Joshua:22-24

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* 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 , * 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 . * 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 , * 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 ? * 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 , * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 , * 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 ,) * 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 ; * 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 ? * 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 . * Therefore we said , Let us now prepare to build us an altar , not for burnt offering , nor for sacrifice : * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * 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 . * And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about , that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age . * And Joshua called for all Israel , and for their elders , and for their heads , and for their judges , and for their officers , and said unto them , I am old and stricken in age : * And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you ; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you . * Behold , I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain , to be an inheritance for your tribes , from Jordan , with all the nations that I have cut off , even unto the great sea westward . * And the LORD your God , he shall expel them from before you , and drive them from out of your sight ; and ye shall possess their land , as the LORD your God hath promised unto you . * Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses , that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left ; * That ye come not among these nations , these that remain among you ; neither make mention of the name of their gods , nor cause to swear by them , neither serve them , nor bow yourselves unto them : * But cleave unto the LORD your God , as ye have done unto this day . * For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong : but as for you , no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day . * One man of you shall chase a thousand : for the LORD your God , he it is that fighteth for you , as he hath promised you . * Take good heed therefore unto yourselves , that ye love the LORD your God . * Else if ye do in any wise go back , and cleave unto the remnant of these nations , even these that remain among you , and shall make marriages with them , and go in unto them , and they to you : * Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you ; but they shall be snares and traps unto you , and scourges in your sides , and thorns in your eyes , until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you . * And , behold , this day I am going the way of all the earth : and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls , that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you ; all are come to pass unto you , and not one thing hath failed thereof . * Therefore it shall come to pass , that as all good things are come upon you , which the LORD your God promised you ; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things , until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you . * When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God , which he commanded you , and have gone and served other gods , and bowed yourselves to them ; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you , and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you . * And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem , and called for the elders of Israel , and for their heads , and for their judges , and for their officers ; and they presented themselves before God . * And Joshua said unto all the people , Thus saith the LORD God of Israel , Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time , even Terah , the father of Abraham , and the father of Nachor : and they served other gods . * And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood , and led him throughout all the land of Canaan , and multiplied his seed , and gave him Isaac . * And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau : and I gave unto Esau mount Seir , to possess it ; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt . * I sent Moses also and Aaron , and I plagued Egypt , according to that which I did among them : and afterward I brought you out . * And I brought your fathers out of Egypt : and ye came unto the sea ; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea . * And when they cried unto the LORD , he put darkness between you and the Egyptians , and brought the sea upon them , and covered them ; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt : and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season . * And I brought you into the land of the Amorites , which dwelt on the other side Jordan ; and they fought with you : and I gave them into your hand , that ye might possess their land ; and I destroyed them from before you . * Then Balak the son of Zippor , king of Moab , arose and warred against Israel , and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you : * But I would not hearken unto Balaam ; therefore he blessed you still : so I delivered you out of his hand . * And ye went over Jordan , and came unto Jericho : and the men of Jericho fought against you , the Amorites , and the Perizzites , and the Canaanites , and the Hittites , and the Girgashites , the Hivites , and the Jebusites ; and I delivered them into your hand . * And I sent the hornet before you , which drave them out from before you , even the two kings of the Amorites ; but not with thy sword , nor with thy bow . * And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour , and cities which ye built not , and ye dwell in them ; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat . * Now therefore fear the LORD , and serve him in sincerity and in truth : and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood , and in Egypt ; and serve ye the LORD . * And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD , choose you this day whom ye will serve ; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood , or the gods of the Amorites , in whose land ye dwell : but as for me and my house , we will serve the LORD . * And the people answered and said , God forbid that we should forsake the LORD , to serve other gods ; * For the LORD our God , he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt , from the house of bondage , and which did those great signs in our sight , and preserved us in all the way wherein we went , and among all the people through whom we passed : * And the LORD drave out from before us all the people , even the Amorites which dwelt in the land : therefore will we also serve the LORD ; for he is our God . * And Joshua said unto the people , Ye cannot serve the LORD : for he is an holy God ; he is a jealous God ; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins . * If ye forsake the LORD , and serve strange gods , then he will turn and do you hurt , and consume you , after that he hath done you good . * And the people said unto Joshua , Nay ; but we will serve the LORD . * And Joshua said unto the people , Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD , to serve him . And they said , We are witnesses . * Now therefore put away , said he , the strange gods which are among you , and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel . * And the people said unto Joshua , The LORD our God will we serve , and his voice will we obey . * So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day , and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem . * And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God , and took a great stone , and set it up there under an oak , that was by the sanctuary of the LORD . * And Joshua said unto all the people , Behold , this stone shall be a witness unto us ; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us : it shall be therefore a witness unto you , lest ye deny your God . * So Joshua let the people depart , every man unto his inheritance . * And it came to pass after these things , that Joshua the son of Nun , the servant of the LORD , died , being an hundred and ten years old . * And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah , which is in mount Ephraim , on the north side of the hill of Gaash . * And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua , and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua , and which had known all the works of the LORD , that he had done for Israel . * And the bones of Joseph , which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt , buried they in Shechem , in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver : and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph . * And Eleazar the son of Aaron died ; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son , which was given him in mount Ephraim . * Now after the death of Joshua it came to pass , that the children of Israel asked the LORD , saying , Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites first , to fight against them ? * And when Joshua had let the people go , the children of Israel went every man unto his inheritance to possess the land . * And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua , and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua , who had seen all the great works of the LORD , that he did for Israel . * And Joshua the son of Nun , the servant of the LORD , died , being an hundred and ten years old . * I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died : * Therefore the LORD left those nations , without driving them out hastily ; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua . * And the cart came into the field of Joshua , a Bethshemite , and stood there , where there was a great stone : and they clave the wood of the cart , and offered the kine a burnt offering unto the LORD . * And the golden mice , according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords , both of fenced cities , and of country villages , even unto the great stone of Abel , whereon they set down the ark of the LORD : which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua , the Bethshemite . * In his days did Hiel the Bethelite build Jericho : he laid the foundation thereof in Abiram his firstborn , and set up the gates thereof in his youngest son Segub , according to the word of the LORD , which he spake by Joshua the son of Nun . * And he brought all the priests out of the cities of Judah , and defiled the high places where the priests had burned incense , from Geba to Beersheba , and brake down the high places of the gates that were in the entering in of the gate of Joshua the governor of the city , which were on a man 's left hand at the gate of the city . * In the second year of Darius the king , in the sixth month , in the first day of the month , came the word of the LORD by Haggai the prophet unto Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel , governor of Judah , and to Joshua the son of Josedech , the high priest , saying , * Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel , and Joshua the son of Josedech , the high priest , with all the remnant of the people , obeyed the voice of the LORD their God , and the words of Haggai the prophet , as the LORD their God had sent him , and the people did fear before the LORD . * And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel , governor of Judah , and the spirit of Joshua the son of Josedech , the high priest , and the spirit of all the remnant of the people ; and they came and did work in the house of the LORD of hosts , their God , * Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel , governor of Judah , and to Joshua the son of Josedech , the high priest , and to the residue of the people , saying , * Yet now be strong , O Zerubbabel , saith the LORD ; and be strong , O Joshua , son of Josedech , the high priest ; and be strong , all ye people of the land , saith the LORD , and work : for I am with you , saith the LORD of hosts : * And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD , and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him . * Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments , and stood before the angel . * And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua , saying , * Hear now , O Joshua the high priest , thou , and thy fellows that sit before thee : for they are men wondered at : for , behold , I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH . * For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua ; upon one stone shall be seven eyes : behold , I will engrave the graving thereof , saith the LORD of hosts , and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day . * Then take silver and gold , and make crowns , and set them upon the head of Joshua the son of Josedech , the high priest ;

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