Joshua 22-24 - Prayer Tents

Joshua 22

The Eastern Tribes Return Home

22Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.H3091H7121H7206H1425H2677H4294H45192He told them, "You have done as Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you.H559H8104H4872H5650H3068H6680H8085H6963H66803During all this time you have not deserted the other tribes. You have been careful to obey the commands of the LORD your God right up to the present day.H5800H251H7227H3117H3117H8104H4931H4687H3068H4304And now the LORD your God has given the other tribes rest, as he promised them. So go back home to the land that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you as your possession on the east side of the Jordan River.H3068H430H5117H251H1696H6437H3212H168H776H272H4872H5650H3068H5414H5676H33835But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the LORD your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and all your soul."H3966H8104H6213H4687H8451H4872H5650H3068H6680H157H3068H430H3212H1870H8104H4687H1692H5647H3824H53156So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went home.H3091H1288H7971H3212H1687Moses had given the land of Bashan, east of the Jordan River, to the half-tribe of Manasseh. (The other half of the tribe was given land west of the Jordan.) As Joshua sent them away and blessed them,H2677H7626H4519H4872H5414H1316H2677H5414H3091H5973H251H5676H3383H3220H3091H7971H168H12888he said to them, "Go back to your homes with the great wealth you have taken from your enemies—the vast herds of livestock, the silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and the large supply of clothing. Share the plunder with your relatives."H559H559H7725H7227H5233H168H3966H7227H4735H3701H2091H5178H1270H3966H7235H8008H2505H7998H341H2519So the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the rest of Israel at Shiloh in the land of Canaan. They started the journey back to their own land of Gilead, the territory that belonged to them according to the LORD's command through Moses.H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H7725H3212H1121H3478H7887H776H3667H3212H776H1568H776H272H270H6310H3068H3027H4872

The Eastern Tribes Build an Altar

10But while they were still in Canaan, and when they came to a place called Geliloth

near the Jordan River, the men of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh stopped to build a large and imposing altar.H935H1552H3383H776H3667H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H1129H4196H3383H1419H4196H475811The rest of Israel heard that the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had built an altar at Geliloth at the edge of the land of Canaan, on the west side of the Jordan River.H1121H3478H8085H559H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H1129H4196H4136H776H3667H1552H3383H5676H1121H347812So the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against them.H1121H3478H8085H5712H1121H3478H6950H7887H5927H663513First, however, they sent a delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to talk with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.H1121H3478H7971H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H776H1568H6372H1121H499H354814In this delegation were ten leaders of Israel, one from each of the ten tribes, and each the head of his family within the clans of Israel.H6235H5387H259H259H5387H5387H1004H1H4294H3478H376H7218H1004H1H505H347815When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,H935H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H776H1568H1696H55916"The whole community of the LORD demands to know why you are betraying the God of Israel. How could you turn away from the LORD and build an altar for yourselves in rebellion against him?H559H5712H3068H4604H4603H430H3478H7725H3117H310H3068H1129H4196H4775H3117H306817Was our sin at Peor not enough? To this day we are not fully cleansed of it, even after the plague that struck the entire community of the LORD.H5771H6465H4592H2891H3117H5063H5712H306818And yet today you are turning away from following the LORD. If you rebel against the LORD today, he will be angry with all of us tomorrow.H7725H3117H310H3068H4775H3117H3068H4279H7107H5712H347819"If you need the altar because the land you possess is defiled, then join us in the LORD's land, where the Tabernacle of the LORD is situated, and share our land with us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar other than the one true altar of the LORD our God.H389H776H272H2931H5674H776H272H3068H3068H4908H7931H270H8432H4775H3068H408H4775H1129H4196H1107H4196H3068H43020Didn't divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the LORD

? He was not the only one who died because of his sin."H5912H1121H2226H4603H4604H2764H7110H1961H5712H3478H376H1478H259H577121Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel.H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H6030H1696H7218H505H347822"The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it, too! We have not built the altar in treacherous rebellion against the LORD. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day.H3068H410H430H3068H410H430H3045H3478H3045H4777H4604H3068H3467H311723If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the LORD or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings, may the LORD himself punish us.H1129H4196H7725H310H3068H5927H5930H4503H6213H8002H2077H3068H124524"The truth is, we have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, 'What right do you have to worship the LORD, the God of Israel?H6213H1674H1697H559H4279H1121H559H1121H559H3068H430H347825The LORD has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no claim to the LORD.' So your descendants may prevent our descendants from worshiping the LORD.H3068H5414H3383H1366H1121H7205H1121H1410H2506H3068H1121H7673H1121H7673H1115H3372H306826"So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices,H559H6213H1129H4196H5930H207727but as a memorial. It will remind our descendants and your descendants that we, too, have the right to worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings. Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no claim to the LORD.'H5707H1755H310H5647H5656H3068H6440H5930H2077H8002H1121H559H1121H4279H2506H306828"If they say this, our descendants can reply, 'Look at this copy of the LORD's altar that our ancestors made. It is not for burnt offerings or sacrifices; it is a reminder of the relationship both of us have with the LORD.'H559H559H1755H4279H559H7200H8403H4196H3068H1H6213H5930H2077H570729Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD or turn away from him by building our own altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. Only the altar of the LORD our God that stands in front of the Tabernacle may be used for that purpose."H2486H4775H3068H7725H3117H310H3068H1129H4196H5930H4503H2077H4196H3068H430H6440H490830When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of Israel—heard this from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, they were satisfied.H6372H3548H5387H5712H7218H505H3478H8085H1697H1121H7205H1121H1410H1121H4519H1696H3190H586931Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, replied to them, "Today we know the LORD is among us because you have not committed this treachery against the LORD as we thought. Instead, you have rescued Israel from being destroyed by the hand of the LORD."H6372H1121H499H3548H559H1121H7205H1121H1410H1121H4519H3117H3045H3068H8432H4603H4604H3068H227H5337H1121H3478H3027H306832Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the other leaders left the tribes of Reuben and Gad in Gilead and returned to the land of Canaan to tell the Israelites what had happened.H6372H1121H499H3548H5387H7725H1121H7205H1121H1410H776H1568H776H3667H1121H3478H7725H1697H772533And all the Israelites were satisfied and praised God and spoke no more of war against Reuben and Gad.H1697H3190H5869H1121H3478H1121H3478H1288H430H559H5927H6635H7843H776H1121H7205H1410H342734The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar "Witness,"

for they said, "It is a witness between us and them that the LORD is our God, too."H1121H7205H1121H1410H7121H4196H5707H3068H430

Joshua 23

Joshua’s Final Words to Israel

23The years passed, and the LORD had given the people of Israel rest from all their enemies. Joshua, who was now very old,H7227H3117H310H3068H5117H3478H341H5439H3091H2204H935H31172called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, "I am now a very old man.H3091H7121H3478H2205H7218H8199H7860H559H2204H935H31173You have seen everything the LORD your God has done for you during my lifetime. The LORD your God has fought for you against your enemies.H7200H3068H430H6213H1471H6440H3068H430H38984I have allotted to you as your homeland all the land of the nations yet unconquered, as well as the land of those we have already conquered—from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea

in the west.H7200H5307H1471H7604H5159H7626H3383H1471H3772H1419H3220H3996H81215This land will be yours, for the LORD your God will himself drive out all the people living there now. You will take possession of their land, just as the LORD your God promised you.H3068H430H1920H6440H3423H6440H3423H776H3068H430H16966"So be very careful to follow everything Moses wrote in the Book of Instruction. Do not deviate from it, turning either to the right or to the left.H3966H2388H8104H6213H3789H5612H8451H4872H5493H3225H80407Make sure you do not associate with the other people still remaining in the land. Do not even mention the names of their gods, much less swear by them or serve them or worship them.H935H1471H7604H2142H8034H430H7650H5647H78128Rather, cling tightly to the LORD your God as you have done until now.H1692H3068H430H6213H31179"For the LORD has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you.H3068H3423H6440H1419H1471H6099H376H5975H6440H311710Each one of you will put to flight a thousand of the enemy, for the LORD your God fights for you, just as he has promised.H259H376H7291H505H3068H430H3898H169611So be very careful to love the LORD your God.H3966H8104H5315H157H3068H43012"But if you turn away from him and cling to the customs of the survivors of these nations remaining among you, and if you intermarry with them,H7725H7725H1692H3499H1471H7604H2859H93513then know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive them out of your land. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap to you, a whip for your backs and thorny brambles in your eyes, and you will vanish from this good land the LORD your God has given you.H3045H3045H3068H430H3254H3423H1471H6440H6341H4170H7850H6654H6796H5869H6H2896H127H3068H430H541414"Soon I will die, going the way of everything on earth. Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!H3117H1980H1870H776H3045H3824H5315H259H1697H5307H2896H1697H3068H430H1696H935H259H1697H530715But as surely as the LORD your God has given you the good things he promised, he will also bring disaster on you if you disobey him. He will completely destroy you from this good land he has given you.H2896H1697H935H3068H430H1696H3068H935H7451H1697H8045H2896H127H3068H430H541416If you break the covenant of the LORD your God by worshiping and serving other gods, his anger will burn against you, and you will quickly vanish from the good land he has given you."H5674H1285H3068H430H6680H1980H5647H312H430H7812H639H3068H2734H6H4120H2896H776H5414

Joshua 24

The Lord’s Covenant Renewed

24Then Joshua summoned all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, including their elders, leaders, judges, and officers. So they came and presented themselves to God.H3091H622H7626H3478H7927H7121H2205H3478H7218H8199H7860H3320H6440H4302Joshua said to the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors, including Terah, the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River

, and they worshiped other gods.H3091H559H5971H559H3068H430H3478H1H3427H5676H5104H5769H8646H1H85H1H5152H5647H312H4303But I took your ancestor Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him into the land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants through his son Isaac.H3947H1H85H5676H5104H3212H776H3667H7235H2233H5414H33274To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.H5414H3327H3290H6215H5414H6215H2022H8165H3423H3290H1121H3381H47145"Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I brought terrible plagues on Egypt; and afterward I brought you out as a free people.H7971H4872H175H5062H4714H834H6213H7130H310H33186But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea

, the Egyptians chased after you with chariots and charioteers.H3318H1H4714H935H3220H4714H7291H310H1H7393H6571H5488H32207When your ancestors cried out to the LORD, I put darkness between you and the Egyptians. I brought the sea crashing down on the Egyptians, drowning them. With your very own eyes you saw what I did. Then you lived in the wilderness for many years.H6817H3068H7760H3990H4713H935H3220H3680H5869H7200H6213H4714H3427H4057H7227H31178"Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you. I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land.H935H776H567H3427H5676H3383H3898H5414H3027H3423H776H8045H64409Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you,H1111H1121H6834H4428H4124H6965H3898H3478H7971H7121H1109H1121H1160H704310but I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak.H14H8085H1109H1288H1288H5337H302711"When you crossed the Jordan River and came to Jericho, the men of Jericho fought against you, as did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. But I gave you victory over them.H5674H3383H935H3405H1167H3405H3898H567H6522H3669H2850H1622H2340H2983H5414H302712And I sent terror

ahead of you to drive out the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your swords or bows that brought you victory.H7971H6880H6440H1644H6440H8147H4428H567H2719H719813I gave you land you had not worked on, and I gave you towns you did not build—the towns where you are now living. I gave you vineyards and olive groves for food, though you did not plant them.H5414H776H3021H5892H1129H3427H3754H2132H5193H39814"So fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD alone.H3372H3068H5647H8549H571H5493H430H1H5647H5676H5104H4714H5647H306815But if you refuse to serve the LORD, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the LORD."H7489H4310H5647H3068H977H3117H5869H5647H430H1H5647H5676H5104H430H567H776H3427H1004H5647H306816The people replied, "We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods.H5971H6030H559H2486H5800H3068H5647H312H43017For the LORD our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us.H3068H430H5927H1H776H4714H1004H5650H6213H1419H226H5869H8104H1870H1980H5971H7130H567418It was the LORD who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the LORD, for he alone is our God."H3068H1644H6440H5971H567H3427H776H5647H3068H43019Then Joshua warned the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy and jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.H3091H559H5971H3201H5647H3068H6918H430H7072H410H5375H6588H240320If you abandon the LORD and serve other gods, he will turn against you and destroy you, even though he has been so good to you."H5800H3068H5647H5236H430H7725H7489H3615H310H319021But the people answered Joshua, "No, we will serve the LORD!"H5971H559H3091H5647H306822"You are a witness to your own decision," Joshua said. "You have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes," they replied, "we are witnesses to what we have said."H3091H559H5971H5707H977H3068H5647H559H570723"All right then," Joshua said, "destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."H5493H5236H430H7130H5186H3824H3068H430H347824The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone."H5971H559H3091H3068H430H5647H6963H808525So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the LORD.H3091H3772H1285H5971H3117H7760H2706H4941H792726Joshua recorded these things in the Book of God's Instructions. As a reminder of their agreement, he took a huge stone and rolled it beneath the terebinth tree beside the Tabernacle of the LORD.H3091H3789H1697H5612H8451H430H3947H1419H68H6965H427H4720H306827Joshua said to all the people, "This stone has heard everything the LORD said to us. It will be a witness to testify against you if you go back on your word to God."H3091H559H5971H68H5713H8085H561H3068H1696H5713H3584H43028Then Joshua sent all the people away to their own homelands.H3091H5971H7971H376H5159

Leaders Buried in the Promised Land

29After this, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of 110.H310H1697H3091H1121H5126H5650H3068H4191H3967H6235H8141H112130They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.H6912H1366H5159H8556H2022H669H6828H2022H160831The people of Israel served the LORD throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him—those who had personally experienced all that the LORD had done for Israel.H3478H5647H3068H3117H3091H3117H2205H748H3117H310H3091H3045H4639H3068H6213H347832The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought along with them when they left Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the parcel of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor for 100 pieces of silver

. This land was located in the territory allotted to the descendants of Joseph.H6106H3130H1121H3478H5927H4714H6912H7927H2513H7704H3290H7069H1121H2544H1H7927H3967H7192H5159H1121H313033Eleazar son of Aaron also died. He was buried in the hill country of Ephraim, in the town of Gibeah, which had been given to his son Phinehas.H499H1121H175H4191H6912H1389H6372H1121H5414H2022H669