Joshua 22:29

Far 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.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh address Phinehas the priest and the heads of Israel’s clans to explain the purpose of the altar they constructed along the Jordan. They speak immediately after the opposing tribes questioned their motives.

The words — The Hebrew term חָלִילָה (cha.li.Lah) literally means “far be it,” while מְרֹד (m.Rod) translates to “to rebel.” These terms anchor the speaker’s absolute rejection of the accusation.

The thread — The denial “Far be it” appears in Genesis 44:7 and Joshua 24:16 as a standard repudiation of wrongdoing, while Deuteronomy 12:13 directs where burnt offerings may be presented. These passages collectively mark a biblical boundary for worship and loyalty.

Why it lands — The text demands that readers distinguish between authorized worship and unauthorized religious acts, recognizing that loyalty to God requires adherence to His established place of sacrifice. It calls for immediate rejection of rebellion and a commitment to the covenant community’s witness.

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

חָלִילָה֩cha.li.Lahfar be itלָּ֨נוּLa./nuto <the>/ usמִמֶּ֜נּוּmi.Me./nufrom/ us לִמְרֹ֣דli/m.Rodto/ rebel בַּֽיהוָ֗הba./Yah.wehagainst/ Yahweh וְלָשׁ֤וּבve./la./Shuvand/ to/ turn back הַיּוֹם֙hai./yOmthis/ day מֵאַחֲרֵ֣יme./'a.cha.Reifrom/ after יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahweh לִבְנ֣וֹתli/v.Notby/ building מִזְבֵּ֔חַmiz.Be.achan altar לְעֹלָ֖הle./'o.Lahfor/ burnt offering לְמִנְחָ֣הle./min.Chahfor/ grain offering וּלְזָ֑בַחu./le./Za.vachand/ for/ sacrifice מִלְּבַ֗דmi./le./Vad<from>/ <to>/ besides מִזְבַּח֙miz.Bach[the] altar of יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ'e.lo.Hei./nuGod/ our אֲשֶׁ֖ר'a.Sherwhich לִפְנֵ֥יli/f.Nei[is] <to>/ before מִשְׁכָּנֽוֹ׃ פmish.ka.N/otabernacle/ his

King James Version

God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the Lord our God that is before his tabernacle.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 12:13 Be careful not to offer your burnt offerings in just any place you see;
Joshua 24:16 The people replied, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods!
Genesis 44:7 “Why does my lord say these things?” they asked. “Your servants could not possibly do such a thing.
Genesis 44:17 But Joseph replied, “Far be it from me to do this. The man who was found with the cup will be my slave. The rest of you may return to your father in peace.”
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.
Joshua 22:26 That is why we said, ‘Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.
1 Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.
1 Kings 21:3 But Naboth replied, “The LORD forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my fathers.”
2 Kings 18:22 But if you say to me, ‘We trust in the LORD our God,’ is He not the One whose high places and altars Hezekiah has removed, saying to Judah and Jerusalem: ‘You must worship before this altar in Jerusalem’?
2 Chronicles 32:12 Did not Hezekiah himself remove His high places and His altars and say to Judah and Jerusalem, ‘You must worship before one altar, and on it you shall burn sacrifices’?