1
Wakati huo Yoshua akawaita Wareubeni, na Wagadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase,
Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh
2
naye akawaambia, Ninyi mmeyaandama hayo yote mliyoamriwa na Musa, mtumishi wa Bwana, nanyi mmeisikia sauti yangu katika yote niliyowaamuru mimi;
and told them, “You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.
3
hamkuwaacha hao ndugu zenu siku hizi nyingi hata hivi leo, lakini mmeyashika mausia ya amri ya Bwana, Mungu wenu.
All this time you have not deserted your brothers, up to this very day, but have kept the charge given you by the LORD your God.
4
Na sasa yeye Bwana, Mungu wenu, amewapa ndugu zenu kustarehe, kama alivyowaambia; basi sasa rudini ninyi mwende mahemani kwenu, hata nchi ya milki yenu, ambayo huyo Musa, mtumishi wa Bwana, aliwapa ng'ambo ya pili ya Yordani.
And now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as He promised them, you may return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you across the Jordan.
5
Lakini mjibidiishe sana kuzifanya amri na sheria, ambazo Musa, mtumishi wa Bwana, aliwaamuru, kumpenda Bwana, Mungu wenu, na kwenenda katika njia zake zote, na kuzishika amri zake, na kushikamana na yeye, na kumtumikia kwa moyo wenu wote na nafsi yenu yote.
But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.”
6
Basi Yoshua akawabarikia, na kuwapa ruhusa waende zao; nao wakaenda mahemani kwao.
So Joshua blessed them and sent them on their way, and they went to their homes.
7
Basi Musa alikuwa amewapa hiyo nusu moja ya kabila ya Manase urithi katika Bashani; lakini hiyo nusu ya pili Yoshua aliwapa urithi kati ya ndugu zao, ng'ambo ya Yordani upande wa kuelekea magharibi. Zaidi ya hayo Yoshua, hapo alipowapeleka waende zao mahemani kwao, akawabarikia,
(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan among their brothers.) When Joshua sent them to their homes he blessed them,
8
kisha akanena nao, na kuwaambia, Rudini na mali mengi mahemani kwenu, na ng'ombe wengi sana, na fedha, na dhahabu, na shaba, na chuma, na mavao mengi sana; mzigawanye na ndugu zenu hizo nyara za adui zenu.
saying, “Return to your homes with your great wealth, with immense herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, iron, and very many clothes. Divide with your brothers the spoil of your enemies.”
9
Basi wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase wakarudi, wakatoka kwa wana wa Israeli katika Shilo, ulioko nchi ya Kanaani, ili waende nchi ya Gileadi, hiyo nchi ya milki yao, waliyokuwa wanaimiliki, sawasawa na amri ya Bwana kwa mkono wa Musa.
So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan to return to their own land of Gilead, which they had acquired according to the command of the LORD through Moses.
10
Nao walipofika pande za Yordani, zilizo katika nchi ya Kanaani, hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na nusu ya kabila ya Manase, wakajenga madhabahu huko karibu na Yordani, iliyoonekana kuwa ni madhabahu kubwa.
And 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
Wana wa Israeli walisikia ikinenwa, Tazama, wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, wamejenga madhabahu huko upande wa mbele wa nchi ya Kanaani, katika nchi iliyo karibu na Yordani, kwa upande huo ulio milki ya wana wa Israeli.
Then the Israelites received the report: “Behold, the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the border of the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.”
12
Basi, wana wa Israeli waliposikia habari hiyo, mkutano wote wa wana wa Israeli wakakutanika pamoja huko Shilo, ili waende kupigana nao.
And when they heard this, the whole congregation of Israel assembled at Shiloh to go to war against them.
13
Kisha wana wa Israeli wakatuma wajumbe waende kwa wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, hata nchi ya Gileadi; nao ni hawa, Finehasi mwana wa Eleazari kuhani;
The Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest to the land of Gilead, to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
14
na pamoja naye wakuu kumi, mkuu mmoja wa nyumba ya mababa kwa ajili ya kila kabila ya Israeli; nao kila mmoja alikuwa ni kichwa cha nyumba ya mababa katika maelfu ya Israeli.
With him they sent ten chiefs—one family leader from each tribe of Israel, each the head of a family among the clans of Israel.
15
Nao wakawafikilia hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, katika nchi ya Gileadi, na wakasema nao, wakinena,
They went to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and said to them,
16
Mkutano wote wa Bwana wanena, Ni kosa gani hili mlilolikosa juu ya Mungu wa Israeli, hata mkakengeuka hivi leo na kuacha kumwandama Bwana, katika kujijengea madhabahu, na kuasi hivi leo juu ya Bwana?
“This is what the whole congregation of the LORD says: ‘What is this breach of faith you have committed today against the God of Israel by turning away from the LORD and building for yourselves an altar, that you might rebel against the LORD this day?
17
Je! Ule uovu wa Peori haututoshi, ambao hamjajitakasa nafsi zenu katika huo hata hivi leo, ijapokuwa ilikuja tauni juu ya mkutano wa Bwana,
Was not the sin of Peor enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day? It even brought a plague upon the congregation of the LORD.
18
hata ikawa hamna budi hivi leo kugeuka na kuacha kumwandama Bwana? Kisha itakuwa, kwa kuwa ninyi mwamwasi Bwana hivi leo, kwamba kesho yeye atakasirika na mkutano wote wa Israeli.
And now, would you turn away from the LORD? If you rebel today against the LORD, tomorrow He will be angry with the whole congregation of Israel.
19
Basi kwamba hiyo nchi ya milki yenu si tohara, ndipo ninyi vukeni na kuingia nchi ya milki yake Bwana, ambayo maskani ya Bwana inakaa ndani yake, nanyi twaeni milki kati yetu; lakini msimwasi Bwana, wala msituasi sisi, kwa kujijengea madhabahu zaidi ya hiyo madhabahu ya Bwana, Mungu wetu.
If indeed the land of your inheritance is unclean, then cross over to the land of the LORD’s possession, where the LORD’s tabernacle stands, and take possession of it among us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.
20
Je! Huyo Akani mwana wa Zera hakukosa katika vile vitu vilivyowekwa wakfu, na hasira ikauangukia mkutano wote wa Israeli? Kisha mtu huyo hakuangamia peke yake katika uovu wake?
Was not Achan son of Zerah unfaithful regarding what was set apart for destruction, bringing wrath upon the whole congregation of Israel? Yet it was not only Achan who perished because of his sin!’”
21
Ndipo hapo wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na hiyo nusu ya kabila ya Manase, wakajibu, na kuwaambia hao waliokuwa ni vichwa vya maelfu ya Israeli, wakasema,
Then the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders of the clans of Israel:
22
Mungu, Mungu Bwana, naam, Mungu, Mungu Bwana, yeye yuajua, na Israeli naye atajua; kama ni katika uasi, au kama ni katika kosa juu ya Bwana, (usituokoe hivi leo);
“The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! The LORD, the Mighty One, is God! He knows, and may Israel also know. If this was in rebellion or breach of faith against the LORD, do not spare us today.
23
sisi kujijengea madhabahu ili kukengeuka na kuacha kumwandama Bwana; au kama ni kusongeza juu yake sadaka ya kuteketezwa, au sadaka ya unga, au kama ni kusongeza sadaka za amani juu yake, yeye Bwana mwenyewe na alitake jambo hili;
If we have built for ourselves an altar to turn away from Him and to offer burnt offerings and grain offerings on it, or to sacrifice peace offerings on it, may the LORD Himself hold us accountable.
24
au kama sisi tumefanya jambo hili kwa hadhari sana, tena makusudi, huku tukisema, Katika siku zijazo wana wenu yamkini wakanena na wana wetu, na kusema, Ninyi mna nini na Bwana, yeye Mungu wa Israeli?
But in fact we have done this for fear that in the future your descendants might say to ours, ‘What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?
25
Kwa kuwa yeye Bwana ameufanya huu mto wa Yordani uwe mpaka katikati ya sisi na ninyi, enyi wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, hamna fungu katika Bwana; basi hivyo wana wenu wangewakomesha wana wetu wasimche Bwana.
For the LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you Reubenites and Gadites. You have no share in the LORD!’ So your descendants could cause ours to stop fearing the LORD.
26
Kwa ajili ya hayo tulisema, Na tufanye tayari ili kujijengea madhabahu, si kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, wala kwa sadaka yo yote;
That is why we said, ‘Let us take action and build an altar for ourselves, but not for burnt offerings or sacrifices.
27
bali itakuwa ni ushahidi kati ya sisi na ninyi, tena kati ya vizazi vyetu baada yetu, ili kwamba tufanye huo utumishi wa Bwana mbele yake kwa njia ya sadaka zetu za kuteketezwa, na kwa dhabihu zetu, na kwa sadaka zetu za amani; ili kwamba wana wenu wasiwaambie wana wetu katika zamani zijazo, Ninyi hamna fungu katika Bwana.
Rather, let it be a witness between us and you and the generations to come, that we will worship the LORD 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
Kwa hiyo tulisema, Itakuwa, hapo watakapotuambia neno kama hilo, au kuwaambia watu wa vizazi vyetu katika zamani zijazo neno kama hilo, ndipo sisi tutawaambia, Angalieni huu mfano wa madhabahu ya Bwana, walioufanya baba zetu, si kwa ajili ya sadaka ya kuteketezwa, wala kwa ajili ya dhabihu; lakini ni ushahidi kati ya sisi na ninyi.
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 that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you.’
29
Mungu na atuzuie msimwasi Bwana, na kukengeuka hivi leo na kuacha kumwandama Bwana, hata mkajenga madhabahu kwa ajili ya sadaka za kuteketezwa, au sadaka za unga, au dhabihu, mbali na ile madhabahu ya Bwana, Mungu wetu, iliyo huko mbele ya maskani yake.
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, or sacrifices, other than the altar of the LORD our God, which stands before His tabernacle.”
30
Basi Finehasi kuhani, na wakuu wa mkutano, maana, ni hao waliokuwa vichwa vya maelfu ya Israeli waliokuwa pamoja naye, hapo walipoyasikia hayo maneno waliyoyasema hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na wana wa Manase, maneno hayo yaliwaridhia sana.
When Phinehas the priest and the chiefs of the congregation—the heads of Israel’s clans who were with him—heard what the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh had to say, they were satisfied.
31
Naye Finehasi, mwana wa Eleazari, kuhani, akawaambia wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, na wana wa Manase, akasema, Siku hii ya leo twajua ya kwamba Bwana yu kati yetu, kwa sababu hamkukosa katika jambo hili mbele ya Bwana; sasa ninyi mmewaokoa wana wa Israeli na mkono wa Bwana.
Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest said to the descendants of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh, “Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this breach of faith against Him. Consequently, you have delivered the Israelites from the hand of the LORD.”
32
Kisha Finehasi, mwana wa Eleazari, kuhani, na hao wakuu, wakarudi na kuwaacha wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, wakatoka katika nchi ya Gileadi, na kuingia nchi ya Kanaani; wakawarudia wana wa Israeli, wakawapa habari.
Then Phinehas son of Eleazar the priest, together with the other leaders, returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan and brought back a report regarding the Reubenites and Gadites in the land of Gilead.
33
Wana wa Israeli nao wakaliridhia jambo hilo; nao wana wa Israeli wakamhimidi Mungu, wala hawakusema tena habari ya kuwaendea juu yao kupigana nao, wala kuiharibu nchi waliyoikaa wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi.
The Israelites were satisfied with the report, and they blessed God and spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the Reubenites and Gadites lived.
34
Basi hao wana wa Reubeni, na wana wa Gadi, wakaiita madhabahu hiyo Edi; wakasema, Kwa kuwa ni ushahidi kati yetu ya kwamba yeye Bwana ndiye Mungu.
So the Reubenites and Gadites named the altar Witness, for they said, “It is a witness between us that the LORD is God.”