Joshua 22:16

“This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The messengers representing the whole congregation of the LORD confront the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh in Gilead immediately after they constructed a large altar.

The words — The Hebrew כֹּ֣ה (koh) and מָֽה־ (mah-) frame the declaration as "thus" and "what," directly preceding הַ/מַּ֤עַל (ha./Ma.'al), which literally denotes "unfaithfulness" or "breach of faith."

The thread — The accusation parallels Deuteronomy 12:13, which restricts burnt offerings to the place God chooses, and directly sets up the warning in Joshua 22:17 regarding the plague brought by the sin of Peor.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that constructing an unauthorized altar constitutes active rebellion against the God of Israel and demands immediate corporate accountability.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

King James Version

Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord?

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:13 Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in just any place you see;