Joshua 22 – Legacy Standard Bible (LSB)

Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh

1 Then ^H227 Joshua ^H3091 summoned ^H7121 the Reubenites ^H7206 and the Gadites ^H1425 and the half-tribe ^H2677 H4294 of Manasseh ^H4519,

2 and said ^H559 to them, “You have kept ^H8104 all ^H3605 that Moses ^H4872 the servant ^H5650 of Yahweh ^H3068 commanded ^H6680 you and have listened ^H8085 to my voice ^H6963 in all ^H3605 that I commanded ^H6680 you. 3 You have not forsaken ^H5800 your brothers ^H251 these ^H2088 many ^H7227 days ^H3117 to this ^H2088 day ^H3117, but have kept ^H8104 the responsibility ^H4931 of the commandment ^H4687 of Yahweh ^H3068 your God ^H430. 4 And now ^H6258 Yahweh ^H3068 your God ^H430 has given ^H5117 rest ^H5117 to your brothers ^H251, as He spoke ^H1696 to them; so now ^H6258 turn ^H6437 and go ^H1980 to your tents ^H168, to the land ^H776 of your possession ^H272, which ^H834 Moses ^H4872 the servant ^H5650 of Yahweh ^H3068 gave ^H5414 you beyond ^H5676 the Jordan ^H3383. 5 Only ^H7534 keep ^H8104 yourselves very ^H3966 carefully ^H3966 to do ^H6213 the commandment ^H4687 and the law ^H8451 which ^H834 Moses ^H4872 the servant ^H5650 of Yahweh ^H3068 commanded ^H6680 you, to love ^H157 Yahweh ^H3068 your God ^H430 and walk ^H1980 in all ^H3605 His ways ^H1870 and keep ^H8104 His commandments ^H4687 and cling ^H1692 to Him and serve ^H5647 Him with all ^H3605 your heart ^H3824 and with all ^H3605 your soul ^H5315.” 6 Then Joshua ^H3091 blessed ^H1288 them and sent ^H7971 them away ^H7971, and they went ^H1980 to their tents ^H168.

7 Now to the one half-tribe ^H2677 H7626 of Manasseh ^H4519 Moses ^H4872 had given ^H5414 a possession in Bashan ^H1316, but to the other half ^H2677 Joshua ^H3091 gave ^H5414 a possession among ^H5973 their brothers ^H251 westward ^H3220 beyond ^H5676 the Jordan ^H3383. So when ^H3588 Joshua ^H3091 sent ^H7971 them away ^H7971 to their tents ^H168, he blessed ^H1288 them, 8 and spoke ^H559 to them, saying ^H559, “Return ^H7725 to your tents ^H168 with great ^H7227 riches ^H5233 and with very ^H3966 much ^H7227 livestock ^H4735, with silver ^H3701, gold ^H2091, bronze ^H5178, iron ^H1270, and with very ^H3966 many ^H7235 clothes ^H8008; divide ^H2505 the spoil ^H7998 of your enemies ^H340 with your brothers ^H251.” 9 Then the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and the half-tribe ^H2677 H7626 of Manasseh ^H4519 returned ^H7725 home and departed ^H1980 from the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 at Shiloh ^H7887 which ^H834 is in the land ^H776 of Canaan ^H3667, to go ^H1980 to the land ^H776 of Gilead ^H1568, to the land ^H776 of their possession ^H272 which ^H834 they had possessed ^H270, according ^H5921 to the [fn]command ^H6310 of Yahweh ^H3068 by the hand ^H3027 of Moses ^H4872.

An Altar Called Witness

10 And they came ^H935 to the region ^H1552 of the Jordan ^H3383 which ^H834 is in the land ^H776 of Canaan ^H3667, and the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and the half-tribe ^H2677 H7626 of Manasseh ^H4519 built ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 there ^H8033 by the Jordan ^H3383, a large ^H1419 altar ^H4196 in appearance ^H4758.

11 And the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 heard ^H8085 it [fn]said ^H559, “Behold ^H2009, the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and the half-tribe ^H2677 H7626 of Manasseh ^H4519 have built ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 at the [fn]entrance ^H4136 of the land ^H776 of Canaan ^H3667, in the region ^H1552 of the Jordan ^H3383, on the side ^H5676 belonging to the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478.” 12 Then the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 heard ^H8085 of it, and the whole ^H3605 congregation ^H5712 of the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 assembled ^H6950 themselves at Shiloh ^H7887 to go ^H5927 up ^H5927 against ^H5921 them in war ^H6635.

13 Then the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 sent ^H7971 to the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and to the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and to the half-tribe ^H2677 H7626 of Manasseh ^H4519, into the land ^H776 of Gilead ^H1568, Phinehas ^H6372 the son ^H1121 of Eleazar ^H499 the priest ^H3548, 14 and with him ten ^H6235 leaders ^H5387, one ^H259 leader ^H5387 for each father’s ^H1 household ^H1004 from each ^H3605 of the tribes ^H4294 of Israel ^H3478; and each ^H376 one ^H376 of them was the head ^H7218 of his father’s ^H1 household ^H1004 among the [fn]thousands ^H505 of Israel ^H3478. 15 So they came ^H935 to the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and to the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and to the half-tribe ^H2677 H7626 of Manasseh ^H4519, to the land ^H776 of Gilead ^H1568, and they spoke ^H1696 with them saying ^H559, 16 “Thus ^H3541 says ^H559 the whole ^H3605 congregation ^H5712 of Yahweh ^H3068, ‘What ^H4100 is this ^H2088 unfaithful ^H4603 H4604 act ^H4604 which ^H834 you have committed ^H4603 against the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478, turning ^H7725 away ^H7725 from following ^H310 Yahweh ^H3068 this day ^H3117, by building ^H1129 yourselves an altar ^H4196, to rebel ^H4775 against Yahweh ^H3068 this day ^H3117? 17 Is the iniquity ^H5771 of Peor ^H6465 too ^H4592 small ^H4592 a thing for us, from which ^H834 we have not cleansed ^H2891 ourselves to this ^H2088 day ^H3117, although there was ^H1961 a plague ^H5063 on the congregation ^H5712 of Yahweh ^H3068? 18 Yet you are turning ^H7725 away ^H7725 this day ^H3117 from following ^H310 Yahweh ^H3068. Now it will be ^H1961 that, if you rebel ^H4775 against Yahweh ^H3068 today ^H3117, He will be ^H7107 angry ^H7107 with the whole ^H3605 congregation ^H5712 of Israel ^H3478 tomorrow ^H4279. 19 If ^H518, however ^H389, the land ^H776 of your possession ^H272 is unclean ^H2931, then [fn]cross ^H5674 into the land ^H776 of the possession ^H272 of Yahweh ^H3068, where ^H834 H8033 the tabernacle ^H4908 of Yahweh ^H3068 dwells ^H7931, and take ^H270 possession ^H270 among ^H8432 us. But do not rebel ^H4775 against Yahweh ^H3068, nor rebel ^H4775 against ^H854 us by building ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 for yourselves, besides ^H4480 H1107 the altar ^H4196 of Yahweh ^H3068 our God ^H430. 20 Did not Achan ^H5912 the son ^H1121 of Zerah ^H2226 act ^H4603 unfaithfully ^H4603 H4604 in the things ^H2764 devoted ^H2764 to destruction ^H2764, and indignation ^H7110 fall ^H1961 on all ^H3605 the congregation ^H5712 of Israel ^H3478? But he was not the only ^H259 man ^H376 to breathe ^H1478 his last ^H1478 in his iniquity ^H5771.’”

21 Then the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and the half-tribe ^H2677 H7626 of Manasseh ^H4519 answered ^H6030 and spoke ^H1696 to the heads ^H7218 of the thousands ^H505 of Israel ^H3478. 22 “The Mighty ^H410 One ^H410, God ^H430, Yahweh ^H3068, the Mighty ^H410 One ^H410, God ^H430, Yahweh ^H3068! He knows ^H3045, and may Israel ^H3478 itself ^H1931 know ^H3045. If ^H518 it was in rebellion ^H4777 or if ^H518 in an unfaithful ^H4604 act ^H4604 against Yahweh ^H3068, do not save ^H3467 us this ^H2088 day ^H3117! 23 If we have built ^H1129 for ourselves an altar ^H4196 to turn ^H7725 away ^H7725 from following ^H310 Yahweh ^H3068, or if ^H518 to perform ^H5927 a burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930 or grain offering ^H4503 on it, or if ^H518 to offer ^H6213 sacrifices ^H2077 of peace ^H8002 offerings ^H8002 on it, may Yahweh ^H3068 Himself ^H1931 require ^H1245 it. 24 But truly ^H518 H3808 we have done ^H6213 this ^H2088 out of concern ^H1674, [fn]for a reason ^H1697, saying ^H559, ‘In time ^H4279 to come ^H4279 your sons ^H1121 may say ^H559 to our [fn]sons ^H1121, “What ^H4100 have you to do with Yahweh ^H3068, the God ^H430 of Israel ^H3478? 25 And Yahweh ^H3068 has made ^H5414 the Jordan ^H3383 a border ^H1366 between ^H996 us and you, you sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410; you have ^H369 no ^H369 portion ^H2506 in Yahweh ^H3068.” So your sons ^H1121 may make our sons ^H1121 stop ^H7673 H1115 fearing ^H3372 Yahweh ^H3068.’

26 “Therefore we said ^H559, ‘Let us [fn]build ^H6213 H1129 an altar ^H4196, not for burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930 or for sacrifice ^H2077; 27 rather ^H3588 it shall be a witness ^H5707 between ^H996 us and you and between ^H996 our generations ^H1755 after ^H310 us, that we are to perform ^H5647 the service ^H5656 of Yahweh ^H3068 before ^H6440 Him with our burnt ^H5930 offerings ^H5930 and with our sacrifices ^H2077 and with our peace ^H8002 offerings ^H8002, so that your sons ^H1121 will not say ^H559 to our sons ^H1121 in time ^H4279 to come ^H4279, “You have ^H369 no ^H369 portion ^H2506 in Yahweh ^H3068.”’ 28 Therefore we said ^H559, ‘It will also be ^H1961 that if ^H3588 they say ^H559 this to us or to our generations ^H1755 in time ^H4279 to come ^H4279, then we shall say ^H559, “See ^H7200 the copy ^H8403 of the altar ^H4196 of Yahweh ^H3068 which ^H834 our fathers ^H1 made ^H6213, not for burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930 or for sacrifice ^H2077; rather ^H3588 it is a witness ^H5707 between ^H996 us and you.”’ 29 Far ^H2486 be it from us to rebel ^H4775 against Yahweh ^H3068 and turn ^H7725 away ^H7725 from following ^H310 Yahweh ^H3068 this day ^H3117, by building ^H1129 an altar ^H4196 for burnt ^H5930 offering ^H5930, for grain offering ^H4503 or for sacrifice ^H2077, besides ^H4480 H905 the altar ^H4196 of Yahweh ^H3068 our God ^H430 which ^H834 is before ^H6440 His [fn]tabernacle ^H4908.”

30 So Phinehas ^H6372 the priest ^H3548 and the leaders ^H5387 of the congregation ^H5712, even the heads ^H7218 of the thousands ^H505 of Israel ^H3478 who ^H834 were with him, heard ^H8085 the words ^H1697 which ^H834 the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and the sons ^H1121 of Manasseh ^H4519 spoke ^H1696. And it was good ^H3190 in their sight ^H5869. 31 And Phinehas ^H6372 the son ^H1121 of Eleazar ^H499 the priest ^H3548 said ^H559 to the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and to the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 and to the sons ^H1121 of Manasseh ^H4519, “Today ^H3117 we know ^H3045 that Yahweh ^H3068 is in our midst ^H8432 because ^H834 you have not committed ^H4603 this ^H2088 unfaithful ^H4603 H4604 act ^H4604 against Yahweh ^H3068; so then ^H227 you have delivered ^H5337 the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 from the hand ^H3027 of Yahweh ^H3068.”

32 Then Phinehas ^H6372 the son ^H1121 of Eleazar ^H499 the priest ^H3548 and the leaders ^H5387 returned ^H7725 from the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and from the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410, from the land ^H776 of Gilead ^H1568 to the land ^H776 of Canaan ^H3667, to the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, and brought ^H7725 back ^H7725 word ^H1697 to them. 33 And the word ^H1697 was good ^H3190 in the sight ^H5869 of the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478, and the sons ^H1121 of Israel ^H3478 blessed ^H1288 God ^H430; and they did not speak ^H559 of going ^H5927 up ^H5927 against ^H5921 them in war ^H6635 to destroy ^H7843 the land ^H776 in which ^H834 the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 were living ^H3427. 34 And the sons ^H1121 of Reuben ^H7205 and the sons ^H1121 of Gad ^H1410 called ^H7121 the altar ^H4196 Witness; “For,” they said, “it is a witness ^H5707 between ^H996 us that Yahweh ^H3068 is God ^H430.”