Joshua 22
1 Emesịa, Joshua kpọkọtara ndị agha si nʼebo Ruben, na Gad, na ọkara Manase, gwa ha okwu sị:
Then Joshua summoned the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
2 “Unu emeela ihe niile Mosis onyeozi Onyenwe anyị nyere unu nʼiwu. Unu egeela ntị nʼolu m, mee ihe niile m nyere unu nʼiwu.
He told them, “You have done everything that Moses, the servant of the Lord, told you to do, and you have followed all the commands I gave you.
3 E, unu arụzuola ọrụ ahụ Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu nyere unu. Unu ahapụghị ụmụnna unu nʼọgbọ agha ogologo ụbọchị ndị a niile.
You have never abandoned your brothers all this time, right up to the present day. You have carefully followed what the Lord your God ordered you to do.
4 Ugbu a, Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu enyela ụmụnna unu mmeri. O meekwala ka ha zuru ike dịka o kwere nkwa na ọ ga-eme. Ugbu a, laghachinụ nʼụlọ unu, laghachikwanụ nʼala unu, ala ahụ Mosis onyeozi Onyenwe anyị nyere unu nʼofe ọzọ nke osimiri Jọdan.
Now that the Lord your God has given peace to your brothers, as he promised, go back home to your land that Moses, the servant of the Lord, gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
5 Ma lezienụ anya nke ọma idebe iwu na ụkpụrụ niile nke Mosis onyeozi Onyenwe anyị nyere unu: nke bụ ịhụ Onyenwe anyị Chineke unu nʼanya, ịga ije nʼirube isi nye ya, irube isi nʼiwu ya niile, ịdabere na ya, na iji obi unu niile na mkpụrụobi unu niile fee ya ofufe.”
But make sure you keep the commandments and the law as Moses instructed you. Love the Lord your God, follow all his ways, keep his commandments, stay close to him, and serve him with your whole being.”
6 Ya mere, Joshua gọziri ha, zipụ ha, ha lakwara nʼụlọ nke aka ha.
Joshua blessed them, sent them on their way, and they went home.
7 Ọkara ebo Manase ka Mosis nyere ihe nketa nke ha nʼime ala Bashan, ma ọkara ebo Manase nke ọzọ nwetara ihe nketa nke ha nʼakụkụ ọdịda anyanwụ osimiri Jọdan. Mgbe Joshua na-ezilaga ha nʼụlọ ha, ọ gọziri ha, gwa ha okwu sị,
Moses had given to the half-tribe of Manasseh the land of Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua had given land west of the Jordan. Joshua blessed them and sent them home.
8 “Werenụ ọtụtụ akụ unu lụtara nʼagha laa. Mgbe unu ruru, kenyenụ ndị ikwu unu ụfọdụ ihe site nʼime akụ ndị iro unu a.” Nʼihi na ihe ha kwatara nʼagha dị ukwuu: igwe anụ ụlọ, na ọlaọcha, na ọlaedo, na bronz, na igwe, na uwe dị iche iche.
He told them, “Take all the wealth you have gained back home: the great herds of livestock, the things made of gold, silver, copper, and iron, the huge quantity of clothes. Share all this plunder with your brothers.”
9 Ya mere, ndị agha Ruben na Gad, na ọkara ebo Manase, hapụrụ ndị agha Izrel na Shaịlo, nʼime ala Kenan, nʼofe osimiri Jọdan, laghachi nʼala nke ha dị na Gilead, nke ha nwetara dịka iwu Onyenwe anyị nyere Mosis si dị.
So the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the rest of the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and went home to their land in Gilead that they had received at the Lord's command through Moses.
10 Mgbe ha rutere Gelilọt dị nʼakụkụ Jọdan, nʼala ndị Kenan, ụmụ Ruben, ndị Gad na ọkara ebo Manase wuru ebe ịchụ aja dị ukwu nʼebe ahụ nʼakụkụ Jọdan.
When they approached the Jordan region, still in the land of Canaan, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh built a large and impressive altar beside the Jordan River.
11 Mgbe ndị Izrel nụrụ na ha e wuola ebe ịchụ aja nʼoke ala Kenan, na Gelilọt, nʼebe dị nso Jọdan, nʼofe ala ndị Izrel,
The Israelites were told, “Look, the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar in the Jordan region of the land of Canaan, on the side belonging to the Israelities.”
12 ọgbakọ Izrel niile zukọtara na Shaịlo, jikere ịga ibuso ụmụnna ha ahụ agha.
The Israelites gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.
13 Ya mere, ụmụ Izrel zigara Finehaz, nwa Elieza, bụ onye nchụaja ka ọ ga nʼala Gilead, ya bụ ijekwuru ụmụ Ruben, na ụmụ Gad, na ọkara ebo Manase.
Before they did so, they sent Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead.
14 Ndị so Finehaz nʼozi a bụ ndị ndu iri. Otu onyendu sitere nʼotu ebo, nʼime ebo iri nke ụmụ Izrel.
Ten leaders went with him, one from each of the ten tribes of Israel, and each the head of his family.
15 Mgbe ndị a rutere nʼala Gilead, ha kpọkọtara ụmụ Ruben, na ụmụ Gad, na ọkara ebo Manase gwa ha okwu sị,
After they arrived they told the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,
16 “Otu a ka ọgbakọ niile nke Onyenwe anyị sịrị, ‘Olee ụdị njehie dị nke a, nke unu mere megide Chineke? Olee otu unu si wezuga onwe unu site nʼebe Onyenwe anyị nọ, gaa wuore onwe unu ebe ịchụ aja, si otu a nupu isi megide ya?
“This is what all of the Lord's people say, ‘What is this disloyal act you have committed against the God of Israel by building an altar for yourselves? How could you turn away from him now in such rebellion?
17 Ọ pụtara na mmehie Peoa ezubereghị anyị? Ruo taa anyị asachapụbeghị onwe anyị site na mmehie ahụ, ọ bụ ezie nʼọrịa na-efe efe dakwasịrị nzukọ nke Onyenwe anyị.
Wasn't our sin at Peor enough? Even now we're still not clean from the plague that attacked the Lord's people.
18 Ugbu a, unu na-achọkwa isite nʼebe Onyenwe anyị nọ chigharịa. “‘Ọ bụrụ na unu enupu isi megide Onyenwe anyị taa, matakwanụ na echi ya, ọ ga-eweso nzukọ Izrel niile iwe.
So why are you turning away from the Lord now? If you rebel against the Lord today, he will be angry with all of us tomorrow!
19 Ọ bụrụ na unu wuru ebe ịchụ aja ahụ nʼihi na ala unu rụrụ arụ, bịakwutenụ anyị nʼakụkụ nke ọzọ, nke osimiri a, ebe Onyenwe anyị bi nʼetiti anyị, nʼime ụlọ nzute obibi ya. Anyị ga-ekenyekwa unu ala anyị. Ma unu enupula isi megide Onyenwe anyị site nʼiwu ebe ịchụ aja ọzọ, ebe ọ bụ na e nwere otu ebe bụ ezi ebe ịchụ aja nye Onyenwe anyị Chineke anyị.
But if you think your land is tainted then come over to the land of the Lord where the Tabernacle of the Lord is located and share some of our land with us. Just don't rebel against the Lord, or against us, by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the Lord our God.
20 Mgbe Ekan, nwa Zera, zipụtara onwe ya dịka onye na-ekwesighị ntụkwasị obi nʼihe metụtara ihe e doro nsọ, ọ bụ na nzukọ Izrel niile esoghị keta oke nʼahụhụ dakwasịrị ya? Ọ bụghị naanị ya nwụrụ nʼihi mmehie ahụ.’”
When Achan, son of Zerah, acted disloyally in taking consecrated things, didn't the whole of Israel suffer punishment? He wasn't the only one who died because of his sin!”
21 Nke a bụ nzaghachi ụmụ Ruben, na ụmụ Gad na ọkara ebo ụmụ Manase, nyere ndị ndu ụmụ Izrel niile;
Then the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the Israelite leaders,
22 “Chineke onye kachasị chi niile, bụ Onyenwe anyị! Chineke onye kachasị chi niile, bụ Onyenwe anyị! Ya onwe ya maara, ka Izrel niile matakwa. A sị na nke a bụ nnupu isi, a sịkwarị na ọ bụ enweghị ntụkwasị obi nye Onyenwe anyị, unu ahapụla anyị ka anyị dịrị ndụ.
“The Lord is God of gods, the Lord is God of gods, and he knows! May Israel also know! If we're in rebellion against God or being disloyal to him then kill us right now!
23 Ọ bụrụ na anyị sitere na nnupu isi wuo ebe ịchụ aja a maka ịchụ aja udo maọbụ aja mkpụrụ ọka, ka Onyenwe anyị nʼonwe ya taa anyị ahụhụ.
If our action of building an altar was to turn away from the Lord, or to use the altar to make burnt offerings or grain offerings or friendship offerings, then may the Lord punish us.
24 “Ma nke ahụ abụghị ihe anyị bu nʼobi! Anyị wuru ya nʼihi na anyị tụrụ ụjọ na nʼoge dị nʼihu, ụmụ unu ga-agwa ụmụ anyị okwu sị, ‘Gịnị ka unu na Onyenwe anyị, Chineke Izrel nwekọrọ?
We did this because we were worried that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you got to do with the Lord, the God of Israel?
25 Onyenwe anyị e jirila osimiri Jọdan kpaa oke nʼetiti anyị na unu, unu ụmụ Ruben na Gad. Unu enweghị oke nʼime Onyenwe anyị!’ Nʼụzọ dị otu a, ụmụ unu nwere ike ime ụmụ anyị ka ha kwụsị ịtụ egwu Onyenwe anyị.
The Lord put a border—the Jordan River—between us and you, descendants of Reuben and Gad. You don't belong to the Lord.’ So your descendants might stop our descendants from worshiping the Lord.
26 “Ọ bụ nke a mere anyị ji kpebie sị, ‘Ka anyị jikere wuo ebe ịchụ aja, ma ọ bụghị ebe ịchụ aja nsure ọkụ maọbụ aja ndị ọzọ,’
So we said to ourselves, ‘Let's build an altar, not for burnt offerings or for sacrifices,
27 Kama, ọ bụ ebe ịchụ aja ịhụba ama nʼetiti unu na anyị, nakwa ọgbọ ndị nke ga-esote anyị, na anyị ga-efe Onyenwe anyị ofufe nʼụlọnsọ ya, site na ịchụrụ ya aja nsure ọkụ, na aja udo. Mgbe ahụ, nʼoge dị nʼihu, ụmụ ụmụ unu agaghị asị ụmụ ụmụ anyị, ‘Unu enweghị oke nʼime Onyenwe anyị Chineke.’
but as a witness between us and you, and for the generations that come after us, that we will come to worship the Lord in his presence with our burnt offerings, sacrifices, and friendship offerings.’ Then your descendants will not be able to say to ours in the future, ‘You don't belong to the Lord.’
28 “Echiche obi anyị bụ na ọ bụrụ na ụmụ ụmụ unu ekwuo ihe dị otu a, ụmụ anyị ga-azaghachi ha sị, ‘Lee ebe ịchụ aja nna anyị ha wuru, nke yiri ebe ịchụ aja Onyenwe anyị. E wughị ya maka ịchụ aja nsure ọkụ, kama e wuru ya dịka ihe ama na-egosi nnwekọ dị nʼetiti anyị na unu.’
If they were to do so in the future, our descendants could reply, ‘Look at this copy of the Lord's altar which our forefathers made, not for burnt offerings or for sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’
29 “Anyị agaghị enupu isi nʼebe Onyenwe anyị nọ; anyị agaghị esitekwa nʼiso Onyenwe anyị Chineke wezuga onwe anyị, site nʼiwuru onwe anyị ebe ịchụ aja nke aja nsure ọkụ, na aja mkpụrụ ọka maọbụ ụdị aja ọzọ dị iche iche. Ebe ịchụ aja anyị maara bụ ebe ịchụ aja Onyenwe anyị Chineke anyị, nke guzo nʼihu ụlọ nzute ya.”
We would never think to rebel against the Lord or to turn away from him now by building an altar to make burnt offerings or grain offerings or sacrifices. The only altar of the Lord our God is the one stands in front of his Tabernacle.”
30 Mgbe Finehaz onye nchụaja, na ndị ndu nzukọ ahụ, bụ ndịisi ezinaụlọ ndị Izrel nụrụ ihe ụmụ Ruben, na ụmụ Gad, na ụmụ Manase kwuru, ọ masịrị ha.
When Phinehas and the Israelite leaders heard this from the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh they were delighted.
31 Ya mere, Finehaz nwa Elieza, bụ onye nchụaja, sịrị Ruben, na Gad, na Manase, “Taa ka anyị maara na Onyenwe anyị nọ nʼetiti anyị, nʼihi na unu emehieghị megide Onyenwe anyị dịka anyị chere. Ya mere, unu azọpụtala ndị Izrel site na mbibi gaara abịakwasị ha site nʼaka Onyenwe anyị.”
Phinehas replied to the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us because you have not acted disloyally in doing this. Now you have saved the Israelites from being punished by the Lord.”
32 Mgbe ahụ Finehaz, nwa Elieza, onye nchụaja, na ndị ndu ahụ laghachitere Kenan site na nzukọ ha na ụmụ Ruben na Gad na ọkara Manase mere nʼala Gilead kọọrọ Izrel ihe ha gatara.
Then Phinehas and the Israelite leaders left the tribes of Reuben and Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and returned to the land of Canaan to explain the situation to the Israelites.
33 Okwu a tọrọ ụmụ Izrel ụtọ. Ha ṅụrịrị ọṅụ, too Chineke otuto. Ha ekwukwaghị okwu ibu agha megide ụmụ Ruben, ụmụ Gad na ụmụ Manase, banyere ibibi ala ha bi nʼime ya.
The Israelites were pleased with the report and God blessed them. They didn't talk about going to war any more to destroy the land where the tribes of Reuben and Gad were living.
34 Ya mere, ụmụ Ruben na ụmụ Gad kpọrọ ebe ịchụ aja ha wuru, “Ebe ịchụ aja akaebe,” nʼihi na ha sịrị, “Ọ bụ ihe akaebe igosi mmadụ niile na Onyenwe anyị bụkwa Chineke anyị.”
The tribes of Reuben and Gad called the altar, “Witness,” because they said, “It is a witness between us that the Lord is also our God.”
