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1. Then Joshua called a meeting of all the people from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh.
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1. Then H227 Joshua H3091 called H7121 the Reubenites H7206 , and the Gadites H1425 , and the half H2677 tribe H4294 of Manasseh H4519 ,
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2. Joshua said to them, "Moses was the Lord's servant. You obeyed everything that Moses told you to do. And you also obeyed all of my commands.
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2. And said H559 unto H413 them, Ye H859 have kept H8104 H853 all H3605 that H834 Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 you , and have obeyed H8085 my voice H6963 in all H3605 that H834 I commanded H6680 you:
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3. All this time you have supported all the other Israelites. You carefully obeyed all the commands that the Lord your God gave you.
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3. Ye have not H3808 left H5800 H853 your brethren H251 these H2088 many H7227 days H3117 unto H5704 this H2088 day H3117 , but have kept H8104 H853 the charge H4931 of the commandment H4687 of the LORD H3068 your God H430 .
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4. The Lord your God promised to give the Israelites peace. And now, he has kept his promise, so now you can go home. The Lord's servant Moses gave you the land on the east side of the Jordan River. Now you can go home to that land.
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4. And now H6258 the LORD H3068 your God H430 hath given rest H5117 unto your brethren H251 , as H834 he promised H1696 them : therefore now H6258 return H6437 ye , and get H1980 you unto your tents H168 , and unto H413 the land H776 of your possession H272 , which H834 Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 gave H5414 you on the other side H5676 Jordan H3383 .
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5. But remember�continue to obey the law that Moses gave you. You must love the Lord your God and obey his commands. You must continue to follow him and serve him the very best that you can."
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5. But H7535 take diligent H3966 heed H8104 to do H6213 H853 the commandment H4687 and the law H8451 , which H834 Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 charged H6680 you , to love H157 H853 the LORD H3068 your God H430 , and to walk H1980 in all H3605 his ways H1870 , and to keep H8104 his commandments H4687 , and to cleave H1692 unto him , and to serve H5647 him with all H3605 your heart H3824 and with all H3605 your soul H5315 .
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6. Then Joshua said goodbye to them, and they left and went home.
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6. So Joshua H3091 blessed H1288 them , and sent them away H7971 : and they went H1980 unto H413 their tents H168 .
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7. Moses had given the land of Bashan to half of the Manasseh tribe. Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan River to the other half of the Manasseh tribe. Joshua blessed them and sent them home.
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7. Now to the one half H2677 of the tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 Moses H4872 had given H5414 possession in Bashan H1316 : but unto the other half H2677 thereof gave H5414 Joshua H3091 among H5973 their brethren H251 on this side H5676 Jordan H3383 westward H3220 . And when H3588 Joshua H3091 sent them away H7971 also H1571 unto H413 their tents H168 , then he blessed H1288 them,
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8. He said, "You have become very rich. You have many animals. You have gold, silver, and expensive jewelry. You have many beautiful clothes. You have taken many things from your enemies. Go home and divide these things among yourselves."
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8. And he spoke H559 unto H413 them, saying H559 , Return H7725 with much H7227 riches H5233 unto H413 your tents H168 , and with very H3966 much H7227 cattle H4735 , with silver H3701 , and with gold H2091 , and with brass H5178 , and with iron H1270 , and with very H3966 much H7235 raiment H8008 : divide H2505 the spoil H7998 of your enemies H341 with H5973 your brethren H251 .
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9. So the people from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh left the other Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan. They went back home to Gilead. This was their own land, the land that Moses gave them, as the Lord commanded.
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9. And the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 returned H7725 , and departed H1980 from H4480 H854 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of Shiloh H4480 H7887 , which H834 is in the land H776 of Canaan H3667 , to go H1980 unto H413 the country H776 of Gilead H1568 , to H413 the land H776 of their possession H272 , whereof H834 they were possessed H270 , according H5921 to the word H6310 of the LORD H3068 by the hand H3027 of Moses H4872 .
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10. They went to the place called Geliloth, near the Jordan River in the land of Canaan. There they built a beautiful altar.
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10. And when they came H935 unto H413 the borders H1552 of Jordan H3383 , that H834 are in the land H776 of Canaan H3667 , the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 built H1129 there H8033 an altar H4196 by H5921 Jordan H3383 , a great H1419 altar H4196 to see H4758 to.
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11. But the other Israelites who were still at Shiloh heard about the altar that these three tribes built. They heard that the altar was at the border of Canaan at the place called Geliloth. It was near the Jordan River on Israel's side.
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11. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 heard H8085 say H559 , Behold H2009 , the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 have built H1129 H853 an altar H4196 over against H413 H4136 the land H776 of Canaan H3667 , in H413 the borders H1552 of Jordan H3383 , at H413 the passage H1552 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 .
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12. All the Israelites became very angry with these three tribes. They met together and decided to fight against them.
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12. And when the children H1121 of Israel H3478 heard H8085 of it , the whole H3605 congregation H5712 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 gathered themselves together H6950 at Shiloh H7887 , to go H5927 up to war H6635 against H5921 them.
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13. So the Israelites sent some men to talk to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. The leader of these men was Phinehas, son of Eleazar the priest.
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13. And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 sent H7971 unto H413 the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and to H413 the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , and to H413 the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 , into H413 the land H776 of Gilead H1568 , H853 Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 ,
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14. They also sent ten of the leaders of the tribes there. There was one man from each family group of Israel who was at Shiloh.
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14. And with H5973 him ten H6235 princes H5387 , of each chief H5387 H259 H5387 H259 house H1004 a prince H1 throughout all H3605 the tribes H4294 of Israel H3478 ; and each one H376 was a head H7218 of the house H1004 of their fathers H1 among the thousands H505 of Israel H3478 .
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15. So these eleven men went to Gilead. They went to talk to the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. The eleven men said to them,
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15. And they came H935 unto H413 the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and to H413 the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , and to H413 the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 , unto H413 the land H776 of Gilead H1568 , and they spoke H1696 with H854 them, saying H559 ,
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16. "All the Israelites ask you: Why did you do this thing against the God of Israel? Why did you turn against the Lord? Why did you build an altar for yourselves? You know that this is against God's law.
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16. Thus H3541 saith H559 the whole H3605 congregation H5712 of the LORD H3068 , What H4100 trespass H4604 is this H2088 that H834 ye have committed H4603 against the God H430 of Israel H3478 , to turn away H7725 this day H3117 from following H4480 H310 the LORD H3068 , in that ye have built H1129 you an altar H4196 , that ye might rebel H4775 this day H3117 against the LORD H3068 ?
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17. Remember what happened at Peor? We are still suffering because of that sin. Because of that great sin, God caused many of the Israelites to become very sick. And we are still suffering because of that sickness today.
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17. Is H853 the iniquity H5771 of Peor H6465 too little H4592 for us, from H4480 which H834 we are not H3808 cleansed H2891 until H5704 this H2088 day H3117 , although there was H1961 a plague H5063 in the congregation H5712 of the LORD H3068 ,
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18. And now you are doing the same thing. You are turning against the Lord. Will you refuse to follow the Lord? If you don't stop what you are doing, he will be angry with everyone in Israel.
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18. But that ye H859 must turn away H7725 this day H3117 from following H4480 H310 the LORD H3068 ? and it will be H1961 , seeing ye H859 rebel H4775 today H3117 against the LORD H3068 , that tomorrow H4279 he will be wroth H7107 with H413 the whole H3605 congregation H5712 of Israel H3478 .
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19. "If your land is not a good enough place to worship, come over into our land. The Lord's Tent is in our land. You can have some of our land and live there. But don't turn against the Lord. Don't build another altar. We already have the altar of the Lord our God at the Meeting Tent.
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19. Notwithstanding H389 , if H518 the land H776 of your possession H272 be unclean H2931 , then pass ye over H5674 unto H413 the land H776 of the possession H272 of the LORD H3068 , wherein H834 the LORD H3068 's tabernacle H4908 dwelleth H7931 H8033 , and take possession H270 among H8432 us : but rebel H4775 not H408 against the LORD H3068 , nor H408 rebel H4775 against us , in building H1129 you an altar H4196 beside H4480 H1107 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 our God H430 .
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20. "Remember how Achan son of Zerah refused to obey the command about things that must be destroyed. That one man broke God's law, but all the Israelites were punished. Achan died because of his sin, but also many other people died."
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20. Did not H3808 Achan H5912 the son H1121 of Zerah H2226 commit H4603 a trespass H4604 in the accursed thing H2764 , and wrath H7110 fell H1961 on H5921 all H3605 the congregation H5712 of Israel H3478 ? and that H1931 man H376 perished H1478 not H3808 alone H259 in his iniquity H5771 .
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21. The people from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh answered the eleven men. They said,
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21. Then the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the half H2677 tribe H7626 of Manasseh H4519 answered H6030 , and said H1696 unto H853 the heads H7218 of the thousands H505 of Israel H3478 ,
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22. "The Lord is our God! Again we say that the Lord is our God! And God knows why we did this thing. We want you to know also. You can judge what we did. If you believe that we have done something wrong, you can kill us.
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22. The LORD H3068 God H410 of gods H430 , the LORD H3068 God H410 of gods H430 , he H1931 knoweth H3045 , and Israel H3478 he H1931 shall know H3045 ; if H518 it be in rebellion H4777 , or if H518 in transgression H4604 against the LORD H3068 , ( save H3467 us not H408 this H2088 day H3117 ,)
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23. If we broke God's law, we ask the Lord himself to punish us.
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23. That we have built H1129 us an altar H4196 to turn H7725 from following H4480 H310 the LORD H3068 , or if H518 to offer H5927 thereon H5921 burnt offering H5930 or meat offering H4503 , or if H518 to offer H6213 peace H8002 offerings H2077 thereon H5921 , let the LORD H3068 himself H1931 require H1245 it ;
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24. Do you think we built this altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, and fellowship offerings? No, that is not why we built it. We were afraid that in the future your descendants would not accept us as part of your nation. Then they would say that we could not worship the Lord, the God of Israel.
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24. And if H518 we have not H3808 rather done H6213 H853 it H2063 for fear H4480 H1674 of this thing H4480 H1697 , saying H559 , In time to come H4279 your children H1121 might speak H559 unto our children H1121 , saying H559 , What H4100 have ye to do with the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 ?
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25. God gave us land on the other side of the Jordan River. This means that the Jordan River separates us. We were afraid that when your children grew up and ruled your land, they would not remember that we were also your people. They would say to us, 'You people of Reuben and Gad are not part of Israel.' Then your children would make our children stop worshiping the Lord.
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25. For the LORD H3068 hath made H5414 H853 Jordan H3383 a border H1366 between H996 us and you , ye children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and children H1121 of Gad H1410 ; ye have no H369 part H2506 in the LORD H3068 : so shall your children H1121 make H853 our children H1121 cease H7673 from fearing H3372 H853 the LORD H3068 .
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26. "So we decided to build this altar. But we did not plan to use it for burning offerings and sacrifices.
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26. Therefore we said H559 , Let us now H4994 prepare H6213 to build H1129 us H853 an altar H4196 , not H3808 for burnt H5930 offering, nor H3808 for sacrifice H2077 :
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27. The real reason we wanted our altar was to show our people that we worship the same God that you do. This altar will be the proof to you and us and to all our future children that we worship the Lord. We give our sacrifices, grain offerings, and fellowship offerings to the Lord. We wanted your children to grow up and know that we are also Israelites like yourselves.
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27. But H3588 that it H1931 may be a witness H5707 between H996 us , and you , and our generations H1755 after H310 us , that we might do H5647 H853 the service H5656 of the LORD H3068 before H6440 him with our burnt offerings H5930 , and with our sacrifices H2077 , and with our peace offerings H8002 ; that your children H1121 may not H3808 say H559 to our children H1121 in time to come H4279 , Ye have no H369 part H2506 in the LORD H3068 .
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28. In the future, if it happens that your children say that we don't belong to Israel, then our children can say, 'Look, our fathers who lived before us made an altar. That altar is exactly like the Lord's altar {at the Holy Tent}. We don't use this altar for sacrifices�this altar is proof that we are part of Israel.'
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28. Therefore said H559 we , that it shall be H1961 , when H3588 they should so say H559 to H413 us or to H413 our generations H1755 in time to come H4279 , that we may say H559 again , Behold H7200 H853 the pattern H8403 of the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 , which H834 our fathers H1 made H6213 , not H3808 for burnt offerings H5930 , nor H3808 for sacrifices H2077 ; but H3588 it H1931 is a witness H5707 between H996 us and you.
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29. "The truth is, we don't want to be against the Lord. We don't want to stop following him now. We know that the only true altar is the one that is in front of the Holy Tent. That altar belongs to the Lord our God."
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29. God forbid H2486 that we H4480 should rebel H4775 against the LORD H3068 , and turn H7725 this day H3117 from following H4480 H310 the LORD H3068 , to build H1129 an altar H4196 for burnt offerings H5930 , for meat offerings H4503 , or for sacrifices H2077 , beside H4480 H905 the altar H4196 of the LORD H3068 our God H430 that H834 is before H6440 his tabernacle H4908 .
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30. Phinehas the priest and the leaders with him heard what the people from Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh said. They were satisfied that they were telling the truth.
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30. And when Phinehas H6372 the priest H3548 , and the princes H5387 of the congregation H5712 and heads H7218 of the thousands H505 of Israel H3478 which H834 were with H854 him, heard H8085 H853 the words H1697 that H834 the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 and the children H1121 of Manasseh H4519 spoke H1696 , it pleased H3190 H5869 them.
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31. So Phinehas the priest said, "Now we know that the Lord is with us and that you did not turn against him. We are happy that the Israelites will not be punished by the Lord."
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31. And Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 said H559 unto H413 the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and to H413 the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , and to H413 the children H1121 of Manasseh H4519 , This day H3117 we perceive H3045 that H3588 the LORD H3068 is among H8432 us, because H834 ye have not H3808 committed H4603 this H2088 trespass H4604 against the LORD H3068 : now H227 ye have delivered H5337 H853 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 out of the hand H4480 H3027 of the LORD H3068 .
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32. Then Phinehas and the leaders left that place and went home. They left the people of Reuben and Gad in the land of Gilead and went back to Canaan. They went back to the Israelites and told them what had happened.
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32. And Phinehas H6372 the son H1121 of Eleazar H499 the priest H3548 , and the princes H5387 , returned H7725 from H4480 H854 the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 , and from H4480 H854 the children H1121 of Gad H1410 , out of the land H4480 H776 of Gilead H1568 , unto H413 the land H776 of Canaan H3667 , to H413 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 , and brought them word again H7725 H853 H1697 .
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33. The Israelites were also satisfied. They were happy and thanked God. They decided not to go and fight against the people of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh. They decided not to destroy the land where those people live.
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33. And the thing H1697 pleased H3190 H5869 the children H1121 of Israel H3478 ; and the children H1121 of Israel H3478 blessed H1288 God H430 , and did not H3808 intend H559 to go up H5927 against H5921 them in battle H6635 , to destroy H7843 H853 the land H776 wherein H834 the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and Gad H1410 dwelt H3427 .
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34. The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar "Proof That We Believe the Lord is God."
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34. And the children H1121 of Reuben H7205 and the children H1121 of Gad H1410 called H7121 the altar H4196 Ed : for H3588 it H1931 shall be a witness H5707 between H996 us that H3588 the LORD H3068 is God H430 .
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