Bible Language

Joshua 22 (NLT) New Living Translation

1 Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
2 He told them, "You have done as Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you.
3 During all this time you have not deserted the other tribes. You have been careful to obey the commands of the LORD your God right up to the present day.
4 And now the LORD your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go back home to the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you as your possession on the east side of the Jordan River.
5 But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
6 So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went home.
7 Moses had given the land of Bashan, east of the Jordan River, to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (The other half of the tribe was given land west of the Jordan.) As Joshua sent them away and blessed them,
8 he said to them, "Go back to your homes with the great wealth you have taken from your enemies-- the vast herds of livestock, the silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and the large supply of clothing. Share the plunder with your relatives."
9 So the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the rest of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They started the journey back to their own land of Gilead, the territory that belonged to them according to the LORD's command through Moses.
10 But while they were still in Canaan, and when they came to a place called Geliloth near the Jordan River, the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh stopped to build a large and imposing altar.
11 The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River.
12 So the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against them.
13 First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
14 In this delegation were ten leaders of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each the head of his family within the clans of Israel.
15 When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
16 "The whole community of the LORD demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the LORD and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against him?
17 Was our sin at Peor not enough? To this day we are not fully cleansed of it, even after the plague that struck the entire community of the LORD.
18 And yet today you are turning away from following the LORD. If you rebel against the LORD today, he will be angry with all of us tomorrow.
19 "If you need the altar because the land you possess is defiled, then join us in the LORD's land, where the Tabernacle of the LORD is situated, and share our land with us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar other than the one true altar of the LORD our God.
20 Didn't divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the LORD? He was not the only one who died because of his sin."
21 Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel:
22 "The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it, too! We have not built the altar in treacherous rebellion against the LORD. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day.
23 If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the LORD or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings, may the LORD himself punish us.
24 "The truth is, we have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, 'What right do you have to worship the LORD, the God of Israel?
25 The LORD has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no claim to the LORD.' So your descendants may prevent our descendants from worshiping the LORD.
26 "So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices,
27 but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no claim to the LORD.'
28 "If they say this, our descendants can reply, 'Look at this copy of the LORD's altar that our ancestors made. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices; it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the LORD.'
29 Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD or turn away from him by building our own altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. Only the altar of the LORD our God that stands in front of the Tabernacle may be used for that purpose."
30 When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community-- the heads of the clans of Israel-- heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied.
31 Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, "Today we know the LORD is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the LORD."
32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the other leaders left the tribes of Reuben and Gad in Gilead and returned to the land of Canaan to tell the Israelites what had happened.
33 And all the Israelites were satisfied and praised God and spoke no more of war against Reuben and Gad.
34 The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar "Witness," for they said, "It is a witness between us and them that the LORD is our God, too."
1 Then H227 ADV Joshua H3091 called H7121 VQY3MS the Reubenites H7206 , and the Gadites H1425 , and the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 ,
2 And said H559 W-VQY3MS unto H413 PREP-3MP them , Ye H859 PPRO-2MS have kept H8104 all H3605 NMS that H834 RPRO Moses H4872 the servant H5650 NMS of the LORD H3068 EDS commanded H6680 VPQ3MS you , and have obeyed H8085 my voice H6963 in all H3605 NMS that H834 RPRO I commanded H6680 you :
3 Ye have not H3808 ADV left H5800 your brethren H251 these H2088 DPRO many H7227 AMP days H3117 NMP unto H5704 PREP this H2088 D-PMS day H3117 D-AMS , but have kept H8104 the charge H4931 of the commandment H4687 CFS of the LORD H3068 EDS your God H430 .
4 And now H6258 W-ADV the LORD H3068 EDS your God H430 hath given rest H5117 unto your brethren H251 , as H834 RPRO he promised H1696 VPQ3MS them : therefore now H6258 W-ADV return H6437 VQI2MP ye , and get H1980 W-VQI2MP you unto your tents H168 , and unto H413 PREP the land H776 GFS of your possession H272 , which H834 RPRO Moses H4872 the servant H5650 NMS of the LORD H3068 EDS gave H5414 UNKN you on the other side H5676 Jordan H3383 .
5 But H7535 ADV take diligent H3966 ADV heed H8104 to do H6213 L-VQFC the commandment H4687 and the law H8451 , which H834 RPRO Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 EDS charged H6680 VPQ3MS you , to love H157 the LORD H3068 EDS your God H430 , and to walk H1980 WL-VQFC in all H3605 B-CMS his ways H1870 CMP-3MS , and to keep H8104 his commandments H4687 , and to cleave H1692 unto him , and to serve H5647 him with all H3605 B-CMS your heart H3824 and with all H3605 WB-CMS your soul H5315 .
6 So Joshua H3091 blessed H1288 them , and sent them away H7971 W-VPY3MS-3MP : and they went H1980 W-VQY3MP unto H413 PREP their tents H168 .
7 Now to the one half H2677 of the tribe H7626 CMS of Manasseh H4519 Moses H4872 had given H5414 VQQ3MS possession in Bashan H1316 : but unto the other half H2677 thereof gave H5414 VQQ3MS Joshua H3091 among H5973 PREP their brethren H251 on this side H5676 Jordan H3383 D-EFS westward H3220 . And when H3588 CONJ Joshua H3091 sent them away H7971 also H1571 W-CONJ unto H413 PREP their tents H168 , then he blessed H1288 them ,
8 And he spoke H559 W-VQY3MS unto H413 PREP them , saying H559 W-VQY3MS , Return H7725 with much H7227 AMS riches H5233 unto H413 PREP your tents H168 , and with very H3966 ADV much H7227 AMS cattle H4735 , with silver H3701 , and with gold H2091 , and with brass H5178 , and with iron H1270 , and with very H3966 ADV much H7235 VHFA raiment H8008 : divide H2505 the spoil H7998 of your enemies H341 with H5973 PREP your brethren H251 .
9 And the children H1121 W-CMP of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 W-CMP of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 CMS of Manasseh H4519 returned H7725 W-VUY3MP , and departed H1980 W-VQY3MP from the children H1121 W-CMP of Israel H3478 out of Shiloh H7887 , which H834 RPRO is in the land H776 B-GFS of Canaan H3667 EMS , to go H1980 L-VQFC unto H413 PREP the country H776 GFS of Gilead H1568 , to H413 PREP the land H776 GFS of their possession H272 , whereof H834 RPRO they were possessed H270 , according H5921 PREP to the word H6310 of the LORD H3068 EDS by the hand H3027 B-CFS of Moses H4872 .
10 And when they came H935 W-VQY3MP unto H413 PREP the borders H1552 of Jordan H3383 D-EFS , that H834 RPRO are in the land H776 B-GFS of Canaan H3667 EMS , the children H1121 CMP of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 W-CMP of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 CMS of Manasseh H4519 built H1129 there H8033 ADV an altar H4196 NMS by H5921 PREP Jordan H3383 D-EFS , a great H1419 AMS altar H4196 NMS to see H4758 to .
11 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 heard H8085 say H559 L-VQFC , Behold H2009 IJEC , the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 W-CMP of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 CMS of Manasseh H4519 have built H1129 an altar H4196 D-NMS over against H413 PREP 6 H4136 PREP the land H776 GFS of Canaan H3667 LMS , in H413 PREP the borders H1552 of Jordan H3383 D-EFS , at H413 PREP the passage H1552 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 LMS .
12 And when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 heard H8085 W-VQY3MP of it , the whole H3605 NMS congregation H5712 CFS of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gathered themselves together H6950 at Shiloh H7887 , to go H5927 L-VQFC up to war H6635 against H5921 PREP-3MP them .
13 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 unto H413 PREP the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and to H413 PREP the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , and to H413 PREP the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 , into H413 PREP the land H776 GFS of Gilead H1568 , Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 ,
14 And with H5973 PREP-3MS him ten H6235 princes H5387 , of each chief H5387 house H1004 a prince H1 NMS throughout all H3605 the tribes H4294 of Israel H3478 ; and each one H376 W-NMS was a head H7218 NMS of the house H1004 CMS of their fathers H1 CMP-3MP among the thousands H505 of Israel H3478 LMS .
15 And they came H935 W-VQY3MP unto H413 PREP the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and to H413 PREP the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , and to H413 PREP the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 , unto H413 PREP the land H776 GFS of Gilead H1568 , and they spoke H1696 W-VPY3MP with H854 PREP-3MP them , saying H559 L-VQFC ,
16 Thus H3541 saith H559 VQQ3MP the whole H3605 NMS congregation H5712 CFS of the LORD H3068 EDS , What H4100 IGAT trespass H4604 is this H2088 D-PMS that H834 RPRO ye have committed H4603 against the God H430 of Israel H3478 , to turn away H7725 this day H3117 D-AMS from following H310 the LORD H3068 EDS , in that ye have built H1129 you an altar H4196 NMS , that ye might rebel H4775 this day H3117 D-AMS against the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS ?
17 Is the iniquity H5771 of Peor H6465 too little H4592 D-AMS for us , from H4480 M-PREP-3MS which H834 RPRO we are not H3808 ADV cleansed H2891 until H5704 PREP this H2088 D-PMS day H3117 D-AMS , although there was H1961 W-VQY3MS a plague H5063 in the congregation H5712 B-CFS of the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS ,
18 But that ye H859 W-PPRO-2MP must turn away H7725 VQY2MP this day H3117 D-AMS from following H310 the LORD H3068 EDS ? and it will be H1961 W-VQQ3MS , seeing ye H859 PPRO-2MS rebel H4775 today H3117 D-AMS against the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS , that tomorrow H4279 he will be wroth H7107 with H413 PREP the whole H3605 NMS congregation H5712 CFS of Israel H3478 .
19 Notwithstanding H389 W-ADV , if H518 PART the land H776 GFS of your possession H272 be unclean H2931 , then pass ye over H5674 unto H413 PREP the land H776 GFS of the possession H272 of the LORD H3068 EDS , wherein H834 RPRO the LORD H3068 EDS \'s tabernacle H4908 dwelleth H7931 , and take possession H270 among H8432 B-CMS-1MP us : but rebel H4775 not H408 NPAR against the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS , nor H408 ADV rebel H4775 against us , in building H1129 you an altar H4196 NMS beside H1107 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 EDS our God H430 .
20 Did not H3808 ADV Achan H5912 the son H1121 of Zerah H2226 commit H4603 a trespass H4604 in the accursed thing H2764 , and wrath H7110 fell H1961 VQQ3MS on H5921 all H3605 NMS the congregation H5712 CFS of Israel H3478 ? and that H1931 W-PPRO-3MS man H376 NMS perished H1478 not H3808 NADV alone H259 MMS in his iniquity H5771 .
21 Then the children H1121 W-CMP of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 W-CMP of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 CMS of Manasseh H4519 answered H6030 , and said H1696 unto the heads H7218 CMP of the thousands H505 BMP of Israel H3478 LMS ,
22 The LORD H3068 EDS God H410 EDS of gods H430 EDP , the LORD H3068 EDS God H410 EDS of gods H430 EDP , he H1931 PPRO-3MS knoweth H3045 VQPMS , and Israel H3478 he H1931 PPRO-3MS shall know H3045 VQY3MS ; if H518 PART it be in rebellion H4777 , or if H518 PART in transgression H4604 against the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS , ( save H3467 us not H408 NPAR this H2088 D-PMS day H3117 D-AMS , )
23 That we have built H1129 us an altar H4196 NMS to turn H7725 from following H310 the LORD H3068 EDS , or if H518 W-PART to offer H5927 thereon H5921 PREP-3MS burnt offering H5930 NFS or meat offering H4503 , or if H518 W-PART to offer H6213 L-VQFC peace H8002 offerings H2077 thereon H5921 PREP-3MS , let the LORD H3068 EDS himself H1931 PPRO-3MS require H1245 it ;
24 And if H518 W-PART we have not H3808 NADV rather done H6213 it H2063 DPRO for fear H1674 of this thing H1697 , saying H559 L-VQFC , In time to come H4279 NMS your children H1121 might speak H559 VQY3MP unto our children H1121 , saying H559 L-VQFC , What H4100 IPRO have ye to do with the LORD H3068 God H430 CDP of Israel H3478 LMS ?
25 For the LORD H3068 EDS hath made H5414 Jordan H3383 D-EFS a border H1366 between H996 us and you , ye children H1121 W-CMP of Reuben H7205 and children H1121 of Gad H1410 ; ye have no H369 NPAR part H2506 CMS in the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS : so shall your children H1121 make our children H1121 W-CMP cease H7673 from fearing H3372 the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS .
26 Therefore we said H559 , Let us now H4994 IJEC prepare H6213 to build H1129 us an altar H4196 D-NMS , not H3808 NADV for burnt H5930 offering , nor H3808 W-NADV for sacrifice H2077 :
27 But H3588 CONJ that it H1931 PPRO-3MS may be a witness H5707 between H996 W-PREP us , and you , and our generations H1755 after H310 us , that we might do H5647 the service H5656 of the LORD H3068 EDS before H6440 L-CMP-3MS him with our burnt offerings H5930 , and with our sacrifices H2077 , and with our peace offerings H8002 ; that your children H1121 may not H3808 W-NPAR say H559 VQY3MP to our children H1121 in time to come H4279 NMS , Ye have no H369 NPAR part H2506 CMS in the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS .
28 Therefore said H559 we , that it shall be H1961 W-VQQ3MS , when H3588 CONJ they should so say H559 VQY3MP to H413 us or to H413 W-PREP our generations H1755 in time to come H4279 NMS , that we may say H559 again , Behold H7200 the pattern H8403 of the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 EDS , which H834 RPRO our fathers H1 made H6213 VQQ3MP , not H3808 NADV for burnt offerings H5930 , nor H3808 W-NADV for sacrifices H2077 ; but H3588 CONJ it H1931 PPRO-3MS is a witness H5707 between H996 PREP-1MP us and you .
29 God forbid H2486 IJEC-3FS that we H4480 M-PREP-3MS should rebel H4775 against the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS , and turn H7725 this day H3117 D-AMS from following H310 the LORD H3068 EDS , to build H1129 an altar H4196 NMS for burnt offerings H5930 , for meat offerings H4503 , or for sacrifices H2077 , beside H905 ML-NMS the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 EDS our God H430 that H834 RPRO is before H6440 L-CMP his tabernacle H4908 .
30 And when Phinehas H6372 the priest H3548 , and the princes H5387 of the congregation H5712 and heads H7218 of the thousands H505 BMP of Israel H3478 which H834 RPRO were with H854 PREP-3MS him , heard H8085 the words H1697 AMP that H834 RPRO the children H1121 W-CMP of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 W-CMP of Gad H1410 and the children H1121 W-CMP of Manasseh H4519 spoke H1696 , it pleased H3190 them .
31 And Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 said H559 W-VQY3MS unto H413 PREP the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and to H413 PREP the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , and to H413 PREP the children H1121 of Manasseh H4519 , This day H3117 D-AMS we perceive H3045 that H3588 CONJ the LORD H3068 EDS is among H8432 us , because H834 RPRO ye have not H3808 ADV committed H4603 this H2088 D-PMS trespass H4604 against the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS : now H227 ADV ye have delivered H5337 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of the hand H3027 M-GFS of the LORD H3068 NAME-4MS .
32 And Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 , and the princes H5387 , returned H7725 from the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and from the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , out of the land H776 M-NFS of Gilead H1568 , unto H413 PREP the land H776 GFS of Canaan H3667 LMS , to H413 PREP the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , and brought them word again H7725 .
33 And the thing H1697 D-NMS pleased H3190 the children H1121 W-CMP of Israel H3478 ; and the children H1121 W-CMP of Israel H3478 blessed H1288 God H430 EDP , and did not H3808 W-NPAR intend H559 VQQ3MP to go up H5927 L-VQFC against H5921 PREP-3MP them in battle H6635 , to destroy H7843 L-VPFC the land H776 D-GFS wherein H834 RPRO the children H1121 W-CMP of Reuben H7205 and Gad H1410 dwelt H3427 .
34 And the children H1121 W-CMP of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 W-CMP of Gad H1410 called H7121 the altar H4196 Ed : for H3588 CONJ it H1931 PPRO-3MS shall be a witness H5707 between H996 us that H3588 CONJ the LORD H3068 EDS is God H430 .