Joshua 22:23

If 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 peace offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The eastern tribes address the western Israelite assembly at the Jordan crossing, responding to accusations that their newly constructed altar represents covenant rebellion.

The words — The verse employs לִ/בְנ֥וֹת (li/v.Not) to denote the act of building and מִזְבֵּ֔חַ (miz.Be.ach) for the physical structure. It uses לָ/שׁ֖וּב (la./Shuv) to describe a deliberate turning away from Yahweh.

The thread — The theme of divine accountability runs through Deuteronomy 18:19 regarding disobedience to prophetic words, 1 Samuel 20:16 where Jonathan invokes judgment on David’s enemies, and Genesis 9:4 which commands abstention from consuming blood.

Why it lands — The text states that the builders would accept divine judgment if the altar were intended for unauthorized worship. It requires the reader to verify actions against covenant standards before assuming rebellion.

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

לִבְנ֥וֹתli/v.Notto/ buildלָ֙נוּ֙la./nufor <the>/ ourselvesמִזְבֵּ֔חַmiz.Be.achan altar לָשׁ֖וּבla./Shuvto/ turn back מֵאַחֲרֵ֣יme./'a.cha.Reifrom/ after יְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ if לְהַעֲל֨וֹתle./ha.'a.Lotto/ offer up עָלָ֜יו'a.La/von/ it עוֹלָ֣הo.Laha burnt offering וּמִנְחָ֗הu./min.Chahand/ a grain offering וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ if לַעֲשׂ֤וֹתla./'a.Sotto/ make עָלָיו֙'a.La/von/ it זִבְחֵ֣יziv.Cheisacrifices of שְׁלָמִ֔יםshe.la.Mimpeace offerings יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh ה֥וּאhu'he יְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃ye.va.Keshmay he require

King James Version

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;

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 18:19 And I will hold accountable anyone who does not listen to My words that the prophet speaks in My name.
1 Samuel 20:16 So Jonathan made a covenant with the house of David, saying, “May the LORD hold David’s enemies accountable.”
Genesis 9:4 But you must not eat meat with its lifeblood still in it.
Deuteronomy 12:11 then 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 the choice offerings you vow to the LORD.
2 Chronicles 24:22 Thus King Joash failed to remember the kindness that Zechariah’s father Jehoiada had extended to him. Instead, Joash killed Jehoiada’s son. As he lay dying, Zechariah said, “May the LORD see this and call you to account.”
Psalms 10:13 Why has the wicked man renounced God? He says to himself, “You will never call me to account.”
Ezekiel 3:18 If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood.
Ezekiel 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and fails to blow the horn to warn the people, and the sword comes and takes away a life, then that one will be taken away in his iniquity, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’
Ezekiel 33:8 If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood.