1  Then came near the heads of fathers' houses of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of fathers' houses of the tribes of the children of Israel;

1  And the heads of the families of the sons of Levi drew near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Naue, and to the heads of families of the tribes of Israel.

1  THEN the chiefs of the priests and the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua the son of Nun and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of Israel,

2  and they spoke unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying: 'YHWH commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the open land thereabout for our cattle.'

2  And they spoke to them at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, and they said, “The Lord instructed, by the hand of Moses, that cities should be given to us as habitations, with their suburbs to nourish our cattle.”

2  And they said to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for our cattle.

3  And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, according to the commandment of YHWH, these cities with the open land about them.

3  So the children of Israel gave to the Levites in their inheritance by the command of the Lord the cities and the country round.

3  And so the sons of Israel gave cities and their suburbs from their possessions, in accord with the order of the Lord.

4  And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites; and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of the Simeonites, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.

4  And the lot went out for the family of Kohath, of the sons of Aaron, the priest, from the tribes of Judah and Simeon and Benjamin: thirteen cities.

5  And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

5  And to the remainder of the sons of Kohath, that is, to the Levites who were left over, there went, from the tribes of Ephraim and Dan, and from the one half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.

6  And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.

6  And next the lot went out to the sons of Gershon, so that they would receive, from the tribes of Issachar and Asher and Naphtali, and from the one half tribe of Manasseh at Bashan: the number of thirteen cities.

6  And the Gershonites had by lot from the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half tribe of Manasseh in Mathnin, thirteen cities.

7  The children of Merari according to their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.

7  And to the sons of Merari, by their families, from the tribes of Reuben and Gad and Zebulun, there went twelve cities.

8  And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with the open land about them, as YHWH commanded by the hand of Moses.

8  And so the sons of Israel gave cities and their suburbs to the Levites, just as the Lord instructed by the hand of Moses, distributing to each by lot.

9  And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name.

9  From the tribes of the sons of Judah and Simeon, Joshua gave cities, whose names are these

10  And they were for the children of Aaron, of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi; for theirs was the first lot.

10  to the sons of Aaron of the family of Caath of the sons of Levi, for the lot fell to these.

10  They became the property of the descendants of Aaron, being of the family of the Kohathites, who were the children of Levi, for theirs was the first lot.

11  And they gave them Kiriath-arba, which Arba was the father of Anak --the same is Hebron--in the hill-country of Judah, with the open land round about it.

11  And they gave to them Cariatharboc the metropolis of the sons of Enac; this is Chebron in the mountain country of Juda, and the suburbs round it.

11  the city of Arba, the father of Anak, which is called Hebron, on the mountain of Judah, and its surrounding suburbs.

12  But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.

12  But the lands of the city, and its villages Joshua gave to the sons of Chaleb the son of Jephonne for a possession.

12  Yet truly, the fields and its villages he had given to Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, as a possession.

13  And unto the children of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Libnah with the open land about it;

13  And to the sons of Aaron he gave the city of refuge for the slayer, Chebron, and the suburbs belonging to it; and Lemna and the suburbs belonging to it;

13  Therefore, he gave to the sons of Aaron the priest, Hebron as a city of refuge, as well as its suburbs, and Libnah, with its suburbs,

14  and Jattir with the open land about it, and Eshtemoa with the open land about it;

14  and Ælom and its suburbs; and Tema and its suburbs;

14  and Jattir, and Eshtemoa,

15  and Holon with the open land about it, and Debir with the open land about it;

15  and Gella and its suburbs; and Dabir and its suburbs;

16  and Ain with the open land about it, and Juttah with the open land about it, and Beth-shemesh with the open land about it; nine cities out of those two tribes.

16  and Asa and its suburbs; and Tany and its suburbs; and Baethsamys and its suburbs: nine cities from these two tribes.

17  And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with the open land about it, Geba with the open land about it;

17  And from the tribe of Benjamin, Gabaon and its suburbs; and Gatheth and its suburbs;

17  Then, from the tribe of the sons of Benjamin, he gave Gibeon, and Geba,

18  Anathoth with the open land about it, and Almon with the open land about it; four cities.

18  and Anathoth and its suburbs; and Gamala and its suburbs; four cities.

18  Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs: four cities.

19  All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with the open land about them.

19  All the cities of the sons of Aaron the priests, thirteen.

20  And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites, even the rest of the children of Kohath, they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.

20  And to the families, even the sons of Caath the Levites, that were left of the sons of Caath, there was given their priests’ city,

20  Yet truly, the remainder of the families of the sons of Kohath, of the stock of Levi, were given this possession

21  And they gave them Shechem with the open land about it in the hill-country of Ephraim, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Gezer with the open land about it;

21  out of the tribe of Ephraim; and they gave them the slayer’s city of refuge, Sychem, and its suburbs, and Gazara and its appendages, and its suburbs;

21  from the tribe of Ephraim, Shechem, one of the cities of refuge, with its suburbs, on mount Ephraim, and Gezer,

22  and Kibzaim with the open land about it, and Beth-horon with the open land about it; four cities.

22  and Baethoron and its suburbs: four cities

22  Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Beth-hauran with its suburbs; four cities.

23  And out of the tribe of Dan, Elteke with the open land about it, Gibbethon with the open land about it;

23  and the tribe of Dan, Helcothaim and its suburbs; and Gethedan and its suburbs

23  and from the tribe of Dan, Elteke and Gibbethon,

24  Aijalon with the open land about it, Gath-rimmon with the open land about it; four cities.

24  and Ælon and its suburbs; and Getheremmon and its suburbs: four cities.

24  and Aijalon and Gath-Rimmon, with their suburbs, four cities;

25  And out of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with the open land about it, and Gath-rimmon with the open land about it; two cities.

25  And out of the half tribe of Manasse, Tanach and its suburbs; and Jebatha and its suburbs; two cities.

25  then, from the one half tribe of Manasseh, Taanach and Gath-Rimmon, with their suburbs, two cities.

26  All the cities of the families of the rest of the children of Kohath were ten with the open land about them.

26  In all were given ten cities, and the suburbs of each belonging to them, to the families of the sons of Caath that remained.

26  All the cities were ten, with their suburbs; these were given to the sons of Kohath, of the lesser degree.

27  And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer; and Beeshterah with the open land about it; two cities.

27  Likewise, to the sons of Gershon, of the stock of Levi, from the one half tribe of Manasseh, went Golan in Bashan, one of the cities of refuge, and Bosra, with their suburbs, two cities;

28  And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishion with the open land about it, Dobrath with the open land about it;

28  also, from the tribe of Issachar, Kishion, and Daberath,

29  Jarmuth with the open land about it, En-gannim with the open land about it; four cities.

29  and Jarmuth, and Engannim, with their suburbs, four cities;

30  And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with the open land about it, Abdon with the open land about it;

30  And out of the tribe of Aser, Basella and its suburbs; and Dabbon and its suburbs;

30  then, from the tribe of Asher, Mishal and Abdon,

31  Helkath with the open land about it, and Rehob with the open land about it; four cities.

31  and Chelcat and its suburbs; and Raab and its suburbs; four cities.

31  Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities with their suburbs.

32  And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Hammoth-dor with the open land about it, and Kartan with the open land about it; three cities.

32  And of the tribe of Nephthali, the city set apart for the slayer, Cades in Galilee, and its suburbs; and Nemmath, and its suburbs; and Themmon and its suburbs; three cities.

32  likewise, from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee, one of the cities of refuge, and Hammoth-Dor, and Kartan, with their suburbs, three cities.

33  All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with the open land about them.

33  All the cities of Gedson according to their families were thirteen cities.

34  And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with the open land about it, and Kartah with the open land about it;

34  Then, to the sons of Merari, Levites of the lesser degree, by their families, were given, from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam and Kartah,

35  Dimnah with the open land about it, Nahalal with the open land about it; four cities.

35  and Sella and its suburbs: three cities.

35  and Dimnah and Nahalal, four cities with their suburbs;

36  And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with the open land about it, and Jahaz with the open land about it;

36  And beyond Jordan over against Jericho, out of the tribe of Ruben, the city of refuge for the slayer, Bosor in the wilderness; Miso and its suburbs; and Jazer and its suburbs; and Decmon and its suburbs; and Mapha and its suburbs; four cities.

36  from the tribe of Reuben, beyond the Jordan, opposite Jericho, Bezer in the wilderness, one of the cities of refuge, Misor and Jazer, and Jethson and Mephaath, four cities with their suburbs;

37  Kedemoth with the open land about it, and Mephaath with the open land about it; four cities.

37  Ramin with its suburbs, and Jahlah with its suburbs, four cities with their suburbs.

38  And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with the open land about it, the city of refuge for the manslayer, and Mahanaim with the open land about it;

38  And out of the tribe of Gad the city of refuge for the slayer, both Ramoth in Galaad, and its suburbs; Camin and its suburbs; and Esbon and its suburbs; and Jazer and its suburbs: the cities were four in all.

38  from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth of Gilead, one of the cities of refuge, and Mahanaim and Heshbon and Jazer, four cities with their suburbs.

39  Heshbon with the open land about it, Jazer with the open land about it; four cities in all.

39  Heshbon with its suburbs, and Jazer with its suburbs; four cities with their suburbs.

40  All these were the cities of the children of Merari according to their families, even the rest of the families of the Levites; and their lot was twelve cities.

40  All the cities of the sons of Merari, by their families and extended families, were twelve.

Jo21:40  So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, who were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities with their suburbs.

41  All the cities of the Levites--forty and eight cities with the open land about them--shall be in the midst of the possession of the children of Israel,

41  And so all the cities of the Levites, in the midst of the possession of the sons of Israel, were forty-eight,

Jo21:41  All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty-eight cities with their suburbs.

42  even these cities, every one with the open land round about it; thus it shall be with all these cities.

42  and their suburbs round about these cities: a city and the suburbs round about the city to all these cities: and Joshua ceased dividing the land by their borders: and the children of Israel gave a portion to Joshua because of the commandment of the Lord: they gave him the city which he asked: they gave him Thamnasachar in mount Ephraim; and Joshua built the city, and dwelt in it: and Joshua took the knives of stone, wherewith he circumcised the children of Israel that were born in the desert by the way, and put them in Thamnasachar.

42  with their suburbs, each distributed by families.

43  So YHWH gave unto Israel all the land which He swore to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.

43  So the Lord gave to Israel all the land which he sware to give to their fathers: and they inherited it, and dwelt in it.

43  And the Lord God gave to Israel all the land that he had sworn he would deliver to their fathers. And they possessed it, and they lived in it.

44  And YHWH gave them rest round about, according to all that He swore unto their fathers; and there stood not a man of all their enemies against them; the YHWH delivered all their enemies into their hand.

44  And the Lord gave them rest round about, as he sware to their fathers: not one of all their enemies maintained his ground against them; the Lord delivered all their enemies into their hands.

44  And he gave them peace with all the surrounding nations. And none of their enemies dared to stand against them; instead, they were brought under their sovereignty.

45  There failed not aught of any good thing which YHWH had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.

45  Indeed, not so much as one word that he had promised to provide for them was left empty; instead, everything was fulfilled.

22:1  Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

1  In the same time, Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the one half tribe of Manasseh.

22:2  and said unto them: 'Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of YHWH commanded you, and have hearkened unto my voice in all that I commanded you;

2  And he said to them: “You have done all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, instructed you. You have also obeyed me in all things.

22:3  ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of YHWH your God.

3  Neither have you forsaken your brothers during this long time, even to the present day, keeping the orders of the Lord your God.

3  You have not deserted your brethren these many days even to this time, but have kept the commandments of the LORD your God.

22:4  And now YHWH your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as He spoke unto them; therefore now turn ye, and get you unto your tents, unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the YHWH gave you beyond the Jordan.

4  Therefore, since the Lord your God has given your brothers peace and quiet, just as he promised: return, and go into your tents and into the land of your possession, which Moses, the servant of the Lord, delivered to you beyond the Jordan.

22:5  Only take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of YHWH commanded you, to love the YHWH your God, 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.'

5  And may you continue to observe attentively, and to work to fulfill, the commandment and the law that Moses, the servant of the Lord, instructed to you, so that you may love the Lord your God, and walk in all his ways, and keep all his commandments, and cling to him, and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

5  But only take diligent heed to observe the commandments and the laws which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, to keep his commandments, and to cleave to him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.

22:6  So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away; and they went unto their tents.

6  And Joshua blessed them, and dismissed them; and they went to their homes.

22:7  Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given inheritance in Bashan; but unto the other half gave Joshua among their brethren beyond the Jordan westward. Moreover when Joshua sent them away unto their tents, he blessed them,

7  Now to the one half tribe of Manasseh, Moses had given a possession in Bashan. And therefore, to the one half that was left over, Joshua gave a lot among the remainder of their brothers across the Jordan, in the western region. And when he had blessed them and dismissed them to their tents,

22:8  and spoke unto them, saying: 'Return with much wealth 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.'

8  And they departed with much wealth to their houses, and they divided the spoil of their enemies with their brethren; very much cattle, and silver, and gold, and iron, and much raiment.

8  he said to them: “Return to your settlements with much substance and wealth, with silver and gold, brass and iron, and a multitude of garments. Divide the spoils of your enemies with your brothers.”

22:9  And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the commandment of YHWH by the hand of Moses.

9  So the sons of Ruben, and the sons of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse, departed from the children of Israel in Selo in the land of Chanaan, to go away into Galaad, into the land of their possession, which they inherited by the command of the Lord, by the hand of Moses.

22:10  And when they came unto the region about the Jordan, that is 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 the Jordan, a great altar to look upon.

10  And they came to Galaad of Jordan, which is in the land of Chanaan: and the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse built there an alter by Jordan, a great altar to look at.

10  And when they had arrived at the hills of the Jordan in the land of Canaan, they built an altar of immense magnitude beside the Jordan.

22:11  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 in the forefront of the land of Canaan, in the region about the Jordan, on the side that pertaineth to the children of Israel.'

11  And when the sons of Israel had heard of it, and certain messengers had reported to them that the sons of Reuben, and of Gad, and of the one half tribe of Manasseh had built an altar in the land of Canaan, upon the hills of the Jordan, facing the sons of Israel,

22:12  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 against them to war.

12  they all assembled at Shiloh, so that they might go up and battle against them.

22:13  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;

13  And in the interim, they sent to them, in the land of Gilead, Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the priest,

22:14  and with him ten princes, one prince of a fathers' house for each of the tribes of Israel; and they were every one of them head of their fathers' houses among the thousands of Israel.

14  and ten of the chiefs with him; there was one chief of every household out of all the tribes of Israel; (the heads of families are the captains of thousands in Israel.)

14  and ten leaders with him, one from each tribe.

22:15  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 spoke with them, saying

15  And they came to the sons of Ruben, and to the sons of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasse into the land of Galaad; and they spoke to them, saying,

22:16  'Thus saith the whole congregation of YHWH: What treachery is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the YHWH, in that ye have builded you an altar, to rebel this day against the LORD?

16  Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord, What is this transgression that ye have transgressed before the God of Israel, to turn away today from the Lord, in that ye have built for yourselves an alter, so that ye should be apostates from the Lord?

16  “All the people of the Lord declare this: What is this transgression? Why have you forsaken the Lord, the God of Israel, by building a sacrilegious altar, and by withdrawing from the worship of him?

22:17  Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves unto this day, although there came a plague upon the congregation of YHWH,

17  Is the sin of Phogor too little for you, whereas we have not been cleansed from it until this day, though there was a plague among the congregation of the Lord?

17  Is it a small thing to you that you have sinned with Baal of Peor, and that the stain of that crime continues among us, even to the present day? And many of the people have fallen.

22:18  that ye must turn away this day from following YHWH? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to-day against the YHWH, that to- morrow He will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

18  And yet you have forsaken the Lord today, and tomorrow his wrath will rage against all of Israel.

22:19  Howbeit, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of YHWH, wherein the YHWH'S tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us; but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God.

19  And now if the land of your possession be too little, cross over to the land of the possession of the Lord, where the tabernacle of the Lord dwells, and receive ye an inheritance among us; and do not become apostates from God, neither do ye apostatize from the Lord, because of your having built an altar apart from the altar of the Lord our God.

19  But if you consider the land of your possession to be unclean, cross over to the land in which is the tabernacle of the Lord, and live among us. But do not withdraw from the Lord, and from our fellowship, by building an altar contrary to the altar of the Lord our God.

22:20  Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass concerning the devoted thing, and wrath fell upon all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.'

20  Did not Achan, the son of Zerah, go against the commandment of the Lord, and so his wrath was laid over all the people of Israel? And he was only one man. If only he had perished in his wickedness alone!”

20  Did you not see that when Achar the son of Carmi coveted and took the devoted things, wrath fell upon the whole congregation of Israel? He was but one man, yet he devoured us all in his iniquity.

22:21  Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered, and spoke unto the heads of the thousands of Israel

21  And the sons of Ruben, and the sons of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse answered, and spoke to the captains of the thousands of Israel, saying,

21  Then the Reubenites the Gadites and the half tribe of Manasseh answered and said to Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest and to the heads of the armies of Israel,

22:22  'God, God, YHWH, God, God, the YHWH, He knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in treachery against the LORD--save Thou us not this day--

22  “The Lord, the almighty God, the Lord, the almighty God, he knows, and also Israel will understand: If we have constructed this altar with intent of transgression, let him not preserve us, but instead punish us immediately.

22:23  that we have built us an altar to turn away from following YHWH; or if to offer thereon burnt-offering or meal-offering, or if to offer sacrifices of peace-offerings thereon, let the YHWH Himself require it;

23  And if we have built to ourselves an altar, so as to apostatize from the Lord our God, so as to offer upon it a sacrifice of whole-burnt-offerings, so as to offer upon it a sacrifice of peace-offering, —the Lord shall require it.

23  And if we have acted with a mind so that we might present upon it holocausts, and sacrifice, and victims of peace offerings, let him inquire and judge.

22:24  and if we have not rather out of anxiety about a matter done this, saying: In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying: What have ye to do with YHWH, the God of Israel?

24  But we have done this for the sake of precaution concerning this thing, saying, Lest hereafter your sons should say to our sons, What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel?

24  Instead, we have acted with this greater thought and design, that we would say: Tomorrow your sons will say to our sons: ‘What is there between you and the Lord, the God of Israel?

22:25  for YHWH hath made the Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no portion in the YHWH; so might your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.

25  Whereas the Lord has set boundaries between us and you, even Jordan, and ye have no portion in the Lord: so your sons shall alienate our sons, that they should not worship the Lord.

25  The Lord has stationed the river Jordan as the border between us and you, O sons of Reuben, O sons of Gad. And therefore, you have no part in the Lord.’ And by this occasion, your sons would turn away our sons from the fear of the Lord. And so we sought something better,

22:26  Therefore we said: Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice;

26  And we gave orders to do thus, to build this altar, not for burnt-offerings, nor for meat-offerings;

26  and we said: Let us build us an altar, not for holocausts, and not to offer victims,

22:27  but it shall be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, that we may do the service of YHWH 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 portion in the YHWH.

27  but as a testimony between us and you, and between our descendents and your progeny, so that we may serve the Lord, and so that it may be our right to offer holocausts, and victims, and peace offerings, and so that tomorrow your sons may not say to our sons: ‘You have no part in the Lord.’

27  But that it may be a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, and between ourselves 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, in the place where the LORD chooses to dwell; so that your children may not say to our children in time to come, You have no part in the LORD.

22:28  Therefore said we: It shall be, when they so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we shall say: Behold the pattern of the altar of YHWH, which our fathers made, not for burnt-offering, nor for sacrifice; but it is a witness between us and you.

28  And we said, If ever it should come to pass that they should speak so to us, or to our posterity hereafter; then shall they say, Behold the likeness of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for the sake of burnt-offerings, nor for the sake of meat-offerings, but it is a witness between you and us, and between our sons.

28  And if they decide to say this, they shall respond to them: ‘Behold, the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for holocausts, and not for sacrifice, but instead as a testimony between us and you.’

22:29  Far be it from us that we should rebel against YHWH, and turn away this day from following the YHWH, to build an altar for burnt-offering, for meal-offering, or for sacrifice, besides the altar of the LORD our God that is before His tabernacle.'

29  May this wickedness be far from us, such that we would withdraw from the Lord, and would forsake his paths, by constructing an altar to offer holocausts, and sacrifices, and victims, contrary to the altar of the Lord our God, which was built before his tabernacle.”

Jo22:29  God forbid that we should reject the worship of the LORD, and turn away from revering him, and build for ourselves an altar for burnt offerings, for gift offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the LORD God of Israel that is before his tabernacle.

22:30  And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, even the heads of the thousands of Israel that were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them well.

30  And Phinees the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation of Israel who were with him heard the words which the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse spoke; and it pleased them.

22:31  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 know that YHWH is in the midst of us, because ye have not committed this treachery against the YHWH; now have ye delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.'

31  And Phinees the priest said to the sons of Ruben, and to the sons of Gad, and to the half of the tribe of Manasse, To-day we know that the Lord is with us, because ye have not trespassed grievously against the Lord, and because ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.

31  And Phinehas, the priest, the son of Eleazar, said to them: “Now we know that the Lord is with us. For you are a stranger to this transgression. And so you have freed the sons of Israel from the hand of the Lord.”

22:32  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, and brought them back word.

32  And he returned with the leaders, from the sons of Reuben and of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, into the parts of Canaan, to the sons of Israel. And he reported to them.

Jo22:32  Then Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes who were with him, returned from the Reubenites and from the Gadites and the Manashites, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them an answer.

22:33  And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and spoke no more of going up against them to war, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and the children of Gad dwelt.

33  And it pleased the children of Israel; and they spoke to the children of Israel, and blessed the God of the children of Israel, and told them to go up no more to war against the others to destroy the land of the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse: so they dwelt upon it.

33  And the word pleased all who heard it. And the sons of Israel praised God, and they no longer said that they would go up against them, and fight, and destroy the land of their possession.

22:34  And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar--: 'for it is a witness between us that YHWH is God.'

34  And Joshua gave a name to the altar of the children of Ruben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasse; and said, It is a testimony in the midst of them, that the Lord is their God.

Jo22:34  And the Reubenites and the Gadites and the Manashites called the altar which they had made, The Altar of Testimony, for it is a witness between us that the LORD is the only God.

23:1  And it came to pass after many days, when YHWH had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, and Joshua was old and well stricken in years;

1  Now a long time passed, after the Lord had given peace to Israel by subjecting all the surrounding nations. And Joshua was now old and very advanced in age.

23:2  that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said unto them: 'I am old and well stricken in years.

2  Joshua called all of Israel, and those greater by birth, and the leaders and rulers and teachers, and he said to them: “I am elderly and advanced in age.

2  And Joshua summoned all Israel, their elders, their heads, their judges, and their scribes, and said to them, I am old and well advanced in years;

23:3  And ye have seen all that YHWH your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the YHWH your God, He it is that hath fought for you.

3  And you yourselves discern all that the Lord your God has done with all the surrounding nations, in what manner he himself has fought for you.

3  And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations, which he destroyed from before you; for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you.

23:4  Behold, I have allotted unto you for an inheritance, according to your tribes, these nations that remain, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun.

4  See, that I have given to you these nations that are left to you by lots to your tribes, all the nations beginning at Jordan; and some I have destroyed; and the boundaries shall be at the great sea westward.

4  And now, since he has divided to you by lot all the land, from the eastern part of the Jordan even to the great sea, and yet many nations still remain,

23:5  And YHWH your God, He shall thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the YHWH your God spoke unto you.

5  And the Lord our God, he shall destroy them before us, until they utterly perish; and he shall send against them the wild beasts, until he shall have utterly destroyed them and their kings from before you; and ye shall inherit their land, as the Lord our God said to you.

5  the Lord your God will destroy them, and he will take them away before your face, and you shall possess the land, just as he has promised you.

23:6  Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;

6  Even so, be strengthened and be careful that you observe all the things that have been written in the book of the law of Moses, and that you do not turn aside from them, neither to the right, nor to the left.

23:7  that ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor worship them;

7  Otherwise, after you have entered to the Gentiles, who will be among you in the future, you might swear by the name of their gods, and serve them, and adore them.

23:8  but cleave unto YHWH your God, as ye have done unto this day;

8  But ye shall cleave to the Lord our God, as ye have done until this day.

8  Instead, cling to the Lord your God, just as you have done even to this day.

23:9  wherefore YHWH hath driven out from before you great nations and mighty; but as for you, no man hath stood against you unto this day.

9  And the Lord shall destroy them before you, even great and strong nations; and no one has stood before us until this day.

9  And then the Lord God will take away, in your sight, nations that are great and very robust, and no one will be able to withstand you.

23:10  One man of you hath chased a thousand; for YHWH your God, He it is that fought for you, as He spoke unto you.

10  One of you has chased a thousand, for the Lord our God, he fought for you, as he said to us.

10  One of you shall pursue a thousand men of the enemies. For the Lord your God himself will fight on your behalf, just as he promised.

23:11  Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love YHWH your God.

11  And take ye great heed to love the Lord our God.

11  Even so, be very diligent and careful in this: that you love the Lord your God.

23:12  Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you;

12  But if you choose to cling to the errors of these nations that live among you, and to mix with them by marriage, and to join with them by friendship,

Jo23:12  For if you ever turn back and join the remnant of these nations that remain among you and make marriages with them and mix with them and they with you;

23:13  know for a certainty that YHWH your God will no more drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap unto you, and a scourge in your sides, and pricks in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the YHWH your God hath given you.

13  know that the Lord will no more destroy these nations from before you; and they will be to you snares and stumbling-blocks, and nails in your heels, and darts in your eyes, until ye be destroyed from off this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

13  even now, know this: that the Lord your God will not wipe them away before your face. Instead, they shall be a pit and a snare to you, and a stumbling block at your side, and stakes in your eyes, until he takes you away and scatters you from this excellent land, which he has delivered to you.

23:14  And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth; consider ye therefore in all your heart and in all your soul, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which YHWH your God spoke concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, not one thing hath failed thereof.

14  Lo, today I am entering the way of the entire earth, and you shall know with all your mind that, out of all the words that the Lord has promised to fulfill for you, not one will pass by unfulfilled.

23:15  And it shall come to pass, that as all the good things are come upon you of which YHWH your God spoke unto you, so shall the YHWH bring upon you all the evil things, until He have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

15  Therefore, just as he has fulfilled in deed what he has promised, and all prosperous things have arrived, so will he bring upon you whatever evils were threatened, until he takes you away and scatters you from this excellent land, which he has delivered to you,

Jo23:15  Therefore, just as all the good things have come upon you which the LORD your God promised, so shall come upon you all the curses, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God has given you;

23:16  When ye transgress the covenant of YHWH your God, which He commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them; then shall the anger of the YHWH be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which He hath given unto you.'

24:1  And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

1  And Joshua gathered all the tribe of Israel to Selo, and convoked their elders, and their officers, and their judges, and set them before God.

1  And Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem, and he called those greater by birth, and the leaders and judges and teachers. And they stood in the sight of the Lord.

24:2  And Joshua said unto all the people: 'Thus saith YHWH, the God of Israel: Your fathers dwelt of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor; and they served other gods.

2  And he spoke to the people in this way: “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Your fathers lived, in the beginning, across the river: Terah, the father of Abraham, and Nahor. And they served strange gods.

24:3  And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

3  Then I brought your father Abraham from the parts of Mesopotamia, and I led him into the land of Canaan. And I multiplied his offspring,

24:4  And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau; and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; and Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

4  and I gave to him Isaac, and to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau mount Seir for him to inherit: and Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt, and became there a great and populous and mighty nation: and the Egyptians afflicted them.

4  and I gave to him Isaac. And to him, I gave again Jacob and Esau. And I gave mount Seir to Esau as a possession. Yet truly, Jacob and his sons descended into Egypt.

24:5  And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in the midst thereof; and afterward I brought you out.

5  And I smote Egypt with the wonders that I wrought among them.

5  I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, and performed wonders among them; and afterward I brought you out.

24:6  And I brought your fathers out of Egypt; and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen unto the Red Sea.

6  And afterwards God brought out our fathers from Egypt, and ye entered into the Red Sea; and the Egyptians pursued after our fathers with chariots and horses into the Red Sea.

6  And I led you and your fathers away from Egypt, and you arrived at the sea. And the Egyptians pursued your fathers with chariots and horsemen, as far as the Red Sea.

24:7  And when they cried out unto YHWH, He put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt; and ye dwelt in the wilderness many days.

7  And we cried aloud to the Lord; and he put a cloud and darkness between us and the Egyptians, and he brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen all that the Lord did in the land of Egypt; and ye were in the wilderness many days.

7  And when your fathers cried to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and then the LORD divided the Red Sea, and brought your fathers through the midst thereof; then he brought the sea upon the Egyptians, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I did to the Egyptians; and I brought you to the wilderness, and you dwelt in the wilderness a long time.

24:8  And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that dwelt beyond the Jordan; and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand, and ye possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.

8  And I led you into the land of the Amorite, who was living beyond the Jordan. And when they fought against you, I delivered them into your hands, and you possessed their land, and you put them to death.

24:9  Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel; and he sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.

9  And Balac, king of Moab, son of Sepphor, rose up, and made war against Israel, and sent and called Balaam to curse us.

9  Then Balak, the son of Zippor, the king of Moab, rose up and fought against Israel. And he sent and called for Balaam, the son of Beor, so that he might curse you.

24:10  But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he even blessed you; so I delivered you out of his hand.

10  But the Lord thy God would not destroy thee; and he greatly blessed us, and rescued us out of their hands, and delivered them to us.

10  And I was not willing to listen to him, but on the contrary, I blessed you through him, and I freed you from his hand.

24:11  And ye went over the Jordan, and came unto Jericho; and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.

11  And ye crossed over Jordan, and came to Jericho; and the inhabitants of Jericho fought against us, the Amorite, and the Chananite, and the Pherezite, and the Evite, and the Jebusite, and the Chettite, and the Gergesite, and the Lord delivered them into our hands.

24:12  And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.

12  And I sent wasps before you. And I drove them from their places, the two kings of the Amorites, but not by your sword, and not by your bow.

12  And I sent raiders before you, and I destroyed from before you the two kings of the Amorites; but not with your swords, nor with your bows.

24:13  And I gave you a land whereon thou hadst not laboured, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell therein; of vineyards and olive-yards which ye planted not do ye eat.

24:14  Now therefore fear YHWH, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt; and serve ye the YHWH.

14  And now fear the Lord, and serve him in righteousness and justice; and remove the strange gods, which our fathers served beyond the river, and in Egypt; and serve the Lord.

24:15  And if it seem evil unto you to serve YHWH, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the YHWH.'

15  But if it seem not good to you to serve the Lord, choose to yourselves this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods of your fathers that were on the other side of the river, or the gods of the Amorites, among whom ye dwell upon their land: but I and my house will serve the Lord, for he is holy.

24:16  And the people answered and said: 'Far be it from us that we should forsake YHWH, to serve other gods;

24:17  for YHWH our God, He it is that brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and that did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed;

17  The Lord our God, he is God; he brought up us and our fathers from Egypt, and kept us in all the way wherein we walked, and among all the nations through whom we passed.

17  The Lord our God himself led us and our fathers away from the land of Egypt, from the house of servitude. And he accomplished immense signs in our sight, and he preserved us along the entire way by which we journeyed, and among all the people through whom we passed.

24:18  and YHWH drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites that dwelt in the land; therefore we also will serve the YHWH; for He is our God.'

18  And the Lord cast out the Amorite, and all the nations that inhabited the land from before us: yea, we will serve the Lord, for he is our God.

18  And the LORD destroyed from before us all these peoples, the Amorites in whose land we dwell; the LORD destroyed them from before us; therefore we will serve the LORD; for he is the only God, and he is our God.

24:19  And Joshua said unto the people: 'Ye cannot serve YHWH; for He is a holy God; He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgression nor your sins.

19  And Joshua said to the people: “You will not be able to serve the Lord. For he is a holy and powerful God, and he is jealous, and he will not ignore your wickedness and sins.

24:20  If ye forsake YHWH, and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after that He hath done you good.'

20  Whensoever ye shall forsake the Lord and serve other gods, then he shall come upon you and afflict you, and consume you, because he has done you good.

20  If you leave behind the Lord, and you serve foreign gods, he will turn himself, and he will afflict you, and he will overthrow you, after all the good that he has offered to you.”

24:21  And the people said unto Joshua: 'Nay; but we will serve YHWH.'

21  And the people said to Joshua, “By no means will it be as you are saying, but we will serve the Lord.”

24:22  And Joshua said unto the people: 'Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you YHWH, to serve Him.--And they said: 'We are witnesses.'--

24:23  Now therefore put away the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto YHWH, the God of Israel.'

24:24  And the people said unto Joshua: 'YHWH our God will we serve, and unto His voice will we hearken.'

24  And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God, and we will be obedient to his precepts.”

24:25  So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

25  Therefore, on that day, Joshua struck a covenant, and he set before the people at Shechem the precepts and the judgments.

24:26  And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of YHWH.

26  And he wrote these words in the book of the laws of God: and Joshua took a great stone, and set it up under the oak before the Lord.

26  He also wrote all these things in the volume of the law of the Lord. And he took a very great stone, and he stationed it under the oak that was in the Sanctuary of the Lord.

24:27  And Joshua said unto all the people: 'Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it hath heard all the words of YHWH which He spoke unto us; it shall be therefore a witness against you, lest ye deny your God.'

27  And Joshua said to the people, Behold, this stone shall be among you for a witness, for it has heard all the words that have been spoken to it by the Lord; for he has spoken to you this day; and this stone shall be among you for a witness in the last days, whenever ye shall deal falsely with the Lord my God.

27  And he said to all the people, “Lo, this stone shall be to you as a testimony, which has heard all the words of the Lord that he has spoken to you, lest perhaps, afterward, you might choose to deny it, and to lie to the Lord your God.”

24:28  So Joshua sent the people away, every man unto his inheritance.

28  And he dismissed the people, each one to their own possession.

28  And after Joshua had charged the people, he sent them away, every man to his inheritance.

24:29  And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of YHWH, died, being a hundred and ten years old.

29  And after these things, Joshua, the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being one hundred and ten years old.

24:30  And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in the hill-country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.

30  And they buried him by the borders of his inheritance in Thamnasarach in the mount of Ephraim, northward of the mount of Galaad: there they put with him into the tomb in which they buried him, the knives of stone with which he circumcised the children of Israel in Galgala, when he brought them out of Egypt, as the Lord appointed them; and there they are to this day.

24:31  And Israel served YHWH all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of the YHWH, that He had wrought for Israel.

31  And Israel served the Lord during all the days of Joshua, and of the elders who lived for a long time after Joshua, and who had known all the works of the Lord that he had accomplished in Israel.

24:32  And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money; and they became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.

32  And the children of Israel brought up the bones of Joseph out of Egypt, and buried them in Sicima, in the portion of the land which Jacob bought of the Amorites who dwelt in Sicima for a hundred ewe-lambs; and he gave it to Joseph for a portion.

24:33  And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in the Hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

33  And it came to pass afterwards that Eleazar the high-priest the son of Aaron died, and was buried in Gabaar of Phinees his son, which he gave him in mount Ephraim.

33  Likewise, Eleazar, the son of Aaron, died. And they buried him at Gibeah, which belongs to Phinehas, his son, and which was given to him on mount Ephraim.

24:34  In that day the children of Israel took the ark of God, and carried it about among them; and Phinees exercised the priest’s office in the room of Eleazar his father till he died, and he was buried in his own place Gabaar: but the children of Israel departed every one to their place, and to their own city: and the children of Israel worshipped Astarte, and Astaroth, and the gods of the nations round about them; and the Lord delivered them into the hands of Eglom king of Moab and he ruled over them eighteen years.