Joshua 22:11-20

11But the sons of Israel 1heard a report: “Behold, the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have 2built an altar at the 3frontier of the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel.” 12And when the sons of Israel heard about it, the entire congregation of the sons of Israel assembled at 4Shiloh to go up against them in battle.

13Then the sons of Israel sent to the sons of Reuben, to the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, 5Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, 14and with him ten leaders, one leader for each father’s household from each of the tribes of Israel; and 6each one of them was the head of his father’s household among the 7thousands of Israel. 15They came to the sons of Reuben, the sons of Gad, and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying, 16“This is what the whole congregation of the Lord says: ‘What is this unfaithful act which you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away from following the Lord this day, by 8building yourselves an altar, to rebel against the Lord this day? 17Is 9the wrongdoing of Peor 10not enough for us, from which we have not cleansed ourselves to this day, although 11a plague came on the congregation of the Lord, 18that you must turn away this day from following the Lord? If you rebel against the Lord today, 12He will be angry with the entire congregation of Israel tomorrow. 19If, however, the land of your possession is unclean, then 13cross into the land of the possession of the Lord, where the Lord’s 14tabernacle 15stands, and settle among us. Only do not rebel against the Lord, or rebel against us, by 16building an altar for yourselves besides the altar of the Lord our God. 20Did 17Achan the son of Zerah not act unfaithfully in the things designated for destruction, and wrath fall on the entire congregation of Israel? So that man did not perish alone in his guilt.’”