26
You must not eat the blood of any bird or animal in any of your dwellings.
- Deuteronomy 12:23
Through
Deuteronomy 18:19And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.
it leads to
- Acts 3:22–23
For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your brothers. You must listen to Him in everything He tells you.
- Hebrews 2:3
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
- Acts 3:22–23
Through
Deuteronomy 12:11then the LORD your God will choose a dwelling for His Name. And there you are to bring everything I command you: your burnt offerings and sacrifices, your tithes and special gifts, and all…
it leads to
- Deuteronomy 15:20
Each year you and your household are to eat it before the LORD your God in the place the LORD will choose.
- Deuteronomy 15:20
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Joshua
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JOSHUA 26.3.