Joshua 22:27-34 ▼

27 Rather, let it be a witness between us and you⁺ and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD {YHWH} 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 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 {YHWH} that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you⁺.’

29 Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD {YHWH} 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 {YHWH Elohenu}, which stands before His tabernacle.”

30 When Phinehas (mouth of brass) the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s (he wrestles with God) clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben (behold a son), Gad (troop), and Manasseh (causing to forget) had to say, they were satisfied.

31 Phinehas (mouth of brass) son of Eleazar (God has helped) the priest said to the descendants of Reuben (behold a son), Gad (troop), and Manasseh (causing to forget), “Today we know that the LORD {YHWH} is among us, because you⁺ have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you⁺ have delivered the Israelites (God prevails) from the hand of the LORD.”

32 Then Phinehas (mouth of brass) son of Eleazar (God has helped) the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites (God prevails) in the land of Canaan (lowland) and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites (behold a son) and Gadites (troop) in the land of Gilead (rocky region).

33 The Israelites (God prevails) were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God {Elohim} and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites (behold a son) and Gadites (troop) lived.

34 So the Reubenites (behold a son) and Gadites (troop) named the altar Witness, for they said \named the altar, for/, “It is a witness between us that the LORD {YHWH} is God {Elohim}.”