That wee haue built vs an altar to turne from following the Lord, or if to offer thereon burnt offering, or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the Lord himselfe require it; Joshua 22:23 (KJV)
Joshua 22:23 is part of a narrative that recounts events after the conquest of the Promised Land by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua. At this point the Israelites had divided the land among the tribes, and the two and a half tribes from the east side of the Jordan River had received their allotted inheritance and were returning to their families. In the preceding verses those two and a half tribes—the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half‑tribe of Manasseh—built a large altar near the Jordan River as a memorial. When the rest of the tribes of Israel heard about it, they became concerned that an unauthorized place of worship was being set up, fearing it could lead to idolatry and a departure from the true worship of the Lord.
In response, a delegation of leaders, headed by Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, was sent to inquire about the altar’s purpose. Their statement, recorded in Joshua 22:23, declares, “If we have built an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings, the LORD God himself shall require it.” A parallel rendering in the passage reads, “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.”
The key message of this verse is the importance of remaining loyal to the Lord and not deviating from His prescribed ways of worship. The Israelites understood that establishing alternative altars could dilute or distort true worship and potentially open the door to idolatry. Their vigilance aimed to keep worship centralized at the tabernacle, where God had chosen to manifest His presence.
This incident serves as a reminder for believers today. It emphasizes the need to guard against any form of deviation from God’s prescribed worship and to remain committed to Him alone. It also highlights the importance of unity among God’s people and the need for open communication and dialogue to address concerns that arise within the community of faith. In summary, Joshua 22:23 reflects the strong commitment of the Israelites to remain faithful to the Lord, refusing to rebel by building an unauthorized altar, and it encourages believers to stay loyal to God, worship Him according to His instructions, and promote unity within the community of faith.
