²¹ When Reuben^(A) heard this, he tried to rescue him from their hands. “Let’s not take his life,” he said.^(B)

²² Reuben replied, “Didn’t I tell you not to sin against the boy?^(A) But you wouldn’t listen! Now we must give an accounting^(B) for his blood.”^(C)

²⁸ Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One^(A) who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Southern Cities Conquered

²⁸ That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.^(A) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.^(B)

²² While Israel was living in that region, Reuben went in and slept with his father’s concubine^(A) Bilhah,^(B) and Israel heard of it.

Jacob had twelve sons:

⁵ And for your lifeblood I will surely demand an accounting.^(A) I will demand an accounting from every animal.^(B) And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.^(C)