From: "FamilyNet"
Bible Reading for March 18
Joshua 22
[1] Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of
Manasseh,
[2] And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD
commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: [3] Ye
have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the
charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. [4] And now the LORD your God
hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return
ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which
Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
[5] But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the
servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all
his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve
him with all your heart and with all your soul. [6] So Joshua blessed them,
and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
[7] Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in
Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on
this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their
tents, then he blessed them,
[8] And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents,
and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and
with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with
your brethren.
[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 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.
[13] And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the
children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead,
Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, [14] And with him ten princes, of each
chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an
head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
[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,
[16] Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What 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, that ye might rebel
this day against the LORD?
[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 ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth
with the whole congregation of Israel. [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 dwelleth, and take possession among
us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an
altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.
[20] Did not Achan the son of 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 require it; [24] And if we have not rather done
it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak
unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
[25] For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of
Reuben and 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:
[27] But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations
after us, that we might 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,
to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices,
beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
[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,
it pleased them.
[31] And Phinehas 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 Phinehas 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.
[33] And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel
blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy
the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. [34] And the children
of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a
witness between us that the LORD is God.
Joshua 23
[1] And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto
Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken
in age.
[2] And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their
heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am
old and stricken in age:
[3] And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these
nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
[4] Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an
inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut
off, even unto the great sea westward. [5] And the LORD your God, he shall
expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye
shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
[6] Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in
the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right
hand or to the left;
[7] That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither
make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither
serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: [8] But cleave unto the LORD your
God, as ye have done unto this day. [9] For the LORD hath driven out from
before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to
stand before you unto this day. [10] One 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 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: [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 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] 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 all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land
which the LORD your God hath given you.
[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.
Joshua 24
[1] And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for
the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their
officers; and they presented themselves before God. [2] And Joshua said unto
all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the
other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and
the father of Nachor: and they 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 Esau mount Seir, to
possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. [5] I sent Moses
also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them:
and afterward I brought you out. [6] And I brought your fathers out of Egypt:
and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with
chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
[7] And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the
Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have
seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
[8] And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other
side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye
might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you. [9] Then Balak
the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and
called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you: [10] But I would not hearken unto
Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
[11] And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho
fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and
the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I
delivered them into your hand.
[12] And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you,
even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
[13] And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which
ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye
planted not do ye eat.
[14] 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. [15] And if it seem evil unto you to
serve the LORD, 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 the gods of
the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but 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 an
holy God; he is a jealous God; he 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. [22] And Joshua said
unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you
the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
[23] Now therefore put away, 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.
[25] So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a
statute and an ordinance in Shechem. [26] And Joshua wrote these words in the
book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an
oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
[27] And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a
witness unto us; for it 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. [29] And it
came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of
the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. [30] And they buried him
in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is in mount Ephraim,
on the north side of the hill of Gaash. [31] And 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.
[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 which Jacob bought of the
sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it
became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. [33] And Eleazar the son of
Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son,
which was given him in mount Ephraim.
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