Joshua 22:9-34

Joshua 22:9-34

[9] And the children  of Reuben  and the children  of Gad  and the half  tribe  of Manasseh  returned,  from the children  of Israel  out of Shiloh,  which is in the land  of Canaan,  unto the country  of Gilead,  to the land  of their possession,  whereof they were possessed,  according to the word  of the LORD  by the hand  of Moses.  [10] And when they came  unto the borders  of Jordan,  that are in the land  of Canaan,  the children  of Reuben  and the children  of Gad  and the half  tribe  of Manasseh  built  there an altar  by Jordan,  a great  altar  to see to.  [11] And the children  of Israel  heard  say,  Behold, the children  of Reuben  and the children  of Gad  and the half  tribe  of Manasseh  have built  an altar  over against  the land  of Canaan,  in the borders  of Jordan,  at the passage  of the children  of Israel.  [12] And when the children  of Israel  heard  of it, the whole congregation  of the children  of Israel  gathered themselves together  at Shiloh,  to go up  to war  against them. [13] And the children  of Israel  sent  unto the children  of Reuben,  and to the children  of Gad,  and to the half  tribe  of Manasseh,  into the land  of Gilead,  Phinehas  the son  of Eleazar  the priest,  [14] And with him ten  princes,  of each  chief  house  a prince  throughout all the tribes  of Israel;  and each one  was an head  of the house  of their fathers  among the thousands  of Israel.  [15] And they came  unto the children  of Reuben,  and to the children  of Gad,  and to the half  tribe  of Manasseh,  unto the land  of Gilead,  and they spake  with them, saying,  [16] Thus saith  the whole congregation  of the LORD,  is this that ye have committed  against the God  of Israel,  to turn away  this day  from following  the LORD,  in that ye have builded  you an altar,  that ye might rebel  this day  against the LORD?  [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 the LORD,  [18] But that ye must turn away  this day  from following  the LORD?  and it will be, seeing ye rebel  to day  against the LORD,  that to morrow  he will be wroth  with the whole congregation  of Israel.  [19] Notwithstanding,  if the land  of your possession  be unclean,  then pass ye over  unto the land  of the possession  of the LORD,  tabernacle  dwelleth,  and take possession  among  us: but rebel  not against the LORD,  nor  rebel  against us, in building  you an altar  beside  the altar  of the LORD  our God.  [20] Did not Achan  the son  of Zerah  commit  a trespass  in the accursed thing,  and wrath  fell  on all the congregation  of Israel?  and that man  perished  not alone  in his iniquity.  [21] Then the children  of Reuben  and the children  of Gad  and the half  tribe  of Manasseh  answered,  and said  unto the heads  of the thousands  of Israel,  [22] The LORD  God  of gods,  the LORD  God  of gods,  he knoweth,  and Israel  he shall know;  if it be in rebellion,  or if in transgression  against the LORD,  (save  us not this day,)  [23] That we have built  us an altar  to turn  from following  the LORD,  or if to offer  thereon burnt offering  or meat offering,  or if to offer  peace  offerings  thereon, 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  unto our children,  saying,  What have ye to do with the LORD  God  of Israel?  [25] For the LORD  hath made  Jordan  a border  between us and you, ye children  of Reuben  and children  of Gad;  ye have no part  in the LORD:  so shall your 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,  and with our sacrifices,  and with our peace offerings;  that your children  may not say  to our children  in time to come,  Ye have no part  in the LORD.  [28] Therefore said  to us or to our generations  in time to come,  that we may say  again, 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  [29] God forbid  that we should rebel  against the LORD,  and turn  this day  from following  the LORD,  to build  an altar  for burnt offerings,  for meat offerings,  or for sacrifices,  beside the altar  of the LORD  our God  that is before  his tabernacle.  [30] And when Phinehas  the priest,  and the princes  of the congregation  and heads  of the thousands  of Israel  which were with him, heard  the words  that the children  of Reuben  and the children  of Gad  and the children  of Manasseh  spake,  it pleased  [31] And Phinehas  the son  of Eleazar  the priest  said  unto the children  of Reuben,  and to the children  of Gad,  and to the children  of Manasseh,  This day  we perceive  that the LORD  is among  us, because ye have not committed  this trespass  against the LORD:  now  ye have delivered  the children  of Israel  out of the hand  of the LORD.  [32] And Phinehas  the son  of Eleazar  the priest,  and the princes,  returned  from the children  of Reuben,  and from the children  of Gad,  out of the land  of Gilead,  unto the land  of Canaan,  to the children  of Israel,  them word  again.  [33] And the thing  pleased  the children  of Israel;  and the children  of Israel  blessed  God,  and did not intend  to go up  against them in battle,  to destroy  the land  wherein the children  of Reuben  and Gad  dwelt.  [34] And the children  of Reuben  and the children  of Gad  called  the altar  Ed: for it shall be a witness  between us that the LORD  is God.