In Context

23 that we have built us an altar to turn away from following Yahweh; or if to offer burnt offering or meal offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace offerings, let Yahweh himself require it.

24 |If we have not out of concern done this, and for a reason, saying, 'In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, |What have you to do with Yahweh, the God of Israel?

25 For Yahweh has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad. You have no portion in Yahweh.|' So your children might make our children cease from fearing Yahweh.

26 |Therefore we said, 'Let's now prepare to build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice;

27 but it will be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may perform the service of Yahweh before him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings;' that your children may not tell our children in time to come, 'You have no portion in Yahweh.'

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

Joshua 22:26 in Other Translations