21 Then the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel,
22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, He knows, and Israel shall know; if it is in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (do not save us this day)
23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer on it burnt offering or grain offering, or if to offer peace offerings on it, let the LORD Himself require it;
24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying, What have you to do with the LORD God of Israel?
25 For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, children of Reuben and children of Gad; you have no part in the LORD. So your children might make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering nor for sacrifice,
27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before Him with our burnt offerings, with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, You have no part in the LORD.
28 Therefore we said that it shall be, when they should say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say, 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.