22:24a

But in fact: The Hebrew phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as But in fact can also be translated as “surely” or “truly.” It is used as a strong affirmation in an oath formula.

we have done this for fear: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as fear can also be translated as “concern” or “anxiety.”

that in the future: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as in the future is more literally “tomorrow.” In this context it refers to some indefinite time in the future.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

some day
-or-
in time to come

your descendants might say to ours: The Hebrew word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as descendants can also mean children. The people of the eastern clans were concerned about what the descendants of the other clans might tell their own descendants. They were not only concerned about their own sons and daughters but about their grandchildren, and their great-grandchildren.

Here are some other ways to translate this part of the verse:

Truly we did it because we are worried about what your descendants might say to our descendants someday.
-or-
Surely, we built this altar because we were concerned about what your descendants would tell our descendants in the future.

22:24b

What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?: This is a rhetorical question. It functions as a rebuke. It indicates that future generations of the western Israelite clans might think that the eastern clans are not part of the people of Yahweh. There are two ways to translate this rhetorical question.

As a question. For example:

What right do you have to worship the Lord, the God of Israel? (New Living Translation (2004))

As a statement. For example:

You have no relationship with Yahweh, the God of Israel.

The question What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? is a question that they imagine future generations asking. Future descendants of the western clans might ask this question to the eastern clans.

This is part of an embedded quotation. English shows this kind of quotation with a single quotation mark. Think about how to make this clear in your language. Some languages have grammatical markers or other ways to make clear to whom each group of people is speaking.

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