Joshua 22:26

26 Therefore we said, `Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice,

Joshua 22:26 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 22:26

Therefore we said
One to another, in order to prevent the apostasy of our children from God, their departure from his worship, and going into idolatry:

let us now prepare to build us an altar;
get materials ready, and set about it instantly, without any delay, while the thing dwells upon our minds:

not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;
not for offerings of any kind required by the law, neither for sin offerings nor trespass offerings, nor any other not named.

Joshua 22:26 In-Context

24 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?

25 For the LORD hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad. Ye have no part in the LORD." So shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.'

26 Therefore we said, `Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice,

27 but that it may be a witness between us and you and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings and with our sacrifices and with our peace offerings, that your children may not say to our children in time to come, "Ye have no part in the LORD."'

28 Therefore we said that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, `Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices, but it is a witness between us and you.'