Yosua 22

1 Afei, Yosua frɛɛ Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuo ne Manase abusuakuo fa no nyinaa.

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

2 Ɔka kyerɛɛ wɔn sɛ, “Moayɛ sɛdeɛ Mose, Awurade ɔsomfoɔ 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 Ɛwom sɛ dwumadie no agye berɛ tenten bi deɛ, nanso moampa mmusuakuo a aka no akyi. Moato mo bo ase adi mmara a Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn hyɛ maa mo no so de abɛsi ɛnnɛ.

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 seesei Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn ama mmusuakuo a aka no ahomegyeɛ sɛdeɛ ɔhyɛɛ wɔn bɔ no. Enti, monkɔ mo nkyi wɔ asase a Mose, Awurade ɔsomfoɔ no de maa mo wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan apueeɛ 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 yie na monni mmara a Mose hyɛ maa mo no so. Monnɔ Awurade, mo Onyankopɔn. Monnante nʼakwan nyinaa so, monni nʼahyɛdeɛ so, monni no nokorɛ na momfa mo akoma 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 apueeɛ fam no maa Manase abusuakuo fa no. Abusuakuo no fa a aka no nso, wɔde asase no fa a ɛda Yordan atɔeɛ fam no maa wɔn. Yosua regya wɔn kwan no, ɔhyiraa 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 kaa sɛ, “Agyapadeɛ bebrebe a moanya afiri mo atamfoɔ nkyɛn no, mo ne mo abusuafoɔ a wɔwɔ fie no nkyɛ. Anantwie dodoɔ ne nnwan bebrebe no, mo dwetɛ ne sikakɔkɔɔ, mo kɔbere mfrafraeɛ, dadeɛ ne aduradeɛ 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, Rubenfoɔ, Gadfoɔ ne Manase abusuakuo fa no gyaa Israelfoɔ nkaeɛ no hɔ wɔ Silo a ɛwɔ Kanaan asase so. Wɔhyɛɛ wɔn akwantuo ase sɛ wɔresane akɔ wɔn ankasa asase a ɛwɔ Gilead, asase a na ɛyɛ wɔn dea dada 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 wɔbɛtwa Asubɔnten Yordan no, Rubenfoɔ, Gadfoɔ ne Manase abusuakuo fa no sii afɔrebukyia kɛseɛ 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 Israelfoɔ a wɔaka no tee sɛ wɔasi afɔrebukyia wɔ Gelilot wɔ Asubɔnten Yordan atɔeɛ 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 Deɛ ɛdi ɛkan no, wɔtuu nnipa a ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa babarima Pinehas tua wɔn ano kɔɔ Gilead. Wɔtwaa asubɔnten no sɛ wɔne Rubenfoɔ, Gadfoɔ ne Manase abusuakuo 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 wɔtuu wɔn no yɛ mpanimfoɔ edu a obiara gyina hɔ ma Israel mmusuakuo edu no mu baako, na ɔsane yɛ ɔkandifoɔ 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 wɔduruu Gilead asase so no, wɔka kyerɛɛ Rubenfoɔ, Gadfoɔ ne Manase abusuakuo fa no sɛ,

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

16 “Awurade asafokuo nyinaa pɛ sɛ wɔhunu deɛ enti a moredi Israel Onyankopɔn no hwammɔ. Adɛn enti na motumi dane mo ho firi Awurade ho, kɔsi afɔrebukyia 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 no Peor no nnɔɔso mmaa yɛn anaa? Yɛnnwiraa yɛn ho mfirii ho, ɔyaredɔm a ɛbɛtɔɔ Awurade asafokuo no nyinaa so akyi no mpo.

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 ɛnnɛ yi, moretwe mo ho afiri Awurade ho sɛ morenni nʼakyi? “‘Sɛ mosɔre tia Awurade ɛnnɛ a, ɔkyena ne bo bɛfu 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 mosusu sɛ efi aka mo asase enti afɔrebukyia ho hia mo a, ɛnneɛ mommɛka yɛn ho wɔ asuogya ha wɔ faako a Awurade ne yɛn te wɔ nʼAsɔrefie na yɛne mo bɛkyɛ yɛn asase mu. Na monnsɔre nntia Awurade na mommfa afɔrebukyia foforɔ a moasi ama mo ho so ntwe yɛn nkɔ atuateɛ mu. Awurade, yɛn Onyankopɔn nokorɛ afɔrebukyia 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 Ɛberɛ a Akan a ɔfiri Serah abusua mu nam korɔno a ɔbɔɔ wɔ nneɛma a wɔayi asi hɔ ama Awurade, nam so yɛɛ bɔne no, Onyankopɔn antwe Israel manfoɔ nyinaa aso? Ɛnyɛ ɔno nko ara na ɛsiane bɔne no enti ɔwuiɛ.’”

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 Rubenfoɔ, Gadfoɔ ne Manase abusuakuo fa no buaa mpanimfoɔ no sɛ,

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 afɔrebukyia no sɛ yɛde retia Awurade. Sɛ saa na yɛayɛ a, ɛnnɛ, momfa yɛn ho nkyɛ yɛn. Nanso Awurade nim na Israel nyinaa nso nhunu 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 yɛnnsii afɔrebukyia mmaa yɛn ho sɛ yɛrefiri Awurade nkyɛn. Na yɛremmɔ ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ ne aduane afɔdeɛ anaa asomdwoeɛ afɔdeɛ wɔ so nso. Sɛ yei enti na yɛsii afɔrebukyia 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 afɔrebukyia yi, ɛfiri sɛ yɛsuro sɛ daakye bi mo asefoɔ bɛbisa yɛn asefoɔ sɛ, ‘Tumi bɛn na mowɔ sɛ mobɛsom Awurade, Israel Onyankopɔn?

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 nkurɔfoɔ ne ne nkurɔfoɔ ntam ɛhyeɛ. Monni kyɛfa wɔ Awurade mu!’ Enti, mo asefoɔ bɛma yɛn asefoɔ 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 enti yɛyɛɛ yɛn adwene sɛ yɛbɛsi afɔrebukyia, na ɛnyɛ sɛ yɛbɛbɔ ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ 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 nkaeɛdum. Ɛbɛbɔ yɛn asefoɔ ne mo asefoɔ nkaeɛ sɛ, yɛn nso, yɛwɔ ho kwan sɛ yɛbɛsom Awurade wɔ ne kronkronbea, abɔ yɛn ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ, aduane afɔdeɛ ne asomdwoeɛ afɔdeɛ. Na daakye bi no, mo asefoɔ rentumi nka nkyerɛ yɛn asefoɔ no sɛ, ‘Monni 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 sei a, yɛn asefoɔ bɛtumi aka sɛ, ‘Monhwɛ Awurade afɔrebukyia sɛso a yɛn agyanom siiɛ. Wɔansi amma ɔhyeɛ afɔrebɔ anaa afɔrebɔ, na mmom, ɛyɛ nkae adeɛ 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 afiri ne ho akɔsi yɛn ankasa afɔrebukyia ama ɔhyeɛ afɔdeɛ, aduane afɔdeɛ anaa afɔrebɔ. Awurade, yɛn Onyankopɔn afɔrebukyia a ɛsi ne Ahyiaeɛ Ntomadan anim no so na wɔdi 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 Ɔsɔfoɔ Pinehas ne mpanimfoɔ edu no tee nsɛm yi firii Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuo ne Manase abusuakuo 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 Ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa babarima Pinehas buaa wɔn sɛ, “Ɛnnɛ yɛahunu sɛ Awurade wɔ yɛn ntam, ɛfiri sɛ, monyɛɛ bɔne ntiaa Awurade sɛdeɛ yɛsusuiɛ no, mmom moagye Israel nkwa afiri ɔsɛeɛ a anka Awurade de reba wɔn so.”

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, ɔsɔfoɔ Eleasa babarima ne mpanimfoɔ edu no firii Ruben ne Gad mmusuakuo no nkyɛn wɔ Gilead sane kɔɔ Kanaan asase so kɔbɔɔ Israelfoɔ no amaneɛ.

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 Israelfoɔ no nyinaa bo tɔɔ wɔn yam, wɔyii 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 Rubenfoɔ ne Gadfoɔ too afɔrebukyia no edin sɛ “Ɔdanseni,” ɔyɛ ɔdanseni wɔ yɛne wɔn ntam sɛ Awurade yɛ yɛn nso Onyankopɔn.

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