i Num. 32. 1, 26, 29.

ren.

9 And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses. 10 And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. 11 And the children of Israel k Deut. 13. 12. k heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel. 12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.

&c.

Judg. 20. 12.

1Judg. 20. 1.

m Deut. 13. 14.

13 And the children of Israel m sent unto the children of ReuJudg. 20. 12. ben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, a Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,

n Ex. 6. 25. Num. 25.7.

14 And with him ten princes, tHeb. house of each chief house a prince of the fathroughout all the tribes of Isther. rael; and each one was a head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.

• Num. 1. 4.

15 And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,

1444.

build an altar by Jordan. 16 Thus saith the whole con- Before gregation of the LORD, What CHRIST trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, P that ye might rebel this PSee Lev. 17. day against the LORD?

8,9.
Deut. 12. 13,
14.

4 Num. 25.3,

4.

Deut. 4. 3.

17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD, 18 But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing yo rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow The will be Num. 16. 22. wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.

S

19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's tabernacle ch. 18. 1. dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God. 20 t Did not Achan the son of tch. 7. 1,5. Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.

21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel, 22 The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)

23 That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself y require it;

The deputies are satisfied.

Before

1444.

you, ye children of Reuben and CHRIST children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: So shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD. 26 Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:

z Gen. 31. 48. ch. 24. 27. ver. 34.

Deut. 12. 5, 6, 11, 12, 17, 18, 26, 27.

27 But that it may be za witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might a do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say

to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.

28 Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you. 29 God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, b Deut. 12. 13, bto build an altar for burnt of ferings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, besides the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.

14.

30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, tit pleased them.

31 And Phinchas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: † now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.

32 And Phinchas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.

Joshua's exhortation before his death.

Before

tions and strong: but as for you, CHRIST no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.

about 1427.

ch. 1. 5. PLev. 26. 8. Deut. 32. 30.

See Judg. 3.
2 Sam. 23. 8.

31. & 15. 15.

Ex. 14. 14. & 23. 27. Deut. 3. 22. * ch. 22. 5. + Heb.

your souls.

39.

2 Pet. 2. 20, 21.

10 POne man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you. 11 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.

12 Else, if ye do in any wise Heb. 10. 38, go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:

t Deut. 7. 3.

"Judg. 2. 3.

* Ex. 23. 33.

Num. 33. 55. 1 Kings 11.4.

Deut. 7. 16.

y 1 Kings 2. 2. See Heb. 9. 27.

Z ch. 21. 45. Luke 21. 33.

13 Know for a certainty that "the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

14 And, behold, this day y I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof. 15 a Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you ball Deut. 28. 15, evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

a Deut. 28. 63.

b Lev. 26. 16. 16, &c.

a Gen. 35. 4.

16 When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 Joshua assembleth the tribes at Shechem.

2 A brief history of God's benefits from Terah. 14 He reneweth the covenant between them and God. 26 A stone the witness of the covenant. 29 Joshua's age, death, and burial. 32 Joseph's bones are

buried. 33 Eleazar dieth.

God's benefits to Israel.

Before CHRIST about 1427.

b ch. 23. 2. c1 Sam. 10. 19.

chem, and b called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they c c presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dGen. 11. 26, dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and etheyGen. 31. served other gods.

3 And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan,and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

4 And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto i Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his childrenk went down into Egypt.

5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and m I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out. 6 And I n brought your fathers out of Egypt: and o °ye came unto the sea; Pand the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.

See Judg.

11. 25.

Num. 22. 5.

Deut. 23. 4.

a Deut. 23. 5. bNum. 23. 11,

20. & 24.10.

ch. 3. 14, 17,

& 4. 10, 11,
12.

a ch. 6. 1. &

10. 1. & 11.1.

h Deut. 10.12. 1 Sam. 12. 24. i Gen. 17. 1. & 20.5. Deut. 18. 13. Ps. 119. 1.

2 Cor. 1. 12. Epl. 6. 24. k ver. 2, 23. Lev. 17. 7. Ez. 20. 18.

1 Ez. 20. 7, 8. & 23. 3.

mi See Ruth
1. 15.

1 Kings 18.
21.

Ez. 20. 39. John 6. 67. n ver. 14. Ex. 23. 24, 32, 33. & 34. 15.

Deut. 13. 7. & 29. 18. Judg. 6. 10. P Gen. 18. 19.

Matt. 6. 24.

r Lev. 19. 2.

P. 6,

99. 5, 9. Is. 5. 16. Ex. 20. 5. tEx. 23. 21. u1 Chr. 28.9. 2 Chr. 15.2. Ezra 8. 22. Is. 1. 28. & 65. 11, 12. Jer. 17. 13. *ch. 23. 15. Is. 63. 10. Acts 7. 42.

14h Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth; and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.

n

15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, m choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or o the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: Pbut as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.

16 And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;

17 For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:

18 And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.

19 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is a holy God; he is sa jealous God; the will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.

20 If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.

21 And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.

Joshua's age and death.

Before CHRIST about 1427.

22 And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that y ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. Ps. 119. 173. And they said, We are witnesses. 23 Now therefore put away, ver. 14. said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.

24 And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.

Gen. 35. 2. Judg. 10. 16. 1 Sain. 7. 3.

25. 2 Kings 11. 17.

25 So Joshua a made a covenant see Ex. 15. with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance bin Shechem.

b ver. 26.

26 And Joshua wrote these Deut. 31. 24. words in the book of the law of God, and took da great stone, see Judg. and eset it up there funder an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.

9.6.

e See Gen. 28. 18. cl. 4. 3.

45, 52. Deut. 31. 19, 21, 26. ch. 22. 27, 28,

27 And Joshua said unto all Gen. 35. 4. the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for See Gen. 31. hit hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God. 28 So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.

i

34.

Deut. 32.1. Judg. 2. 6.

29 And it came to pass after Judg. 2. 8. these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being a hundred about 1426. and ten years old.

Judg. 2. 9.

30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Tim- 1ch. 19. 50. nath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.

31 And m Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.

m Judg. 2. 7.

Heb. pro.. longed their days after Joshua.

n See Deut. 11. 2. & 31. 13.

• Gen. 50. 25. Ex. 13. 19.

PGen. 33. 19.

Or, lambs.

32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground P which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver; and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. 33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron about 1420. died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to a Phinchas Ex. 6. 25. his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

Judg. 20. 28.