Joshua 22:23

French (La Sainte Bible par Louis Segond 1910)

Si nous nous sommes bâti un autel pour nous détourner de l'Eternel, si c'est pour y présenter des holocaustes et des offrandes, et si c'est pour y faire des sacrifices d'actions de grâces, que l'Eternel en demande compte!

What Does This Mean?

This verse is a statement from the Trans-Jordan tribes to the rest of Israel, explaining that they did not build the altar to turn away from following the Lord or to offer sacrifices there. The key message is a declaration of their faithfulness to God.

Explained for Children

Imagine you and your friends build a treehouse. Other kids think you're building it to play games against the rules. You tell them, 'We're not doing that, we promise!' That's what this verse is like - the tribes are saying they didn't build their altar to do bad things against God.

Historical Background

Joshua 22 was written by Joshua, likely around 1400-1300 BC. The context is the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh, who had built an altar on the east side of the Jordan River. This was to reassure the rest of Israel that they were still part of God's people and not turning away from Him.

Living It Out Today

In a modern scenario, if someone starts a new job and builds a work station that looks like it's for something forbidden, they might explain that it's just for organization. This verse reminds us to be clear about our intentions and faithfulness in our daily lives.

Topics

• faithfulness
• sacrifice
• altar
• covenant
• loyalty
• explanation

Related Verses

• Joshua 23:16
• Exodus 20:24
• 1 Kings 18:30
• Deuteronomy 12:11
• Hebrews 13:10

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did the Trans-Jordan tribes build the altar?

The tribes built the altar to reassure the rest of Israel that they were still part of God's people and not turning away from Him.

What does this verse say about sacrifices?

The verse clarifies that the altar was not built for sacrifices; they were not turning away from following the Lord through offering sacrifices elsewhere.

Who was speaking in this verse?

This verse is a statement from the Trans-Jordan tribes to the rest of Israel, explaining their intentions behind building the altar.

How does this verse relate to faithfulness?

This verse demonstrates faithfulness by showing the tribes declaring their commitment to God despite misconceptions from others.