建祭坛之争

22 约书亚召来了吕便、迦得和玛拿西半个支派的人来, 对他们说:“你们都遵守了耶和华的仆人摩西的一切吩咐,也遵守了我的一切吩咐。 这些日子以来,你们从没有离弃自己的弟兄,遵守了你们的上帝耶和华的吩咐。 现在你们的上帝耶和华已经照祂的应许使你们的弟兄安居,你们可以回到约旦河东,到摩西赐给你们作产业的地方。 不过,你们要谨遵耶和华的仆人摩西吩咐你们的诫命和律法,要爱你们的上帝耶和华,遵行祂的旨意,听从祂的命令,忠于祂,全心全意地事奉祂。”

于是,约书亚为他们祝福,送他们回去,他们就各自返回家园去了。

摩西已经在巴珊把土地分给了玛拿西半个支派,约书亚把约旦河西的土地分给了玛拿西另外的半个支派及其他支派。约书亚派他们回家的时候,为他们祝福, 说:“现在你们带着大量的财物、牲畜、金银、铜、铁和衣物返回家园,要把从敌人那里得来的财物分给你们的弟兄。” 于是,吕便、迦得和玛拿西半个支派的人便离开在迦南的示罗的以色列人,返回耶和华借摩西分配给他们的基列。

10 他们来到约旦河附近的迦南境内,就在约旦河边筑了一座高大的祭坛。 11 以色列人听见吕便、迦得和玛拿西半个支派的人在约旦河西的迦南境内筑起了一座祭坛, 12 便全部聚集在示罗,要讨伐他们。

13 以色列人派祭司以利亚撒的儿子非尼哈去基列见他们, 14 又从每支派差遣一位族长,共十位随行。 15 他们来到基列的吕便、迦得和玛拿西半个支派的人那里,对他们说: 16 “耶和华的全体会众问你们,你们怎能这样背叛以色列的上帝,离弃耶和华,为自己另建祭坛呢? 17 从前拜毗珥的罪恶不够大吗?那一次,瘟疫降到耶和华的会众身上,直到今日我们还没有洗净这罪。 18 你们今日要离弃耶和华吗?今日你们背叛耶和华,明日祂必向以色列全体会众发怒。 19 如果你们认为自己的土地不洁净,可以搬到耶和华的土地跟我们一起居住,这里有耶和华的圣幕。只是不可在耶和华的祭坛以外,自己另筑祭坛,以致背叛耶和华,连累我们。 20 从前谢拉的曾孙亚干私自留下那些耶和华吩咐要毁灭的东西,以致耶和华的烈怒临到以色列全体会众,因他的罪而死的不只他一个人!”

21 吕便、迦得和玛拿西半个支派的人便回答这些以色列的族长说: 22 “大能的上帝耶和华,大能的上帝耶和华,祂知道一切!以色列人也当知道!如果我们做了违背或干犯耶和华的事,愿祂今天就不放过我们! 23 如果我们离弃耶和华,为自己造祭坛,或是在坛上献燔祭、素祭和平安祭,愿耶和华亲自惩罚我们。 24 我们这样做是怕以后你们的子孙可能会对我们的子孙说,‘你们和以色列的上帝耶和华有什么关系? 25 耶和华把约旦河定为我们跟你们吕便和迦得人的边界,你们与耶和华一点关系也没有。’这样,恐怕你们的子孙会使我们的子孙不再敬畏耶和华。 26 因此,我们便商议在这里筑一座祭坛,这坛不是用来献燔祭或别的祭, 27 只是在你们和我们之间,也在彼此的后人之间立个证据,证明我们也献燔祭、平安祭及其他祭事奉耶和华,免得日后你们的子孙对我们的子孙说,‘你们与耶和华一点关系也没有。’ 28 万一你们对我们或我们的子孙这样说,我们可以回答说,‘你们看我们祖先筑的这座祭坛跟耶和华的祭坛一模一样,只是这座坛不是用来献燔祭或别的祭,而是作为你们和我们之间的证据!’ 29 我们根本无意背叛、离弃我们的上帝耶和华,在祂圣幕前的祭坛以外另筑祭坛来献燔祭、素祭和别的祭。”

30 祭司非尼哈和以色列会众的族长听了他们的解释,都很满意。 31 以利亚撒的儿子祭司非尼哈对他们说:“今日我们知道耶和华在我们当中,因为你们没有对耶和华不忠,现在你们使以色列人免遭耶和华的惩罚了。”

32 以利亚撒的儿子非尼哈祭司和众族长便离开吕便人和迦得人,从基列回到迦南向以色列人报告这事。 33 大家听后,都很满意,便颂赞耶和华,打消了出兵讨伐吕便人和迦得人、毁灭他们家园的念头。

34 吕便和迦得人给那座祭坛取名叫“证坛”,意思是这坛在我们中间证明耶和华是上帝。

东岸的支派回去

22 此后,约书亚召了吕便人、迦得人和玛拿西半支派的人来, 对他们说:“耶和华的仆人摩西所吩咐你们的,你们都遵守了;我吩咐你们的话,你们也都听从了。 你们这许多日子,都没有撇弃你们的弟兄,直到今日,并且遵守了耶和华你们 神所吩咐的命令。 如今耶和华—你们的 神已经照着他所应许的,使你们的弟兄得享安宁。你们现在可以返回自己的帐棚,回到耶和华的仆人摩西约旦河东所赐给你们为业之地。 只是务要谨守遵行耶和华的仆人摩西所吩咐你们的诫命和律法,爱耶和华—你们的 神,行他一切的道,守他的诫命,紧紧跟随他,尽心尽性事奉他。” 于是约书亚为他们祝福,送他们回去,他们就回到自己的帐棚去了。

摩西巴珊曾把地业分给玛拿西的半支派;然后约书亚约旦河的西岸,在他们弟兄中,又把地业分给玛拿西的另外半支派。约书亚送他们回帐棚的时候,为他们祝福, 对他们说:“你们要把许多财物,许多牲畜,和金、银、铜、铁,以及许多衣服,带回你们的帐棚去,要把你们从仇敌夺来的东西分给你们的众弟兄。” 于是吕便人、迦得人、玛拿西半支派的人从迦南地的示罗起行,离开以色列人,回到他们已得为业的基列地,就是他们照耶和华藉摩西所吩咐而得的。

约旦河旁的祭坛

10 吕便人、迦得人和玛拿西半支派的人到了迦南地的约旦河一带地方,就在约旦河那里筑了一座坛,一座高大壮观的坛。 11 以色列人听见了,说:“看哪,吕便人、迦得人、玛拿西半支派的人在迦南地对面,约旦河一带地方,以色列人的境内,筑了一座坛。” 12 以色列人一听见,全会众的以色列人就聚集在示罗,要上去攻打他们。

13 以色列人派以利亚撒祭司的儿子非尼哈,往基列地,到吕便人、迦得人和玛拿西半支派的人那里。 14 和他同去的还有十个领袖,以色列每个支派在父家中各派一个领袖,这些人每一个在以色列族系中都是父家的领袖。 15 他们来到基列地,到吕便人、迦得人和玛拿西半支派的人那里,对他们说: 16 “耶和华全会众这样说:‘你们今日离弃耶和华不跟从他,干犯以色列的 神,悖逆耶和华,为自己筑了一座坛,你们所犯的是何等的罪! 17 从前我们在毗珥犯的罪孽,导致瘟疫临到耶和华的会众,甚至到今日都还没有洗净,这还算小事吗? 18 你们今日竟然离弃耶和华不跟从他!你们今日既然悖逆耶和华,明日他必向以色列全会众发怒。 19 若你们认为所得为业之地不洁净,可以过来,到耶和华之地,就是耶和华的帐幕所居住之地,在我们中间得地业。你们却不可悖逆耶和华,也不可背叛我们,在耶和华—我们 神的坛以外为自己筑坛。 20 从前谢拉的曾孙亚干岂不是在那当灭的物上犯了罪,导致愤怒临到以色列全会众吗?死在他所犯的罪中的,不只是他一个人而已!’”

21 于是吕便人、迦得人、玛拿西半支派的人回答以色列族系的领袖,说: 22 “大能者 神耶和华!大能者 神耶和华!他已知道,愿以色列人也知道,我们若有悖逆的行为,或是干犯耶和华,你今日就不要让我们活着! 23 若我们为自己筑坛,离弃耶和华不跟从他,或将燔祭、素祭、平安祭献在坛上,愿耶和华亲自追究。 24 不是这样!我们做这事的原因是惧怕将来你们的子孙对我们的子孙说:‘你们与耶和华—以色列的 神有什么关系呢? 25 因为耶和华以约旦河作我们和你们吕便人、迦得人的交界,所以你们在耶和华里无份。’这样,你们的子孙就使我们的子孙不再敬畏耶和华了。 26 因此我们说:‘不如为自己筑一座坛,不是为献燔祭,也不是为献别样的祭, 27 而是为你我之间和后代子孙之间作证据,好使我们也在耶和华面前献我们的燔祭、平安祭和别样的祭来事奉他,免得你们的子孙将来对我们的子孙说,你们在耶和华里无份。’ 28 所以我们说:‘将来他们若对我们,或对我们的子孙这样说,我们就可以回答说:你们看,我们列祖所筑的坛是耶和华坛的样式,这并不是为献燔祭,也不是为献别样的祭,而是作为你们和我们之间的证据。’ 29 除了耶和华—我们 神帐幕前的坛以外,我们绝没有意思要为着献燔祭、素祭和别样的祭而另外筑一座坛,悖逆耶和华,今日离弃不跟从他。”

30 非尼哈祭司与会众中的领袖,就是与他同来那些以色列族系的领袖,听见吕便人、迦得人、玛拿西人所说的话,就都看为美。 31 以利亚撒祭司的儿子非尼哈吕便人、迦得人、玛拿西人说:“今日我们知道耶和华在我们中间,因为你们没有向他犯悖逆的罪。现在你们把以色列人从耶和华的手中救出来了。”

32 以利亚撒祭司的儿子非尼哈与众领袖离开了吕便人和迦得人,从基列地回迦南地,到了以色列人那里,就把这事向他们回报。 33 以色列人看这事为美;以色列人就称颂 神,不再说要上去攻打吕便人和迦得人,毁坏他们所住的地了。 34 吕便人和迦得人给这坛起了名,因为这坛在我们之间见证耶和华是 神。

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

And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:

Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the Lord your God.

And now the Lord your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side Jordan.

But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the Lord charged you, to love the Lord 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.

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

Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,

And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches 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.

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 country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the Lord by the hand of Moses.

10 And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.

11 And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.

12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.

13 And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,

14 And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.

15 And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,

16 Thus saith the whole congregation of the Lord, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the Lord?

17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord,

18 But that ye must turn away this day from following the Lord? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the Lord, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the Lord, wherein the Lord's tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the Lord, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the Lord our God.

20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,

22 The Lord God of gods, the Lord God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the Lord, (save us not this day,)

23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the Lord, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the Lord himself require it;

24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the Lord God of Israel?

25 For the Lord hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the Lord: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the Lord.

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

27 But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the Lord before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the Lord.

28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the Lord, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.

29 God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the Lord our God that is before his tabernacle.

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

31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the Lord is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the Lord: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the Lord.

32 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.

33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.

34 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the Lord is God.