Joshua 22-24; Psalms 69

The Eastern Tribes Return Home

22Then Joshua called together the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.H3091H7121H7206H1425H2677H4294H4519 2He told them, "You have done as Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you, and you have obeyed every order I have given you.H559H8104H4872H5650H3068H6680H8085H6963H6680 3During 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.H5800H251H7227H3117H3117H8104H4931H4687H3068H430 4And 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.H3068H430H5117H251H1696H6437H3212H168H776H272H4872H5650H3068H5414H5676H3383 5But 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."H3966H8104H6213H4687H8451H4872H5650H3068H6680H157H3068H430H3212H1870H8104H4687H1692H5647H3824H5315 6So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went home.H3091H1288H7971H3212H168 7Moses 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,H2677H7626H4519H4872H5414H1316H2677H5414H3091H5973H251H5676H3383H3220H3091H7971H168H1288 8he 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."H559H559H7725H7227H5233H168H3966H7227H4735H3701H2091H5178H1270H3966H7235H8008H2505H7998H341H251 9So 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.H935H1552H3383H776H3667H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H1129H4196H3383H1419H4196H4758 11The 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.H1121H3478H8085H559H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H1129H4196H4136H776H3667H1552H3383H5676H1121H3478 12So the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and prepared to go to war against them.H1121H3478H8085H5712H1121H3478H6950H7887H5927H6635 13First, 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.H1121H3478H7971H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H776H1568H6372H1121H499H3548 14In 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.H6235H5387H259H259H5387H5387H1004H1H4294H3478H376H7218H1004H1H505H3478 15When they arrived in the land of Gilead, they said to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,H935H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H776H1568H1696H559 16"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?H559H5712H3068H4604H4603H430H3478H7725H3117H310H3068H1129H4196H4775H3117H3068 17Was 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.H5771H6465H4592H2891H3117H5063H5712H3068 18And 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.H7725H3117H310H3068H4775H3117H3068H4279H7107H5712H3478 19"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.H389H776H272H2931H5674H776H272H3068H3068H4908H7931H270H8432H4775H3068H408H4775H1129H4196H1107H4196H3068H430 20Didn'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."H5912H1121H2226H4603H4604H2764H7110H1961H5712H3478H376H1478H259H5771 21Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel.H1121H7205H1121H1410H2677H7626H4519H6030H1696H7218H505H3478 22"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.H3068H410H430H3068H410H430H3045H3478H3045H4777H4604H3068H3467H3117 23If 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.H1129H4196H7725H310H3068H5927H5930H4503H6213H8002H2077H3068H1245 24"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?H6213H1674H1697H559H4279H1121H559H1121H559H3068H430H3478 25The 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.H3068H5414H3383H1366H1121H7205H1121H1410H2506H3068H1121H7673H1121H7673H1115H3372H3068 26"So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices,H559H6213H1129H4196H5930H2077 27but 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.'H5707H1755H310H5647H5656H3068H6440H5930H2077H8002H1121H559H1121H4279H2506H3068 28"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.'H559H559H1755H4279H559H7200H8403H4196H3068H1H6213H5930H2077H5707 29Far 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."H2486H4775H3068H7725H3117H310H3068H1129H4196H5930H4503H2077H4196H3068H430H6440H4908 30When 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.H6372H3548H5387H5712H7218H505H3478H8085H1697H1121H7205H1121H1410H1121H4519H1696H3190H5869 31Phinehas 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."H6372H1121H499H3548H559H1121H7205H1121H1410H1121H4519H3117H3045H3068H8432H4603H4604H3068H227H5337H1121H3478H3027H3068 32Then 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.H6372H1121H499H3548H5387H7725H1121H7205H1121H1410H776H1568H776H3667H1121H3478H7725H1697H7725 33And all the Israelites were satisfied and praised God and spoke no more of war against Reuben and Gad.H1697H3190H5869H1121H3478H1121H3478H1288H430H559H5927H6635H7843H776H1121H7205H1410H3427 34The 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’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,H7227H3117H310H3068H5117H3478H341H5439H3091H2204H935H3117

2called together all the elders, leaders, judges, and officers of Israel. He said to them, "I am now a very old man.H3091H7121H3478H2205H7218H8199H7860H559H2204H935H3117

3You 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.H7200H3068H430H6213H1471H6440H3068H430H3898

4I 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.H7200H5307H1471H7604H5159H7626H3383H1471H3772H1419H3220H3996H8121

5This 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.H3068H430H1920H6440H3423H6440H3423H776H3068H430H1696

6"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.H3966H2388H8104H6213H3789H5612H8451H4872H5493H3225H8040

7Make 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.H935H1471H7604H2142H8034H430H7650H5647H7812

8Rather, cling tightly to the LORD your God as you have done until now.H1692H3068H430H6213H3117

9"For the LORD has driven out great and powerful nations for you, and no one has yet been able to defeat you.H3068H3423H6440H1419H1471H6099H376H5975H6440H3117

10Each 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.H259H376H7291H505H3068H430H3898H1696

11So be very careful to love the LORD your God.H3966H8104H5315H157H3068H430

12"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,H7725H7725H1692H3499H1471H7604H2859H935

13then 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.H3045H3045H3068H430H3254H3423H1471H6440H6341H4170H7850H6654H6796H5869H6H2896H127H3068H430H5414

14"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!H3117H1980H1870H776H3045H3824H5315H259H1697H5307H2896H1697H3068H430H1696H935H259H1697H5307

15But 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.H2896H1697H935H3068H430H1696H3068H935H7451H1697H8045H2896H127H3068H430H5414

16If 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

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.H3091H622H7626H3478H7927H7121H2205H3478H7218H8199H7860H3320H6440H430 2Joshua 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.H3091H559H5971H559H3068H430H3478H1H3427H5676H5104H5769H8646H1H85H1H5152H5647H312H430 3But 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.H3947H1H85H5676H5104H3212H776H3667H7235H2233H5414H3327 4To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the mountains of Seir, while Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.H5414H3327H3290H6215H5414H6215H2022H8165H3423H3290H1121H3381H4714 5"Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I brought terrible plagues on Egypt; and afterward I brought you out as a free people.H7971H4872H175H5062H4714H834H6213H7130H310H3318 6But when your ancestors arrived at the Red Sea

, the Egyptians chased after you with chariots and charioteers.H3318H1H4714H935H3220H4714H7291H310H1H7393H6571H5488H3220 7When 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.H6817H3068H7760H3990H4713H935H3220H3680H5869H7200H6213H4714H3427H4057H7227H3117 8"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.H935H776H567H3427H5676H3383H3898H5414H3027H3423H776H8045H6440 9Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel. He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you,H1111H1121H6834H4428H4124H6965H3898H3478H7971H7121H1109H1121H1160H7043 10but I would not listen to him. Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak.H14H8085H1109H1288H1288H5337H3027 11"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.H5674H3383H935H3405H1167H3405H3898H567H6522H3669H2850H1622H2340H2983H5414H3027 12And 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.H7971H6880H6440H1644H6440H8147H4428H567H2719H7198 13I 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.H5414H776H3021H5892H1129H3427H3754H2132H5193H398 14"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.H3372H3068H5647H8549H571H5493H430H1H5647H5676H5104H4714H5647H3068 15But 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."H7489H4310H5647H3068H977H3117H5869H5647H430H1H5647H5676H5104H430H567H776H3427H1004H5647H3068 16The people replied, "We would never abandon the LORD and serve other gods.H5971H6030H559H2486H5800H3068H5647H312H430 17For 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.H3068H430H5927H1H776H4714H1004H5650H6213H1419H226H5869H8104H1870H1980H5971H7130H5674 18It 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."H3068H1644H6440H5971H567H3427H776H5647H3068H430 19Then 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.H3091H559H5971H3201H5647H3068H6918H430H7072H410H5375H6588H2403 20If 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."H5800H3068H5647H5236H430H7725H7489H3615H310H3190 21But the people answered Joshua, "No, we will serve the LORD!"H5971H559H3091H5647H3068 22"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."H3091H559H5971H5707H977H3068H5647H559H5707 23"All right then," Joshua said, "destroy the idols among you, and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."H5493H5236H430H7130H5186H3824H3068H430H3478 24The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God. We will obey him alone."H5971H559H3091H3068H430H5647H6963H8085 25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day at Shechem, committing them to follow the decrees and regulations of the LORD.H3091H3772H1285H5971H3117H7760H2706H4941H7927 26Joshua 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.H3091H3789H1697H5612H8451H430H3947H1419H68H6965H427H4720H3068 27Joshua 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."H3091H559H5971H68H5713H8085H561H3068H1696H5713H3584H430 28Then 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.H310H1697H3091H1121H5126H5650H3068H4191H3967H6235H8141H1121 30They buried him in the land he had been allocated, at Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.H6912H1366H5159H8556H2022H669H6828H2022H1608 31The 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.H3478H5647H3068H3117H3091H3117H2205H748H3117H310H3091H3045H4639H3068H6213H3478 32The 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.H6106H3130H1121H3478H5927H4714H6912H7927H2513H7704H3290H7069H1121H2544H1H7927H3967H7192H5159H1121H3130 33Eleazar 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

69[For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Lilies.”] Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck.H5329H7799H1732H3467H430H4325H935H5315

2Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can’t find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me.H2883H4688H3121H4613H935H4615H4325H7641H7857

3I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.H3021H7121H1627H2787H5869H3615H3176H430

4Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.H8130H2600H7231H8185H7218H6789H341H8267H6105H7725H1497

5O God, you know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from you.H430H3045H200H819H3582

6Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel.H6960H136H3069H6635H954H1245H3637H430H3478

7For I endure insults for your sake; humiliation is written all over my face.H5375H2781H3639H3680H6440

8Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me; they treat me like a stranger.H2114H251H5237H517H1121

9Passion for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.H7068H1004H398H2781H2778H5307

10When I weep and fast, they scoff at me.H1058H5315H6685H2781

11When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me.H5414H8242H3830H4912

12I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me.H3427H8179H7878H5058H8354H7941

13But I keep praying to you, Lord, hoping this time you will show me favor. In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.H8605H3068H7522H6256H430H7230H2617H6030H571H3468

14Rescue me from the mud; don’t let me sink any deeper! Save me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters.H5337H2916H2883H5337H8130H4615H4325

15Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me.H4325H7641H7857H4688H1104H875H332H6310

16Answer my prayers, O Lord, for your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for your mercy is so plentiful.H6030H3068H2617H2896H6437H7230H7356

17Don’t hide from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!H5641H6440H5650H6887H6030H4118

18Come and redeem me; free me from my enemies.H7126H5315H1350H6299H341

19You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing.H3045H2781H1322H3639H6887

20Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.H2781H7665H3820H5136H6960H5110H5162H4672

21But instead, they give me poison

for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.H5414H7219H1267H6772H2558H8248

22Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap

.H7979H6341H6440H7965H4170

23Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually

.H5869H2821H7200H4975H8548H4571

24Pour out your fury on them; consume them with your burning anger.H8210H2195H2740H639H5381

25Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted.H2918H8074H3427H168

26To the one you have punished, they add insult to injury; they add to the pain of those you have hurt.H7291H5221H5608H4341H2491

27Pile their sins up high, and don’t let them go free.H5414H5771H5771H935H6666

28Erase their names from the Book of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous.H4229H5612H2416H3789H6662

29I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.H6041H3510H3444H430H7682

30Then I will praise God’s name with singing, and I will honor him with thanksgiving.H1984H8034H430H7892H1431H8426

31For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.H3190H3068H3190H7794H6499H7160H6536

32The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.H6035H7200H8055H3824H2421H1875H430

33For the Lord hears the cries of the needy; he does not despise his imprisoned people.H3068H8085H34H959H615

34Praise him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them.H8064H776H1984H3220H7430

35For God will save Jerusalem

and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land.H430H3467H6726H1129H5892H3063H3427H3423

36The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land, and those who love him will live there in safety.H2233H5650H5157H157H8034H7931

Joshua 22-24; Psalms 69 - Prayer Tents

The Eastern Tribes Return Home

The Eastern Tribes Build an Altar

Joshua’s Final Words to Israel

The Lord’s Covenant Renewed

Leaders Buried in the Promised Land