9
The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe* of Manassehreturned home and departed from the sons of Israel at Shilohwhich is in the land of Canaan, to go to the 1land of Gilead, to the land of their possessionwhich they had possessed, according to the command of the LORDthroughMoses.
The Offensive Altar
10 When they came to the region of the Jordanwhich is in the land of Canaan, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe* of Manassehbuilt an altarthere by the Jordan, a largealtar in appearance.
11
And the sons of Israelheard it said, "Behold, the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe* of Manasseh have 2built an altar at the frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel."
12
When the sons of Israelheard of it, the wholecongregation of the sons of Israelgathered themselves at 3Shiloh to go up against them in war.
13
Then the sons of Israelsent to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe* of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, 4Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
14
and with him tenchiefs, onechief for each father'shousehold from each of the tribes of Israel; and 5eachone of them was the head of his father'shousehold among the thousands of Israel.
15
They came to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe* of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them saying,
16
"Thussays the wholecongregation of the LORD, 'What is thisunfaithfulactwhich you have committed against the God of Israel, turningaway from following the LORD this day, by 6building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the LORD this day?
17
'Is not 7the iniquity of Peorenough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to thisday, although a plaguecame on the congregation of the LORD,
18
that you must turnaway this day from following the LORD? If you rebel against the LORD today, 8He will be angry with the wholecongregation of Israeltomorrow.
19
'If, however, the land of your possession is unclean, then cross into the land of the possession of the LORD, where* the LORD'Stabernaclestands, and takepossessionamong us. Only do not rebel against the LORD, or rebelagainst us by 9building an altar for yourselves, besides* the altar of the LORD our God.