The Two and a Half Tribes Return Home
1 Joshua held a meeting with the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh, and he told them:
2-3 You have obeyed every command of the Lord your God and of his servant Moses. And you have done everything I've told you to do. It's taken a long time, but you have stayed and helped your relatives. 4 The Lord promised to give peace to your relatives, and that's what he has done. Now it's time for you to go back to your own homes in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan River.
5 Moses taught you to love the Lord your God, to be faithful to him, and to worship and obey him with your whole heart and with all your strength. So be very careful to do everything Moses commanded.
6-9 You've become rich from what you've taken from your enemies. You have big herds of cattle, lots of silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and plenty of clothes. Take everything home with you and share with the people of your tribe.
I pray that God will be kind to you. You are now free to go home.
The tribes of Reuben and Gad started back to Gilead, their own land. Moses had given the land of Bashan to the East Manasseh tribe, so they started back along with Reuben and Gad. God had told Moses that these two and a half tribes should conquer Gilead and Bashan, and they had done so.
Joshua had given land west of the Jordan River to the other half of the Manasseh tribe, so they stayed at Shiloh in the land of Canaan with the rest of the Israelites.
10-11 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh reached the western side of the Jordan River valley and built a huge altar there beside the river.
When the rest of the Israelites heard what these tribes had done, 12 the Israelite men met at Shiloh to get ready to attack the two and a half tribes. 13 But first they sent a priest, Phinehas the son of Eleazar, to talk with the two and a half tribes. 14 Each of the ten tribes at Shiloh sent the leader of one of its families along with Phinehas.
15 Phinehas and these leaders went to Gilead and met with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh. They said:
16 All of the Lord's people have gathered together and have sent us to find out why you are unfaithful to our God. You have turned your backs on the Lord by building that altar. Why are you rebelling against him? 17 Wasn't our people's sin at Peor terrible enough for you? The Lord punished us by sending a horrible sickness that killed many of us, and we still suffer because of that sin. 18 Now you are turning your backs on the Lord again.
If you don't stop rebelling against the Lord at once, he will be angry with the whole nation. 19 If you don't think your land is a fit place to serve God, then move across the Jordan and live with us in the Lord's own land, where his sacred tent is located. But don't rebel against the Lord our God or against us by building another altar besides the Lord's own altar. 20 Don't you remember what happened when Achan was unfaithful and took some of the things that belonged to God? This made God angry with the entire nation. Achan died because he sinned, but he also caused the death of many others.
21 The tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh answered:
22 The Lord is the greatest God! We ask him to be our witness, because he knows whether or not we were rebellious or unfaithful when we built that altar. If we were unfaithful, then we pray that God won't rescue us today. Let us tell you why we built that altar, 23 and we ask the Lord to punish us if we are lying. We didn't build it so we could turn our backs on the Lord. We didn't even build it so we could offer animal or grain sacrifices to please the Lord or ask his blessing.
24-25 We built that altar because we were worried. Someday your descendants might tell our descendants, “The Lord made the Jordan River the boundary between us Israelites and you people of Reuben and Gad. The Lord is Israel's God, but you're not part of Israel, so you can't take part in worshiping the Lord.”
Your descendants might say that and try to make our descendants stop worshiping and obeying the Lord. 26 That's why we decided to build the altar. It isn't for offering sacrifices, not even sacrifices to please the Lord. 27-29 To build another altar for offering sacrifices would be the same as turning our backs on the Lord and rebelling against him. We could never do that! No, we built the altar to remind us and you and the generations to come that we will worship the Lord. And so we will keep bringing our sacrifices to the Lord's altar, there in front of his sacred tent. Now your descendants will never be able to say to our descendants, “You can't worship the Lord.”
But if they do say this, our descendants can answer back, “Look at this altar our ancestors built! It's like the Lord's altar, but it isn't for offering sacrifices. It's here to remind us and you that we belong to the Lord, just as much as you do.”
30-31 Phinehas and the clan leaders were pleased when they heard the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh explain why they had built the altar. Then Phinehas told them, “Today we know that the Lord is helping us. You have not been unfaithful to him, and this means that the Lord will not be angry with us.”
32 Phinehas and the clan leaders left Gilead and went back to Canaan to tell the Israelites about their meeting with the Reuben and Gad tribes. 33 The Israelites were happy and praised God. There was no more talk about going to war and wiping out the tribes of Reuben and Gad.
34 The people of Reuben and Gad named the altar “A Reminder to Us All That the Lord Is Our God.”
Tiliboo la karoo lasiloolu muruta
1 Bituŋ Yosuwa ye Rubeni lasiloo moolu kumandi, Kadu lasiloo moolu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo. 2 A ko ì ye ko, “Ali ye kuwolu bee ke le Musa Yaawe* la dookuulaa ye ali yaamari mennu la, aduŋ ali ye nte fanaa buuñaa le feŋ-wo-feŋ to, ŋa ali yaamari mennu la. 3 Waati jaŋ ne mu ka naa bula bii tiloo la, ali maŋ i bo ali baadiŋolu to, ali bulata Yaawe ali la Alla la yaamaroo nooma. 4 Saayiŋ teŋ, Yaawe ali la Alla ye dahaa dii ali baadiŋolu la le, ko a ye ì laahidi ñaameŋ. Ali muru ali la suwolu kono bankoo kaŋ, Musa Yaawe la dookuulaa ye meŋ dii ali la, Yoridani Boloŋo ñiŋ kara doo la. 5 Bari ali si ali hakiloo tu kendeke, ka yaamaroolu niŋ luwaa nooma, Musa Yaawe la dookuulaa ye mennu dii ali la mennu mu: ka Yaawe kanu, ali la Alla, ka taama niŋ a la siloolu bee la, ka a la yaamaroolu nooma ka i deŋ a la, aniŋ ka a batu ali sondomoo bee la aniŋ ali niyo bee la.” 6 Bituŋ Yosuwa naata neemoo duwaa ì ye, a ye ì bula, ì taata ì la suwolu kono.
7 Manase lasili talanteemoo, Musa ye bankoo dii wolu la Basani tundoo le kaŋ. Bituŋ talanteema doo, Yosuwa ye bankoo dii wolu la Yoridani Boloŋo tilijii kara maafaŋo le la, ì niŋ ì baadiŋo doolu. Kabiriŋ a ye ì bula ka seyi suwo kono, a naata neemoo duwaa ì ye. 8 Wo to le a ko ì ye ko, “Ali seyi ali yaalu to, ali niŋ fanka baa, beeyaŋ jamaa, sanoo niŋ kodiforoo, jaawaloo niŋ newo, aniŋ duŋ feŋ jamaa. Ali niŋ ali baadiŋolu si ñiŋ feŋolu talaa, ali ye mennu buusi ali jawoolu bulu.”
Ì ye sadaabodulaa loo Yoridani Boloŋo daala
9 Bituŋ Rubeni lasiloo moolu, Kadu lasiloo moolu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo ye Banisirayilankoolu bula Silo saatewo to Kanaani bankoo kaŋ, ka seyi Kileyadi, ì faŋo la tundoo kaŋ, ì ye meŋ soto Yaawe la yaamaroo kaŋ ka bo niŋ Musa la. 10 Kabiriŋ ì naata Keliloti Yoridani Boloŋo daala, Kanaani bankoo kaŋ, Rubeni lasiloo moolu, Kadu lasiloo moolu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo ye sadaabodulaa* baa loo Yoridani daala, meŋ ñaaboo warata. 11 Kabiriŋ Banisirayilanka doolu ye a moyi ko, ì ye sadaabodulaa le loo Kanaani naanewo to Keliloti, Yoridani daala, ì la maafaŋo la, 12 ì jamaa moolu benta Silo saatewo to, ka taa ì maa keloo la.
13 Bituŋ Banisirayilankoolu ye Pineha, Piriisi* Eleyasa dinkewo kii Kileyadi tundoo kaŋ, Rubeni lasiloo moolu, Kadu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo yaa. 14 Ì ye a niŋ kaabiila kuntii taŋ ne kii ka bo lasili-wo-lasili to meŋ be Banisirayila. Ñiŋ moolu bee mu kaabiila kuntiyolu le ti, mennu bee kiliŋ-kiliŋ naa ka moo wuli kiliŋ ne ñaatonkayaa Banisirayila kono.
15 Kabiriŋ ì taata Kileyadi, Rubeni, Kadu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo kaŋ, ì ko ì ye ko, 16 “Yaawe la ñiŋ moolu mennu bee benta, ì be ali ñininkaa la ko, ‘Muŋ ne ye a tinna ali ka lannabaliyaa teŋ bii, Banisirayila la Alla ma? Saayiŋ, ali si ali koo dii noo Yaawe la ñaadii le ka sadaabodulaa loo ali faŋo ye ka balaŋ a ma? 17 Ali i miira junube kuwo la, ŋà meŋ ke Pewori Konkoo to, meŋ ye yankankati baa samba naŋ Yaawe la jamaa kaŋ. Fo wo junube kuu kiliŋo maŋ kaañaŋ baŋ? Ka bo wo luŋo la, ka naa bula fo bii tiloo la, m̀ maŋ m̀ faŋo seneyandi noo wo junube kuu kiliŋo kamma la. 18 Fo hani saayiŋ alitolu be ali koo dii la Yaawe la le baŋ kotenke? Niŋ ali keta balannaalu ti Yaawe bulu bii tiloo, saama a be naa kamfaa la Banisirayila moo bee le kamma.
19 “ ‘Ali ye bankoo meŋ soto, niŋ a maŋ ke banku senuŋo ti Alla la karoo la, ali naa Yaawe la bankoo kaŋ, daameŋ Yaawe faŋo la Tiriliisi Senuŋo* be jee, ali niŋ ŋà jee bankoo talaa. Bari ali kana balaŋ Yaawe ma, waraŋ ntolu ma, ka ñiŋ sadaabodulaa loo ali faŋolu ye, meŋ maŋ ke Yaawe la sadaabodulaa ti, ǹ na Alla. 20 Ali i miira Akani Sera dinkewo la, a ye foroyaabaliyaa meŋ ke, a maŋ feŋolu kasaara mennu ñanta ka kasaara, ko Alla ye a fo ñaameŋ. Alla la kamfaa baa naata boyi Banisirayilankoolu bee kaŋ. Aduŋ ate dammaa maŋ ke moo ti meŋ faata a la junube kuwo kamma la.’ ”
Banisirayila lasiloolu bee keta kiliŋ ti
21 Bituŋ Rubeni lasiloo moolu, Kadu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo ye Banisirayilankoolu la ñiŋ kaabiila kuntiyolu jaabi ko, 22 “Yaawe Alla Tallaa! Yaawe Alla Tallaa ye a loŋ ne! Aduŋ alitolu Banisirayilankoolu fanaa ñanta a loŋ na le! Niŋ a ye a tara, ñiŋ mu ka ǹ koo dii Alla le la, waraŋ ka foroyaabaliyaa tiliŋ Yaawe la, ali kana m̀ bula ŋà baluu bii. 23 Niŋ a ye a tara, ŋà m̀ fansuŋ sadaabodulaa le loo, ka ǹ koo dii Yaawe la, aniŋ ka m̀ fansuŋ sadaalu bo jee, mennu be ko jani sadaalu*, siimaŋ sadaalu aniŋ kayira sabatindiraŋ sadaalu, Allamaa Yaawe ye ǹ joo a la.
24 “Tooñaa-tooñaa, ntolu ye ñiŋ ke silaŋo le kamma ko luŋ kiliŋ si soto noo le, ali koomalankoolu si a fo noo ǹ koomalankoolu ye ko, ‘Alitolu ye muŋ haaji le soto Yaawe la kuwo to, Banisirayila la Alla? 25 Yaawe ye Yoridani Boloŋo le ke naanewo ti ntolu niŋ alitolu teema, alitolu Rubeni lasiloo moolu aniŋ Kadu! Alitolu maŋ nii soto Yaawe la kuwo to.’ Ñiŋ kumoo kamma la, ali koomalankoolu si a tinna noo le ntolu koomalankoolu te Yaawe ñaasilaŋo soto la.
26 “Wo daliiloo le ye a tinna, ǹ kumata ko, ‘Ali ŋà paree ŋà sadaabodulaa loo. Bari a maŋ ke ñiŋ ti ko, m̀ be jani sadaalu le bo la jee, waraŋ beeyaŋ sadaalu.’ 27 A daliiloo faŋo mu meŋ ti, wo le mu ka ke seedoo ti ntolu niŋ alitolu teema, aniŋ jamaanoolu mennu be naa la ko, m̀ be Yaawe batu la a la Tiriliisi Senuŋo le to, ǹ niŋ ǹ na sadaalu mennu be ko jani sadaalu, beeyaŋ sadaalu aniŋ kayira sabatindiraŋ sadaalu. Siniŋ saama, ali koomalankoolu te feŋ soto noo la ka a fo ǹ koomalankoolu ye, ‘Ali maŋ nii soto Yaawe la kuwo to.’
28 “Ǹ naata a fo ko, ‘Niŋ ñinnu naata ñiŋ kumoo fo ǹ ye, waraŋ ǹ koomalankoolu, m̀ be ì jaabi la le ko: Ali Yaawe la sadaabodulaa ñoŋo juubee, m̀ faañolu ye meŋ loo. A maŋ ke sadaabodulaa ti ka jani sadaalu aniŋ beeyaŋ sadaalu bo jee, bari ka ke seede ti ǹ niŋ alitolu teema.’ 29 Ka balaŋo tiliŋ Yaawe la, ntolu niŋ wo teemoo jamfata ñoo la le, ka ǹ koo dii a la bii tiloo la, ka m̀ fansuŋ sadaabodulaa loo, ǹ ka jani sadaalu bo jee, siimaŋ sadaalu aniŋ beeyaŋ sadaalu. A maŋ ke Yaawe ǹ na Alla la sadaabodulaa ti, meŋ be looriŋ a la Tiriliisi Senuŋo ñaatiliŋo la.”
30 Kabiriŋ Piriisi Pineha aniŋ Banisirayila jamaa kaabiila kuntiyolu ye ñiŋ kumoolu moyi, Rubeni, Kadu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo ye mennu fo, a beteyaata ì fee. 31 Bituŋ Pineha, Piriisi Eleyasa dinkewo, naata a fo Rubeni, Kadu aniŋ Manase lasili talanteemoo moolu ye ko, “Bii tiloo la, ŋà a loŋ ne ko, Yaawe be m̀ fee le, kaatu ali maŋ foroyaabaliyaa tiliŋ Yaawe la ñiŋ kuwo to. Ali ka Banisirayilankoolu tankandi Yaawe la kasaaroo le ma.”
32 Bituŋ Pineha, Piriisi Eleyasa dinkewo, a niŋ kaabiila kuntiyolu muruta Kanaani ka bo ì niŋ Rubeni lasiloo moolu niŋ Kadu lasiloo moolu la beŋo to meŋ keta Kileyadi. Bituŋ ì naata kumoo ñiŋ fo Banisirayilankoolu ye. 33 Kumoo ñiŋ beteyaata Banisirayilankoolu fee, ì ye Alla tentu. Ì maŋ naa keloo ñiŋ na kumoo fo kotenke, ì ye meŋ siti Rubeni niŋ Kadu lasili moolu kamma ka ì la bankoo bee kasaara. 34 Wo to le Rubeni lasiloo moolu niŋ Kadu lasiloo moolu naata a fo ko, “Ñiŋ sadaabodulaa mu seedoo le ti ntolu bee ye ko, Yaawe le mu ǹ na Alla ti.” Bituŋ ì naata a toolaa “Seede” la.
