Joshua 22:24

But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The Transjordan tribes address the western tribes at the Jordan River boundary after completing a large altar. They speak to preempt future accusations that they have abandoned shared worship of Yahweh.

The words — The Hebrew לֹ֤א מִ/דְּאָגָה֙ מִ/דָּבָ֔ר (lo mi-de'agah mi-daVar) literally renders "not from anxiety about a matter," explicitly denying that fear or a concealed scheme motivated the construction.

The thread — This generational warning about divided allegiance echoes the memorial function in Joshua 4:6 and the household instruction in Genesis 18:19.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to examine whether physical divisions or ritual practices are being used to justify spiritual separation from the community of faith.

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

וְאִם־ve./'im-and/ if לֹ֤אlo'not מִדְּאָגָה֙mi./de.'a.Gahfrom/ anxiety מִדָּבָ֔רmi./da.Varfrom/ a matter עָשִׂ֥ינוּ'a.Si.nuwe have done אֶת־'et-<obj.>זֹ֖אתzotthis לֵאמֹ֑רle./Mor<to>/ saying מָחָ֗רma.Chartomorrow יֹאמְר֨וּyo.me.Ruthey will say בְנֵיכֶ֤םve.nei./Khemdescendants/ your לְבָנֵ֙ינוּ֙le./va.Nei./nuto/ descendants/ our לֵאמֹ֔רle./Mor<to>/ saying מַה־mah-what?לָּכֶ֕םla./Khem[is] to/ youוְלַֽיהוָ֖הve./la./Yah.wehand/ to/ Yahweh אֱלֹהֵ֥י'e.lo.Hei[the] God of יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel?

Cross-references

Joshua 4:6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’
Genesis 18:19 For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.”
Genesis 30:33 So my honesty will testify for me when you come to check on my wages in the future. If I have any goats that are not speckled or spotted, or any lambs that are not dark-colored, they will be considered stolen.”
Exodus 13:14 In the future, when your son asks you, ‘What does this mean?’ you are to tell him, ‘With a mighty hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.
Deuteronomy 6:20 In the future, when your son asks, “What is the meaning of the decrees and statutes and ordinances that the LORD our God has commanded you?”