約書亞記 22
1 當時約書亞召了流便人、迦得人、和瑪拿西半支派的人來、
Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh
2 對他們說、耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的、你們都遵守了.我所吩咐你們的、你們也都聽從了.
and said to them, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded.
3 你們這許多日子、總沒有撇離你們的弟兄、直到今日.並守了耶和華你們 神所吩咐你們當守的.
For a long time now--to this very day--you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you.
4 如今耶和華你們 神照著他所應許的、使你們弟兄得享平安、現在可以轉回你們的帳棚、到耶和華的僕人摩西在約但河東所賜你們為業之地.
Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
5 只要切切的謹慎遵行耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的誡命律法.愛耶和華你們的 神.行他一切的道.守他的誡命.專靠他、盡心盡性事奉他。
But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
6 於是約書亞為他們祝福、打發他們去、他們就回自己的帳棚去了。
Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes.
7 瑪拿西那半支派、摩西早已在巴珊分給他們地業.這半支派、約書亞在約但河西、在他們弟兄中、分給他們地業.約書亞打發他們回帳棚的時候、為他們祝福.
(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan with their brothers.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them,
8 對他們說、你們帶許多財物、許多牲畜、和金、銀、銅、鐵、並許多衣服、回你們的帳棚去.要將你們從仇敵奪來的物、與你們眾弟兄同分。
saying, "Return to your homes with your great wealth--with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing--and divide with your brothers the plunder from your enemies."
9 於是流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人、從迦南地的示羅起行、離開以色列人、回往他們得為業的基列地、就是照耶和華藉摩西所吩咐的得了為業之地。
So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses.
10 流便人、迦得人、和瑪拿西半支派的人、到了靠近約但河的一帶迦南地、就在約但河那裡、築了一座壇.那壇看著高大。
When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan.
11 以色列人聽說流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人、靠近約但河邊、在迦南地屬以色列人的那邊築了一座壇.
And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side,
12 全會眾一聽見、就聚集在示羅、要上去攻打他們。
the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.
13 以色列人打發祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈、往基列地去見流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人。
So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead--to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
14 又打發十個首領與非尼哈同去、就是以色列每支派的一個首領、都是以色列軍中的統領。
With him they sent ten of the chief men, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.
15 他們到了基列地、見流便人、迦得人、和瑪拿西半支派的人、對他們說、
When they went to Gilead--to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh--they said to them:
16 耶和華全會眾這樣說、你們今日轉去不跟從耶和華、干犯以色列的 神、為自己築一座壇、悖逆了耶和華、這犯的是甚麼罪呢.
"The whole assembly of the LORD says: 'How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now?
17 從前拜毘珥的罪孽還算小嗎.雖然瘟疫臨到耶和華的會眾、到今日我們還沒有洗淨這罪。
Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the LORD!
18 你們今日竟轉去不跟從耶和華麼.你們今日既悖逆耶和華、明日他必向以色列全會眾發怒.
And are you now turning away from the LORD? "'If you rebel against the LORD today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel.
19 你們所得為業之地、若嫌不潔淨、就可以過到耶和華之地、就是耶和華的帳幕所住之地、在我們中間得地業.只是不可悖逆耶和華、也不可得罪我們、在耶和華我們 神的壇以外為自己築壇。
If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the LORD'S land, where the LORD'S tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the LORD our God.
20 從前謝拉的曾孫亞干、豈不是在那當滅的物上犯了罪、就有忿怒臨到以色列全會眾麼.那人在所犯的罪中、不獨一人死亡。
When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things, did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.'"
21 於是流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人、回答以色列軍中的統領說、
Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel:
22 大能者 神耶和華。大能者 神耶和華、他是知道的。以色列人也必知道。我們若有悖逆的意思、或是干犯耶和華.(願你今日不保佑我們)
"The Mighty One, God, the LORD! The Mighty One, God, the LORD! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the LORD, do not spare us this day.
23 為自己築壇、要轉去不跟從耶和華、或是要將燔祭、素祭、平安祭獻在壇上、願耶和華親自討我們的罪。
If we have built our own altar to turn away from the LORD and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD himself call us to account.
24 我們行這事並非無故、是特意作的、說、恐怕日後你們的子孫對我們的子孫說、你們與耶和華以色列的 神、有何關涉呢.
"No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, 'What do you have to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?
25 因為耶和華把約但河定為我們和你們這流便人、迦得人的交界.你們與耶和華無分了、這樣、你們的子孫、就使我們的子孫、不再敬畏耶和華了。
The LORD has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you--you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the LORD.' So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.
26 因此我們說、不如為自己築一座壇、不是為獻燔祭、也不是為獻別的祭、
"That is why we said, 'Let us get ready and build an altar--but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.'
27 乃是為你我中間、和你我後人中間作證據.好叫我們也在耶和華面前獻燔祭、平安祭、和別的祭事奉他、免得你們的子孫、日後對我們的子孫說、你們與耶和華無分了。
On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the LORD at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, 'You have no share in the LORD.'
28 所以我們說、日後你們對我們、或對我們的後人這樣說、我們就可以回答說、你們看我們列祖所築的壇、是耶和華壇的樣式、這並不是為獻燔祭、也不是為獻別的祭、乃是為作你我中間的證據。
"And we said, 'If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the LORD'S altar, which our fathers built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.'
29 我們在耶和華我們 神帳幕前的壇以外、另築一座壇、為獻燔祭、素祭、和別的祭、悖逆耶和華、今日轉去不跟從他、我們斷沒有這個意思。
"Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away from him today by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings and sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands before his tabernacle."
30 祭司非尼哈與會中的首領、就是與他同來以色列軍中的統領、聽見流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西人所說的話、就都以為美。
When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community--the heads of the clans of the Israelites--heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased.
31 祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈、對流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西人說、今日我們知道耶和華在我們中間、因為你們沒有向他犯了這罪。現在你們救以色列人脫離耶和華的手了。
And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is with us, because you have not acted unfaithfully toward the LORD in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the LORD'S hand."
32 祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈、與眾首領離了流便人、迦得人、從基列地回往迦南地、到了以色列人那裡、便將這事回報他們。
Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites.
33 以色列人以這事為美.就稱頌 神、不再題上去攻打流便人、迦得人、毀壞他們所住的地了。
They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.
34 流便人、迦得人、給壇起名叫證壇、意思說、這壇在我們中間證明耶和華是 神。
And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us that the LORD is God.