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tribes and a half； as we have shown already。 But the parts about
Sidon； as also those that belonged to the Arkites； and the
Amathites； and the Aradians； were not yet regularly disposed of。
24。 But now was Joshua hindered by his age from executing what he
intended to do （as did those that succeeded him in the
government； take little care of what was for the advantage of the
public）； so he gave it in charge to every tribe to leave no
remainder of the race of the Canaanites in the land that had been
divided to them by lot； that Moses had assured them beforehand；
and they might rest fully satisfied about it； that their own
security and their observation of their own laws depended wholly
upon it。 Moreover； he enjoined them to give thirty…eight cities
to the Levites； for they had already received ten in the country
of the Amorites； and three of these he assigned to those that
fled from the man…slayers； who were to inhabit there； for he was
very solicitous that nothing should be neglected which Moses had
ordained。 These cities were； of the tribe of Judah； Hebron； of
that of Ephraim； Shechem； and of that of Naphthali； Cadesh； which
is a place of the Upper Galilee。 He also distributed among them
the rest of the prey not yet distributed； which was very great；
whereby they had an affluence of great riches； both all in
general； and every one in particular； and this of gold and of
vestments； and of other furniture； besides a multitude of cattle；
whose number could not be told。
25。 After this was over； he gathered the army together to a
congregation； and spake thus to those tribes that had their
settlement in the land of the Amorites beyond Jordan； … for fifty
thousand of them had armed themselves； and had gone to the war
along with them： … 〃Since that God； who is the Father and Lord of
the Hebrew nation； has now given us this land for a possession；
and promised to preserve us in the enjoyment of it as our own for
ever； and since you have with alacrity offered yourselves to
assist us when we wanted that assistance on all occasions；
according to his command； it is but just； now all our
difficulties are over； that you should be permitted to enjoy
rest； and that we should trespass on your alacrity to help us no
longer； that so； if we should again stand in need of it； we may
readily have it on any future emergency； and not tire you out so
much now as may make you slower in assisting us another thee。 We；
therefore； return you our thanks for the dangers you have
undergone with us； and we do it not at this thee only； but we
shall always be thus disposed； and be so good as to remember our
friends； and to preserve in mind what advantages we have had from
them； and how you have put off the enjoyments of your own
happiness for our sakes； and have labored for what we have now；
by the goodwill of God； obtained； and resolved not to enjoy your
own prosperity till you had afforded us that assistance。 However；
you have； by joining your labor with ours； gotten great plenty of
riches； and will carry home with you much prey； with gold and
silver； and； what is more than all these； our good…will towards
you； and a mind willingly disposed to make a requital of your
kindness to us； in what case soever you shall desire it； for you
have not omitted any thing which Moses beforehand required of
you； nor have you despised him because he was dead and gone from
you； so that there is nothing to diminish that gratitude which we
owe to you。 We therefore dismiss you joyful to your own
inheritances； and we entreat you to suppose； that there is no
limit to be set to the intimate relation that is between us； and
that you will not imagine； because this river is interposed
between us； that you are of a different race from us； and not
Hebrews； for we are all the posterity of Abraham； both we that
inhabit here； and you that inhabit there； and it is the same God
that brought our forefathers and yours into the world； whose
worship and form of government we are to take care of； which he
has ordained； and are most carefully to observe； because while
you continue in those laws； God will also show himself merciful
and assisting to you； but if you imitate the other nations； and
forsake those laws； he will reject your nation。〃 When Joshua had
spoken thus； and saluted them all； both those in authority one by
one； and the whole multitude in common； he himself staid where he
was； but the people conducted those tribes on their journey； and
that not without tears in their eyes； and indeed they hardly knew
how to part one from the other。
26。 Now when the tribe of Reuben； and that of Gad； and as many of
the Manassites as followed them； were passed over the river； they
built an altar on the banks of Jordan； as a monument to
posterity； and a sign of their relation to those that should
inhabit on the other side。 But when those on the other side heard
that those who had been dismissed had built an altar； but did not
hear with what intention they built it； but supposed it to be by
way of innovation； and for the introduction of strange gods； they
did not incline to disbelieve it； but thinking this defamatory
report； as if it were built for divine worship； was credible；
they appeared in arms； as though they would avenge themselves on
those that built the altar； and they were about to pass over the
river； and to punish them for their subversion of the laws of
their country； for they did not think it fit to regard them on
account of their kindred or the dignity of those that had given
the occasion； but to regard the will of God； and the manner
wherein he desired to be worshipped； so these men put themselves
in array for war。 But Joshua； and Eleazar the high priest； and
the senate； restrained them； and persuaded them first to make
trial by words of their intention； and afterwards； if they found
that their intention was evil； then only to proceed to make war
upon them。 Accordingly； they sent as ambassadors to them Phineas
the son of Eleazar； and ten more persons that were in esteem
among the Hebrews； to learn of them what was in their mind； when；
upon passing over the river； they had built an altar upon its
banks。 And as soon as these ambassadors were passed over； and
were come to them； and a congregation was assembled； Phineas
stood up and said； That the offense they had been guilty of was
of too heinous a nature to be punished by words alone； or by them
only to be amended for the future； yet that they did not so look
at the heinousness of their transgression as to have recourse to
arms； and to a battle for their punishment immediately； but that；
on account of their kindred； and the probability there was that
they might be reclaimed； they took this method of sending an
ambassage to them： 〃That when we have learned the true reasons by
which you have been moved to build this altar； we may neither
seem to have been too rash in assaulting you by our weapons of
war； if it prove that you made the altar for justifiable reasons；
and may then justly punish you if the accusation prove true； for
we can hardly
hardly suppose that you； have been acquainted with the will of
God and have been hearers of tho