Joshua 22:26

Joshua 22:26 Meaning and Explanation

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

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So they resolved to build an altar -- explicitly not for offering sacrifices.

What Does Joshua 22:26 Mean?

Having named their fear, the eastern tribes give their solution. They resolved to build an altar -- but they state plainly its purpose was never for burnt offering or sacrifice. The structure was meant to declare something, not to be used for worship that belonged at the tabernacle.

Intention transforms the meaning of an act. What looked like rebellion was in truth a safeguard for faith. Their care to clarify -- not for sacrifice -- shows they honored the one appointed altar and meant no rivalry. It is a reminder that the heart behind a deed often differs entirely from how it first appears to anxious eyes.

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What does Joshua 22:26 mean?

So they resolved to build an altar -- explicitly not for offering sacrifices.

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