約書亞記23:1-16

23:1 耶和華使以色列人安靜，不與四圍的一切仇敵爭戰，已經多日。約書亞年紀老邁，
23:2 就把以色列眾人的長老、族長、審判官，並官長都召了來，對他們說：「我年紀已經老邁。
23:3 耶和華─你們的上帝因你們的緣故向那些國所行的一切事，你們親眼看見了，因那為你們爭戰的是耶和華─你們的上帝。
23:4 我所剪除和所剩下的各國，從約旦河起到日落之處的大海，我已經拈鬮分給你們各支派為業。
23:5 耶和華─你們的上帝必將他們從你們面前趕出去，使他們離開你們，你們就必得他們的地為業，正如耶和華─你們的上帝所應許的。
23:6 所以，你們要大大壯膽，謹守遵行寫在摩西律法書上的一切話，不可偏離左右。
23:7 不可與你們中間所剩下的這些國民攙雜。他們的神，你們不可提他的名，不可指著他起誓，也不可事奉、叩拜；
23:8 只要照著你們到今日所行的，專靠耶和華─你們的上帝。
23:9 因為耶和華已經把又大又強的國民從你們面前趕出；直到今日，沒有一人在你們面前站立得住。
23:10 你們一人必追趕千人，因耶和華─你們的上帝照他所應許的，為你們爭戰。
23:11 你們要分外謹慎，愛耶和華─你們的上帝。
23:12 你們若稍微轉去，與你們中間所剩下的這些國民聯絡，彼此結親，互相往來，
23:13 你們要確實知道，耶和華─你們的上帝必不再將他們從你們眼前趕出；他們卻要成為你們的網羅、機檻、肋上的鞭、眼中的刺，直到你們在耶和華─你們上帝所賜的這美地上滅亡。
23:14 「我現在要走世人必走的路。你們是一心一意地知道，耶和華─你們上帝所應許賜福與你們的話沒有一句落空，都應驗在你們身上了。
23:15 耶和華─你們上帝所應許的一切福氣怎樣臨到你們身上，耶和華也必照樣使各樣禍患臨到你們身上，直到把你們從耶和華─你們上帝所賜的這美地上除滅。
23:16 你們若違背耶和華─你們上帝吩咐你們所守的約，去事奉別神，叩拜他，耶和華的怒氣必向你們發作，使你們在他所賜的美地上速速滅亡。」

 

 After a long time had passed and the Lord had given Israel rest from all their enemies around them, Joshua, by then a very old man, ² summoned all Israel—their elders, leaders, judges and officials—and said to them: “I am very old. ³ You yourselves have seen everything the Lord your God has done to all these nations for your sake; it was the Lord your God who fought for you. ⁴ Remember how I have allotted as an inheritance for your tribes all the land of the nations that remain—the nations I conquered—between the Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea in the west. ⁵ The Lord your God himself will push them out for your sake. He will drive them out before you, and you will take possession of their land, as the Lord your God promised you.

⁶ “Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. ⁷ Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. ⁸ But you are to hold fast to the Lord your God, as you have until now.

⁹ “The Lord has driven out before you great and powerful nations; to this day no one has been able to withstand you. ¹⁰ One of you routs a thousand, because the Lord your God fights for you, just as he promised. ¹¹ So be very careful to love the Lord your God.

¹² “But if you turn away and ally yourselves with the survivors of these nations that remain among you and if you intermarry with them and associate with them, ¹³ then you may be sure that the Lord your God will no longer drive out these nations before you. Instead, they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your backs and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from this good land, which the Lord your God has given you.

¹⁴ “Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and soul that not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed. ¹⁵ But just as all the good things the Lord your God has promised you have come to you, so he will bring on you all the evil things he has threatened, until the Lord your God has destroyed you from this good land he has given you. ¹⁶ If you violate the covenant of the Lord your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, the Lord’s anger will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you.”

 

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    以色列人雖然進了迦南地，但是他們並沒有完全將當地的人趕走，這也是讓約書亞非常掛念的事，於是他對他們警戒說：「你們要確實知道，耶和華─你們的上帝必不再將他們從你們眼前趕出；他們卻要成為你們的網羅、機檻、肋上的鞭、眼中的刺，直到你們在耶和華─你們上帝所賜的這美地上滅亡。」

 

    也因為這樣約書亞更進一步說：「我現在要走世人必走的路。你們是一心一意地知道，耶和華─你們上帝所應許賜福與你們的話沒有一句落空，都應驗在你們身上了。耶和華─你們上帝所應許的一切福氣怎樣臨到你們身上，耶和華也必照樣使各樣禍患臨到你們身上，直到把你們從耶和華─你們上帝所賜的這美地上除滅。你們若違背耶和華─你們上帝吩咐你們所守的約，去事奉別神，叩拜他，耶和華的怒氣必向你們發作，使你們在他所賜的美地上速速滅亡。」

 

    約書亞這樣的交代也讓我們感受到：人之將亡，其言也善！而這更是傳道人對教會信徒諄諄教誨，因為在現今的世代邪惡，魔鬼更是猖狂的做困獸之鬥，信徒稍微一疏忽就被罪惡所吞沒！因此，上帝的僕人要不斷地勸誡弟兄姊妹，提醒弟兄姊妹要倚靠主恩典來勝過魔鬼的試探！

詩篇48:14

因為這神永永遠遠為我們的神；他必作我們引路的，直到死時。

 

that this is God,

our God forever and ever.

He will guide us forever.

 

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    這是多麼令人安慰的信息：我們的上帝是永永遠遠引導我們，並且永永遠遠成為我們的上帝！

 

    上帝不會因為我們一時的失誤而否定我們，祂愛我們、引導我們，是永遠不會斷絕的，這是何等奇妙且偉大的事。

 

    既然是如此，我們要好好相信並倚靠上帝，因為祂是最可靠的！

 

 

帖撒羅尼迦前書2:11-12

2:11 你們也曉得，我們怎樣勸勉你們，安慰你們，囑咐你們各人，好像父親待自己的兒女一樣，

2:12 要叫你們行事對得起那召你們進他國，得他榮耀的神。

For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

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    保羅在此說明牧者的心態，要『像父親待自己的兒女一樣』。但是，這樣的對待，是以照顧的心懷為主，而不是以管教為方法；就是要注意我們所帶領的對象的心裡之感受。但我們如何能明白呢？受感是他們樂意和順服程度。

    當然我們帶領人到上帝面前的目標，是要他們明白上帝要引領他們進入上帝的國和從上帝得到榮耀，心被上帝的愛所感動而願意行出上帝所期盼我們所行的，如此才是行事為人對得起上帝。

    所以，我們對待所帶領的人，不是道德勸說或要求。而是要以愛心來代之，給於照顧和溫暖，我們才能順利引導人到上帝面前，因為人盼望被愛與被尊重。

詩篇23:4

我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因為你與我同在；你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我。

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

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    我們一生最大的保障是：上帝的同在。尤其是在這個充滿苦難的世界，我們必須邀請上帝的介入，我們才能通過苦難，進入平安之境。正如耶穌所說：『我將這些事告訴你們，是要叫你們在我裏面有平安。在世上，你們有苦難；但你們可以放心，我已經勝了世界。』（約翰福音16:33）

    也因為有上帝的同在，我們不怕那惡者，祂必保護我們到底，甚至祂也勝過死亡。所以『我雖然行過死蔭的幽谷，也不怕遭害，因為你與我同在』。

    不僅如此，祂也要讓我們的心裡舒坦。正如詩人在此所說：『你的杖，你的竿，都安慰我。』

    正因為如此，我們可以靠著上帝向前行，直到平安之境！

 

提摩太後書2:19

然而，神堅固的根基立住了，上面有這印記說：「主認識誰是他的人。」又說：「凡稱呼主名的人，總要離開不義。」

But God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity.”

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    這段經文給我們很大的安慰，因為「主認識誰是他的人」。真是太美了，我們這些在人看來是無名小卒，卻是被創造天地的萬王之王、萬主之主，所認識、所記念。祂不會忘記我們，祂真知道我們的需求，祂垂聽我們的禱告。我們真的被關懷到、被照顧到，更是被接納與醫治。

    然而，我們既然被上帝這樣安慰與寵愛，我們有一個責任是「凡稱呼主名的人，總要離開不義」。然而離開不義的第一步就是要接受耶穌基督為救主，也就是要悔改歸向上帝，享受祂無限的愛。

    也因為如此，保羅勉勵我們：『人若自潔，脫離卑賤的事，就必作貴重的器皿，成為聖潔，合乎主用，預備行各樣的善事』！

詩篇107:1-43

107:1 你們要稱謝耶和華，因他本為善；他的慈愛永遠長存！
107:2 願耶和華的贖民說這話，就是他從敵人手中所救贖的，
107:3 從各地，從東從西，從南從北，所招聚來的。
107:4 他們在曠野荒地漂流，尋不見可住的城邑，
107:5 又飢又渴，心裡發昏。
107:6 於是，他們在苦難中哀求耶和華；他從他們的禍患中搭救他們，
107:7 又領他們行走直路，使他們往可居住的城邑。
107:8 但願人因耶和華的慈愛和他向人所行的奇事都稱讚他；
107:9 因他使心裡渴慕的人得以知足，使心裡飢餓的人得飽美物。
107:10 那些坐在黑暗中、死蔭裡的人被困苦和鐵鍊捆鎖，
107:11 是因他們違背上帝的話語，藐視至高者的旨意。
107:12 所以，他用勞苦治服他們的心；他們仆倒，無人扶助。
107:13 於是，他們在苦難中哀求耶和華；他從他們的禍患中拯救他們。
107:14 他從黑暗中和死蔭裡領他們出來，折斷他們的綁索。
107:15 但願人因耶和華的慈愛和他向人所行的奇事都稱讚他；
107:16 因為他打破了銅門，砍斷了鐵閂。
107:17 愚妄人因自己的過犯和自己的罪孽便受苦楚。
107:18 他們心裡厭惡各樣的食物，就臨近死門。
107:19 於是，他們在苦難中哀求耶和華；他從他們的禍患中拯救他們。
107:20 他發命醫治他們，救他們脫離死亡。
107:21 但願人因耶和華的慈愛和他向人所行的奇事都稱讚他。
107:22 願他們以感謝為祭獻給他，歡呼述說他的作為！
107:23 在海上坐船，在大水中經理事務的，
107:24 他們看見耶和華的作為，並他在深水中的奇事。
107:25 因他一吩咐，狂風就起來，海中的波浪也揚起。
107:26 他們上到天空，下到海底；他們的心因患難便消化。
107:27 他們搖搖晃晃，東倒西歪，好像醉酒的人；他們的智慧無法可施。
107:28 於是，他們在苦難中哀求耶和華，他從他們的禍患中領出他們來。
107:29 他使狂風止息，波浪就平靜。
107:30 風息浪靜，他們便歡喜；他就引他們到所願去的海口。
107:31 但願人因耶和華的慈愛和他向人所行的奇事都稱讚他。
107:32 願他們在民的會中尊崇他，在長老的位上讚美他！
107:33 他使江河變為曠野，叫水泉變為乾渴之地，
107:34 使肥地變為鹼地；這都因其間居民的罪惡。
107:35 他使曠野變為水潭，叫旱地變為水泉。
107:36 他使飢餓的人住在那裡，好建造可住的城邑，
107:37 又種田地，栽葡萄園，得享所出的土產。
107:38 他又賜福給他們，叫他們生養眾多，也不叫他們的牲畜減少。
107:39 他們又因暴虐、患難、愁苦，就減少且卑下。
107:40 他使君王蒙羞被辱，使他們在荒廢無路之地漂流。
107:41 他卻將窮乏人安置在高處，脫離苦難，使他的家屬多如羊群。
107:42 正直人看見就歡喜；罪孽之輩必塞口無言。
107:43 凡有智慧的，必在這些事上留心，也必思想耶和華的慈愛。

¹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

² Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
    those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
³ those he gathered from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.^[a]

⁴ Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.
⁵ They were hungry and thirsty,
    and their lives ebbed away.
⁶ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he delivered them from their distress.
⁷ He led them by a straight way
    to a city where they could settle.
⁸ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
⁹ for he satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

¹⁰ Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
    prisoners suffering in iron chains,
¹¹ because they rebelled against God’s commands
    and despised the plans of the Most High.
¹² So he subjected them to bitter labor;
    they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
¹³ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
¹⁴ He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
    and broke away their chains.
¹⁵ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind,
¹⁶ for he breaks down gates of bronze
    and cuts through bars of iron.

¹⁷ Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
¹⁸ They loathed all food
    and drew near the gates of death.
¹⁹ Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he saved them from their distress.
²⁰ He sent out his word and healed them;
    he rescued them from the grave.
²¹ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
²² Let them sacrifice thank offerings
    and tell of his works with songs of joy.

²³ Some went out on the sea in ships;
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
²⁴ They saw the works of the Lord,
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
²⁵ For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
    that lifted high the waves.
²⁶ They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril their courage melted away.
²⁷ They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
²⁸ Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
²⁹ He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea^[b] were hushed.
³⁰ They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them to their desired haven.
³¹ Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
³² Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

³³ He turned rivers into a desert,
    flowing springs into thirsty ground,
³⁴ and fruitful land into a salt waste,
    because of the wickedness of those who lived there.
³⁵ He turned the desert into pools of water
    and the parched ground into flowing springs;
³⁶ there he brought the hungry to live,
    and they founded a city where they could settle.
³⁷ They sowed fields and planted vineyards
    that yielded a fruitful harvest;
³⁸ he blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
    and he did not let their herds diminish.

³⁹ Then their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
    by oppression, calamity and sorrow;
⁴⁰ he who pours contempt on nobles
    made them wander in a trackless waste.
⁴¹ But he lifted the needy out of their affliction
    and increased their families like flocks.
⁴² The upright see and rejoice,
    but all the wicked shut their mouths.

⁴³ Let the one who is wise heed these things
    and ponder the loving deeds of the Lord.

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    詩人提醒人們：「凡有智慧的，必在這些事上留心，也必思想耶和華的慈愛。」

    怎樣的人是有智慧的人呢？是有聰明才智的人嗎？是有高學歷、高成就的人嗎？當然這都是世人認為有智慧的人，但是聖經中所指的有智慧，和世人的想法是大不相同的！聖經有智慧的人是指敬畏耶和華的人，正如箴言說：「不要自以為有智慧；要敬畏耶和華，遠離惡事。」（箴言3:7）

    而詩人在這裡說的「這些事」是甚麼呢？我們要好好讀這首詩篇，就是「耶和華的慈愛和他向人所行的奇事」！我們看看舊約中的人物傳記，就可以感受到上帝真是眷顧人與拯救人的上帝！而在聖經中所敘述上帝的作為，不只是在經文中而已，更是在現實的生活中臨到上帝的子民！甚至在今日，我們也可以感受到上帝在基督裡的安慰！雖然苦難好像大水要淹沒我們，可是上帝卻在其中保護與安慰我們！就像摩西和約瑟，在苦難中似乎失去了盼望，上帝仍然會扭轉時局，高舉並重用他們！

    也因為回想到這樣的記載，也讓我們心中如同活水的力量湧出，讓我們確信上帝也必成就奇事在我們的身上！讓我們不禁從心中讚美和感謝上帝：「耶和華本為善；他的慈愛永遠長存！」

約書亞記22:1-34

22:1 當時，約書亞召了流便人、迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人來，
22:2 對他們說：「耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的，你們都遵守了；我所吩咐你們的，你們也都聽從了。
22:3 你們這許多日子，總沒有撇離你們的弟兄，直到今日，並守了耶和華─你們上帝所吩咐你們當守的。
22:4 如今耶和華─你們上帝照著他所應許的，使你們弟兄得享平安，現在可以轉回你們的帳棚，到耶和華的僕人摩西在約旦河東所賜你們為業之地。
22:5 只要切切地謹慎遵行耶和華僕人摩西所吩咐你們的誡命律法，愛耶和華─你們的上帝，行他一切的道，守他的誡命，專靠他，盡心盡性事奉他。」
22:6 於是約書亞為他們祝福，打發他們去，他們就回自己的帳棚去了。
22:7 瑪拿西那半支派，摩西早已在巴珊分給他們地業。這半支派，約書亞在約旦河西，在他們弟兄中，分給他們地業。約書亞打發他們回帳棚的時候為他們祝福，
22:8 對他們說：「你們帶許多財物，許多牲畜和金、銀、銅、鐵，並許多衣服，回你們的帳棚去，要將你們從仇敵奪來的物，與你們眾弟兄同分。」
22:9 於是流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人從迦南地的示羅起行，離開以色列人，回往他們得為業的基列地，就是照耶和華藉摩西所吩咐的得了為業之地。
22:10 流便人、迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人到了靠近約旦河的一帶迦南地，就在約旦河那裡築了一座壇；那壇看著高大。
22:11 以色列人聽說流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人靠近約旦河邊，在迦南地屬以色列人的那邊築了一座壇。
22:12 全會眾一聽見，就聚集在示羅，要上去攻打他們。
22:13 以色列人打發祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈，往基列地去見流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人；
22:14 又打發十個首領與非尼哈同去，就是以色列每支派的一個首領，都是以色列軍中的統領。
22:15 他們到了基列地，見流便人、迦得人，和瑪拿西半支派的人，對他們說：
22:16 「耶和華全會眾這樣說，你們今日轉去不跟從耶和華，干犯以色列的上帝，為自己築一座壇，悖逆了耶和華，這犯的是甚麼罪呢？
22:17 從前拜毘珥的罪孽還算小嗎？雖然瘟疫臨到耶和華的會眾，到今日我們還沒有洗淨這罪。
22:18 你們今日竟轉去不跟從耶和華嗎？你們今日既悖逆耶和華，明日他必向以色列全會眾發怒。
22:19 你們所得為業之地，若嫌不潔淨，就可以過到耶和華之地，就是耶和華的帳幕所住之地，在我們中間得地業。只是不可悖逆耶和華，也不可得罪我們，在耶和華─我們上帝的壇以外為自己築壇。
22:20 從前謝拉的曾孫亞干豈不是在那當滅的物上犯了罪，就有忿怒臨到以色列全會眾嗎？那人在所犯的罪中不獨一人死亡。」
22:21 於是流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西半支派的人回答以色列軍中的統領說：
22:22 「大能者上帝耶和華！大能者上帝耶和華！他是知道的！以色列人也必知道！我們若有悖逆的意思，或是干犯耶和華（願你今日不保佑我們），
22:23 為自己築壇，要轉去不跟從耶和華，或是要將燔祭、素祭、平安祭獻在壇上，願耶和華親自討我們的罪。
22:24 我們行這事並非無故，是特意做的，說：恐怕日後你們的子孫對我們的子孫說：『你們與耶和華─以色列的上帝有何關涉呢？
22:25 因為耶和華把約旦河定為我們和你們這流便人、迦得人的交界，你們與耶和華無分了。』這樣，你們的子孫就使我們的子孫不再敬畏耶和華了。
22:26 因此我們說：『不如為自己築一座壇，不是為獻燔祭，也不是為獻別的祭，
22:27 乃是為你我中間和你我後人中間作證據，好叫我們也在耶和華面前獻燔祭、平安祭，和別的祭事奉他，免得你們的子孫日後對我們的子孫說，你們與耶和華無分了。』
22:28 所以我們說：『日後你們對我們，或對我們的後人這樣說，我們就可以回答說，你們看我們列祖所築的壇是耶和華壇的樣式；這並不是為獻燔祭，也不是為獻別的祭，乃是為作你我中間的證據。』
22:29 我們在耶和華─我們上帝帳幕前的壇以外，另築一座壇，為獻燔祭、素祭，和別的祭，悖逆耶和華，今日轉去不跟從他，我們斷沒有這個意思。」
22:30 祭司非尼哈與會中的首領，就是與他同來以色列軍中的統領，聽見流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西人所說的話，就都以為美。
22:31 祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈對流便人、迦得人、瑪拿西人說：「今日我們知道耶和華在我們中間，因為你們沒有向他犯了這罪。現在你們救以色列人脫離耶和華的手了。」
22:32 祭司以利亞撒的兒子非尼哈與眾首領離了流便人、迦得人，從基列地回往迦南地，到了以色列人那裡，便將這事回報他們。
22:33 以色列人以這事為美，就稱頌上帝，不再提上去攻打流便人、迦得人、毀壞他們所住的地了。
22:34 流便人、迦得人給壇起名叫證壇，意思說：這壇在我們中間證明耶和華是上帝。

 Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh ² and said to them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. ³ For a long time now—to this very day—you have not deserted your fellow Israelites but have carried out the mission the Lord your God gave you. ⁴ Now that the Lord your God has given them rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the other side of the Jordan. ⁵ But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to keep his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

⁶ Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. ⁷ (To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan along with their fellow Israelites.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, ⁸ saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth—with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing—and divide the plunder from your enemies with your fellow Israelites.”

⁹ So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the Lord through Moses.

¹⁰ 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 And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, ¹² the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

¹³ So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. ¹⁴ With him they sent ten of the chief men, one from each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.

¹⁵ When they went to Gilead—to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh—they said to them: ¹⁶ “The whole assembly of the Lord says: ‘How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the Lord and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? ¹⁷ Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the Lord! ¹⁸ And are you now turning away from the Lord?

“‘If you rebel against the Lord today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. ¹⁹ If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the Lord’s land, where the Lord’s tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the Lord or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the Lord our God. ²⁰ When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful in regard to the devoted things,^[a] did not wrath come on the whole community of Israel? He was not the only one who died for his sin.’”

²¹ Then Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the clans of Israel: ²² “The Mighty One, God, the Lord! The Mighty One, God, the Lord! He knows! And let Israel know! If this has been in rebellion or disobedience to the Lord, do not spare us this day. ²³ If we have built our own altar to turn away from the Lord and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, or to sacrifice fellowship offerings on it, may the Lord himself call us to account.

²⁴ “No! We did it for fear that some day your descendants might say to ours, ‘What do you have to do with the Lord, the God of Israel? ²⁵ The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you—you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord.’ So your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.

²⁶ “That is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and build an altar—but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ ²⁷ On the contrary, it is to be a witness between us and you and the generations that follow, that we will worship the Lord at his sanctuary with our burnt offerings, sacrifices and fellowship offerings. Then in the future your descendants will not be able to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’

²⁸ “And we said, ‘If they ever say this to us, or to our descendants, we will answer: Look at the replica of the Lord’s altar, which our ancestors built, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’

²⁹ “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 and sacrifices, other than the altar of the Lord our God that stands before his tabernacle.”

³⁰ When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community—the heads of the clans of the Israelites—heard what Reuben, Gad and Manasseh had to say, they were pleased. ³¹ And Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, said to Reuben, Gad and Manasseh, “Today we know that the Lord is with us, because you have not been unfaithful to the Lord in this matter. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the Lord’s hand.”

³² Then Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, and the leaders returned to Canaan from their meeting with the Reubenites and Gadites in Gilead and reported to the Israelites. ³³ They were glad to hear the report and praised God. And they talked no more about going to war against them to devastate the country where the Reubenites and the Gadites lived.

³⁴ And the Reubenites and the Gadites gave the altar this name: A Witness Between Us—that the Lord is God.

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    以色列人雖然分居在約旦河兩側，卻有同一個信仰，就是尊耶和華為大！他們為了怕兩邊的子孫忘記彼此都是同一族的，都是敬偉耶和華上帝的，所以約旦河東的兩個半支派，建立了一個「祭壇」成為彼此的見證。

    當然河西的9個支派不知他們的用意，就要起來攻擊他們這樣的作為，以為他們要敬拜別神，引起耶和華的憤怒，所以要做自清的作為，準備攻擊他們。還好彼此好好討論，就化干戈為玉帛！

    教會之中也常常會有這樣的情形，因此要讓彼此有溝通的機會，互相說明清楚用意和目的，就可以化解許多不必要的紛爭，彼此同得利益！願主幫助我們，讓教會常常有溝通的平台，不要意氣用事，造成不必要的傷害！