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Ιησούς του ναυή 22

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1 Τοτε συνεκαλεσεν ο Ιησους τους Ρουβηνιτας και τους Γαδιτας και το ημισυ της φυλης του Μανασση,

2 και ειπε προς αυτους, Σεις εφυλαξατε παντα οσα προσεταξεν εις εσας Μωυσης ο δουλος του Κυριου, και υπηκουσατε εις την φωνην μου κατα παντα οσα εγω προσεταξα εις εσας·

3 δεν εγκατελιπετε τους αδελφους σας εις τας πολλας ταυτας ημερας εως της σημερον, αλλ' εφυλαξατε εντελως την εντολην Κυριου του Θεου σας·

4 και τωρα Κυριος ο Θεος σας εδωκεν αναπαυσιν εις τους αδελφους σας, καθως υπεσχεθη προς αυτους· τωρα λοιπον επιστρεψατε και υπαγετε εις τας κατοικιας σας, εις την γην της ιδιοκτησιας σας, την οποιαν Μωυσης ο δουλος του Κυριου εδωκεν εις εσας εις το περαν του Ιορδανου·

5 προσεχετε ομως σφοδρα να εκτελητε τας εντολας και τον νομον, τον οποιον Μωυσης ο δουλος του Κυριου προσεταξεν εις εσας, να αγαπατε Κυριον τον Θεον σας, και να περιπατητε εις πασας τας οδους αυτου, και να φυλαττητε τας εντολας αυτου, και να ησθε προσηλωμενοι εις αυτον, και να λατρευητε αυτον εξ ολης της καρδιας σας και εξ ολης της ψυχης σας.

6 Και ευλογησεν αυτους ο Ιησους και απελυσεν αυτους· και απηλθον εις τας κατοικιας αυτων.

7 Και εις μεν το ημισυ της φυλης του Μανασση εδωκεν ο Μωυσης κληρονομιαν εν Βασαν· εις δε το αλλο ημισυ αυτης εδωκεν ο Ιησους κληρονομιαν μεταξυ των αδελφων αυτων εντευθεν του Ιορδανου προς δυσμας. Και οτε ο Ιησους απεστειλεν αυτους εις τας κατοικιας αυτων, ευλογησεν αυτους·

8 και ελαλησε προς αυτους, λεγων, Επιστρεψατε με πολλα πλουτη εις τας κατοικιας σας, και με κτηνη πολλα σφοδρα, με αργυρον και με χρυσον και με χαλκον και με σιδηρον και με ιματια πολλα σφοδρα, μοιρασθητε τα λαφυρα των εχθρων σας μετα των αδελφων σας.

9 Και οι υιοι Ρουβην και οι υιοι Γαδ και το ημισυ της φυλης Μανασση εστρεψαν και ανεχωρησαν απο των υιων Ισραηλ εκ της Σηλω, της εν τη γη Χανααν, δια να υπαγωσιν εις την γην Γαλααδ, εις την γην της ιδιοκτησιας αυτων, την οποιαν εκληρονομησαν κατα τον λογον του Κυριου δια του Μωυσεως.

10 Και ελθοντες εις τα περιξ του Ιορδανου, τα εντος της γης Χανααν, οι υιοι Ρουβην και οι υιοι Γαδ και το ημισυ της φυλης Μανασση ωκοδομησαν εκει θυσιαστηριον παρα τον Ιορδανην, θυσιαστηριον μεγα εις την οψιν.

11 Και ηκουσαν οι υιοι Ισραηλ να λεγηται, Ιδου, οι υιοι Ρουβην και οι υιοι Γαδ και το ημισυ της φυλης Μανασση ωκοδομησαν θυσιαστηριον κατεναντι της γης Χανααν, εις τα περιξ του Ιορδανου, κατα την διαβασιν των Ισραηλ.

12 Και οτε ηκουσαν οι υιοι Ισραηλ, συνηχθη πασα η συναγωγη των υιων Ισραηλ εις Σηλω, δια να αναβωσι να πολεμησωσι κατ' αυτων.

13 Και απεστειλαν οι υιοι Ισραηλ προς τους υιους Ρουβην και προς τους υιους Γαδ και προς το ημισυ της φυλης Μανασση εις την γην Γαλααδ τον Φινεες υιον Ελεαζαρ τον ιερεα,

14 και μετ' αυτου δεκα αρχοντας, ανα ενα αρχοντα αρχηγον πατριων κατα φυλην του Ισραηλ, και εκαστος ητο ο πρωτος του οικου των πατερων αυτων, επι τας χιλιαδας του Ισραηλ.

15 Και υπηγον προς τους υιους Ρουβην και προς τους υιους Γαδ και προς το ημισυ της φυλης Μανασση εις την γην Γαλααδ, και ελαλησαν προς αυτους λεγοντες,

16 Ταυτα λεγει πασα η συναγωγη Κυριου· Τις αυτη η ανομια, την οποιαν επραξατε εναντιον του Θεου του Ισραηλ, να απομακρυνθητε σημερον απο του Κυριου, οικοδομησαντες θυσιαστηριον εις εαυτους, ωστε να αποστατησητε σημερον απο Κυριου;

17 Μικρον εσταθη το αμαρτημα ημων εις Φεγωρ, απο του οποιου εως της σημερον δεν εκαθαρισθημεν, και εγεινε πληγη εις την συναγωγην του Κυριου,

18 και σεις θελετε σημερον αποστατησει απο του Κυριου; βεβαιως, εαν σεις αποστατησητε σημερον απο του Κυριου, αυριον θελει οργισθη εναντιον πασης της συναγωγης του Ισραηλ.

19 Εαν η γη της ιδιοκτησιας σας ηναι ακαθαρτος, διαβητε εις την γην της ιδιοκτησιας του Κυριου, οπου η σκηνη του Κυριου κατοικει, και λαβετε ιδιοκτησιαν μεταξυ ημων· και μη αποστατησητε απο του Κυριου, μηδε αφ' ημων αποστατησητε, οικοδομουντες εις εαυτους θυσιαστηριον εκτος του θυσιαστηριου Κυριου του Θεου ημων.

20 Δεν επραξεν Αχαν ο υιος του Ζερα εν τω αναθεματι, και επεσεν οργη εφ' ολην την συναγωγην του Ισραηλ; και ο ανθρωπος εκεινος δεν ηφανισθη μονος εν τη ανομια αυτου.

21 Τοτε απεκριθησαν οι υιοι Ρουβην και οι υιοι Γαδ και το ημισυ της φυλης Μανασση και ειπον προς τους αρχηγους των χιλιαδων του Ισραηλ·

22 Ο ισχυρος Θεος ο Κυριος, ο ισχυρος Θεος ο Κυριος, αυτος εξευρει, και αυτος θελει γνωρισει· εαν επραξαμεν τουτο δια αποστασιαν η εαν δια ανομιαν εναντιον του Κυριου, μη λυτρωσης ημας την ημεραν ταυτην.

23 Εαν ωκοδομησαμεν εις εαυτους θυσιαστηριον δια να αποχωρισθωμεν απο του Κυριου, η εαν δια να προσφερωμεν επ' αυτου ολοκαυτωμα η προσφορας, η εαν δια να προσφερωμεν επ' αυτου ειρηνικας θυσιας, αυτος ο Κυριος ας εκζητηση τουτο.

24 Και εαν δεν επραξαμεν αυτο μαλλον εκ φοβου του πραγματος τουτου, λεγοντες, Αυριον δυνανται τα τεκνα σας να ειπωσι προς τα τεκνα ημων, λεγοντα, Τι εχετε σεις να καμητε μετα του Κυριου του Θεου του Ισραηλ;

25 διοτι ο Κυριος εθεσε τον Ιορδανην οριον μεταξυ ημων και υμων, υιοι Ρουβην και υιοι Γαδ· δεν εχετε μερος μετα του Κυριου· και καμωσιν οι υιοι σας τους υιους ημων να παυσωσιν απο του να φοβωνται τον Κυριον.

26 Δια τουτο ειπομεν, Ας επιχειρισθωμεν να οικοδομησωμεν εις εαυτους το θυσιαστηριον· ουχι δια ολοκαυτωμα ουδε δια θυσιαν,

27 αλλα δια να ηναι μαρτυριον αναμεσον ημων και υμων, και αναμεσον των γενεων ημων μεθ' ημας, οτι ημεις καμνομεν την λατρειαν του Κυριου ενωπιον αυτου με τα ολοκαυτωματα ημων και με τας θυσιας ημων και με τας ειρηνικας προσφορας ημων· δια να μη ειπωσιν αυριον τα τεκνα σας προς τα τεκνα ημων, Σεις δεν εχετε μερος μετα του Κυριου.

28 Δια τουτο ειπομεν, Εαν τυχη να λαλησωσιν ουτω προς ημας η προς τας γενεας ημων αυριον, τοτε θελομεν αποκριθη, Ιδου, το ομοιωμα του θυσιαστηριου του Κυριου, το οποιον ωκοδομησαν οι πατερες ημων, ουχι δια ολοκαυτωμα ουδε δια θυσιαν, αλλα δια να ηναι μαρτυριον αναμεσον ημων και υμων.

29 Μη γενοιτο να αποστατησωμεν απο του Κυριου και να αποχωρισθωμεν σημερον απο του Κυριου, οικοδομουντες θυσιαστηριον δια ολοκαυτωμα, δια προσφορας και δια θυσιαν, εκτος του θυσιαστηριου Κυριου του Θεου ημων, το οποιον ειναι εμπροσθεν της σκηνης αυτου.

30 Και ακουσαντες Φινεες ο ιερευς και οι αρχοντες της συναγωγης και οι αρχηγοι των χιλιαδων του Ισραηλ, οι οντες μετ' αυτου, τους λογους τους οποιους ελαλησαν οι υιοι Ρουβην και οι υιοι Γαδ και οι υιοι Μανασση, ευχαριστηθησαν.

31 Και ειπε Φινεες ο υιος του Ελεαζαρ ο ιερευς προς τους υιους Ρουβην και προς τους υιους Γαδ και προς τους υιους Μανασση, Σημερον εγνωρισαμεν οτι ο Κυριος ειναι εν μεσω ημων, διοτι δεν επραξατε την ανομιαν ταυτην εναντιον του Κυριου· δια τουτου ελυτρωσατε τους υιους Ισραηλ απο της χειρος του Κυριου.

32 Και επεστρεψεν ο Φινεες ο υιος του Ελεαζαρ ο ιερευς και οι αρχοντες απο των υιων Ρουβην και απο των υιων Γαδ εκ της γης Γαλααδ εις την γην Χανααν προς τους υιους Ισραηλ, και εφεραν αποκρισιν προς αυτους.

33 Και το πραγμα ηρεσεν εις τους υιους Ισραηλ· και ευλογησαν τον Θεον οι υιοι Ισραηλ, και δεν ειπαν πλεον να αναβωσιν εναντιον αυτων εις μαχην, δια να αφανισωσι την γην οπου κατωκουν οι υιοι Ρουβην και οι υιοι Γαδ.

34 Και ωνομασαν οι υιοι Ρουβην και οι υιοι Γαδ το θυσιαστηριον Εδ· Διοτι, ειπαν, τουτο θελει εισθαι μαρτυριον αναμεσον ημων, οτι ο Κυριος ειναι ο Θεος.

   

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Exploring the Meaning of Joshua 22

Napsal(a) New Christian Bible Study Staff, Julian Duckworth

Joshua 22: The tribes of Reuben, Gad and half Manasseh return.

With the land of Canaan now settled by Israel, the time had come for the men of Reuben, Gad, and one half of Manasseh to return to the other side of the Jordan, where their wives, children, cattle and sheep were left. The men of these two and a half tribes had been ordered to fight alongside the other tribes of Israel, and only then to return home.

They left, and when they came to the banks of the River Jordan, they built a large altar to the Lord. When the rest of Israel caught word of this, they wanted to go to war with these tribes, because they felt the altar was a sacrilege - Israel had the tabernacle for its worship of the Lord. They sent Phineas the priest to ask why they had built the altar. These tribes across the Jordan replied that in the future, the people of Israel may move against them, and reject them. They said the altar would serve as a witness to their worship of the Lord, just as the Israelites in Canaan worshiped. This answer pleased the priest, and when he told the leaders of Israel, it pleased them too.

The spiritual meaning of this episode is a very important one for us. The tribes living on the other side of the River Jordan stand for the worldly activities of our outward life, which in themselves are a very important part of our spiritual life. These actions make up the external part of spiritual life, in which we are able to do good (see Swedenborg’s work, Arcana Caelestia 9824[2]).

The tribes building an altar to God portrays our understanding that all the good we do, and all the use we provide, is possible because of the Lord. He is the giver of all good, which is why we must serve the Lord. Without use, spiritual thoughts and beliefs do not have a foundation (Arcana Caelestia 9473[3]).

Reuben, Gad and half of Manasseh said that the people of Israel might cut them off in the future. In spiritual terms, this would be to separate spiritual life and external life in daily living. This would result in such things as hypocrisy, and faith without charity, both of which are a threat to our spiritual well-being (see Swedenborg’s work, Doctrine of Life 4).

The altar, which was built on Canaan’s side of the Jordan before these tribes crossed over, was to stand as a witness to the union between the tribes within Canaan and the tribes across the Jordan, as one nation before the Lord (Arcana Caelestia 9714).

This unity means that we must be equally present in three areas of life: in the depths of our heart, in our worship and adoration of the Lord; in our mind, in our understanding and delight in the Lord’s Word with all its truth; and in our outward actions, where our acknowledgement of the Lord as our God leads us to be sincere, just, moral, fair, compassionate and dedicated to the service of God.

The answer from the three tribes pleased the priest and, in turn, the leaders of Israel. This reception represents our affirmation that ‘being spiritual’ does not take the place of helping others, but really demands that we serve the Lord in our daily actions (see Swedenborg’s work, Apocalypse Explained 325[4]).

Bible

 

Joshua 22

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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 chidren 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.