Joshua 22

1 Then [at that time, afterwards] Joshua [leader of the Israelites, successor of Moses] summoned [called, gathered] the Reubenites [descendants of Reuben, son of Israel], the Gadites [tribe of Gad, one of the twelve sons of Israel], and the half-tribe [a part of, a division] of Manasseh [a tribe of Israel, named after Joseph’s son] word study 2 and told them, “You have done [kept, obeyed] all that Moses [the servant of God, leader of Israel] the servant [one who serves, attends to] of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] commanded [gave orders, instructed] you, and you have obeyed [hearkened to, listened to] my voice [sound, word] in all that I commanded [appointed, directed] you. word study 3 All this time [these many days, a long season] you have not [in no way, never] deserted [forsaken, abandoned] your brothers [male siblings, close relatives], up to this very day [until this present moment], but have kept [obeyed, carefully followed] the charge [commandment, divine instruction] given you by the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true Deity]. word study 4 And now [at this time, as promised] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] your God [Elohim, the supreme God] has given [granted, bestowed] your brothers [relatives, fellow Israelites] rest [peace, settlement] as He [in His faithfulness] promised [spoke, declared] them, you may return [turn back, go back] to your homes [tents, dwellings] in the land [earth, territory] that Moses [the servant of God] the servant [faithful attendant] of the LORD [Yehovah] gave [assigned, allotted] you across [beyond, on the other side of] the Jordan [the river, a boundary]. word study 5 But be very careful [diligent, attentive] to observe [to do, to fulfill] the commandment [instructions, laws] and the law [Torah, teachings] that Moses [the servant of God] the servant of the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] gave you: to love [to have affection for, to cherish] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] your God [Elohim, the one true God], to walk [to follow, to live] in all His ways [paths, journey], to keep [to obey, to guard] His commandments [laws, precepts], to hold fast [to cling, to adhere] to Him, and to serve [to worship, to obey] Him with all your heart [innermost being, mind] and with all your soul [living being, spirit].” word study 6 So Joshua [the leader] blessed [praised and honored] them and sent [dismissed, let them depart] them on their way, and they went [to walk, to journey] to their [own, personal] homes [tents, dwelling places]. word study 7 (To the half-tribe [one part of the family] of Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob, ancestor of a large tribe] Moses had given [granted, provided] land [a region, territory] in Bashan [a fertile area east of the Jordan], and to the other half [the remaining part] Joshua gave [granted, allotted] land [a portion, inheritance] on the west [toward the setting sun] side of the Jordan [a major river, boundary] among [together with, alongside] their brothers [male relatives, fellow Israelites].) When Joshua sent [dismissed, released] them to their homes [tents, dwellings] he blessed [praised, honored] them, word study 8 saying, “Return [with great joy] to your homes [tents, dwellings] with your great wealth [riches, treasures], with immense herds of livestock [cattle, flocks], with silver [precious metal], gold [valuable treasure], bronze [copper, brass], iron [strong metal], and very many clothes [garments, raiment]. Divide [share, distribute] with your brothers [relatives, fellow Israelites] the spoil [plunder, booty] of your enemies [adversaries, foes].” word study 9 So the Reubenites [sons of Reuben, descendants of the firstborn son of Jacob], the Gadites [sons of Gad, the seventh son of Jacob], and the half-tribe [one of two divisions] of Manasseh [grandson of Jacob and ancestor of a large tribe] left the Israelites [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob] at Shiloh [place of rest, a city where the Ark of the Covenant and Tabernacle were kept] in the land [earth, ground, or region] of Canaan [the country where the Canaanites lived, now modern-day Israel] to return [to turn back, to go back] to their own land [territory, region, or country] of Gilead [a mountainous region east of the Jordan River, meaning ‘rocky region’], which they had acquired [obtained, possessed, or taken hold of] according to the command [instruction, order, or word] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] through Moses [the Israelite leader, born to Amram and Jochebed]. word study 10 And when they came [to the region, approaching] to Geliloth [a border, a territory] near the Jordan [a key location, a river] in the land [a country, a territory] of Canaan [the promised land, a son of Ham], the Reubenites [descendants of Reuben], the Gadites [descendants of Gad], and the half-tribe [a division, a part] of Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob] built [constructed, established] an imposing [great, large] altar [a place of sacrifice] there [in that location, at that time] by the Jordan [the river, a border] [a great altar to look upon, for appearance]. word study 11 Then the Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] received the report: “Behold [look, take notice], the Reubenites [sons of Reuben], the Gadites [sons of Gad], and the half-tribe [half of the tribe, a divided people] of Manasseh [son of Joseph] have built [constructed, established] an altar [place of sacrifice, worship] on the border [edge, frontier] of the land [territory, region] of Canaan [the promised land, a land of milk and honey], at Geliloth [a place near the Jordan] near the Jordan [a major river] on the Israelite [belonging to Israel, a chosen people] side [region, area].” word study 12 And when they heard [with attention and obedience] this, the whole [all, everything] congregation [gathering of people, crowd] of Israel [descendants of Jacob] assembled [gathered together, united] at Shiloh [place of rest] to go [to ascend, rise up] to war [battle, fight] against them [in opposition to, against]. word study 13 The Israelites [children of God’s chosen people] sent Phinehas [a zealous priest] son of Eleazar [God has helped, a high priest] the priest [a spiritual leader, mediator between God and man] to the land [earth, territory, region] of Gilead [a mountainous region, rocky region], to the Reubenites [descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Jacob], the Gadites [descendants of Gad, the seventh son of Jacob], and the half-tribe [a divided people, a portion of the tribe] of Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob, a large tribe in Israel]. word study 14 With him they sent ten [a decade of] chiefs [leaders, princes]—one family [tribal, clan] leader [head, prince] from each tribe [nation, people group] of Israel [God’s chosen people], each the head [chief, ruler] of a family [household, clan] among the clans [families, tribes] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob]. word study 15 They went [came, arrived] to the Reubenites [children of Reuben], the Gadites [children of Gad], and the half-tribe [half of the tribe, a divided people] of Manasseh [son of Joseph] in the land [earth, territory] of Gilead [rocky region, mountainous area] and said [spoke, communicated] to them [with them, in their presence], word study 16 “This is what the whole [entire, complete] congregation [gathering, assembly] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] says: ‘What is this [specific, particular] breach of faith [unfaithfulness, treachery] you have committed [trespassed, sinned] today [at this time, now] against the God [Elohim, the supreme God] of Israel [the descendants of Jacob] by turning away [rebelliously, in apostasy] from the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] and building [constructing, establishing] for yourselves an altar [a place of sacrifice], that you might rebel [resist, defy] against the LORD [Yehovah, the sovereign God] this day? word study 17 Was not the sin [iniquity, moral evil] of Peor [Baal-peor, a mountain of idolatry] enough for us, from which we have not cleansed [purified, made holy] ourselves to this day [until now, as far as this point in time]? It even brought a plague [punishment, judgment] upon the congregation [gathering, assembly] of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God]. word study 18 And now, would you [turn away, forsake, or turn your back] turn away from the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God]? If you rebel [resist, or defy authority] today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry [furious, or full of wrath] with the whole [gathered community, congregation, or assembly] congregation of Israel. word study 19 If indeed [or surely, certainly] the land [territory, region] of your inheritance [possession, heritage] is unclean [spiritually impure, tainted], then cross over [transition, pass over] to the land [territory, region] of the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] possession [inheritance, ownership], where the LORD’s [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] tabernacle [dwelling place, sacred tent] stands, and take possession [grasp, hold] of it among us. But do not rebel [resist, defy] against the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] or against us by building [constructing, establishing] for yourselves an altar [place of sacrifice, worship] other than [beside, except] the altar [place of sacrifice, worship] of the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator]. word study 20 Was not Achan [a descendant of Judah] son of Zerah unfaithful [acted treacherously, committed a trespass] regarding what was set apart [devoted, consecrated] for destruction, bringing wrath [divine anger, righteous indignation] upon the whole congregation [gathering, assembly] of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan [that man, the individual] who perished [died, expired] because of his sin [iniquity, moral evil]!’” word study 21 Then the Reubenites [children of Reuben], the Gadites [children of Gad], and the half-tribe [half of the tribe, a division] of Manasseh [the ancestor of a large tribe] answered [responded, gave an answer] the leaders [heads, chiefs] of the clans [thousands, families] of Israel [God’s chosen people, descendants of Jacob]: word study 22 “The LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God], the Mighty One [God of gods, all-powerful], is God [Elohim, the supreme God]! The LORD [Yehovah], the Mighty One [all-powerful], is God [Elohim]! He [the all-knowing One] knows, and may Israel [God’s chosen people] also know [be aware of, understand]. If this was in [a state of] rebellion [against God’s will] or breach of faith [unfaithfulness, disloyalty] against the LORD [Yehovah], do not [refuse to] spare us today [in this moment, at this time]. word study 23 If we have built [constructed, established] for ourselves an altar [a place of sacrifice] to turn away [to rebel, to apostatize] from Him [Yehovah] and to offer [to present, to sacrifice] burnt offerings [holocausts, complete sacrifices] and grain offerings [meal offerings, gifts of thanksgiving] on it, or to sacrifice [to offer, to make] fellowship offerings [peace offerings, sacrifices of communion] on it, may the LORD [Yehovah] Himself [He, the Almighty] hold us accountable [require it, judge us]. word study 24 But in fact we have done this for fear [out of carefulness, anxiety, or concern] that in the future [tomorrow, or a later time] your descendants [sons, or children] might say to ours [our children, or offspring], ‘What have you to do with [what is your relationship to] the LORD [Yehovah], the God [Elohim, the supreme Being] of Israel [the people of God]? word study 25 For the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] has made the Jordan [the river, a boundary] a border [a boundary, a dividing line] between us and you Reubenites [descendants of Reuben] and Gadites [descendants of Gad]. You have no share [portion, inheritance] in the LORD [the supreme God, Yehovah]!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop [cease, come to an end] fearing [revering, standing in awe of] the LORD [Yehovah, the one true God]. word study 26 That is why we said, ‘Let us take action [prepare to build] and build [construct, establish] an altar [place of sacrifice, for worship] for ourselves, but not [by no means] for burnt offerings [sacrifices completely consumed by fire] or sacrifices [offerings to God, for atonement]. word study 27 Rather, let it be a witness [a testimony, a reminder] between us and you and the generations [descendants, posterity] to come, that we will worship [serve, honor] the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] in His presence [face, before Him] with our burnt offerings [gifts to God], sacrifices [peace offerings, atonement], and peace offerings [voluntary gifts, expressions of gratitude].’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours [our descendants, our sons], ‘You have no share [portion, inheritance] in the LORD [Yehovah, the God of Israel]!’ word study 28 Therefore we said, ‘If they ever say this to us [in time to come] or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica [pattern, exact image] of the altar of the LORD [Yehovah, the supreme God] that our fathers [ancestors, forefathers] made, not for burnt offerings [sacrifices, ritual fires] or sacrifices [offerings, gifts to God], but as a witness [testimony, evidence] between us and you.’ word study 29 Far be it from us [God forbid, may it never happen] to rebel [resist or defy authority] against the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] and turn away [stop following, abandon] from Him today [at this present time] by building [constructing, establishing] an altar [a place of sacrifice] for burnt offerings [sacrifices completely consumed by fire], grain offerings [gifts of food], or sacrifices [acts of worship], other than [apart from, excluding] the altar [the sacred table] of the LORD our God [Elohim, the supreme Creator], which stands [is situated, remains] before [in the presence of] His tabernacle [the sacred tent, the dwelling place of God].” word study 30 When Phinehas [a spiritual leader] the priest and the chiefs [leaders, heads] of the congregation [a gathering of people, the community]—the heads [leaders, rulers] of Israel’s [the people of God, descendants of Jacob] clans who were with him—heard [listened, gave attention to] what the descendants [sons, offspring] of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh [a grandson of Jacob, a tribe of Israel] had to say, they were satisfied [pleased, content, it was good in their eyes]. word study 31 Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants [children, sons] of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today [this day, now] we know [perceive, understand] that the LORD [Yehovah, the covenant God] is among us [in our midst, with us], because you have not committed [acted unfaithfully, trespassed] this breach of faith [unfaithfulness, sin] against Him [Yehovah, God]. Consequently [then, as a result], you have delivered [rescued, saved] the Israelites [the children of Israel, God’s people] from the hand [power, judgment] of the LORD [Yehovah, the Almighty].” word study 32 Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest [who served God], together with the other leaders [princes, high-ranking officials], returned [to return, turn back] to the Israelites [sons of Israel, God’s chosen people] in the land [territory, region] of Canaan [the promised land] and brought back a report [word, answer] regarding the Reubenites [descendants of Reuben] and Gadites [descendants of Gad] in the land [region, territory] of Gilead [a mountainous region]. word study 33 The Israelites [children of Israel, descendants of Jacob] were satisfied [pleased, content] with the report [thing, matter], and they blessed [praised, honored] God [Elohim, the supreme Creator] and spoke no more [did not intend to say, ceased talking] about going to war [engaging in battle, fighting] against them to destroy [ruin, annihilate] the land [earth, territory] where the Reubenites [sons of Reuben, tribe of Reuben] and Gadites [sons of Gad, tribe of Gad] lived [dwelt, resided]. word study 34 So the Reubenites [descendants of Reuben] and Gadites [sons of Gad] named the altar [place of sacrifice] Witness [Ed, a testimony], for they said, “It is a witness [testimony, evidence] between us [among ourselves] that the LORD [Yehovah, The covenant Name of God] is God [Elohim, the supreme God].” word study