Why did they build an altar?
English: English translation of hebrew version. Map of the twelve tribes of Israel, before the move of Dan to the North (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) “Therefore we said, ‘Let us now prepare to build ourselves an altar , not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice , but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us, that we may perform the service of the LORD before Him’ ” ( Josh. 22:26–27a). In their fear of exclusion from the worship of God before the altar at Shiloh , the remote, eastern tribes of Israel considered how they might symbolize their inclusion in the covenant and assert their right to bring their sacrifices to God. They settled on construction of a replica of the altar , “ ‘not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice, but that it may be a witness between you and us and our generations after us.’ ” God had commanded Israel to make sacrifices to Him only at the altar of His choosing. When the eastern tribes built their altar beside the Jord...