Joshua 22

אָ֚ז יִקְרָ֣א יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ לָראוּבֵנִ֖י וְלַגָּדִ֑י וְלַחֲצִ֖י מַטֵּ֥ה מְנַשֶּֽׁה׃

Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם אַתֶּ֣ם שְׁמַרְתֶּ֔ם אֵ֚ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶ֔ם מֹשֶׁ֖ה עֶ֣בֶד יְהֹוָ֑ה וַתִּשְׁמְע֣וּ בְקוֹלִ֔י לְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוִּ֖יתִי אֶתְכֶֽם׃

and said to them, “You have observed all that Moses the servant of G OD commanded you, and have obeyed me in everything that I commanded you.

לֹֽא־עֲזַבְתֶּ֣ם אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶ֗ם זֶ֚ה יָמִ֣ים רַבִּ֔ים עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּ֕ם אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֕רֶת מִצְוַ֖ת יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃

You have not forsaken your kindred through the long years down to this day, but have faithfully observed the Instruction of the E TERNAL your God.

וְעַתָּ֗ה הֵנִ֨יחַ יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶם֙ לַאֲחֵיכֶ֔ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֣ר לָהֶ֑ם וְעַתָּ֡ה פְּנוּ֩ וּלְכ֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם לְאׇהֳלֵיכֶ֗ם אֶל־אֶ֙רֶץ֙ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר׀ נָתַ֣ן לָכֶ֗ם מֹשֶׁה֙ עֶ֣בֶד יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּעֵ֖בֶר הַיַּרְדֵּֽן׃

Now the E TERNAL your God has given your kindred rest, as [God] promised them. Therefore turn and go to your homes, to the land of your holdings beyond the Jordan that Moses the servant of G OD assigned to you.

רַ֣ק׀ שִׁמְר֣וּ מְאֹ֗ד לַעֲשׂ֨וֹת אֶת־הַמִּצְוָ֣ה וְאֶת־הַתּוֹרָה֮ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה אֶתְכֶם֮ מֹשֶׁ֣ה עֶֽבֶד־יְהֹוָה֒ לְ֠אַהֲבָ֠ה אֶת־יְהֹוָ֨ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶ֜ם וְלָלֶ֧כֶת בְּכׇל־דְּרָכָ֛יו וְלִשְׁמֹ֥ר מִצְוֺתָ֖יו וּלְדׇבְקָה־ב֑וֹ וּלְעׇבְד֕וֹ בְּכׇל־לְבַבְכֶ֖ם וּבְכׇל־נַפְשְׁכֶֽם׃

But be very careful to fulfill the Instruction and the Teaching that Moses the servant of G OD enjoined upon you: to love the E TERNAL your God, to walk in godly ways, to keep the commandments, and to hold fast to [God]—and to render service with all your heart and soul.”

וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֖ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֑עַ וַֽיְשַׁלְּחֵ֔ם וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ אֶל־אׇהֳלֵיהֶֽם׃ {פ}

Then Joshua blessed them and dismissed them, and they went to their homes.

וְלַֽחֲצִ֣י׀ שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗ה נָתַ֣ן מֹשֶׁה֮ בַּבָּשָׁן֒ וּלְחֶצְי֗וֹ נָתַ֤ן יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ עִם־אֲחֵיהֶ֔ם (מעבר) [בְּעֵ֥בֶר] הַיַּרְדֵּ֖ן יָ֑מָּה וְ֠גַ֠ם כִּֽי־שִׁלְּחָ֧ם יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶל־אׇהֳלֵיהֶ֖ם וַֽיְבָרְכֵֽם׃

To the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had assigned territory in Bashan, and to the other Joshua assigned [territory] on the west side of the Jordan, with their kindred. Furthermore, when Joshua sent the two and a half tribes off to their homes, he blessed them

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר בִּנְכָסִ֨ים רַבִּ֜ים שׁ֤וּבוּ אֶל־אׇֽהֳלֵיכֶם֙ וּבְמִקְנֶ֣ה רַב־מְאֹ֔ד בְּכֶ֨סֶף וּבְזָהָ֜ב וּבִנְחֹ֧שֶׁת וּבְבַרְזֶ֛ל וּבִשְׂלָמ֖וֹת הַרְבֵּ֣ה מְאֹ֑ד חִלְק֥וּ שְׁלַל־אֹיְבֵיכֶ֖ם עִם־אֲחֵיכֶֽם׃ {פ}

and said to them, “Return to your homes with great wealth—with very much livestock, with silver and gold, with copper and iron, and with a great quantity of clothing. Share the spoil of your enemies with your kin.”

וַיָּשֻׁ֣בוּ וַיֵּלְכ֡וּ בְּנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֨ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֜ד וַחֲצִ֣י׀ שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֗ה מֵאֵת֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל מִשִּׁלֹ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּאֶֽרֶץ־כְּנָ֑עַן לָלֶ֜כֶת אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֗ד אֶל־אֶ֤רֶץ אֲחֻזָּתָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר נֹֽאחֲזוּ־בָ֔הּ עַל־פִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

So the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh, in the land of Canaan, and made their way back to the land of Gilead, the land of their own holding, which they had acquired by G OD ’s command through Moses.

וַיָּבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־גְּלִיל֣וֹת הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיִּבְנ֣וּ בְנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֣ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֡ד וַחֲצִ֣י שֵׁ֩בֶט֩ הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֨ה שָׁ֤ם מִזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ עַל־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן מִזְבֵּ֥חַ גָּד֖וֹל לְמַרְאֶֽה׃

When they came to the region of the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an altar there by the Jordan, a great conspicuous altar.

וַיִּשְׁמְע֥וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר הִנֵּ֣ה בָנ֣וּ בְנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֣ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֡ד וַחֲצִי֩ שֵׁ֨בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֜ה אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֗חַ אֶל־מוּל֙ אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֶל־גְּלִילוֹת֙ הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֶל־עֵ֖בֶר בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

A report reached the Israelites: “The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar opposite the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, across from the Israelites.”

וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיִּקָּ֨הֲל֜וּ כׇּל־עֲדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה לַעֲל֥וֹת עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם לַצָּבָֽא׃ {פ}

When the Israelites heard this, the whole community of the Israelites assembled at Shiloh to make war on them.

וַיִּשְׁלְח֨וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֧ן וְאֶל־בְּנֵי־גָ֛ד וְאֶל־חֲצִ֥י שֵֽׁבֶט־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד אֶת־פִּֽינְחָ֖ס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֥ר הַכֹּהֵֽן׃

But [first] the Israelites sent the priest Phinehas son of Eleazar to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead,

וַעֲשָׂרָ֤ה נְשִׂאִים֙ עִמּ֔וֹ נָשִׂ֨יא אֶחָ֜ד נָשִׂ֤יא אֶחָד֙ לְבֵ֣ית אָ֔ב לְכֹ֖ל מַטּ֣וֹת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְאִ֨ישׁ רֹ֧אשׁ בֵּית־אֲבוֹתָ֛ם הֵ֖מָּה לְאַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

accompanied by ten chieftains, one chieftain from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one of them a family head among the contingents of Israel.

וַיָּבֹ֜אוּ אֶל־בְּנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֧ן וְאֶל־בְּנֵי־גָ֛ד וְאֶל־חֲצִ֥י שֵׁבֶט־מְנַשֶּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֑ד וַיְדַבְּר֥וּ אִתָּ֖ם לֵאמֹֽר׃

When they came to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead, they spoke to them as follows:

כֹּ֣ה אָמְר֞וּ כֹּ֣ל׀ עֲדַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֗ה מָֽה־הַמַּ֤עַל הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר מְעַלְתֶּם֙ בֵּאלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָשׁ֣וּב הַיּ֔וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה בִּבְנוֹתְכֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לִמְרׇדְכֶ֥ם הַיּ֖וֹם בַּיהֹוָֽה׃

“Thus said all of G OD ’s community: What is this treachery that you have committed this day against the God of Israel, turning away from G OD , building yourselves an altar and rebelling this day against G OD !

הַמְעַט־לָ֙נוּ֙ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן פְּע֔וֹר אֲשֶׁ֤ר לֹא־הִטַּהַ֙רְנוּ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ עַ֖ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וַיְהִ֥י הַנֶּ֖גֶף בַּעֲדַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃

Is the sin of Peor, which brought a plague upon G OD ’s community, such a small thing to us? We have not purified ourselves from it to this very day;

וְאַתֶּם֙ תָּשֻׁ֣בוּ הַיּ֔וֹם מֵאַחֲרֵ֖י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהָיָ֗ה אַתֶּ֞ם תִּמְרְד֤וּ הַיּוֹם֙ בַּיהֹוָ֔ה וּמָחָ֕ר אֶֽל־כׇּל־עֲדַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל יִקְצֹֽף׃

and now you would turn away from G OD ! If you rebel against G OD today, tomorrow the divine wrath will be directed at the whole community of Israel.

וְאַ֨ךְ אִם־טְמֵאָ֜ה אֶ֣רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶ֗ם עִבְר֨וּ לָכֶ֜ם אֶל־אֶ֨רֶץ אֲחֻזַּ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֤ר שָֽׁכַן־שָׁם֙ מִשְׁכַּ֣ן יְהֹוָ֔ה וְהֵאָחֲז֖וּ בְּתוֹכֵ֑נוּ וּבַיהֹוָ֣ה אַל־תִּמְרֹ֗דוּ וְאֹתָ֙נוּ֙ אַל־תִּמְרֹ֔דוּ בִּבְנֹתְכֶ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ מִֽבַּלְעֲדֵ֔י מִזְבַּ֖ח יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ׃

If it is because the land of your holding is impure, cross over into the land of G OD ’s own holding, where the Tabernacle of G OD abides, and acquire holdings among us. But do not rebel against G OD , and do not rebel against us by building for yourselves an altar other than the altar of the E TERNAL our God.

הֲל֣וֹא׀ עָכָ֣ן בֶּן־זֶ֗רַח מָ֤עַל מַ֙עַל֙ בַּחֵ֔רֶם וְעַֽל־כׇּל־עֲדַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל הָ֣יָה קָ֑צֶף וְהוּא֙ אִ֣ישׁ אֶחָ֔ד לֹ֥א גָוַ֖ע בַּעֲוֺנֽוֹ׃ {ס}

When Achan son of Zerah violated the proscription, anger struck the whole community of Israel; he was not the only one who perished for that sin.”

וַֽיַּעֲנוּ֙ בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֣ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֔ד וַחֲצִ֖י שֵׁ֣בֶט הַֽמְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַֽיְדַבְּר֔וּ אֶת־רָאשֵׁ֖י אַלְפֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh replied to the heads of the contingents of Israel: They said,

אֵל֩׀אֱלֹהִ֨ים׀יְהֹוָ֜ה אֵ֣ל׀אֱלֹהִ֤ים׀יְהֹוָה֙ ה֣וּא יֹדֵ֔עַ וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ה֣וּא יֵדָ֑ע אִם־בְּמֶ֤רֶד וְאִם־בְּמַ֙עַל֙ בַּיהֹוָ֔ה אַל־תּוֹשִׁיעֵ֖נוּ הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃

“God, the E TERNAL God! God, the E TERNAL God, surely knows, and Israel too shall know! If we acted in rebellion or in treachery against G OD , do not vindicate us this day!

לִבְנ֥וֹת לָ֙נוּ֙ מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לָשׁ֖וּב מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְאִם־לְהַעֲל֨וֹת עָלָ֜יו עוֹלָ֣ה וּמִנְחָ֗ה וְאִם־לַעֲשׂ֤וֹת עָלָיו֙ זִבְחֵ֣י שְׁלָמִ֔ים יְהֹוָ֖ה ה֥וּא יְבַקֵּֽשׁ׃

If we built an altar to turn away from G OD , if it was to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings upon it, or to present sacrifices of well-being upon it, may G OD be the one to demand [a reckoning].

וְאִם־לֹ֤א מִדְּאָגָה֙ מִדָּבָ֔ר עָשִׂ֥ינוּ אֶת־זֹ֖את לֵאמֹ֑ר מָחָ֗ר יֹֽאמְר֨וּ בְנֵיכֶ֤ם לְבָנֵ֙ינוּ֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר מַה־לָּכֶ֕ם וְלַיהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

We did this thing only out of our concern that, in time to come, your children might say to our children, ‘What have you to do with the E TERNAL , the God of Israel?

וּגְב֣וּל נָֽתַן־יְ֠הֹוָ֠ה בֵּינֵ֨נוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶ֜ם בְּנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֤ן וּבְנֵי־גָד֙ אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֔ן אֵין־לָכֶ֥ם חֵ֖לֶק בַּיהֹוָ֑ה וְהִשְׁבִּ֤יתוּ בְנֵיכֶם֙ אֶת־בָּנֵ֔ינוּ לְבִלְתִּ֖י יְרֹ֥א אֶת־יְהֹוָֽה׃

G OD has made the Jordan a boundary between you and us, O Reubenites and Gadites; you have no share in G OD !’ Thus your children might prevent our children from worshiping G OD .

וַנֹּ֕אמֶר נַעֲשֶׂה־נָּ֣א לָ֔נוּ לִבְנ֖וֹת אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ לֹ֥א לְעוֹלָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א לְזָֽבַח׃

So we decided to provide [a witness] for ourselves by building an altar—not for burnt offerings or [other] sacrifices,

כִּי֩ עֵ֨ד ה֜וּא בֵּינֵ֣ינוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶ֗ם וּבֵ֣ין דֹּרוֹתֵ֘ינוּ֮ אַחֲרֵ֒ינוּ֒ לַעֲבֹ֞ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֤ת יְהֹוָה֙ לְפָנָ֔יו בְּעֹלוֹתֵ֥ינוּ וּבִזְבָחֵ֖ינוּ וּבִשְׁלָמֵ֑ינוּ וְלֹא־יֹאמְר֨וּ בְנֵיכֶ֤ם מָחָר֙ לְבָנֵ֔ינוּ אֵין־לָכֶ֥ם חֵ֖לֶק בַּיהֹוָֽה׃

but as a witness between you and us, and between the generations to come—that we may perform the service of G OD at Shiloh with our burnt offerings, our sacrifices, and our offerings of well-being; and that your children should not say to our children in time to come, ‘You have no share in G OD .’

וַנֹּ֕אמֶר וְהָיָ֗ה כִּֽי־יֹאמְר֥וּ אֵלֵ֛ינוּ וְאֶל־דֹּרֹתֵ֖ינוּ מָחָ֑ר וְאָמַ֡רְנוּ רְא֣וּ אֶת־תַּבְנִית֩ מִזְבַּ֨ח יְהֹוָ֜ה אֲשֶׁר־עָשׂ֣וּ אֲבוֹתֵ֗ינוּ לֹ֤א לְעוֹלָה֙ וְלֹ֣א לְזֶ֔בַח כִּֽי־עֵ֣ד ה֔וּא בֵּינֵ֖ינוּ וּבֵינֵיכֶֽם׃

We reasoned: should they speak thus to us and to our children in time to come, we would reply, ‘See the replica of G OD ’s altar, which our fathers made—not for burnt offerings or sacrifices, but as a witness between you and us.’

חָלִ֩ילָה֩ לָּ֨נוּ מִמֶּ֜נּוּ לִמְרֹ֣ד בַּֽיהֹוָ֗ה וְלָשׁ֤וּב הַיּוֹם֙ מֵאַחֲרֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לִבְנ֣וֹת מִזְבֵּ֔חַ לְעֹלָ֖ה לְמִנְחָ֣ה וּלְזָ֑בַח מִלְּבַ֗ד מִזְבַּח֙ יְהֹוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֵ֔ינוּ אֲשֶׁ֖ר לִפְנֵ֥י מִשְׁכָּנֽוֹ׃ {פ}

Far be it from us to rebel against G OD , or to turn away this day from G OD and build an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, and sacrifices other than the altar of the E TERNAL our God that stands before the Tabernacle.”

וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע פִּֽינְחָ֣ס הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וּנְשִׂיאֵ֨י הָעֵדָ֜ה וְרָאשֵׁ֨י אַלְפֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִתּ֔וֹ אֶ֨ת־הַדְּבָרִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֧ר דִּבְּר֛וּ בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֥ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֖ד וּבְנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֑ה וַיִּיטַ֖ב בְּעֵינֵיהֶֽם׃

When the priest Phinehas and the chieftains of the community—the heads of the contingents of Israel—who were with him heard the explanation given by the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites, they approved.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר פִּֽינְחָ֣ס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֡ן אֶל־בְּנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵ֨ן וְאֶל־בְּנֵי־גָ֜ד וְאֶל־בְּנֵ֣י מְנַשֶּׁ֗ה הַיּ֤וֹם׀יָדַ֙עְנוּ֙ כִּֽי־בְתוֹכֵ֣נוּ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־מְעַלְתֶּ֥ם בַּיהֹוָ֖ה הַמַּ֣עַל הַזֶּ֑ה אָ֗ז הִצַּלְתֶּ֛ם אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִיַּ֥ד יְהֹוָֽה׃

The priest Phinehas son of Eleazar said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the Manassites, “Now we know that G OD is in our midst, since you have not committed such treachery against G OD . You have indeed saved the Israelites from punishment by G OD .”

וַיָּ֣שׇׁב פִּֽינְחָ֣ס בֶּן־אֶלְעָזָ֣ר הַכֹּהֵ֣ן׀וְהַנְּשִׂיאִ֡ים מֵאֵ֣ת בְּנֵֽי־רְאוּבֵן֩ וּמֵאֵ֨ת בְּנֵי־גָ֜ד מֵאֶ֧רֶץ הַגִּלְעָ֛ד אֶל־אֶ֥רֶץ כְּנַ֖עַן אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַיָּשִׁ֥בוּ אוֹתָ֖ם דָּבָֽר׃

Then the priest Phinehas son of Eleazar and the chieftains returned from the Reubenites and the Gadites in the land of Gilead to the Israelites in the land of Canaan, and gave them their report.

וַיִּיטַ֣ב הַדָּבָ֗ר בְּעֵינֵי֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיְבָרְכ֥וּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֣א אָמְר֗וּ לַעֲל֤וֹת עֲלֵיהֶם֙ לַצָּבָ֔א לְשַׁחֵת֙ אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֛ר בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֥ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֖ד יֹשְׁבִ֥ים בָּֽהּ׃

The Israelites were pleased, and the Israelites praised God; and they spoke no more of going to war against them, to ravage the land in which the Reubenites and Gadites dwelt.

וַֽיִּקְרְא֛וּ בְּנֵי־רְאוּבֵ֥ן וּבְנֵי־גָ֖ד לַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ כִּ֣י עֵ֥ד הוּא֙ בֵּֽינֹתֵ֔ינוּ כִּ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה הָאֱלֹהִֽים׃ {פ}

The Reubenites and the Gadites named the altar [“Witness”], meaning, “It is a witness between us and them that the E TERNAL is [our] God.”