Joshua 22:28
Joshua 22:28 in Multiple Translations
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 that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’
Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
Therefore said we, It shall be, when they so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we shall say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.
For we said to ourselves, If they say this to us or to future generations, then we will say, See this copy of the Lord's altar which our fathers made, not for burned offerings or offerings of beasts, but for a witness between us and you.
If they were to do so in the future, our descendants could reply, ‘Look at this copy of the Lord's altar which our forefathers made, not for burnt offerings or for sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’
Therefore said we, If so be that they should so say to vs or to our generations in time to come, then will we answere, Beholde the facion of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, but it is a witnesse betweene vs and you.
'And we say, And it hath been, when they say [so] unto us, and unto our generations hereafter, that we have said, See the pattern of the altar of Jehovah, which our fathers made — not for burnt-offering nor for sacrifice — but a witness it [is] between us and you.
“Therefore we said, ‘It shall be, when they tell us or our generations this in time to come, that we shall say, “Behold the pattern of the LORD’s altar, which our fathers made, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.”’
Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they shall so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
And if they will say so, they shall answer them: Behold the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for holocausts, nor for sacrifice, but for a testimony between us and you.
“In the future, if your descendants say that, our descendants can say, ‘Look at the altar that our ancestors made! It is exactly like Yahweh’s altar that our ancestors built, but we do not burn sacrifices on it. It only shows that we are Israelis!’
Berean Amplified Bible — Joshua 22:28
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Joshua 22:28 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — Joshua 22:28
Study Notes — Joshua 22:28
- Context
- Cross References
- Joshua 22:28 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on Joshua 22:28
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 22:28
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on Joshua 22:28
- Trapp's Commentary on Joshua 22:28
- Ellicott's Commentary on Joshua 22:28
- Cambridge Bible on Joshua 22:28
- Sermons on Joshua 22:28
Context — The Altar of Witness
28Therefore 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 that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’
29Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD 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, which stands before His tabernacle.” 30When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Exodus 25:40 | See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain. |
| 2 | Ezekiel 43:10–11 | As for you, son of man, describe the temple to the people of Israel, so that they may be ashamed of their iniquities. Let them measure the plan, and if they are ashamed of all they have done, then make known to them the design of the temple—its arrangement and its exits and entrances—its whole design along with all its statutes, forms, and laws. Write it down in their sight, so that they may keep its complete design and all its statutes and may carry them out. |
| 3 | Hebrews 8:5 | The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” |
| 4 | 2 Kings 16:10 | Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria. On seeing the altar in Damascus, King Ahaz sent Uriah the priest a model of the altar and complete plans for its construction. |
Joshua 22:28 Summary
The Israelites built a replica altar as a witness to their faith in the LORD, to show that they would worship Him together with the other tribes of Israel, as seen in Joshua 22:27. This altar was not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but to remind them of their relationship with the LORD and with each other, as stated in Joshua 22:28. Just like the Israelites, we can be witnesses to others of our faith in the LORD, as seen in Matthew 5:16, and work to maintain our relationships with other believers, as seen in Romans 14:19. By following the instructions of the LORD and being mindful of the potential consequences of our actions, we can promote unity and harmony among believers, as seen in Psalm 133:1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the purpose of the replica altar in Joshua 22:28?
The replica altar was built as a witness between the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh and the other tribes of Israel, to show that they would worship the LORD in His presence with their burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings, just as it is written in Joshua 22:27, and to prevent future generations from saying they had no share in the LORD, as seen in Joshua 22:27 and Deuteronomy 12:10-11.
Was the replica altar a sin, since it was not the original altar of the LORD?
No, the replica altar was not a sin, because it was not built for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness, as stated in Joshua 22:28, and the Israelites were careful to follow the instructions of the LORD in Deuteronomy 12:10-11 and to avoid rebellion against Him, as seen in Joshua 22:29.
How does this verse relate to the concept of unity among believers?
This verse shows the importance of unity among believers, as the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh sought to maintain their relationship with the other tribes of Israel and to worship the LORD together, as seen in Joshua 22:27 and Psalm 133:1, and to avoid any appearance of rebellion or division, as warned against in 1 Corinthians 1:10.
What can we learn from the example of the Israelites in this verse?
We can learn the importance of being proactive in maintaining our relationships with other believers and in avoiding any appearance of division or rebellion, as seen in Joshua 22:28-29 and Romans 14:19, and of being mindful of the potential consequences of our actions on future generations, as seen in Joshua 22:27 and Psalm 78:4.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can be a witness to others of my faith in the LORD, just as the replica altar was a witness to the Israelites?
- How can I balance the need to maintain my relationships with other believers with the need to follow the instructions of the LORD, as seen in Joshua 22:28-29?
- What are some potential consequences of division or rebellion among believers, and how can I work to avoid them, as seen in Joshua 22:27 and 1 Corinthians 1:10?
- How can I use my actions and words to promote unity and harmony among believers, as seen in Psalm 133:1 and Romans 14:19?
- What can I learn from the example of the Israelites in this verse about the importance of being mindful of the potential consequences of my actions on future generations?
Gill's Exposition on Joshua 22:28
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Joshua 22:28
Matthew Poole's Commentary on Joshua 22:28
Trapp's Commentary on Joshua 22:28
Ellicott's Commentary on Joshua 22:28
Cambridge Bible on Joshua 22:28
Sermons on Joshua 22:28
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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And the Country Was Filled With Water by Duncan Campbell | In this sermon, the speaker uses the story of three armies lacking water to illustrate the spiritual poverty that exists in the Christian church today. He emphasizes the need for b |
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(Hebrews - Part 21): The Transcendental and Mystical by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the interconnectedness of the Christian faith and the natural world. He argues that just as the Bible is a letter from God to his people, na |
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(Hebrews - Part 22): Moses Instructed in Making the Temple by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of following the pattern shown in the mount, which refers to the instructions given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai. The preac |
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Christianity: Shadow of Reality by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the speaker discusses the bondage that many Christians find themselves in today. He highlights the lack of understanding of God's law and how it operates in believe |
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Burdens & Gifts by Gareth Evans | In this sermon, the speaker begins by sharing a story from the book of Kings about a mother bird teaching her baby bird to fly. He uses this story as a parable to illustrate the co |
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K-441 True Reconciliation (2 of 2) by Art Katz | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of humility and patience in discerning and addressing issues within the church and the world. He criticizes the spirit of prid |
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Our Great High Priest by Robert Constable | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on two stories from the Bible that demonstrate the compassion and power of Jesus. The first story is about Jesus walking on water and calming t |






