Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 22:26
Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
26. Let us now prepare to build ] “Exstruamus nobis altare,” Vulgate. “Make we out to vs an auter,” Wyclif.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 26. An altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice] Because this would have been in flat opposition to the law, Le 17:8-9; De 12:4-6; De 12:10-11; De 12:13-14, which most positively forbade any sacrifice or offering to be made in any other place than that one which the Lord should choose. Therefore the altar built by the Reubenites, &c., was for no religious purpose, but merely to serve as a testimony that they were one people with those on the west of Jordan, having the same religious and civil constitution, and bound by the same interests to keep that constitution inviolate.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Therefore we said,…. One to another, in order to prevent the apostasy of our children from God, their departure from his worship, and going into idolatry:
let us now prepare to build us an altar; get materials ready, and set about it instantly, without any delay, while the thing dwells upon our minds:
not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice; not for offerings of any kind required by the law, neither for sin offerings nor trespass offerings, nor any other not named.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
“ So we thought, we will make ourselves to build an altar (an expression derived from the language of ordinary life, for ‘we will build ourselves an altar’), not for burnt-offerings and slain-offerings; but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Jehovah before His face (i.e., before the tabernacle in which Jehovah was enthroned), with our burnt-offerings, slain-offerings, and peace-offerings,” – in order, as they repeat in Jos 22:27 from Jos 22:24, Jos 22:25, that they might not be denied a part in Jehovah in time to come. For if it should so happen in time to come, that this should be said to them and to their descendants, they would say (or reply), “ Behold the copy of the altar of Jehovah, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offerings,” etc. ( Jos 22:28, as in Jos 22:26, Jos 22:27). For this reason they had built the altar according to the pattern of the altar before the tabernacle, and that not in their own land, but on the western side of the Jordan, where the dwelling-place of Jehovah was standing, as a witness that they worshipped one and the same God with the tribes on this side.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
26. Therefore we said, etc The gross impiety of which they had been accused was now well refuted; and yet they seem not to have been in every respect free from blame, because the Law forbids the erection of any kind of statues. It is easy, however, to excuse this by saying, that no kind of statues are condemned except those which are intended to represent God. To erect a heap of stones as a trophy, or in testimony of a miracle, or a memorial of some signal favor of God, the Law has nowhere prohibited. (Exo 20:4; Lev 26:1; Deu 5:8) Otherwise, Joshua and many holy judges and kings after him, would have defiled themselves by profane innovation. But the only thing displeasing to God was to see the minds of men drawn hither and thither, so as to worship him in a gross and earthly manner. The children of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh do all that is required for their exculpation, when they declare that they would use the altar only as a bond of brotherly union; and add a sufficient reason, namely, the danger there was, lest, after a long course of time, the ten tribes might exclude the others as strangers, because they did not inhabit the same land. For as the country beyond the Jordan was not at first comprehended in the covenant, a difference of habitation might ultimately prove a cause of dissension. They therefore consult timelessly for their posterity, that they may be able by means of the altar as a kind of public document to defend their right, that they may mutually recognize each other, and unite in common in serving one God.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(26) An altar.Rather, the altar. It was not an altar (Jos. 22:23), but the altar, i.e., the pattern or copy of the altar of Jehovah, to prove that the two and a half tribes had the same right to approach Him as all the rest.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
‘ Therefore we said, “Let us now build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice, But it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we might do the service of YHWH before him, with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings, that your children may not say to our children in time to come, ‘You have no part in YHWH’.” ’
The purpose of the altar is clearly stated. It was not for use but as a witness that they too were the true people of God with rights of inheritance given by YHWH. Thus would they be able to join in the tribal gathering at the central sanctuary for worship and sacrifice without fear of being turned away. This all brings out how deeply they had had burned within them the centrality of the central sanctuary to the covenant and to their part in YHWH. At this time the true faith of YHWH was held with fervour.
“Let us now build us an altar.” Literally ‘Let us now do (what is necessary to prevent this) in building us an altar’.
“Burnt offerings — sacrifices — peace offerings”, compare Jos 22:23. They were well aware of the different types of sacrifices to be offered to YHWH.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 22:26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
Ver. 26. To build us an altar, not for burnt offering, &c. ] This they often deny, and disclaim as a thing they abhorred. So John Baptist “confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.” Joh 1:20 He did it frequently, solemnly, Verbis non solum desertis sed et exsertis. he thrust away that honour with both hands earnestly, as knowing the danger of falling into the punishing hands of a just and jealous God.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 22:26-29
26Therefore we said, ‘Let us build an altar, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; 27rather it shall be a witness between us and you and between our generations after us, that we are to perform the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, so that your sons will not say to our sons in time to come, You have no portion in the LORD.’ 28Therefore we said, ‘It shall also come about if they say this to us or to our generations in time to come, then we shall say, See the copy of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, not for burnt offering or for sacrifice; rather it is a witness between us and you.’ 29 Far be it from us that we should rebel against the LORD and turn away from following the LORD this day, by building an altar for burnt offering, for grain offering or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the LORD our God which is before His tabernacle.
Jos 22:26 Let us build an altar This phrase has two VERBALS.
1. do or make, BDB 793, KB 889, Qal IMPERFECT, but used in a COHORTATIVE sense
2. build, BDB 124, KB 139, Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCT
Jos 22:26-28 are what the eastern tribes were saying to themselves.
Jos 22:28 the copy of the altar of the LORD For a detailed description of the bronze sacrificial altar see Exo 20:24-26.
Jos 22:29 Far be if from us This is an emphatic exclamation (cf. Jos 24:16; Gen 44:7; 1Sa 2:30; 1Sa 14:45; 1Sa 20:2; 1Sa 20:9; 1Sa 22:15).
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
Reciprocal: Jos 22:29 – to build Jdg 6:24 – built Isa 19:19 – General