No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?
English Standard Version (ESV)
The tribes weren't building an altar to defy God, but to secure their children's place with Him. They feared that the Jordan River would eventually become such a dividing line that their descendants would be seen as outsiders, cut off from God's covenant promises and worship. This reveals a deep concern for their posterity's spiritual inheritance, a fear that their unique geographical position could lead to spiritual alienation.
No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?
English Standard Version (ESV)
After building a large altar on the west side of the Jordan River, the other tribes of Israel suspected Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh of preparing to worship false gods. These tribes then explained that the altar was not for sacrifice but was intended as a memorial, a witness that they too belonged to the Lord God of Israel, and to prevent future generations from being cut off from their heritage. Their explanation reassures their brothers that they feared their children might be estranged from God and from their people.
What if your good intentions could be twisted into a reason for future division? That’s the fear that drove a bold, potentially divisive act.
The tribes east of the Jordan River didn't build their altar to defy God or separate themselves from their Israelite family. Instead, they built it out of a deep-seated anxiety for the future.
Preserving Identity
They worried that as generations passed, the Jordan River, their natural border, would become a theological one. Their fear was that the Israelites on the west side would eventually tell their children, “You have no real connection to the LORD, the God of Israel, because you live separated from us, east of the Jordan.”
A Witness, Not a Separation
This altar, they explained, wasn't for sacrifices but was meant to stand as a permanent, visible reminder: "We are part of this covenant people, we worship the same God, and our children belong to the LORD just as yours do."
Our present actions can echo into the distant future, shaping the faith of those yet to come. What legacy are we building?
The story of the altar near the Jordan is a powerful reminder of our responsibility to future generations. The tribes of Reuben and Gad were acutely aware that their decisions today would impact the spiritual inheritance of their children and grandchildren.
A Legacy of Belonging
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Their primary concern wasn't just maintaining their own faith, but ensuring their descendants would always feel a secure sense of belonging within the covenant community of Israel. They feared a future where their children might be seen as outsiders, excluded from the blessings and worship of the LORD.
Building for Continuity
This fear motivated them to create a tangible symbol—the altar—that would serve as a constant witness. It was a declaration that despite their geographical separation, they remained united in their covenant relationship with God and with their brethren.
Understand the original words
de'agah · Hebrew Noun
A deep, reverent awe or dread regarding the consequences of sin, the holiness of God, or the potential loss of one's covenant connection.
The fear expressed in this verse highlights the fragility of national and religious unity, especially after territorial division. The altar was built not as an act of rebellion, but as a desperate measure to ensure their descendants wouldn't be seen as outsiders by the tribes west of the Jordan, thus preserving their shared identity in the LORD.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Canaan completed
After years of warfare, Joshua leads the Israelites in conquering the land of Canaan, as promised by God. This marks a pivotal moment in their history, establishing their national identity and territory.
c. 1405 BC
Division of the Land
The land of Canaan is divided among the twelve tribes of Israel. The tribes of Reuben and Gad, along with half of Manasseh, are allotted territory east of the Jordan River.
c. 1405 BC
Transjordanian tribes return home
The two and a half tribes who fought in the conquest return to their lands east of the Jordan. They leave behind the main body of Israel, who will settle west of the Jordan.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Altar construction sparks controversy
The tribes east of the Jordan build a large altar. The other tribes suspect this is a move toward idolatry or a break from unified worship of the LORD, leading to a serious dispute.
c. 1405 BC
Reconciliation and Understanding
A delegation led by Phinehas the priest confronts the Transjordanian tribes. They explain their altar is a memorial and witness, intended to preserve their connection to the LORD and prevent future separation, leading to peace.
This passage highlights how past events recorded in Scripture serve as warnings and examples for believers today, mirroring how the altar was intended as a witness to prevent future division and forgetting God's provision.
Deuteronomy 12:5-14This law commanded Israel to worship at the central sanctuary chosen by God, providing the backdrop for the potential accusation that the altar beyond the Jordan was a move toward unauthorized worship, and explaining the fear of the tribes.
Nehemiah 2:19-20When Sanballat and Tobiah mocked and threatened Nehemiah and the returning exiles, they responded with a similar plea to God and affirmed their faith, showing how fear of being excluded from God's people can arise in times of challenge.
1 Samuel 7:12Samuel set up a stone called Ebenezer, meaning 'stone of help,' after a victory, illustrating the practice of erecting monuments as tangible reminders of God's faithfulness, similar to the altar's purpose as a witness.
wesleyJoshua 22:24: "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?"
22:24 With the Lord - You have no relation to him, nor interest in him, or his worship.
calvinJoshua 22:21-34: "Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,"
Si cogitavimus aedificare nobis altare, ut averteremur ne iremus post Jehovam, et si ad immolandum super illud holocausta et sacrificium, et si ad faciendum super illud sacrificia prosperitatum, Jehova ipse inquirat.
And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak u…
The tribes weren't building an altar to defy God, but to secure their children's place with Him. They feared that the Jordan River would eventually become such a dividing line that their descendants would be seen as outsiders, cut off from God's covenant promises and worship. This reveals a deep concern for their posterity's spiritual inheritance, a fear that their unique geographical position could lead to spiritual alienation.
After building a large altar on the west side of the Jordan River, the other tribes of Israel suspected Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh of preparing to worship false gods. These tribes then explained that the altar was not for sacrifice but was intended as a memorial, a witness that they too belonged to the Lord God of Israel, and to prevent future generations from being cut off from their heritage. Their explanation reassures their brothers that they feared their children might be estranged from God and from their people.
After building a large altar on the west side of the Jordan River, the other tribes of Israel suspected Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh of preparing to worship false gods. These tribes then explained that the altar was not for sacrifice but was intended as a memorial, a witness that they too belonged to the Lord God of Israel, and to prevent future generations from being cut off from their heritage. Their explanation reassures their brothers that they feared their children might be estranged from God and from their people.
"No, but we did it from fear that in time to come your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?" — The tribes weren't building an altar to defy God, but to secure their children's place with Him. They feared that the Jordan River would eventually become such a dividing line that their descenda…
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Last reviewed October 2026