Joshua 22

1 Then Joshua (Yehoshua) called the Reubenites (Reuveni), and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Menashsheh,

2 And said unto them: “You have kept all that Moses (Mosheh) the servant of יהוה commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

3 You have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of יהוה your God (Elohim).

4 And now יהוה your God (Elohim) hath given rest unto your brethren, as He promised them; therefore now return you, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses (Mosheh) the servant of יהוה gave you on the other side Jordan (Yarden).

5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the Torah, which Moses (Mosheh) the servant of יהוה charged you, to love יהוה your God (Elohim), and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave unto Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

6 So Joshua (Yehoshua) blessed them, and sent them away; and they went unto their tents.

7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Menashsheh Moses (Mosheh) had given possession in Bashan; but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua (Yehoshua) among their brethren on this side Jordan (Yarden) westward. And when Joshua (Yehoshua) sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,

8 And he spake unto them, saying, “Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.”

9 And the children of Reuven and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menashsheh returned, and departed from the children of Yisrael out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilad, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of יהוה by the hand of Moses (Mosheh).

10 And when they came unto the borders of Jordan (Yarden), that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuven and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menashsheh built there an altar by Jordan (Yarden), a great altar to see to.

11 And the children of Yisrael heard say, “Behold, the children of Reuven and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menashsheh have built an altar opposite the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan (Yarden), at the passage of the children of Yisrael.”

12 And when the children of Yisrael heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Yisrael gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.

13 And the children of Yisrael sent unto the children of Reuven, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Menashsheh, into the land of Gilad, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest (kohen),

14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Yisrael; and each one was a head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Yisrael.

15 And they came unto the children of Reuven, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Menashsheh, unto the land of Gilad, and they spake with them, saying,

16 Thus saith the whole congregation of יהוה: “What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael), to turn away this day from following יהוה, in that you have builded you an altar, that you might rebel this day against יהוה?

17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of יהוה,

18 But that you must turn away this day from following יהוה? And it will be, seeing you rebel today against יהוה, that tomorrow He will be wroth with the whole congregation of Yisrael.

19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass you over unto the land of the possession of יהוה, wherein יהוה’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us; but rebel not against יהוה, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of יהוה our God (Elohim).

20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Yisrael? And that man perished not alone in his iniquity.’”

21 Then the children of Reuven and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Menashsheh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Yisrael,

22 The 5aMighty One (El), God יהוה (Elohim YHWH); the Mighty One (El), God יהוה (Elohim YHWH)! He knoweth, and Yisrael he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against יהוה, save us not this day.

23 If we have built us an altar to turn from following יהוה, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let יהוה 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 unto our children, saying, “What have you to do with יהוה God of Israel (Elohei Yisrael)?

25 For יהוה hath made Jordan (Yarden) a border between us and you, you children of Reuven and children of Gad; you have no part in יהוה.” So shall your children make our children cease from fearing יהוה.’

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 יהוה before him with our burnt offerings, and 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 יהוה.”’

28 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 יהוה, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.’

29 God (Elohim) forbid that we should rebel against יהוה, and turn this day from following יהוה, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of יהוה our God (Elohim) that is before His tabernacle.”

30 And when Phinehas the priest (kohen), and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Yisrael which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuven and the children of Gad and the children of Menashsheh spake, it pleased them.

31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest (kohen) said unto the children of Reuven, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Menashsheh, “This day we perceive that יהוה is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against יהוה. Now you have delivered the children of Yisrael out of the hand of יהוה.”

32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest (kohen), and the princes, returned from the children of Reuven, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilad, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Yisrael, and brought them word again.

33 And the thing pleased the children of Yisrael; and the children of Yisrael blessed God (Elohim), and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuven and Gad dwelt.

34 And the children of Reuven and the children of Gad called the altar Witness (Ed), “For it shall be a witness between us that יהוה is God (Elohim).”