אָז יִקְרָא יְהוֹשֻׁעַ לָראוּבֵנִי וְלַגָּדִי וְלַחֲצִי מַטֵּה מְנַשֶּׁה

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenite, and the Gadite, and half the tribe of Manasseh, which until now had functioned as an independent military unit that had joined forces with the rest of the tribes to help them conquer the land,

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם אַתֶּם שְׁמַרְתֶּם אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶתְכֶם מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד ה'וַתִּשְׁמְעוּ בְקוֹלִי לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם

and said to them: You have done well, as you have kept everything that Moses servant of the Lord commanded you by serving as the vanguard of the army, and moreover you have heeded my voice and obeyed me in everything that I have commanded you.

לֹא עֲזַבְתֶּם אֶת אֲחֵיכֶם זֶה יָמִים רַבִּים עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת מִשְׁמֶרֶת מִצְוַת ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם

You did not forsake your brethren these many days, to this day, and you kept the commission of the commandment of the Lord your God, as you were fully devoted to your army service.

וְעַתָּה הֵנִיחַ ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם לַאֲחֵיכֶם כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר לָהֶם וְעַתָּה פְּנוּ וּלְכוּ לָכֶם לְאָהֳלֵיכֶם אֶל אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָכֶם מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד ה' בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן

Now the Lord your God has granted respite to your brethren, as He had spoken to them; now you, turn and go to your tents, to the land of your holdings, which Moses servant of the Lord gave you beyond the Jordan. You are discharged from further military duty and are permitted to return to your homes.

רַק שִׁמְרוּ מְאֹד לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הַמִּצְוָה וְאֶת הַתּוֹרָה אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה אֶתְכֶם מֹשֶׁה עֶבֶד ה' לְאַהֲבָה אֶת ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וְלָלֶכֶת בְּכָל דְּרָכָיו וְלִשְׁמֹר מִצְוֹתָיו וּלְדָבְקָה בוֹ וּלְעָבְדוֹ בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶם וּבְכָל נַפְשְׁכֶם

Before the tribes of the eastern side of the Jordan left, Joshua commanded them: Only take care to perform the commandment and the Torah which Moses servant of the Lord commanded you, to love the Lord your God, and to follow all His ways, and to observe His commandments, and to cleave to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Although you will live elsewhere, you must continue to observe the Torah of Moses as though you are still here. Your departure from the borders of the land does not mean that you are no longer part of the people of Israel.

וַיְבָרְכֵם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיְשַׁלְּחֵם וַיֵּלְכוּ אֶל אָהֳלֵיהֶם

Joshua blessed them and sent them off, and they went to their tents.

וְלַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה נָתַן מֹשֶׁה בַּבָּשָׁן וּלְחֶצְיוֹ נָתַן יְהוֹשֻׁעַ עִם אֲחֵיהֶם בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן יָמָּה וְגַם כִּי שִׁלְּחָם יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶל אָהֳלֵיהֶם וַיְבָרֲכֵם

To half the tribe of Manasseh, Moses had given territory in the Bashan, and to half of it, Joshua gave territory with their brethren beyond the Jordan to the west. Also when Joshua sent them, the children of Manasseh in Bashan, to their tents, he blessed them.

וַיֹּאמֶר אֲלֵיהֶם לֵאמֹר בִּנְכָסִים רַבִּים שׁוּבוּ אֶל אָהֳלֵיכֶם וּבְמִקְנֶה רַב מְאֹד בְּכֶסֶף וּבְזָהָב וּבִנְחֹשֶׁת וּבְבַרְזֶל וּבִשְׂלָמוֹת הַרְבֵּה מְאֹד חִלְקוּ שְׁלַל אֹיְבֵיכֶם עִם אֲחֵיכֶם

He said to them, stating: Return to your tents with much wealth, with very much livestock, with silver, with gold, with bronze, with iron, and with very many garments. He further instructed them: Divide the spoils of your enemies with your brethren.

וַיָּשֻׁבוּ וַיֵּלְכוּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד וַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִשִּׁלֹה אֲשֶׁר בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן לָלֶכֶת אֶל אֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד אֶל אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָם אֲשֶׁר נֹאחֲזוּ בָהּ עַל פִּי ה' בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה

The children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh returned and went from the children of Israel from Shilo, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilad, to the land of their holdings of which they took hold, according to the directive of the Lord at the hand of Moses.

וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל גְּלִילוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן אֲשֶׁר בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנָעַן וַיִּבְנוּ בְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד וַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ עַל הַיַּרְדֵּן מִזְבֵּחַ גָּדוֹל לְמַרְאֶה

They came to the region of the Jordan that is in the land of Canaan, and the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a great altar, for display.

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר הִנֵּה בָנוּ בְנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד וַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֶל מוּל אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן אֶל גְּלִילוֹת הַיַּרְדֵּן אֶל עֵבֶר בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

The children of Israel heard, saying: Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh built an altar opposite the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, across from the children of Israel.

וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּקָּהֲלוּ כָּל עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שִׁלֹה לַעֲלוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם לַצָּבָא

The children of Israel heard, and the entire congregation of the children of Israel assembled at Shilo, to go up against them to war. The Israelites considered the construction of such a large and prominent altar a symbol of secession. They were concerned that the tribes who settled east of the Jordan were planning to build themselves a separate temple. Due to their responsibility for their brethren and their loyalty to God, they felt that they must correct this error. To this end they were even ready to wage a civil war against the same warriors who had shown such bravery in assisting their own conquest of the land of Canaan.

וַיִּשְׁלְחוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְאֶל בְּנֵי גָד וְאֶל חֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה אֶל אֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד אֶת פִּינְחָס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן

The children of Israel sent Pinhas son of Elazar the High Priest to the children of Reuben and to the children of Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilad. Although Elazar himself was apparently still alive, Pinhas, who was no longer a young man himself and had perhaps taken over his father’s position, was chosen to head the delegation.

וַעֲשָׂרָה נְשִׂאִים עִמּוֹ נָשִׂיא אֶחָד נָשִׂיא אֶחָד לְבֵית אָב לְכֹל מַטּוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאִישׁ רֹאשׁ בֵּית אֲבוֹתָם הֵמָּה לְאַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

Pinhas went, and ten princes with him, one prince for each patrilineal house for each of the tribes of Israel; each of them was head of his patrilineal house among the thousands of Israel. Since this was considered a matter involving all Israel, a large delegation was sent, which included the son of the High Priest as well as ten princes.

וַיָּבֹאוּ אֶל בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְאֶל בְּנֵי גָד וְאֶל חֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה אֶל אֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד וַיְדַבְּרוּ אִתָּם לֵאמֹר

They came to the children of Reuben and to the children of Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilad, and they spoke with them, saying:

כֹּה אָמְרוּ כֹּל עֲדַת ה' מָה הַמַּעַל הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר מְעַלְתֶּם בֵּאלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לָשׁוּב הַיּוֹם מֵאַחֲרֵי ה' בִּבְנוֹתְכֶם לָכֶם מִזְבֵּחַ לִמְרָדְכֶם הַיּוֹם בַּה'!

So said the entire congregation of the Lord: What trespass is this that you have committed against the God of Israel, to go back today from following the Lord with your building of an altar, in your rebellion today against the Lord? By constructing this altar you have created an independent center of worship and have effectively renounced God and His people.

הַמְעַט לָנוּ אֶת עֲוֹן פְּעוֹר אֲשֶׁר לֹא הִטַּהַרְנוּ מִמֶּנּוּ עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וַיְהִי הַנֶּגֶף בַּעֲדַת ה'

Was the iniquity of the idolatry of Peor not enough for us, from which we have not been purified to this day, and because of which there was a plague against the congregation of the Lord,

וְאַתֶּם תָּשֻׁבוּ הַיּוֹם מֵאַחֲרֵי ה'! וְהָיָה אַתֶּם תִּמְרְדוּ הַיּוֹם בַּה' וּמָחָר אֶל כָּל עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל יִקְצֹף

that today you would sin further and go back from following the Lord? It shall be, that if you rebel today against the Lord, tomorrow He will be angry with the entire congregation of Israel. At the sin of Peor as well, not all the Israelites transgressed against God; rather, it was mainly a single tribe with some members from other tribes joining in, but nevertheless the ensuing plague struck the whole nation. Your actions are liable to affect the entire people, and therefore we are intervening.

וְאַךְ אִם טְמֵאָה אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶם עִבְרוּ לָכֶם אֶל אֶרֶץ אֲחֻזַּת ה' אֲשֶׁר שָׁכַן שָׁם מִשְׁכַּן ה' וְהֵאָחֲזוּ בְּתוֹכֵנוּ וּבַה' אַל תִּמְרֹדוּ וְאֹתָנוּ אַל תִּמְרֹדוּ בִּבְנֹתְכֶם לָכֶם מִזְבֵּחַ מִבַּלְעֲדֵי מִזְבַּח ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ

Indeed, if the land of your holdings is defiled in your eyes, as it has no Tabernacle, and for this reason you built the altar on the eastern bank of the Jordan, cross to the land of the holdings of the Lord, in which the Tabernacle of the Lord resides, and take hold among us. You are invited to live among us in the land of Canaan proper, but in any case do not rebel against the Lord, and do not rebel against us, in your building an altar besides the altar of the Lord our God.

הֲלוֹא עָכָן בֶּן זֶרַח מָעַל מַעַל בַּחֵרֶם וְעַל כָּל עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל הָיָה קָצֶף וְהוּא אִישׁ אֶחָד לֹא גָוַע בַּעֲוֹנוֹ

Although one might think that the sinner alone bears responsibility for his deeds, did not Akhan son of Zerah commit a trespass with the proscribed spoils, and there was anger upon the entire congregation of Israel? He was but one man and yet he did not perish alone [gava] in his iniquity. The Ramban explains that the term gava indicates death that is not preceded by illness. Accordingly, the verse means to state that Akhan did not immediately die due to his sin, but it brought wrath upon all of Israel (chap. 7).

וַיַּעֲנוּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד וַחֲצִי שֵׁבֶט הַמְנַשֶּׁה וַיְדַבְּרוּ אֶת רָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

The children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh responded, and they spoke to the heads of the thousands of Israel:

אֵל אֱלֹהִים ה'! אֵל אֱלֹהִים ה' הוּא יֹדֵעַ וְיִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא יֵדָע אִם בְּמֶרֶד וְאִם בְּמַעַל בַּה' אַל תּוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה

God of Gods, the Lord! God of Gods, the Lord, He knows our intent, and Israel too will know. Our innocence will be clear to all. They turned to God and said: If it is true that we have built the altar in an act of rebellion, or if it is in trespass against the Lord, do not save us this day.

לִבְנוֹת לָנוּ מִזְבֵּחַ לָשׁוּב מֵאַחֲרֵי ה' וְאִם לְהַעֲלוֹת עָלָיו עוֹלָה וּמִנְחָה וְאִם לַעֲשׂוֹת עָלָיו זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים ה' הוּא יְבַקֵּשׁ

If it is to build for ourselves an altar in order to go back from following the Lord, or to offer up on it burnt offerings or meal offerings, or to perform peace offerings upon it, let the Lord Himself determine our punishment.

וְאִם לֹא מִדְּאָגָה מִדָּבָר עָשִׂינוּ אֶת זֹאת לֵאמֹר מָחָר יֹאמְרוּ בְנֵיכֶם לְבָנֵינוּ לֵאמֹר מַה לָּכֶם וְלַה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל!

Surely we did this out of concern over a matter, saying to ourselves: Tomorrow your children, who settled in Canaan, might say to our children, who settled east of the Jordan, stating: What have you to do with the Lord, God of Israel?

וגְבוּל נָתַן ה' בֵּינֵנוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶם בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד אֶת הַיַּרְדֵּן אֵין לָכֶם חֵלֶק בַּה'! וְהִשְׁבִּיתוּ בְנֵיכֶם אֶת בָּנֵינוּ לְבִלְתִּי יְרֹא אֶת ה'

The Lord placed a border between us and you, children of Reuben and children of Gad, namely the Jordan. You live in a different land, on the other side of the river, and therefore you have no portion in the Lord. Because of those thoughts, your children will cause our children not to fear the Lord. Your children are liable to banish ours from the nation of Israel, and consider them strangers with no affiliation to the people of God.

וַנֹּאמֶר נַעֲשֶׂה נָּא לָנוּ לִבְנוֹת אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לֹא לְעוֹלָה וְלֹא לְזָבַח

Therefore we said: Let us act now for ourselves, for our own sakes, building the altar, not for burnt offerings, and not for other sacrifices;

כִּי עֵד הוּא בֵּינֵינוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶם וּבֵין דֹּרוֹתֵינוּ אַחֲרֵינוּ לַעֲבֹד אֶת עֲבֹדַת ה' לְפָנָיו בְּעֹלוֹתֵינוּ וּבִזְבָחֵינוּ וּבִשְׁלָמֵינוּ וְלֹא יֹאמְרוּ בְנֵיכֶם מָחָר לְבָנֵינוּ אֵין לָכֶם חֵלֶק בַּה'

rather, it is a witness between us and you, and between our generations after us, to perform the service of the Lord before Him, in the place where His Divine Presence rests, with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings. We will bring all our offerings to the Temple in the appropriate manner and we built this altar as a sign so that your children will not say tomorrow to our children: You have no portion in the Lord.

וַנֹּאמֶר וְהָיָה כִּי יֹאמְרוּ אֵלֵינוּ וְאֶל דֹּרֹתֵינוּ מָחָר וְאָמַרְנוּ רְאוּ אֶת תַּבְנִית מִזְבַּח ה' אֲשֶׁר עָשׂוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לֹא לְעוֹלָה וְלֹא לְזֶבַח כִּי עֵד הוּא בֵּינֵינוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶם

We said: When it will be that they say it to us or to our generations tomorrow, or any time in the future, we will say in response: See the configuration of the altar of the Lord that our fathers made. It is not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices, as it was not made to be used; rather, it is a witness between us and you. This altar, upon which no offerings will be burnt, is better described as a model of an altar, erected in the territory that divides us. It symbolizes our ties to the altar of God on the western side of the Jordan.

חָלִילָה לָּנוּ מִמֶּנּוּ לִמְרֹד בַּה' וְלָשׁוּב הַיּוֹם מֵאַחֲרֵי ה' לִבְנוֹת מִזְבֵּחַ לְעֹלָה לְמִנְחָה וּלְזָבַח מִלְּבַד מִזְבַּח ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי מִשְׁכָּנוֹ

The tribes who settled east of the Jordan reiterate their response, and summarize: Far be it from us that we would rebel against the Lord, and go back today from following the Lord, by building an altar for burnt offerings, for meal offerings, or for sacrifices, on any altar besides the altar of the Lord our God that is before His Tabernacle. There is only one Tabernacle and one altar, and we too will worship God in that place.

וַיִּשְׁמַע פִּינְחָס הַכֹּהֵן וּנְשִׂיאֵי הָעֵדָה וְרָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲשֶׁר אִתּוֹ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר דִּבְּרוּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד וּבְנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינֵיהֶם

Pinhas the priest, and the princes of the congregation, and the heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben, the children of Gad, and the children of Manasseh spoke, and it was good in their eyes. They understood that the altar, which they initially considered an expression of separation and secession, was rather a sign made by the tribes who settled east of the Jordan to remind their descendants of their connection to the Tabernacle or Temple.

וַיֹּאמֶר פִּינְחָס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן אֶל בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וְאֶל בְּנֵי גָד וְאֶל בְּנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה הַיּוֹם יָדַעְנוּ כִּי בְתוֹכֵנוּ ה' אֲשֶׁר לֹא מְעַלְתֶּם בַּה' הַמַּעַל הַזֶּה אָז הִצַּלְתֶּם אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּד ה'

Pinhas son of Elazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh: Today we know that the Lord is in our midst, because you did not commit this trespass against the Lord. Now, it has become clear, you have delivered the children of Israel from the hand of the Lord, from divine retribution.

וַיָּשָׁב פִּינְחָס בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן וְהַנְּשִׂיאִים מֵאֵת בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּמֵאֵת בְּנֵי גָד מֵאֶרֶץ הַגִּלְעָד אֶל אֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיָּשִׁבוּ אוֹתָם דָּבָר

Pinhas son of Elazar the priest and the princes returned from the children of Reuben and from the children of Gad, from the land of Gilad to the land of Canaan, to the leaders of the children of Israel on the western side of the Jordan, and brought word back to them.

וַיִּיטַב הַדָּבָר בְּעֵינֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיְבָרֲכוּ אֱלֹהִים בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְלֹא אָמְרוּ לַעֲלוֹת עֲלֵיהֶם לַצָּבָא לְשַׁחֵת אֶת הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד יֹשְׁבִים בָּהּ

The matter was good in the eyes of the children of Israel, and the children of Israel blessed God, and they did not speak anymore of going up against them to war, to destroy the land in which the children of Reuben and the children of Gad resided.

וַיִּקְרְאוּ בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן וּבְנֵי גָד לַמִּזְבֵּחַ כִּי עֵד הוּא בֵּינֹתֵינוּ כִּי ה' הָאֱלֹהִים

The children of Reuben and the children of Gad named the altar Ed, or perhaps Ki Ed, as [ki] it is a witness [ed] between us that the Lord alone is God.