Joshua 22

1 Ningĩ Joshua agĩĩta andũ a Mũhĩrĩga wa Rubeni, na wa Gadi. na nuthu ya mũhĩrĩga wa Manase,

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh

2 akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Nĩmwĩkĩte maũndũ marĩa mothe Musa ndungata ya Jehova aamwathire, na nĩmũnjathĩkĩire maũndũ-inĩ mothe marĩa ndĩmwathĩte.

and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

3 Matukũ macio mothe mathirĩte o nginya ũmũthĩ-rĩ, mũtirĩ mwatiganĩria ariũ a thoguo, no nĩmũrutĩte wĩra ũrĩa Jehova Ngai wanyu aamũheire.

All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God.

4 Na rĩrĩ, kuona atĩ Jehova nĩaheete ariũ a thoguo ũhurũko o ta ũrĩa eeranĩire-rĩ, cookai mũthiĩ mĩciĩ kwanyu bũrũri-inĩ ũrĩa Musa ndungata ya Jehova aamũheire mũrĩmo ũũrĩa ũngĩ wa Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani.

And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan.

5 No rĩrĩ, menyerera mũno mũtikanaage kũhingia maathani na watho ũrĩa Musa ndungata ya Jehova aamũheire; akĩmwĩra mwendage Jehova Ngai wanyu, na mũrũmagie njĩra ciake ciothe, na mwathĩkagĩre maathani make, na mũtũũre mwĩgwatanĩtie nake, na mũmũtungatagĩre na ngoro cianyu ciothe na mĩoyo yanyu yothe.”

But be very careful to observe 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 keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

6 Nake Joshua akĩmarathima, akĩmeera mathiĩ, nao magĩthiĩ, makĩinũka kwao mĩciĩ.

So Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way, and they went to their homes.

7 (Musa nĩaheete nuthu ĩmwe ya mũhĩrĩga wa Manase gĩthaka kũu Bashani, nayo nuthu ĩyo ĩngĩ ya mũhĩrĩga ũcio Joshua akĩmĩhe gĩthaka mwena wa ithũĩro wa Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani hamwe na ariũ a ithe wao.) Rĩrĩa Joshua aameerire mainũke-rĩ, nĩamarathimire,

(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them,

8 akĩmeera atĩrĩ, “Cookai mĩciĩ kwanyu hamwe na ũtonga wanyu mũnene, wa mahiũ maingĩ, na betha, na thahabu, na icango, na igera, na nguo nyingĩ mũno cia kwĩhumba, na mũthiĩ mũgayane indo icio mũtahĩte kuuma kũrĩ thũ cianyu na ariũ a ithe wanyu.”

saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”

9 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio mũhĩrĩga wa Rubeni, na wa Gadi, na nuthu ya Manase magĩtiga andũ a Isiraeli Shilo kũu Kaanani nĩguo macooke Gileadi, bũrũri wao kĩũmbe, ũrĩa meegwatĩire naguo o ta ũrĩa Jehova aathĩte Musa.

So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to return to their own land of Gilead, which they had acquired according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

10 Rĩrĩa maakinyire Gelilothu gũkuhĩ na Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani kũu bũrũri wa Kaanani-rĩ, mũhĩrĩga wa Rubeni, na wa Gadi, na nuthu ya mũhĩrĩga wa Manase nĩmakire kĩgongona kĩnene biũ o kũu hũgũrũrũ-inĩ cia Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani.

And 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 Na rĩrĩa andũ a Isiraeli maaiguire atĩ nĩmakĩte kĩgongona kĩu mũhaka-inĩ wa Kaanani kũu Gelilothu gũkuhĩ na Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani mwena wa andũ a Isiraeli-rĩ,

Then the Israelites received the report: “Behold, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the border of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.”

12 kĩungano gĩothe gĩa Isiraeli gĩkĩũngana Shilo nĩguo gĩkarũe nao.

And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.

13 Nĩ ũndũ ũcio andũ a Isiraeli magĩtũma Finehasi mũrũ wa Eleazaru ũrĩa mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai athiĩ bũrũri wa Gileadi; athiĩ kũrĩ mũhĩrĩga wa Rubeni, na wa Gadi na nuthu ya Manase.

The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

14 O hamwe nake, magĩtũma atongoria ikũmi o mũtongoria ũmwe akarũgamĩrĩra mũhĩrĩga o mũndũ ũmwe wa Isiraeli, o ũmwe wao nĩwe warĩ mũnene wa nyũmba ya ithe thĩinĩ wa mbarĩ cia andũ a Isiraeli.

With him they sent ten chiefs—one family leader from each tribe of Israel, each the head of a family among the clans of Israel.

15 Rĩrĩa maathiire Gileadi, magĩthiĩ kũrĩ mũhĩrĩga wa Rubeni, na Gadi, na nuthu ya Manase, makĩmeera atĩrĩ,

They went to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and said to them,

16 “Kĩũngano gĩothe kĩa Jehova gĩkũmũũria atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩ kĩĩ gĩtũmĩte mwage kwĩhokeka harĩ Ngai wa Isiraeli? Mwahota atĩa kũhutatĩra Jehova mũkeyakĩra kĩgongona nĩguo mũũkĩrĩre Jehova mũmũremere?

“This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?

17 Mehia marĩa meekĩirwo Peori matitũiganĩte? Nginya ũmũthĩ ũyũ tũtirĩ twetheria mehia macio, o na gũtuĩka mũthiro nĩwokire igũrũ rĩa kĩrĩndĩ kĩa Jehova!

Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.

18 Rĩu na inyuĩ nĩ Jehova mũrahutatĩra? “‘Mũngĩremera Jehova ũmũthĩ, rũciũ nake nĩakarakarĩra kĩrĩndĩ gĩothe gĩa Isiraeli.

And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.

19 Angĩkorwo bũrũri ũrĩa mwĩgwatĩire nĩmũthaahu-rĩ, ringai mũũke bũrũri wa Jehova, kũrĩa hema ya Jehova ĩrĩ, mũgayane bũrũri na ithuĩ. No rĩrĩ, mũtikaremere Jehova kana mũtũremere na ũndũ wa kwĩyakĩra kĩgongona kĩanyu inyuĩ ene, o tiga kĩgongona kĩrĩa kĩrĩ kĩa Jehova Ngai witũ.

If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession, where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.

20 Rĩrĩa Akani mũrũ wa Zera aagire kwĩhokeka maũndũ-inĩ makoniĩ indo iria ciamũrĩtwo cia kũniinwo-rĩ, githĩ mangʼũrĩ matiakinyĩrĩire kĩrĩndĩ gĩothe gĩa Isiraeli? Mũndũ ũcio to we wiki wakuire nĩ ũndũ wa mehia make.’”

Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”

21 Hĩndĩ ĩyo andũ a Rubeni, na a Gadi, na a nuthu ya Manase magĩcookeria anene a mbarĩ cia Isiraeli makĩmeera atĩrĩ:

Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel:

22 “Jehova, Ngai, Mwene-Hinya, o we Jehova! Jehova, Ngai, Mwene-Hinya, o we Jehova! Nĩwe ũũĩ! Narĩo Isiraeli nĩrĩmenye! Angĩkorwo ũndũ ũyũ nĩ wa ũremi o na kana kwaga gwathĩkĩra Jehova, mũtigatũtigie muoyo ũmũthĩ.

“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.

23 Angĩkorwo nĩtwakĩte kĩgongona giitũ ithuĩ ene nĩguo tũhutatĩre Jehova, na tũrutage maruta ma njino na ma mũtu, o na kana tũkarutagĩra igongona rĩa ũiguano igũrũ rĩakĩo-rĩ, Jehova aroĩyũrĩria gĩtũmi kĩa ũhoro ũcio harĩ ithuĩ.

If we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.

24 “Aca! Ithuĩ twekire ũguo nĩ ũndũ wa gwĩtigĩra atĩ mũthenya ũmwe njiaro cianyu ciahota gũkeera ciitũ atĩrĩ, ‘Inyuĩ nĩ ũhoro ũrĩkũ mũrĩ naguo na Jehova Ngai wa Isiraeli?

But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?

25 Jehova nĩekĩrĩte mũhaka wa Rũũĩ rwa Jorodani ũtuĩke wa gũtũhakania ithuĩ na inyuĩ, na andũ aya a Rubeni na Gadi! Gũtirĩ ũndũ mwĩtainwo na Jehova.’ Nĩ ũndũ ũcio njiaro cianyu ciahota gũtũma ciitũ itige gũcooka gwĩtigĩra Jehova.

For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.

26 “Kĩu nĩkĩo gĩatũmire tuuge atĩrĩ, ‘Nĩtwĩhaarĩrie twĩakĩre kĩgongona, no ti kĩa maruta ma njino o na kana magongona mangĩ.’

That is why we said, ‘Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.

27 No rĩrĩ, nĩ gĩtuĩke ũira gatagatĩ gaitũ na inyuĩ na njiarwa iria igooka, atĩ tũrĩhooyagĩra Jehova hema-inĩ yake tũrĩ na maruta maitũ ma njino, na magongona na maruta ma ũiguano. Ningĩ matukũ ma thuutha njiaro cianyu itikeera njiaro ciitũ atĩrĩ, ‘Mũtirĩ na igai harĩ Jehova.’

Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD in His presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and peace offerings.’ Then in the future, your descendants cannot say to ours, ‘You have no share in the LORD!’

28 “Na ithuĩ tũkiuga atĩrĩ, ‘Mangĩgaatwĩra ũguo, o na kana meere njiaro ciitũ ũguo-rĩ, nĩtũkamacookeria, tũmeere atĩrĩ: Ta rorai muone mũhianĩre wa kĩgongona kĩa Jehova, kĩrĩa maithe maitũ maakire, gĩtiakirwo nĩ ũndũ wa maruta ma njino na magongona mangĩ, no gĩakirwo nĩguo gĩtuĩke ũira gatagatĩ gaitũ na inyuĩ.’

Therefore we said, ‘If they ever say this to us or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the altar of the LORD that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’

29 “Kũroaga gũtuĩka ũguo, atĩ no tũremere Jehova tũmũhutatĩre ũmũthĩ na ũndũ wa gwaka kĩgongona kĩngĩ gĩa keerĩ gĩa kũrutĩra maruta ma njino, na maruta ma mũtu na magongona mangĩ, tiga o kĩgongona kĩa Jehova Ngai witũ kĩrĩa gĩakĩtwo hema-inĩ yake.”

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, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle.”

30 Rĩrĩa Finehasi, mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai hamwe na atongoria a kĩrĩndĩ, o acio atongoria a mbarĩ cia andũ a Isiraeli maaiguire ũrĩa Rubeni, na Gadi, na Manase moigire-rĩ, magĩkena.

When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.

31 Nake Finehasi mũrũ wa Eleazaru ũrĩa mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai akĩĩra Rubeni, na Gadi, na Manase atĩrĩ, “Ũmũthĩ nĩtwamenya atĩ Jehova arĩ hamwe na ithuĩ, tondũ mũtihĩtĩirie Jehova ũndũ-inĩ ũyũ. Rĩu nĩmũteithũkĩtie andũ a Isiraeli kuuma guoko-inĩ kwa Jehova.”

Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.”

32 Nake Finehasi mũrũ wa Eleazaru, ũrĩa mũthĩnjĩri-Ngai, hamwe na atongoria magĩcooka Kaanani thuutha wa gũcemania na andũ a Rubeni na Gadi kũu Gileadi, nao magĩcookeria andũ a Isiraeli ũhoro.

Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead.

33 Nĩmakenire nĩ kũigua ũhoro ũcio, na makĩgooca Ngai. Na matiigana gũcooka kwaria ũhoro wa kũrũa nao atĩ nĩguo maharaganie bũrũri ũrĩa andũ a Rubeni na Gadi matũũraga.

The Israelites were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.

34 Nao andũ a Rubeni na Gadi magĩĩta kĩgongona kĩu ũũ: Mũira Gatagatĩ Gaitũ atĩ Jehova nĩwe Ngai.

So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar Witness, for they said, “It is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”