Yosua 22

1 Afei, Yosua frɛɛ Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuw ne Manase abusuakuw fa no nyinaa.

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

2 Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn se, “Moayɛ sɛnea Mose, Awurade somfo hyɛɛ mo sɛ monyɛ no na moadi ɔhyɛ asɛm biara a mehyɛ maa mo no so.

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 Ɛwɔ mu sɛ dwumadi no agye bere tenten bi de, nanso moampa mmusuakuw a aka no akyi. Moatɔ mo bo ase adi mmara a Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn hyɛ maa mo no so de abesi nnɛ.

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 mprempren Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn ama mmusuakuw a aka no ahomegye sɛnea ɔhyɛɛ wɔn bɔ no. Enti monkɔ mo nkyi wɔ asase a Mose, Awurade somfo no de maa mo wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan apuei fam no so.

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 Monhwɛ yiye na munni mmara a Mose hyɛ maa mo no so. Monnɔ Awurade, mo Nyankopɔn. Monnantew nʼakwan nyinaa so, munni nʼahyɛde so, munni no nokware na momfa mo koma nyinaa ne mo kra nyinaa nsom no.”

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 Na Yosua hyiraa wɔn, gyaa wɔn kwan ma wɔkɔɔ fie.

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

7 Mose de Basan asase a ɛwɔ Yordan apuei fam no maa Manase abusuakuw fa no. Abusuakuw no fa a aka no nso, wɔde asase no fa a ɛda Yordan atɔe fam no maa wɔn. Yosua regya wɔn kwan no, ohyiraa wɔn,

(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 kae se, “Agyapade bebrebe a moanya afi mo atamfo nkyɛn no, mo ne mo abusuafo a wɔwɔ fie no nkyɛ. Anantwi dodow ne nguan bebrebe no, mo dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ, mo kɔbere mfrafrae, dade ne adurade no nyinaa, mo ne wɔn nkyɛ.”

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 Enti Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no gyaw Israelfo nkae no hɔ wɔ Silo a ɛwɔ Kanaan asase so. Wofitii wɔn akwantu ase sɛ wɔresan akɔ wɔn ankasa asase a ɛwɔ Gilead, asase a na ɛyɛ wɔn dea dedaw a Awurade hyɛɛ Mose ma ɔde maa wɔn no so.

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 Wɔda so wɔ Kanaan no, ansa na wobetwa Asubɔnten Yordan no, Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no sii afɔremuka kɛse bi wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan nkyɛn, wɔ faako a wɔfrɛ hɔ Gelilot no.

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 Israelfo a wɔaka no tee sɛ wɔasi afɔremuka wɔ Gelilot wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan atɔe fam, wɔ Kanaan asase so no,

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 wɔn nyinaa boaa wɔn ho ano wɔ Silo, siesiee wɔn ho sɛ wɔrekɔko atia wɔn nuanom.

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

13 Nea edi kan no, wotuu nnipa a ɔsɔfo Eleasar babarima Pinehas tua wɔn ano kɔɔ Gilead. Wotwaa asubɔnten no sɛ wɔne Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no rekɔkasa.

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 Nnipa a wotuu wɔn no yɛ mpanyimfo du a obiara gyina hɔ ma Israel mmusuakuw du no mu baako, na ɔsan yɛ ɔkannifo ma Israel mmusua no mu baako.

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 Na woduu Gilead asase so no, wɔka kyerɛɛ Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no se,

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

16 “Awurade asafokuw nyinaa pɛ sɛ wohu nea enti a moredi Israel Nyankopɔn no huammɔ. Adɛn nti na mutumi dan mo ho fi Awurade ho, kosi afɔremuka de tia no?

“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 Bɔne a yɛyɛɛ wɔ Peor no nnɔɔso mmaa yɛn ana? Ɔyaredɔm a ɛbɛtɔɔ Awurade asafokuw no nyinaa so akyi no mpo, yennwiraa yɛn ho mfii ho.

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 Nanso nnɛ yi, moretwe mo ho afi Awurade ho, sɛ morenni nʼakyi. “Sɛ mosɔre tia Awurade nnɛ a, ɔkyena ne bo befuw yɛn nyinaa.

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 Sɛ mususuw sɛ efi aka mo asase enti afɔremuka ho hia mo a, ɛno de, mommɛka yɛn ho wɔ asuogya ha wɔ faako a Awurade ne yɛn te wɔ nʼAsɔrefi na yɛne mo bɛkyɛ yɛn asase mu. Na monnsɔre ntia Awurade na mommfa afɔremuka foforo a moasi ama mo ho so ntwe yɛn nkɔ atuatew mu. Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn nokware afɔremuka yɛ baako pɛ.

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 Bere a Akan a ofi Serah abusua mu nam korɔn a ɔbɔɔ wɔ nneɛma a wɔayi asi hɔ ama Awurade, nam so yɛɛ bɔne no, Onyankopɔn antwe Israel manfo nyinaa aso? Ɛnyɛ ɔno nko ara na esiane bɔne no nti owui.”

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 Rubenfo, Gadfo ne Manase abusuakuw fa no buaa mpanyimfo no se,

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

22 “Awurade nko ara ne Onyankopɔn! Awurade nko ara ne Onyankopɔn! Yɛansi afɔremuka no sɛ yɛde retia Awurade. Sɛ saa na yɛayɛ a, nnɛ, momfa yɛn ho nkyɛ yɛn. Nanso Awurade nim na Israel nyinaa nso nhu sɛ,

“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 yensii afɔremuka mmaa yɛn ho sɛ yɛrefi Awurade nkyɛn. Na yɛremmɔ ɔhyew afɔre ne aduan afɔre anaa asomdwoe afɔre wɔ so nso. Sɛ eyi nti na yesii afɔremuka no a, Awurade no ankasa ntwe yɛn aso.

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 “Yɛasi saa afɔremuka yi, efisɛ yesuro sɛ daakye bi mo asefo bebisa yɛn asefo sɛ, ‘Tumi bɛn na mowɔ sɛ mobɛsom Awurade, Israel Nyankopɔn?

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 Awurade de Asubɔnten Yordan ato yɛn nkurɔfo ne ne nkurɔfo ntam hye. Munni kyɛfa wɔ Awurade mu!’ Enti mo asefo bɛma yɛn asefo agyae Awurade som.

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 “Ɛno nti yɛyɛɛ yɛn adwene sɛ yebesi afɔremuka, na ɛnyɛ sɛ yɛbɛbɔ ɔhyew afɔre wɔ so,

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

27 na mmom sɛ nkaedum. Ɛbɛbɔ yɛn asefo ne mo asefo nkae sɛ, yɛn nso, yɛwɔ ho kwan sɛ yɛbɛsom Awurade wɔ ne kronkronbea, abɔ yɛn ɔhyew afɔre, aduan afɔre ne asomdwoe afɔre. Na daakye bi no, mo asefo rentumi nka nkyerɛ yɛn asefo no se, ‘Munni kyɛfa wɔ Awurade mu.’

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 “Sɛ wɔka sɛɛ a, yɛn asefo betumi aka se, ‘Monhwɛ Awurade afɔremuka sɛso a yɛn agyanom sii. Wɔansi amma ɔhyew afɔrebɔ anaa afɔrebɔ, na mmom, ɛyɛ nkae ade a ɛkyerɛ ayɔnkofa a yɛn nyinaa wɔ wɔ Awurade mu.’

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 “Ɛmpare yɛn sɛ yɛbɛsɔre atia Awurade, anaasɛ yɛbɛtwe yɛn ho afi ne ho akosi yɛn ankasa afɔremuka ama ɔhyew afɔre, aduan afɔre anaa afɔrebɔ. Awurade, yɛn Nyankopɔn afɔremuka a esi nʼAhyiae Ntamadan anim no so na wodi saa dwuma no.”

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 Ɔsɔfo Pinehas ne mpanyimfo du no tee nsɛm yi fii Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuw ne Manase abusuakuw fa hɔ no, wɔn bo tɔɔ wɔn yam.

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 Ɔsɔfo Eleasar babarima Pinehas buaa wɔn se, “Nnɛ yɛahu sɛ Awurade wɔ yɛn ntam, efisɛ monyɛɛ bɔne ntiaa Awurade sɛnea yesusuwii no, mmom moagye Israel nkwa afi ɔsɛe a anka Awurade de reba wɔn so no ho.”

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 Afei, Pinehas, ɔsɔfo Eleasar babarima ne mpanyimfo du no fii Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuw no nkyɛn wɔ Gilead san kɔɔ Kanaan asase so kɔbɔɔ Israelfo no amanneɛ.

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 Na Israelfo no nyinaa bo tɔɔ wɔn yam, woyii Onyankopɔn ayɛ na wɔanka ɔko a wɔbɛko atia Ruben ne Gad ho asɛm bio.

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 Na Rubenfo ne Gadfo too afɔremuka no din sɛ “Ɔdanseni,” ɔyɛ ɔdanseni wɔ yɛne wɔn ntam sɛ Awurade yɛ yɛn nso Nyankopɔn.

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