Joshua 22:28 - Easy To Read Version

²⁸ In the future, if it happens that your children say that we do not belong to Israel, then our children can say, ‘Look! Our fathers who lived before us made an altar. That altar is exactly like the Lord’s altar {at the Holy Tent}. We do not use this altar for sacrifices—this altar is proof that we are part of Israel.’

More versions

King James Version (Oxford) 1769

²⁸ Therefore said we, 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.

Amplified Bible - Classic Edition

²⁸ So we thought, if that should be said to us or to our descendants in time to come, we can reply, Behold the copy of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings nor for sacrifices, but to be a witness between us and you.

American Standard Version (1901)

²⁸ Therefore said we, It shall be, when they so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we shall say, Behold the pattern of the altar of Jehovah, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.

Common English Bible

²⁸ We thought, If in the future they ever say this to us or to our descendants, we could say, ‘Look at this replica of the altar of the LORD that our ancestors made. It isn’t for entirely burned offerings or for sacrifice but to be a witness between us and you.’

Catholic Public Domain Version

²⁸ And if they decide to say this, they shall respond to them: 'Behold, the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for holocausts, and not for sacrifice, but instead as a testimony between us and you.'

Douay-Rheims version of The Bible - 1752 version

²⁸ And if they will say so, they shall answer them: Behold the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for holocausts, nor for sacrifice, but for a testimony between us and you.

Joshua 22:28 Cross References

Genesis 31:48

Laban said to Jacob, “This pile of rocks will help us both remember our agreement.” That is why Jacob called the place Galeed.

2 Kings 16:10

King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath Pileser king of Assyria. Ahaz saw the altar [191] at Damascus. King Ahaz sent a model and pattern of this altar to Uriah the priest.

Exodus 25:40

Be very careful to make everything exactly the way I showed you on the mountain.”

Isaiah 19:19

At that time, there will be an altar {\cf2\super [193]} for the Lord in the middle of Egypt. At the border of Egypt there will be a monument to show honor to the Lord.

Hebrews 8:5

The work that these priests do is really only a copy and a shadow of the things that are in heaven. That is why God warned Moses {\cf2\super [82]} when Moses was ready to build the Holy Tent {\cf2\super [83]} : “Be sure to make everything exactly like the pattern I showed you on the mountain.” {\cf2\super [84]}

Joshua 22:27

The real reason we wanted our altar was to show our people that we worship the same God as you. This altar will be the proof to you and to us and to all our future children that we worship the Lord. We give our sacrifices, grain offerings and fellowship offerings to the Lord. We wanted your children to grow up and know that we are also people of Israel like yourselves.

Joshua 22:29

“Truly, we do not want to be against the Lord. We don’t want to stop following him now. We know that the only true altar is the one that is in front of the Holy Tent. That altar belongs to the Lord our God.”

Joshua 24:27

Then Joshua said to all the people, “This stone will help you remember the things we said today. This stone was here when the Lord was speaking to us today. So this stone will be something that helps you remember what happened today. The stone will be a witness against you. It will stop you from turning against the Lord your God.”