Judges 3:1-31 The Lord has Othniel Deliver the Israelites

The Lord has Othniel Deliver the Israelites

Judges 3:1-31    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, these are the nations the Lord left to [test] Israel, [since] many of Israel hadn’t [experienced any wars in] Canaan. Only the generations of the children [people] of Israel [during the time of those wars] might [have known] how to teach them [the skills of] war, but [these] knew nothing [about it.]

[Especially related to the] 5 [Philistine] lords & all the Canaanites, Sidonians & Hivites, [who] dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the [entrance] of Hamath. They were to [test] Israel to know whether they would [pay attention to] the commandments of the Lord, [that] He commanded their [forefathers] by the hand of Moses.

The [people] of Israel dwelt among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites & Jebusites & [the Israelites] took their daughters to be their wives & gave their [Israelite] daughters to their sons [for wives] & served their gods.

The [people] of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord & [forgot] the Lord their God & served Baalim & the groves. [Deuteronomy 1:2-3 You shall [totally] destroy all the place, [where] the nations [that] you shall possess served their gods: upon the high mountains, hills & under every green tree. And you shall overthrow their altars, break their pillars & burn their groves with fire;

And you shall [cut] down the [carved] images of their gods & destroy the names of them, out of that place.] Therefore, the anger of the Lord was hot against Israel & He sold the [Israelites] into the hand of the king of Mesopotamia, Chushan Rishathaim & the children [people] of Israel served [him for] 8 years.

When the [people] of Israel cried [out] to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer [for] the [people] of Israel, Othneil, [Kenaz’] son, [who was] Caleb’s younger brother. The Spirit of the Lord came upon [Othneil] & he judged Israel & went out to war & the Lord delivered Cushan Rishathaim into [Othneil’s hands] & [he] prevailed against Cushan Rishathaim.

The land [of Israel] had rest for 40 years & Othneil died. The [people] of Israel did evil again in the sight of the Lord & the Lord strengthened Eglon, [Moab’s] king, against Israel, because [of] the evil they had done in the sight of the Lord.

[Eglon] gathered the [people] of Ammon & Amalek & went & [attacked] Israel & [conquered] the City of Palm [trees.] So, the [people] of Israel served Eglon, [Moab’s] king, [for] 18 years.

But when the [people] of Israel cried [out] to the Lord, the Lord [God,] raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud, [Gera’s] son, a left-handed Benjamite.

[Through] Ehud, the [people] of Israel sent a present to Eglon, [Moab’s] king, but Ehud [had] made a 2 [sided] dagger, 1 cubit [long & he fastened] it under this [clothing] on his right thigh.

He brought the present [in to] Eglon, the king of Moab, [who] was very [heavy] & [finished offering] the present & sent [out those who had carried] the present.

[Ehud] turned [away] from the quarries that were by Gilgal & said, I have a secret errand [for] you, O king. [The king] said, Keep [silent] & all [who] stood by him, went out from [the king’s parlor.]

And Ehud came up to [the king, as] he was sitting down in [the] summer parlor, which he alone had for himself. And Ehud said, I have a message from God to you & [the king] arose out of his seat. Ehud [reached out] this left hand & took the dagger from his right thigh & thrust it into [the king’s] belly.

The [handle] also went in after the blade & the [stomach’s] fat closed upon the [dagger] blade, so & he couldn’t draw the dagger [back] out of his belly & dirt came out. Then, Ehud went [out] through the porch & shut the parlor doors [with the king inside] & locked them.

When Ehud was gone, [the king’s] servants came. They said, Surely [the king has] covered his feet [& was resting,] when they saw that the doors to the [parlor] doors were locked.

They waited until they were ashamed & [when they saw] the king [didn’t open] the doors of the parlor & they [got the] key & [opened the doors.] [They saw, their king had] fallen down dead on the [ground.]

And Ehud escaped while they waited & [he] passed beyond the quarries & escaped into Seirath. It [happened,] when [Ehud arrived,] he blew a trumpet in the Mountain of Ephraim & the [people] of Israel followed him down from the [mountain.]

[Ehud] said to them, Follow after me, for the Lord has delivered your enemies, the Moabites, into your hand. They went down after him & [captured] the fords [the shallow place that can be walked over of the] Jordan [River] toward Moab & [didn’t allow any] man to [cross] over.

And  at that time, they [struck down] 10,000 [mighty] men of valor of Moab & there [wasn’t] a man [who] escaped. So, Moab was [defeated] that day, under the hand of Israel & the land had rest [& peace] 80 years. After [Ehud,] was Shamgar, [Anath’s] son, [who struck down] 600 [Philistine] men with a [cattle prod] & he also delivered Israel.

Judges 2:1-23 The Actions of the Generations After Joshua’s Passing

The Actions of the Generations After Joshua’s Passing

Judges 2:1-23    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

An Angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bochim & said, I made you go up out of Egypt & have brought you into the land I swore to [give] your [forefathers] & I will never break My covenant [contract] with you.

You shall not make [any alliance] with the inhabitants of this land & you shall [tear] down their altars, but you haven’t obeyed My voice. Why haven’t you done this?

[For this reason,] I also said that I won’t drive [those nations] out before you, but they shall be [like] thorns in your sides & their gods shall [entrap] you. It [happened,] when the Angel of the Lord [spoke] these words to all the children [people] of Israel, the people lifted up their [voices] & wept.

They called the name of the place Bochim & they sacrificed there to the Lord. When Joshua had let the [people] of Israel [leave,] every man went to his inheritance to possess the land.

The people served the Lord all the days of [Joshua’s life] & all the [lives] of the elders who outlived Joshua & had seen all the great works of the Lord & all He [had done] for Israel.

Joshua, [Nun’s] son, the servant of the Lord, died [at] 110 years old. And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres in Mount Ephraim, on the north side of the [Mount] Gaash. All that generation were gathered to their [forefathers in death.]

And there arose another generation after them, [that didn’t know] the Lord, nor the works He had done for Israel. The children [people] of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord & served Baalim & they [abandoned] the Lord God of their [forefathers, Who] brought them out of the land of Egypt.

And [they] followed other gods, the gods of the people [who] were round about them & bowed themselves to them & provoked the Lord to anger. They [abandoned]  the Lord & served Baal & Ashteroth.

And the [Lord’s] anger was hot against Israel & He delivered them into the hands of the spoilers [who plundered] them & sold them into the hands of their enemies [around them,] so they could no longer stand before their enemies.

[Wherever] they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had said & as the Lord had sworn to them & [he Israelites] were [very] distressed.

[Deuteronomy 28:64-66 And the Lord shall scatter you among all people, from one end of the earth, even to the other. And there you shall serve other gods, [that] neither you nor your [forefathers] have known, even [of] wood & stone.

And among these nations, you shall not find ease & neither shall the sole of your foot have rest. But there the Lord shall give you, a trembling heart & failing eyes & a sorrowful mind. and your life shall hang in doubt before you. And you shall [be afraid] day & night. And [you] shall have [no] assurance of your life.]

[However] the Lord raised up judges, [who] delivered them out of the hands of those [who plundered] them. Yet, they wouldn’t [listen to] their judges & [played the unfaithful harlot] after other gods & bowed themselves to them.

They quickly turned from the [path] their [forefathers] walked in, [by] obeying the commandments of the Lord, but they didn’t [do] so. When the Lord raised up the judges [for] them, the Lord [God] was with the judge & delivered [the Israelites] out of the hand of their enemies, all the days of the judge.

The Lord was [grieved,] because of their [groaning from those who] oppressed & [harassed] them. It [happened,] when the judge was dead, [the Israelites] returned & corrupted themselves more than their [forefathers, by] following other gods [& serving] them [& bowing] down to them.

They didn’t [stop] from [doing this,] nor from their stubborn [ways.] The anger of the Lord was hot against Israel & He said,

Because this people [have sinned] against My covenant [contract,] which I commanded their [forefathers] & they haven’t [listened] to My voice, I will not also drive out any of the nations before them, which [were] left when Joshua died.

That through [the other nations,] I may [test] Israel [& see] whether they will keep the way of the Lord & walk [in them, like their [forefathers kept] it, or not. Therefore, the Lord left those nations, without driving them out [quickly] & neither [did] He [deliver] them into the hand of Joshua.

Judges 1:1-36 The Israelite’s Attempts to Claim Their Inheritance

 

The Israelite’s Attempts to Claim Their Inheritance

Judges 1:1-36    The Book of Judges [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, after the death of Joshua, it [happened,] that the children [people] of Israel asked the Lord, Who shall go up for us against the Canaanites 1st, to fight against them? The Lord said, [the tribe of] Judah shall go up [1st.]

The Lord said, I have delivered the land into his hand. Judah said to [the tribe] of Simeon, [his brethren,] Come [join us in our land, so] we may fight against the Canaanites. [We] will [also] go with you into your [land] [& fight with you.]

So, Simeon went out with him. Judah went up & the Lord delivered the Canaanites & Perizzites into their [hands.] They [struck down] 10,000 men in Bezek.

They fought against Adoni-Bezek in Bezek & [struck down] the Canaanites & Perizzites, but Adoni-Bezek fled. And they pursued after him & caught him & cut off his thumbs & [big] toes.

Adoni-Bezek said, 70 kings [with] their thumbs & [big] toes cut off, gathered their [food] under my table. The [Lord] God [has done] to me, as I have done & [repaid] me. They brought him to Jerusalem & he died there.

The children [people] of Judah had fought against Jerusalem & had taken it with the edge of the sword & set the city on fire. Afterward, the [people] of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites, [who lived] in the [mountains,] in the south & in the valley.

Judah went against the Canaanites, [who lived] in Hebron. (Now the name of Hebron, [was previously] Kirjath Arba.) And they [struck down:] Shishak, Ahriman & Tallmai. And from [there,] he went against the [residents] of Debir. Before, [Debir’s] name was Kirjath Sepher.

Caleb said, I will give my daughter, Achsah, to [marry] the [man who kills & conquers] Kirjath Sepher. And Othniel, [Kenaz’] son, Caleb’s younger brother, [captured the city] & [Caleb] gave Achsah, his daughter, [to be Othniel’s] wife. It [happened,] when she came to [Othniel,] she [wanted him to ask] her father [for] a field.

She [jumped] off her [donkey] & Caleb [asked] her, What [do you want?] She said, Give me a blessing. You have given me [southern desert] land. Aso, give me springs of water & Caleb gave her the upper & the [lower] springs.

The children [people] of the Kenite, Moses’ father-in-law, went up with the [people] of Judah, out of the City of the Palm trees, into the wilderness of Judah, which lies south of Arad & they [lived] among the people.

Judah went with Simeon, his [brethren] & the [struck down] the Canaanites, [who] inhabited Zephath, the city was called Hormah & [totally] destroyed it. Judah also took Gaza, Askelon [a.k.a. Ashkelon,] Ekron & [each of] their coasts.

The Lord was with Judah & He drove out the inhabitants of the mountains, but couldn’t drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had iron chariots. They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses said & he [cast out] the 3 sons of Anak.

The [people] of Benjamin [hadn’t driven] out the Jebusites, [who] inhabited Jerusalem, but the Jebusites [live] with the [people] of Benjamin to this day. The Lord was with the house of Joseph as they also went up against Beth El.

The [family] of Joseph [were] sent to [spy out] Beth El. (Now, the city [was previously named] Luz.) The spies saw a man come out of the city & they said to him, We pray [that] you show us the entrance into the city & we will show you mercy.

When he showed them the entrance of the city, they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man & his family go. [He] went into the land of the Hittites & built a city & called [its] name, Luz, which is [its] name to this day.

Manasseh [didn’t] drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean, Taanach, Dor, Ibleam, Megiddo & [all their] towns & inhabitants, but the Canaamnites would dwell in that land.

It [happened,] when Israel was strong, they put the Canaanites to [forced labor] & [didn’t totally] drive them out. Neither did Ephraim drive the Canaanites out of Gezer; but the Canaanites dwelt in Gezer among them.

Neither did Zebulun drive out the inhabitants of: Kittron & Nahalol, but the Canaanites [live] among them & became [forced laborers.] Neither did  Asher drive out the inhabitants of: Accho, Zidon, Ahlab, Achzib, Helbah, Aphik & Rehob.

But the Asherites [lived] among the Cannanites, the inhabitants of the land, [because] they didn’t drive them out. Neither did Naptali drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh & Beth Anath.

But [Naphtali lives] among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land. [However] the inhabitants of Beth Shemesth & Beth Anath [became forced laborers] for them.

The Amorites forced the [people] of Dan into the mountains & wouldn’t [allow] them to come down to the valley. But the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres in Aijalon, in Shaalbim.

[Still] the house of Joseph [became stronger,] so that the [Amorites] became [forced laborers.] The coast of the Amorites was from [Ascent] of Akrabbim [a.k.a. Scorpion Pass,] from the rock, [Has-Selah on which Petra is built] & upward.

Joshua 24:1-33 Joshua’s Passing

 

Joshua’s Passing

Joshua 24:1-33               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem & called for the elders, their [leaders,] judges & officers of Israel & they presented themselves before God.

Joshua said to all the people, The Lord God of Israel [says this,] Your [forefathers lived] on the other side of The [Euphrates River a long time ago, including] Terah, the father of Abraham & Nahor & they served other gods.

I took your [forefather,] Abraham, from the other side of [The Euphrates] & led him throughout all the land of Canaan & multiplied his [descendants] & gave him Issac.

I gave to Isaac: Jacob & Esau & I gave to Esau, Mount Seir, to possess it. But Jacob & his children went down into Egypt. I also sent Moses & Aaron & I plagued Egypt, according to [the 10 plagues] I did among them & afterward, I brought you out.

I brought your [forefathers] out of Egypt & you came to the [Red Sea] & the Egyptians pursued after your [forefathers] with chariots & horsemen to the Red Sea.

When [the Israelites] cried [out] to the Lord, He put darkness between you & the Egyptians & brought [back] the sea  upon [the Egyptians] & covered them.

Your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt & you stayed in the wilderness a long [time.] I brought you out & into the land of the Amorites, [who lived] on the other side [of the] Jordan [River] & they fought with you.

I [delivered] them into your [hands, so] you might possess their land & I destroyed them before you. Then, Balak, the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose & warred against Israel & [sent for] Balaam, [Beor’s] son, to curse you.

But I [wouldn't listen] to Balaam; therefore he [continued to bless] you. So I delivered you out of his hand.

You went over [the] Jordan [River] & came to Jericho & the men of Jericho fought against you, the: Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites & the Jebusites & I delivered them into your hand.

I sent [hornets] before you, which [drove the other nations] out from before you, [including the] 2 kings of the Amorites, but not with a sword, nor your bow.

I have given you a land [that] you didn’t have to [work for] & cities that you [haven’t] built & you [live] in them & [have] vineyards & [olive groves that] you [haven’t] planted, [but you eat from them.]

Now, fear [respect] the Lord & serve Him in sincerity & truth & put away the gods [that] your [forefathers] served on the other side of the [Euphrates River] & in Egypt & you serve the Lord.

If it [seems undesirable] to you to serve the Lord, choose whom you will serve: whether gods [that your forefathers] served on the other side of the [Euphrates,] or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you [live.]

But for me & my house, we will serve the Lord. The people [of Israel] answered & said, God forbid that we should [abandon] the Lord, to serve other gods.

For the Lord our God, is He, [Who] brought us & our [forefathers] up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage & did those great signs in our sight. [The Lord God] preserved us in all the [path] we went & among all the people, whom we passed through.

And the Lord [drove] out from before us all the people, even the Amorites, [who lived] in the land. Therefore, we will also serve the Lord; for He is our God.

Joshua said to the people, You cannot serve the Lord: for He is an holy God. He is a jealous God & He won’t forgive your transgressions nor sins. If you [abandon] the Lord & serve [foreign] gods.

Then, He will turn [against you & destroy] you, after He has done [all this] good [for] you. And the people said to Joshua, [No,] we will serve the Lord.

Joshua said to the people, You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen [to serve] the Lord & [only] Him. They said, We are witnesses. [Joshua said,] Therefore, now put away the [foreign] gods [that] are among you & [lean] your [hearts] to the Lord God of Israel.

And the people said to Joshua, We will serve the Lord our God & we will obey His voice. So, Joshua made a covenant [contract] with the people that day & [put in place a mandate] & [rules for them] in Shechem.

Joshua wrote these words in the Book of the Law of God & took a [large rock] & set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the Lord. And Joshua said to all the people, [Look,] this [rock] shall be a witness to us; for it has heard all the words of the Lord [that] He [spoke] to us.

Therefore, it shall be a witness to us, lest you deny your God. So, Joshua let the people [leave,] every man to his inheritance. It [happened] after these things, that Joshua, [Nun’s] son, died [at] 110 years old.

They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Serah, which is in Mount Ephraim, on the north side of the Hill of Gaash. Israel served the Lord all of [Joshua’s] days & all the days of the elders [who outlived] Joshua & [who] had known all the [Lord’s deeds,] that He had done for Israel.

The bones of Joseph [that] the children [people] of Israel brought up out of Egypt, [they] buried in Shechem, in a parcel of [land that] Jacob bought [from] the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a 100 pieces of silver & it became the inheritance of the children [people] of Joseph.

Eleazar, [Aaron’s] son, died & they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas, his son, [that] was given [to] him in Mount Ephraim.

Joshua 23:1-16 The Lord’s Blessings Reviewed & What Happens if They Worship False gods

 

The Lord’s Blessings Reviewed & What Happens if They Worship False gods

Joshua 23:1-16               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

A long time after the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies [around them,] when Joshua [grew] old & [advanced] in [years.]

Joshua called for all [of] Israel & their elders, [leaders,] judges & their officers & said to them, I am old & [advanced] in [years.] You have seen all that the Lord your God has done to all these nations, because of you.

For the Lord your God is He, Who fought for you. [Look] I have divided these nations that remain [as] an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan with all the nations I have [already] cut off, to the [Mediterranean Sea] westward.

The Lord your God, shall [force] them out before you. He shall drive them out of your sight. You shall possess their land, [like] the Lord your God has promised to you.

Therefore, be very courageous to keep & do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, [so] you don’t turn [away from doing these] to the right hand or to the left.

[Don’t associate with the people of] these nations that remain among you. Neither shall you mention the name of their gods, nor cause [any] to swear by them. Neither serve them, nor bow yourselves [down] to them.

But [hold tight] to the Lord your God, as you have done [until] this day. For the Lord has driven out [large & mighty] nations & no man has been able to stand [against] you [until] this day.

One [Israelite] man shall chase 1,000, [because it is] the Lord your God, [Who] fights for you, [like] He promised you. Therefore, [pay careful attention,] that you love the Lord your God.

[If] you do [by any means go [astray] & [you cling to the remaining] of these nations, even these [who] remain among you & make marriages with them & [they make marriages with] you & [you’re intimate with] them:

Know for [certain] that the Lord your God will no [longer] drive any of these nations [out] before you. But they shall be snares & traps, [whips to] your sides & thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land [that] the Lord your God has given [to] you.

[Look,] this day, I’m going [to die as] all [in] the earth [do] & know [within] all your hearts & souls, that not 1 good thing has failed [to happen] that the Lord your God [has said related] to you & all [have happened] to you & not 1 thing has failed [to happen.]

Therefore, it shall [happen] to you, that [like] all [the] good things [have happened] to you [that] the Lord your God promised [to] you, [in the same way,] shall the Lord [also] bring upon you all [the] evil things, until He has destroyed you from off this good land [that] the Lord your God has given [to] you.

When you have [sinned] against the covenant [contract] of the Lord your God, [that] He commanded you & you have gone & served other gods & bowed yourselves [down] to them. Then, the Lord’s anger shall [grow] against you & you shall perish quickly from off the good land [that] He has given [to] you.

Joshua 22:1-34 Altar Built by the People of Reuben, Gad & 1/2 of the Tribe of Manasseh

 

Altar Built by the People of Reuben, Gad & 1/2 of the Tribe of Manasseh

Joshua 22:1-34               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

Then, Joshua called the Reubenites, the Gadites & 1/2 of the tribe of Manasseh & said to them, You have kept all that Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you.

[You] have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you & you haven’t left your brethren [all this time.] You have kept the charge [that] the Lord your God [has commanded you.]

Now, the Lord your God has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them. Now, return & go to your tents & to the land of your possession, [that] Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave [to] you on the other side [of the] Jordan [River.]

[Pay close attention] to do the [commandments] & the law [that] Moses, [gave to] you, to love the Lord your God & walk in all His ways & to keep His commandments & to [cling] to Him & serve Him with all your heart & with all your soul. So, Joshua blessed them & sent them away to their tents.

Now, to the 1/2 tribe of Manasseh, [that] Moses had given [their] possession [of land] in Bashan, but the other 1/2 [of the tribe of Manasseh,] Joshua gave [them their possession,] among their brethren on this side [of the] Jordan [River] westward.

When Joshua sent them away to their tents, then he blessed them. He [spoke] to them, saying, Return to your tents with [many] riches, [lots of livestock,] silver, gold, brass, iron & [lots of clothing.] Divide the [plunder] of your enemies with your brethren.

The children [people] of Reuben, Gad & 1/2 [of] the tribe of Manasseh [left the Israelites in] Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of their possession in the country of Gilead.

They possessed [this] land, according to the Word of the Lord by the hand of Moses. When they came to the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the [people] of Reuben, Gad & 1/2 of the tribe of Manasseh, built there a [huge] altar by [the] Jordan.

The [people] of Israel heard [it said, Look,] the [people] of Reuben, Gad & 1/2 [of] Manasseh have built an altar [near the Canaanite] border of [the] Jordan [River, facing Canaan, but on the Israelite side.]

When the [Israelites] heard this, the whole congregation of the [people] of Israel gathered together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them. The [people] of Israel, sent to the children [people] of: Reuben, Gad & ½ of the tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas, [Eleazar’s] son, the priest.

[Phinehas] had 10 princes with him, each a chief [leader] of the house of their fathers, throughout all the tribes of Israel, among the 1,000’s of Israel. They came to the land of Gilead & [spoke] to the [people] of Reuben, Gad & to 1/2 of the tribe of Manasseh, saying,

The whole congregation of the Lord [says this,] What [sin] is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the Lord, [that] you have [built yourselves] an altar & [have rebelled] this day against the Lord?

Is the [sin] of Peor too little for us? We are [still] not cleansed this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the Lord. [Numbers 25:1-3 And Israel [stayed] in Shittim & the people began to commit [unfaithful harlotry] with the daughters of Moab.

And they called the people to the sacrifices of their gods & the people did eat [of them] & bowed down to their gods. And Israel joined [themselves] to Baal Peor & the anger of the Lord [grew] against Israel.]

[Are you turning] away from following the Lord, this day? Seeing you rebel today against the Lord, that tomorrow He will be [angry] with the whole congregation of Israel.

[Still,] if the land of your possession [is] unclean, then [cross] over to the land of the [Lord’s] possession, [where] the Lord’s tabernacle dwells & take possession among us. But [don’t] rebel against the Lord or against us, [by] building [yourselves] an altar [in addition to] the altar of the Lord our God.

Didn’t Achan, [Zerah’s] son commit a [sin, by taking of the cursed things] & [brought fury] on all the congregation of Israel? And that man [didn’t] perish alone in his [sinfulness.]

[Joshua 7:23-25 And they took them out of the [middle] of the tent & brought them to Joshua & to all the children [people] of Israel & laid them out before the Lord.

And Joshua & all Israel with him, took Achan, [Zerah’s] son & the silver, the garment & the wedge of gold & his: sons, daughters, oxen, [mules,] sheep & his tent & all he had & brought them into the valley of Achor.

And Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? The Lord shall trouble you this day. And all Israel stoned him [to death] & burned them with fire, after they had stoned them.]

Then, the [people] of Reuben, Gad & 1/2 of [the] tribe of Manasseh answered & said, to the [leaders] of the 1,000’s of Israel,

The Lord God of gods [is the only God] & He knows [what’s true] & He shall [let] Israel know: if it is [truly] rebellion or if [it’s a sin] against the Lord, ([then, don’t] save us this day.)

[If] we have built an altar [for ourselves] to turn [away] from following the Lord, or if [it’s] to offer burnt [offerings] or [meat/grain offerings,] or Peace Offerings [on it,] let the Lord Himself [hold us accountable for it.]

[But if instead, we did this in] fear of [whether] your children might say to our children, What [right do] you have to [worship] the Lord God of Israel?

For the Lord has made [the] Jordan [River] a border between us & you children of Reuben & Gad & you have no part in the Lord. [Then,] your children [will] make our children [stop] from fearing [respecting] the Lord.

Therefore, we said, Let us prepare now to build us an altar, not for burnt [offerings or sacrifices,] but [so] it may be a witness between us & you & our [descendants] after us, [so] we might do the service of the Lord before Him

with our burnt offerings & with our sacrifices & our Peace Offerings, [so] your children [won’t] say to our children [in the future,] You have no part in the Lord.

Therefore, [if any of your descendants] shall say this to us in [the future,] we shall [answer, Look] at the pattern of the altar of the Lord, [that] our [forefathers] made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but [as] a witness between us and you.

God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord & turn from following the Lord, this day, to [build] an altar for burnt offerings, or [meat/grain] offerings, or for sacrifices, [in addition to] the altar of the Lord our God that is [in front of] His tabernacle.

When Phinehas, the priest & the [leaders] of the congregation & heads of 1,000’s of Israel with him, heard what] the [people] of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh [said, they were] pleased.

Phinehas said to the [people] of Reuben, Gad & Manasseh, This day, we [understand] that the Lord is among us, because you have not committed this [sin] against the Lord.

Now, you have delivered the [people] of Israel out of the hand of the Lord. Phinehas, the priest, the [leaders, left] from the children [people] of Reuben, Gad [& Manasseh] & returned to the land of Canaan [to the Israelites to explain what happened.]

[This] pleased the [people] of Israel & [people] of Israel blessed God & [didn’t plan] to go against them in battle, to destroy the land where the [tribes] of Reuben, Gad [& ½ of Manasseh lived.] The [people] of Reuben & Gad called the altar Ed, for it shall be a Witness between us that the Lord is God.