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.
So we decided that if anyone in the future says this to us or our children, we can answer them: 'Look at this copy of the Lord's altar that our ancestors built. It wasn't made for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but to serve as proof of the connection between us and you.'
The eastern tribes built a replica altar not for worship, but as a permanent reminder that they belong to the same God and people as the western tribes.
📚 Historical Context
The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh had settled east of the Jordan River while the other tribes settled west of it. They built this altar as a witness because they feared future generations might exclude them from Israel's worship, thinking the Jordan River created a permanent separation between God's people.
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