Yoshua 22

1 Kwa wakati huo, Yoshua aliwaita Warubeni, Wagadi, na nusu ya kabila la Manase.

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

2 Aliwaambia, “Mmefanya kila kitu ambacho Musa mtumishi wa Yahweh aliwaagiza ninyi. Mmeitii sauti yangu katika yote niliyowaagiza.

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 Bado hamjawaacha ndugu zenu hawa kwa siku zote hizi, mpaka siku hii ya leo. Na mmetimiza wajibu unaotakiwa na amri za Yahweh Mungu wenu.

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 Sasa Yahweh Mungu wenu amewapa pumziko ndugu zenu, kama alivyowaahidi. Hivyo basi, rudini na mwende katika hema zenu katika nchi mnayoimiliki, ambayo Musa mtumishi wa Yahweh aliwapeni katika upande mwingine wa Yordani.

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 Lakini zingatieni kuzishika amri na sheria ambazo Musa mtumishi wa Yahweh aliwaagiza ninyi, kumpenda Yahweh Mungu wenu, kutembea katika njia zake, kuzitunza amri zake, na kuambatana naye na kumwabudu yeye kwa moyo wenu wote na kwa roho zenu zote.

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 Basi Yoshua akawabariki na kisha akawaacha waende zao, nao wakarudi katika hema zao.

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

7 Na kwa nusu ya kabila la Manase, Musa alikuwa amewapa urithi katika Bashani, lakini kwa nusu ya kabila hilo, Yoshua aliwapa urithi karibu na ndugu zao katika nchi magharibi mwa Yordani. Yoshua aliwaaga waende katika hema zao; aliwabarikia,

(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 na kisha akawaambia, “Rudini katika hema zenu mkiwa na pesa nyingi, na mkiwa na mifugo mingi, pamoja na na fedha, na dhahabu, na shaba na chuma, na nguo nyingi. Gawaneni na ndugu zenu nyara mlizochukua kutoka kwa maadui zenu.

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 Hivyo, wazawa wa Rubeni, wazawa wa Gadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase walirudi nyumbani, waliwaacha watu wa Isaeli hapo Shilo, ambayo imo ndani ya nchi ya Kanaani. Waliondoka wakaenda katika mkoa wa Gileadi, katika nchi yao, ambayo wao wenyewe waliimiliki, katika utiifu wa amri za Yahweh, kwa mkono wa 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 Nao walipofika hapo Yordani iliyo katika nchi ya Kanaani, Warubeni na Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase walijenga madhabahu karibu na Yordani, madhabahu kubwa na iliyotokeza na mashuhuri.

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 Watu wa Israeli walisikia habari hizo na wakaseam, “Tazama! Watu wa Rubeni, Gadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase wamejenga madhabahu mbele ya nchi ya Kanaani, huko Gelilothi, katika mkoa karibu na Yordani, katika upande ambao ni miliki ya watu wa Israeli.”

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 Wakati watu wa Israeli waliposikia hivyo, kusanyiko lote la watu wa Israeli walikusanyika kwa pamoja huko Shilo ili wapande kupigana vita nao.

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

13 Kisha watu wa Israeli walituma wajumbe kwa Warubeni, Wagadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase, katika nchi ya Gileadi. Walimtuma pia Finehasi mwana wa Eliezari, kuhani,

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 na viongozi kumi pamoja naye, mmoja kutoka katika familia za mababa wa Israeli, na kila mmoja wao alikuwa ni kiongozi wa ukoo miongoni mwa watu wa Israeli.

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 Walienda kwa watu wa Rubeni, Gadi, na nusu ya kabila la Manase, katika nchi ya Gileadi, na wakawaambia:

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

16 “Kusanyiko lote la Yahweh linasema kuwa, ' Ni jambo gani hili lisilo la uaminifu ambalo mmelitenda kinyume na Mungu wa Israeli, kwa kugeuka badala ya kumfuata Yahweh siku hii na kujijengea wenyewe madhabahu katika uasi kinyume na Yahweh katika siku hii?

“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 Je dhambi zetu huko Peori hazikututosha? Bado hata sasa hatujajitakasa wenyewe kwa dhambi hiyo. Kwa ajili ya dhambi ile lilikuja pigo kwa kusanyiko lote la Yahweh.

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 Je, nanyi leo pia mwageuka na kuacha kumfuata Yahweh? Kama mtaasi kinyume na Yahweh leo, kesho atakuwa na hasira na kusanyiko lote la Israeli.

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 Na kama nchi ambayo mnaimiliki imetiwa unajisi, basi mwaweza kuvuka katika nchi ambayo Sanduku la Yahweh lasimama na mjichukulie kwa ajili yenu umiliki miongoni mwetu. Hamtakiwi kuasi kinyume na Yahweh tu, wala kuasi kinyume chetu kwa kujenga madhabahu kwa ajili yenu wenyewe badala ya madhabahu ya Yahweh Mungu wa wetu.

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 Je hakuwa Akani mwana wa Zera aliyeivunja imani kwa vitu vile ambavyo vilikuwa vimetunzwa kwa ajili ya Mungu? Na je ghadhabu ya Mungu haikushuka kwa watu wote wa Israeli? Mtu yule hakuangamia peke yake kwa uovu wake.

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 Kisha makabila ya Rubeni, Gadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase wakawajibu wazee wa koo za Israeli:

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

22 “Yahweh, Mungu Mwenye nguvu! Yahweh, Mungu Mwenye nguvu! Yeye anajua, na Israeli naijue yenyewe! Kama ilikuwa ni katika uasi au katika kuvunja imani kinyume na Yahweh, msituache hai katika siku hii ya leo

“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 kwa ajili ya kujenga madhabahu ili tugeuka na kuacha kumfuata Yahweh. Kama tumejenga madhabahu hii ili kutoa juu yake sadaka ya kuteketezwa, sadaka ya nafaka, au sadaka ya amani, basi Yahweh na atuadhibu.

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 La hasha, tulifanya hivyo kwa sababu ya hofu kwamba katika siku zijazo watoto wenu wanaweza kuwaambia watoto wetu, ' Mna nini ninyi na Yahweh, Mungu wa Israeli?

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 Kwa kuwa Yahweh ameifanya Yordani kuwa mpaka kati yetu na ninyi. Ninyi watu wa Rubeni na watu wa Gadi, hamna kitu chochote naYahweh.' Na kwa hali hiyo, watoto wenu wanaweza kuwafanya watoto wetu waacha kumwabudu Yahweh.

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 Basi tukasema, 'Hebu na tujenge sasa madhabahu, si kwa ajili ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa wala si kwa sadaka yoyote ile,

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

27 ila iwe ni ushahidi kati yetu na ninyi, na kati ya kizazi chetu baada yetu, kwamba tutafanya ibada ya Yahweh mbele yake, pamoja na sadaka zetu za kuteketezwa na dhabihu zetu na sadaka zetu za amani, ili kwamba watoto wenu wasiweze kuwaambia watoto wetu katika siku zijazo kuwa, “Hamna sehemu katika Yahweh.”'

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 Hivyo tukasema, 'kama hili litasemwa kwa kwetu au kwa watoto wetu katika siku zijazo, tutasema, “Tazama! Huu ni mfano wa madhabahu ya Yahweh, ambayo mababu zetu waliifanya, si kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, wala si kwa dhabihu, bali kwa ajili ya ushahidi kati yetu ninyi.”

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 Na iwe mbali nasi kwamba tunataka kugeuka kinyume na Yahweh, na kuacha kumfuata yeye kwa kujenga madhabahu kwa ajili sadaka ya kuteketezwa, na kwa sadaka ya nafaka, au kwa dhabihu, badala ya madhabahu ya Yahweh Mungu wetu ambayo iko mbele ya hema la kukutania.'”

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 Finehasi kuhani na viongozi wa watu, ambao ni wakuu wa koo za Waisraeli ambao walikuwa pamoja naye, waliposikia maneno amabayo watu wa Rubeni, Gadi na nusu ya kabila la Manase, kwamba yalikuwa ni mazuri machoni pao.

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 Finehasi mwana wa Eliazeri kuhani aliwaambia watu wa Rubeni, Gadi na Manase, “Leo tumejua kwambaYahweh yuko miongoni mwetu, kwa kuwa hamjatenda uvunjaji wa imani kinyume naye. Sasa, mmewaokoa watu wa Israeli kutoka katika mkono wa Yahweh.”

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 Kisha Finehasi mwana wa Eliazeri kuhani, na viongozi walirudi kutoka kwa Warubeni na Wagadi, kutoka katika nchi ya Gileadi, na kurudi katika nchi ya Kanaani, kwa watu wa Israeli, na waliwaletea taarifa.

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 Taarifa yao ilikuwa nzuri katika macho ya watu wa Israeli. Watu wa Israeli walimbarikia Mungu na hawakuendelea kusema tena juu ya kuinua vita dhidi ya Warubeni na Wagadi, ili kuiharibu nchi ambayo walikuwa wanaishi.

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 Warubeni na Wagadi waliita ile madhabahu “Ushahidi,” kwa kuwa walisema, “Ni ushahidi miongoni mwetu kuwa Yahweh ni Mungu.”

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