Greek Text · Translation · Interlinear · Discourse Structure

The Book of Joshua, Chapter 22ΙΗΣΟΥΣ ΚΒ′

Each verse opens with the running Greek, an English translation, and a discourse note (its connective, relation, and role in the argument). Below follows the word-by-word breakdown in six tiers: gloss, case (color), parsing, syntax, semantic force, and a lexical note.

Case Nominative Genitive Dative Accusative Vocative Verb (no case) Indeclinable

Discourse notes head each verse: relation · connective · clause-flow. Indentation marks prominence — flush-left = main line of argument; indented = supporting / subordinate material.

Theme

The eastern tribes build a witness altar, and covenant crisis turns into renewed unity before the Lord.

Translation & textual notes

The Greek text of Joshua 22 follows the standard critical text of the Septuagint as established in the Rahlfs–Hanhart edition (Septuaginta, rev. ed. 2006), an ancient and public-domain text; the critical apparatus is not reproduced. Joshua 22 is the great 'altar episode' that closes the conquest narrative: Joshua dismisses the two-and-a-half Transjordan tribes (Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh) to their inheritance east of the Jordan with a blessing and a sustained charge to keep the commandment, to love the LORD (ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν, v. 5), and to serve him ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας … καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς — language drawn directly from the Shema-tradition of Deuteronomy. On their way home they build a great altar (βωμὸν μέγαν) by the Jordan (v. 10); when the rest of Israel hears, they assemble at Shiloh to make war (ἐκπολεμῆσαι, v. 12), fearing apostasy. A delegation led by Phinehas son of Eleazar invokes the precedents of the sin of Peor (τὸ ἁμάρτημα Φογωρ, v. 17) and of Achar/Achan and the devoted thing (ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναθέματος, v. 20) to argue corporate guilt: one man's trespass brought wrath ἐπὶ πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν Ισραηλ. The Transjordan tribes reply with a solemn oath (ὁ θεὸς θεός ἐστιν κύριος, v. 22): the altar is not for ὁλοκαυτώματα or θυσίαι but a μαρτύριον ('witness', vv. 27, 28, 34) to their share in the LORD, lest future generations say οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμῖν μερὶς κυρίου. The LXX consistently distinguishes the illegitimate βωμός (the great altar, a potential rival shrine) from the legitimate θυσιαστήριον κυρίου that stands before the tent (ἐναντίον τῆς σκηνῆς αὐτοῦ, v. 29) — a lexical distinction central to the chapter's theology of one altar and one place of worship. Phinehas is satisfied (ἤρεσεν), declares that the LORD is among them (μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν κύριος, v. 31), and civil war is averted; Joshua names the altar a witness 'that the LORD is their God' (v. 34).

1

τότε συνεκάλεσεν Ἰησοῦς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ρουβην καὶ τοὺς υἱοὺς Γαδ καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση

Then Joshua called together the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

New narrative episode (temporal hinge after the allotment narratives of chs. 13–21)τότε συνεκάλεσεν Ἰησοῦς
The adverb τότε ('then') opens the final conquest-cycle episode after the completed land distribution; συνεκάλεσεν marks a formal summoning of the Transjordan coalition. The three-part naming — sons of Reuben, sons of Gad, half-tribe of Manasseh — is a fixed formula in this chapter, recurring at vv. 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 21, 30, 31, 33, 34.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
τότεthentemporal adverb (episode marker)τότε: 'then / at that time'; here it functions as a discourse-level hinge introducing a new narrative episode, the dismissal of the eastern tribes, after the long allotment section.
συνεκάλεσενcalled togetherAor Act Indic 3 Sg · συγκαλέωmain verb (formal summons)→ constative aorist (single convening act)συγκαλέω: 'call together / convene / summon'; the συν- prefix stresses the gathering of the whole eastern coalition into one assembly before Joshua for a formal commissioning.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: LXX transliteration of Hebrew יְהוֹשֻׁעַ ('YHWH saves'); declined as a contract noun (gen./dat. Ἰησοῦ, acc. Ἰησοῦν); the same Greek form later renders 'Jesus' in the NT, a typological link noted already by patristic exegetes.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object (first member of the tribal triad)υἱός: 'son'; the idiom οἱ υἱοὶ + tribal name renders Hebrew בְּנֵי ('sons of'), the standard designation of a tribe by descent.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'sons of Reuben')Ρουβην: transliteration of Hebrew רְאוּבֵן; indeclinable in the LXX; Reuben was Jacob's firstborn, and his tribe settled east of the Jordan (Num 32).
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object (second member of the triad)υἱοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: transliteration of Hebrew גָּד; indeclinable; the tribe of Gad settled east of the Jordan beside Reuben.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with neuter ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfAccusativesubstantivized adjective (third member: 'the half')ἥμισυς, -εια, -υ: 'half'; the neuter τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση renders חֲצִי שֵׁבֶט מְנַשֶּׁה, 'the half-tribe of Manasseh,' the eastern portion of Manasseh that settled in Bashan and Gilead.
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivegenitive (partitive: 'half of the tribe')φυλή: 'tribe / clan'; renders שֵׁבֶט / מַטֶּה; the genitive marks the portion of the tribe in view.
ΜανασσηManassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Manasseh')Μανασση: transliteration of Hebrew מְנַשֶּׁה; indeclinable; Manasseh, son of Joseph, whose tribe was split between Cisjordan and Transjordan.
2

καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς ὑμεῖς ἀκηκόατε πάντα ὅσα ἐνετείλατο ὑμῖν Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς κυρίου καὶ ἐπηκούσατε τῆς φωνῆς μου κατὰ πάντα ὅσα ἐνετειλάμην ὑμῖν

and he said to them, 'You have heard all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.

Direct speech: Joshua's commendation (main narrative continued)καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς
Joshua's address opens with an emphatic ὑμεῖς and the perfect ἀκηκόατε, framing the tribes' past obedience as an abiding accomplished state. The pairing of Moses' command (ἐνετείλατο) and Joshua's own (ἐνετειλάμην) places Joshua in continuity with the Mosaic authority.
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (Hebraizing καί-parataxis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (single speech-act)λέγω: the aorist εἶπεν introduces Joshua's direct address to the assembled tribes.
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (addressees)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic nominative pronoun)σύ (pl. ὑμεῖς): the explicit subject pronoun is emphatic, since Greek does not require it; it foregrounds the tribes as the responsible agents whose obedience is being commended.
ἀκηκόατεyou have heardPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (perfect of abiding result)→ resultative perfect (the hearing remains effective)ἀκούω: 'hear / heed'; the perfect ἀκηκόατε presents the tribes' hearing as an accomplished and abiding reality — they not only heard but retain the obligation.
πάνταallAccusativedirect object (substantival: 'all things')πᾶς: 'all / every'; neuter accusative plural, antecedent of the relative ὅσα.
ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (correlative: 'as many things as')ὅσος: 'as much/many as'; the correlative πάντα ὅσα ('all that') renders Hebrew כֹּל אֲשֶׁר, a comprehensive relative formula.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (Moses' command)→ constative aorist (completed legislative act)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / charge / enjoin'; deponent middle; renders צִוָּה (Piel); the standard LXX verb for the giving of divine and Mosaic commandments.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative indirect objectὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοΜωυσῆς: transliteration of Hebrew מֹשֶׁה; declined as a contract noun (gen. Μωυσῆ, acc. Μωυσῆν).
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositive παῖς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖςservantNominativenominative in apposition to Μωυσῆςπαῖς: 'child / servant / attendant'; ὁ παῖς κυρίου renders עֶבֶד יְהוָה, the honorific 'servant of the LORD' — a standing title for Moses (cf. Josh 1:1; 14:7).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose servant)κύριος: the standard LXX rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the genitive κυρίου marks Moses as the LORD's own servant, lending divine authority to his commands.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπηκούσατεyou have obeyedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐπακούωmain verb (coordinate with ἀκηκόατε)→ constative aorist (settled record of obedience)ἐπακούω: 'hearken to / obey / heed'; the ἐπι- compound with the genitive τῆς φωνῆς denotes attentive obedience, not mere hearing; renders שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל ('listen to the voice of').
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
φωνῆςvoiceGenitivegenitive object of ἐπηκούσατε (what was obeyed)φωνή: 'voice / sound'; the idiom ἐπακούειν τῆς φωνῆς ('obey the voice') renders שָׁמַע בְּקוֹל; here Joshua's voice carries Mosaic and divine authority.
μουmyGenitivegenitive of possession (Joshua's voice)μου: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
κατὰaccording topreposition + accusative (standard/measure)κατά + acc.: 'according to / in conformity with'; here introducing the measure of the obedience ('in all that I commanded').
πάνταallAccusativeobject of κατά (substantival: 'all things')πάντα: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὅσαwhateverAccusativerelative pronoun (correlative with πάντα)ὅσα: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἐνετειλάμηνI commandedAor Mid Indic 1 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (Joshua's own command)→ constative aorist (Joshua's completed charge)ἐντέλλομαι (1 sg.): Joshua now speaks of his own commands in the same verb used of Moses, asserting continuity of covenant authority from Moses to himself.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative indirect objectὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
3

οὐκ ἐγκαταλελοίπατε τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ὑμῶν ταύτας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ πλείους ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ἐφυλάξασθε τὴν ἐντολὴν κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν

You have not forsaken your brothers these many days and more, until this present day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.

Commendation continued (negative + positive parallel)οὐκ ἐγκαταλελοίπατε
The perfect ἐγκαταλελοίπατε ('you have not abandoned') stresses sustained faithfulness throughout the campaign; the temporal phrase ταύτας τὰς ἡμέρας καὶ πλείους ἕως τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας marks the long duration. The verse closes the commendation with the positive counterpart: they have kept the LORD's commandment.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
οὐκnotnegative particle (with indicative)οὐ (οὐκ before vowel): the objective negative of fact, negating the indicative ἐγκαταλελοίπατε.
ἐγκαταλελοίπατεyou have forsakenPerf Act Indic 2 Pl · ἐγκαταλείπωmain verb (negated perfect of abiding state)→ resultative perfect (a settled record of non-abandonment)ἐγκαταλείπω: 'forsake / abandon / leave behind'; the double-compound ἐγ-κατα- intensifies; renders עָזַב; the perfect underscores that the tribes' loyalty to their brothers has held firm throughout.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὺςbrothersAccusativedirect objectἀδελφός: 'brother'; renders אָח; here the fellow Israelites of the western tribes, for whom the eastern tribes crossed over to fight (cf. Num 32:20–22).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ταύταςtheseAccusativedemonstrative adjective (accusative of duration)οὗτος: 'this'; the accusative ταύτας τὰς ἡμέρας is an accusative of extent of time ('throughout these days').
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdaysAccusativeaccusative of extent of timeἡμέρα: 'day'; the accusative plural marks the long span of the campaign.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πλείουςmoreAccusativecomparative adjective (substantival: 'more [days]')πλείων (comparative of πολύς): 'more / greater in number'; ἡμέρας … καὶ πλείους = 'these days and more,' emphasizing the protracted duration of their service.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal terminus)ἕως: 'until / up to'; with the genitive ἡμέρας it marks the endpoint, 'until this present day.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σήμερονtodayadverb (attributive with ἡμέρας: 'the present day')σήμερον: 'today'; indeclinable adverb; the phrase τῆς σήμερον ἡμέρας ('this very day') is a Hebraism rendering הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕως (temporal terminus)ἡμέρας: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐφυλάξασθεyou have keptAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (positive counterpart of the commendation)→ constative aorist (record of faithful keeping)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'keep / guard / observe'; the middle ἐφυλάξασθε emphasizes careful personal observance; renders שָׁמַר ('keep / watch over'), the verb of covenant-keeping.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὴνcommandmentAccusativedirect objectἐντολή: 'commandment / charge'; renders מִצְוָה / מִשְׁמֶרֶת; the object of covenant fidelity, here defined as 'of the LORD your God.'
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (whose commandment)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the commandment is the LORD's own.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with appositive θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίουθεός: 'God'; renders אֱלֹהִים; κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ὑμῶν ('the LORD your God') is the standard covenant formula joining the divine name and the relational title.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (covenant possessive)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
4

νῦν δὲ κατέπαυσεν κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς ἡμῶν ὃν τρόπον εἶπεν αὐτοῖς νῦν οὖν ἀποστραφέντες ἀπέλθατε εἰς τοὺς οἴκους ὑμῶν καὶ εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς κατασχέσεως ὑμῶν ἣν ἔδωκεν ὑμῖν Μωυσῆς ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου

Now the LORD our God has given rest to our brothers, just as he said to them; now therefore turn back and go to your houses and to the land of your possession, which Moses gave you beyond the Jordan.

Logical pivot: from past faithfulness to present dismissalνῦν δὲ κατέπαυσεν
The temporal-logical νῦν δέ ('but now') turns from the record of obedience to the new situation: rest (κατέπαυσεν) has been achieved, fulfilling the promise. The doubled νῦν … νῦν οὖν drives toward the imperative ἀπέλθατε ('go'), the formal dismissal. The participle ἀποστραφέντες ('having turned back') is attendant-circumstance to the main imperative.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (logical pivot)νῦν: 'now'; here a logical-temporal marker introducing the consequence of the completed conquest.
δὲbutmild adversative (post-positive)δέ: post-positive particle; here mildly adversative, marking the shift from past commendation to present circumstance.
κατέπαυσενgave restAor Act Indic 3 Sg · καταπαύωmain verb (divine bestowal of rest)→ constative aorist (accomplished rest)καταπαύω: 'cause to rest / give rest'; renders הֵנִיחַ (Hiphil of נוּחַ); the 'rest' (κατάπαυσις) motif is central to Joshua and Deuteronomy — the LORD's gift of secure dwelling in the land after war (cf. Josh 21:44; Deut 12:10), later theologized at Ps 94[95]:11 and Heb 3–4.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubjectκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD is the agent of the rest, not Israel's own military success.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositive θεὸς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativenominative in apposition to κύριοςθεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεὸς ἡμῶν ('the LORD our God') is the covenant title; the first-person plural ἡμῶν includes Joshua with the assembled tribes.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship (covenant possessive)ἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφοὺςbrothersAccusativedirect object of κατέπαυσεν (recipients of rest)ἀδελφός: here the western tribes, now settled, to whom rest has been given.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (with τρόπον: 'in the manner which')ὅς: relative pronoun; ὃν τρόπον ('in which manner / just as') is an adverbial accusative idiom of comparison.
τρόπονmannerAccusativeadverbial accusative (manner: 'in the way that')τρόπος: 'manner / way'; ὃν τρόπον renders כַּאֲשֶׁר ('just as'), here invoking the fulfilled divine word.
εἶπενhe saidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωverb of comparative clause (the prior divine promise)→ constative aorist (the earlier word now fulfilled)λέγω: refers back to the LORD's earlier promise of rest given through Moses (cf. Deut 3:20).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect objectαὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (resumptive, introducing the command)νῦν: the second νῦν resumes after the comparative clause, driving toward the imperative.
οὖνthereforeinferential particleοὖν: 'therefore / then'; draws the practical conclusion: since rest is given, return home.
ἀποστραφέντεςhaving turned backAor Pass Part Nom Masc Pl · ἀποστρέφωcircumstantial participle (attendant circumstance to ἀπέλθατε)→ coincident aorist participle (turning = setting out)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; the passive/intransitive participle ἀποστραφέντες ('turning back') is attendant on the imperative; the same verb recurs negatively in this chapter for 'turning away' from the LORD (vv. 16, 18, 23, 29), an ironic verbal echo.
ἀπέλθατεgo awayAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (imperative of dismissal)→ ingressive aorist imperative (set out homeward)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the aorist imperative formally dismisses the tribes to their inheritance; the alpha-form ἀπέλθατε is the Koine sigmatic aorist imperative.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουςhousesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)οἶκος: 'house / household'; renders בַּיִת / אֹהֶל; the return 'to your houses/tents' marks the end of the war-service and the resumption of settled life.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination, parallel)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)γῆ: 'land / earth'; renders אֶרֶץ; here the eastern territory granted by Moses.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατασχέσεωςof possessionGenitivegenitive of definition ('the land of your possession')κατάσχεσις: 'possession / holding'; renders אֲחֻזָּה, the term for permanent landed inheritance; γῆ τῆς κατασχέσεως is the technical phrase for allotted tribal territory (cf. v. 9, 19).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἔδωκεν)ὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative agreeing with γῆν.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιverb of relative clause (Moses' grant)→ constative aorist (completed grant)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the gift of the Transjordan land by Moses (Num 32; Deut 3:12–17) is the legal basis for the eastern settlement.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative indirect objectὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἔδωκενΜωυσῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing the adverb πέραν)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανbeyondimproper preposition / adverb (substantivized: 'the region beyond')πέραν: 'beyond / on the other side'; indeclinable; ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου renders בְּעֵבֶר הַיַּרְדֵּן ('beyond the Jordan'), the standard designation of the Transjordan territory.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πέραν)Ιορδάνης: transliteration of Hebrew יַרְדֵּן; declined as a first-declension masculine (gen. Ιορδάνου); the river is the boundary that defines and divides the eastern and western tribes throughout this chapter.
5

ἀλλὰ φυλάξασθε ποιεῖν σφόδρα τὰς ἐντολὰς καὶ τὸν νόμον ὃν ἐνετείλατο ἡμῖν ποιεῖν Μωυσῆς ὁ παῖς κυρίου ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν πορεύεσθαι πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ φυλάξασθαι τὰς ἐντολὰς αὐτοῦ καὶ προσκεῖσθαι αὐτῷ καὶ λατρεύειν αὐτῷ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας ὑμῶν καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς ὑμῶν

But take great care to do the commandments and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded us to do: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, and to cleave to him and serve him with your whole mind and your whole soul.

Adversative charge: the heart of Joshua's exhortation (Deuteronomic Shema)ἀλλὰ φυλάξασθε
The strong adversative ἀλλά pivots from dismissal to the central charge. A chain of complementary infinitives (ἀγαπᾶν, πορεύεσθαι, φυλάξασθαι, προσκεῖσθαι, λατρεύειν) unfolds the content of covenant-keeping; the closing ἐξ ὅλης τῆς διανοίας … καὶ ἐξ ὅλης τῆς ψυχῆς is the LXX Shema-formula (Deut 6:5 LXX), here the theological core of the chapter.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
ἀλλὰbutstrong adversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but / rather'; the strong adversative pivots from the permission to depart to the obligation that must accompany it.
φυλάξασθεtake careAor Mid Impv 2 Pl · φυλάσσωmain verb (imperative governing complementary infinitives)→ ingressive aorist imperative (be on guard to do)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'guard / take heed / be careful'; the middle imperative with the complementary ποιεῖν means 'take care to do'; renders שָׁמַר לַעֲשׂוֹת, the Deuteronomic formula of careful covenant-observance.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (with φυλάξασθε)→ imperfective present infinitive (ongoing observance)ποιέω: 'do / make / perform'; renders עָשָׂה; the present infinitive expresses habitual, ongoing performance of the law.
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying)σφόδρα: 'very much / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; here intensifying the diligence required ('take great care').
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of ποιεῖνἐντολή: 'commandment'; renders מִצְוָה; paired with νόμον as the comprehensive object of obedience.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
νόμονlawAccusativedirect object (coordinate with ἐντολὰς)νόμος: 'law'; renders תּוֹרָה; the Torah of Moses as the standing rule of the covenant community.
ὃνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐνετείλατο)ὅς: relative pronoun, masculine accusative agreeing with νόμον.
ἐνετείλατοcommandedAor Mid Indic 3 Sg · ἐντέλλομαιverb of relative clause (Moses' command)→ constative aorist (completed legislation)ἐντέλλομαι: 'command / enjoin'; renders צִוָּה; the law is grounded in Moses' authoritative charge.
ἡμῖνusDativedative indirect objectἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ποιεῖνto doPres Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (epexegetic of the command)→ imperfective present infinitive (ongoing performance)ποιέω: the second ποιεῖν reinforces that the law was given precisely 'to be done,' a Deuteronomic emphasis on practice over mere possession.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject of ἐνετείλατοΜωυσῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositive παῖς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
παῖςservantNominativenominative in apposition to Μωυσῆςπαῖς: ὁ παῖς κυρίου, 'the servant of the LORD,' Moses' standing honorific (cf. v. 2).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationshipκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
ἀγαπᾶνto lovePres Act Inf · ἀγαπάωepexegetic infinitive (first specification of the law's content)→ imperfective present infinitive (ongoing love)ἀγαπάω: 'love'; renders אָהַב; ἀγαπᾶν κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν is the LXX rendering of the Shema's command to love YHWH (Deut 6:5; cf. 10:12; 11:13); the verb denotes covenant loyalty, not mere emotion.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of ἀγαπᾶνκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the object of covenant love.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with appositive θεὸν)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativeaccusative in apposition to κύριονθεός: κύριον τὸν θεὸν ὑμῶν, the full Shema-object, 'the LORD your God.'
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
πορεύεσθαιto walkPres Mid Inf · πορεύομαιepexegetic infinitive (second specification)→ imperfective present infinitive (continual walking)πορεύομαι: 'go / walk / conduct oneself'; renders הָלַךְ; 'to walk in all his ways' (πορεύεσθαι πάσαις ταῖς ὁδοῖς αὐτοῦ) is the Deuteronomic metaphor for the whole ethical life of covenant obedience (Deut 10:12).
πάσαιςallDativeattributive adjective (with ὁδοῖς)πᾶς: 'all / every'; the totality 'in all his ways' excludes any selective obedience.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὁδοῖςwaysDativedative of place/manner (with πορεύεσθαι)ὁδός: 'way / road / path'; renders דֶּרֶךְ; the 'ways' of the LORD are his revealed manner of life for the covenant people.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
φυλάξασθαιto keepAor Mid Inf · φυλάσσωepexegetic infinitive (third specification)→ constative aorist infinitive (faithful keeping)φυλάσσω (mid.): 'keep / observe / guard'; renders שָׁמַר; the aorist infinitive sums up the obligation of guarding his commandments.
τὰςtheAccusativearticleτὰς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐντολὰςcommandmentsAccusativedirect object of φυλάξασθαιἐντολή: 'commandment'; the object of keeping.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτοῦ: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
προσκεῖσθαιto cleavePres Mid Inf · πρόσκειμαιepexegetic infinitive (fourth specification)→ imperfective present infinitive (continual adherence)πρόσκειμαι: 'be attached to / cling to / adhere'; renders דָּבַק ('cleave'); the verb of covenant attachment, expressing intimate and exclusive loyalty to the LORD (cf. Deut 10:20; 11:22).
αὐτῷto himDativedative complement of προσκεῖσθαιαὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
λατρεύεινto servePres Act Inf · λατρεύωepexegetic infinitive (fifth specification)→ imperfective present infinitive (ongoing cultic service)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; renders עָבַד; in the LXX it denotes religious service rendered to God; the choice of λατρεύειν here (worship of the true God) contrasts pointedly with the feared apostate cult of the great altar later in the chapter.
αὐτῷhimDativedative complement of λατρεύειναὐτῷ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐξfrom / withpreposition + genitive (source/extent: Shema-formula)ἐκ (ἐξ before vowel): the phrase ἐξ ὅλης … 'with [out of] the whole …' renders Hebrew בְּכָל ('with all'); the LXX uses ἐκ + genitive to express the totality of the inner faculties engaged in love and service.
ὅληςwholeGenitiveattributive adjective (with διανοίας)ὅλος: 'whole / entire'; the totality-word of the Shema; nothing of the inner self is withheld.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
διανοίαςmindGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (faculty of love)διάνοια: 'mind / understanding / disposition'; here renders לֵבָב ('heart'); the LXX of Deut 6:5 likewise uses διάνοια for the Hebrew 'heart,' the seat of will and thought, which the NT Shema-citations expand (cf. Mark 12:30).
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξfrom / withpreposition + genitive (parallel Shema-clause)ἐξ: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ὅληςwholeGenitiveattributive adjective (with ψυχῆς)ὅλης: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ψυχῆςsoulGenitivegenitive object of ἐξ (second faculty of love)ψυχή: 'soul / life / self'; renders נֶפֶשׁ; the διάνοια/ψυχή pairing renders the Shema's לֵבָב/נֶפֶשׁ, comprehending the whole person in covenant devotion.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
6

καὶ ηὐλόγησεν αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς καὶ ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτούς καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν

And Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their houses.

Narrative resolution of the dismissal (sequential καί-chain)καὶ ηὐλόγησεν
Three coordinated aorists (ηὐλόγησεν, ἐξαπέστειλεν, ἐπορεύθησαν) bring the dismissal-scene to its close: blessing, sending, and departure. The blessing (εὐλογέω) frames the whole exchange in covenant favor and will be repeated at v. 7.
Word-by-word analysis· 13 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (sequential)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ηὐλόγησενblessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (act of blessing)→ constative aorist (single blessing-act)εὐλογέω: 'bless / speak well of'; renders בֵּרַךְ (Piel); the augmented form ηὐ- is the classical augment; Joshua's blessing invokes divine favor on the departing tribes.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐξαπέστειλενsent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωmain verb (act of dismissal)→ constative aorist (formal dismissal)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; the double-compound ἐξ-απο- stresses the complete release of the tribes to return home; renders שִׁלַּח.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (consecutive)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθησανthey wentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (departure)→ constative aorist (completed departure)πορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; the aorist passive (deponent) ἐπορεύθησαν narrates the tribes' actual setting out for home.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουςhousesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)οἶκος: 'house / dwelling'; the return home fulfils the imperative ἀπέλθατε of v. 4.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
7

καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασση ἔδωκεν Μωυσῆς ἐν τῇ Βασανίτιδι καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει ἔδωκεν Ἰησοῦς μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτοῦ ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου παρὰ θάλασσαν καὶ ἡνίκα ἐξαπέστειλεν αὐτοὺς Ἰησοῦς εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν καὶ εὐλόγησεν αὐτούς

Now to the one half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half Joshua gave land among their brothers on the west of the Jordan by the sea; and when Joshua sent them away to their houses, he blessed them.

Narratorial recapitulation (parenthetical explanation of Manasseh's two halves)καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασση
A narratorial aside clarifying the divided settlement of Manasseh: one half received Bashan from Moses (Transjordan), the other half land west of the Jordan from Joshua. The note prepares for the geography of the altar-episode by distinguishing the eastern and western halves of the tribe. The closing repeats the dismissal-and-blessing of v. 6.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunction (introducing aside)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with ἡμίσει, dative indirect object)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσειhalfDativedative indirect object (recipient of land)ἥμισυς: 'half'; the dative τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασση = 'to the half of the tribe of Manasseh' (the eastern half) that received Bashan.
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable; the tribe split east and west of the Jordan.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (Moses' grant of Bashan)→ constative aorist (completed grant, here pluperfect in sense)δίδωμι: 'give'; renders נָתַן; the aorist here is rendered pluperfect in English ('had given') since it precedes the narrative present.
ΜωυσῆςMosesNominativesubject (of the eastern grant)Μωυσῆς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΒασανίτιδιBashanDativedative of place (locative)Βασανῖτις (gen. -ιδος): 'the Bashanite (region) / Bashan'; the Greek gentilic form renders Hebrew בָּשָׁן; the fertile Transjordan highland given to eastern Manasseh (Deut 3:13).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (contrasting the two halves)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with ἡμίσει)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσειhalfDativedative indirect object (the western half)ἥμισυς: the second half of Manasseh, settled west of the Jordan among the other tribes.
ἔδωκενgaveAor Act Indic 3 Sg · δίδωμιmain verb (Joshua's grant)→ constative aorist (completed grant)δίδωμι: here Joshua, not Moses, is the giver of the western allotment.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubject (of the western grant)Ἰησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
μετὰamong / withpreposition + genitive (association)μετά + gen.: 'with / among'; the western half dwelt 'among their brothers' on the Cisjordan side.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive object of μετάἀδελφός: the kindred tribes west of the Jordan.
αὐτοῦtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (collective singular antecedent)αὐτοῦ: singular referring to the collective half-tribe.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing πέραν)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανsideimproper preposition / adverb (substantivized: 'the side of')πέραν: 'across / on the side of'; here ἐν τῷ πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου παρὰ θάλασσαν denotes the western side toward the (Mediterranean) sea, distinguished from the eastern Transjordan; the same phrase πέραν τοῦ Ιορδάνου is used relative to the speaker's standpoint and so can denote either bank.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive of relationship (with πέραν)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river boundary.
παρὰbypreposition + accusative (position alongside)παρά + acc.: 'beside / along'; παρὰ θάλασσαν, 'by the sea,' locating the western allotment toward the Mediterranean coast.
θάλασσανseaAccusativeaccusative object of παράθάλασσα: 'sea'; renders יָם; here the western (Mediterranean) sea, used directionally for 'west.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction (resuming the dismissal note)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἡνίκαwhentemporal conjunctionἡνίκα: 'when / at the time when'; introduces a temporal clause coordinating the sending and the blessing; renders Hebrew כַּאֲשֶׁר / בְּ + infinitive.
ἐξαπέστειλενsent awayAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐξαποστέλλωverb of temporal clause→ constative aorist (the act of sending)ἐξαποστέλλω: 'send away / dismiss'; repeating the dismissal of v. 6.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουςhousesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςοἶκος: 'house / dwelling.'
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (apodosis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὐλόγησενhe blessedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · εὐλογέωmain verb (apodosis of the temporal clause)→ constative aorist (blessing-act)εὐλογέω: 'bless'; here without the classical augment (εὐ- rather than ηὐ-, as in v. 6), an orthographic variant common in the LXX; Joshua's blessing seals the dismissal.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect objectαὐτούς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
8

καὶ ἐν χρήμασιν πολλοῖς ἀπήλθοσαν εἰς τοὺς οἴκους αὐτῶν καὶ κτήνη πολλὰ σφόδρα καὶ ἀργύριον καὶ χρυσίον καὶ σίδηρον καὶ ἱματισμὸν πολύν καὶ διείλαντο τὴν προνομὴν τῶν ἐχθρῶν μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν αὐτῶν

And with much wealth they departed to their houses — and very many cattle, and silver and gold and iron and much clothing — and they divided the spoil of their enemies with their brothers.

Narrative detail: the wealth of the returning tribes (sequential)καὶ ἐν χρήμασιν πολλοῖς
The fronted ἐν χρήμασιν πολλοῖς ('with much wealth') emphasizes the abundant return; an asyndetic-style catalogue (cattle, silver, gold, iron, clothing) inventories the plunder. The closing verb διείλαντο ('they divided') with μετὰ τῶν ἀδελφῶν fulfils the Mosaic rule that spoil be shared with those who stayed behind (cf. Num 31:27; Josh 22:8).
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (accompaniment/means)ἐν + dat.: here instrumental-comitative, 'with much wealth,' rendering Hebrew בְּ of accompaniment.
χρήμασινwealth / richesDativedative of accompanimentχρῆμα (pl. χρήματα): 'goods / property / wealth'; renders נְכָסִים / כֶּסֶף; the plural denotes accumulated possessions.
πολλοῖςmuchDativeattributive adjective (with χρήμασιν)πολύς: 'much / many'; emphasizing the abundance of the returning tribes' wealth.
ἀπήλθοσανthey departedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπέρχομαιmain verb (departure)→ constative aorist (completed return)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the Hellenistic ending -οσαν (for -ον) is common in the LXX; the tribes return home laden with plunder.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἴκουςhousesAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςοἶκος: 'house / dwelling.'
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (extending the catalogue of wealth)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κτήνηcattleAccusativeaccusative (loosely appended to χρήμασιν: itemized wealth)κτῆνος (pl. κτήνη): 'cattle / livestock / beast'; renders מִקְנֶה / בְּהֵמָה; livestock were the primary measure of pastoral wealth, fitting for the Transjordan tribes (cf. Num 32:1).
πολλὰmanyAccusativeattributive adjective (with κτήνη)πολύς: 'many.'
σφόδραexceedinglyadverb of degree (intensifying πολλὰ)σφόδρα: 'very / exceedingly'; renders מְאֹד; 'very many cattle.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀργύριονsilverAccusativeaccusative (itemized wealth)ἀργύριον: 'silver / money'; renders כֶּסֶף; first of the precious-metal items in the spoil-catalogue.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
χρυσίονgoldAccusativeaccusative (itemized wealth)χρυσίον: 'gold'; renders זָהָב; silver-and-gold is the standard merism for portable wealth.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
σίδηρονironAccusativeaccusative (itemized wealth)σίδηρος: 'iron'; renders בַּרְזֶל; iron implements and weapons were valuable spoil in the Late Bronze/Iron Age transition.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἱματισμὸνclothingAccusativeaccusative (itemized wealth)ἱματισμός: 'clothing / raiment / garments'; renders שְׂמָלוֹת / בְּגָדִים; fine garments were a prized component of war-spoil.
πολύνmuchAccusativeattributive adjective (with ἱματισμὸν)πολύς: 'much / abundant.'
καὶandnarrative conjunction (consecutive)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
διείλαντοthey dividedAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · διαιρέωmain verb (distribution of spoil)→ constative aorist (completed division)διαιρέω (mid.): 'divide / distribute / apportion'; renders חָלַק; the middle διείλαντο ('divided among themselves') reflects the law that the spoil of war be shared with the brothers who remained at home (Num 31:27).
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
προνομὴνspoilAccusativedirect object of διείλαντοπρονομή: 'plunder / spoil / booty'; renders שָׁלָל / בַּז; the wealth seized from the conquered enemies.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἐχθρῶνenemiesGenitivegenitive of source (whose spoil)ἐχθρός: 'enemy / hostile one'; renders אֹיֵב; the defeated Canaanite peoples whose goods became Israel's plunder.
μετὰwithpreposition + genitive (association)μετά + gen.: 'with'; the spoil is shared with the brothers.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀδελφῶνbrothersGenitivegenitive object of μετάἀδελφός: the western kinsmen with whom the plunder is divided, fulfilling the principle of equitable sharing of spoil.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationshipαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
9

καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς υἱῶν Μανασση ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ισραηλ ἐκ Σηλω ἐν γῇ Χανααν ἀπελθεῖν εἰς γὴν Γαλααδ εἰς γῆν κατασχέσεως αὐτῶν ἣν ἐκληρονόμησαν αὐτὴν διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ

And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of the sons of Manasseh went from the sons of Israel, from Shiloh in the land of Canaan, to go to the land of Gilead, to the land of their possession, which they had inherited by the command of the LORD through the hand of Moses.

Departure from Shiloh to Gilead (new geographical movement)καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν
The verse traces the route: from the sons of Israel, from Shiloh in Canaan, to Gilead, their inheritance. The closing legal formula — διὰ προστάγματος κυρίου ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ ('by the LORD's command through Moses' hand') — establishes the divine legitimacy of the eastern settlement, a point crucial to the coming altar-dispute.
Word-by-word analysis· 41 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπορεύθησανwentAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · πορεύομαιmain verb (departure)→ constative aorist (completed journey)πορεύομαι: 'go / journey'; the eastern tribes set out from the assembly at Shiloh toward their Transjordan home.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (first member of the triad)υἱός: 'son'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην, the tribe of Reuben.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (second member)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfNominativesubject (third member, substantival)ἥμισυς: 'half'; here with the fuller phrase φυλῆς υἱῶν Μανασση, 'of the tribe of the sons of Manasseh.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
υἱῶνof sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (with Μανασση)υἱός: 'sons of Manasseh,' the fuller tribal designation.
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from / away from'; marking the parting of the eastern tribes from the main body of Israel.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the collective body of the western tribes.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: transliteration of Hebrew יִשְׂרָאֵל; indeclinable; here the collective covenant nation gathered west of the Jordan.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (source/place of departure)ἐκ: 'out of / from'; marking Shiloh as the point of departure.
ΣηλωShilohgenitive object of ἐκ (indeclinable place-name)Σηλω: transliteration of Hebrew שִׁלֹה; indeclinable; the central sanctuary site in Canaan where the tent of meeting stood (Josh 18:1), and so the place of national assembly.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)γῆ: 'land'; γῇ Χανααν, 'the land of Canaan,' locating Shiloh on the western side.
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of apposition (indeclinable place-name)Χανααν: transliteration of Hebrew כְּנַעַן; indeclinable; the promised land west of the Jordan, contrasted with Transjordan Gilead.
ἀπελθεῖνto goAor Act Inf · ἀπέρχομαιinfinitive of purpose (goal of the journey)→ constative aorist infinitive (purpose)ἀπέρχομαι: 'go away / depart'; the infinitive of purpose expresses the goal of the journey: to reach Gilead.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γὴνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (destination)γῆ: 'land'; the spelling γὴν with grave accent reflects the Rahlfs text verbatim.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitive of apposition (indeclinable place-name)Γαλααδ: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְעָד; indeclinable; the mountainous Transjordan region, the inheritance of Gad, Reuben, and eastern Manasseh.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination, appositional)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (in apposition to γὴν Γαλααδ)γῆ: 'land'; γῆν κατασχέσεως αὐτῶν, 'the land of their possession,' identifies Gilead as their lawful inheritance.
κατασχέσεωςof possessionGenitivegenitive of definitionκατάσχεσις: 'possession / holding'; renders אֲחֻזָּה; the legal term for permanent allotted inheritance.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of possessionαὐτῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐκληρονόμησαν)ὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative agreeing with γῆν.
ἐκληρονόμησανthey inheritedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κληρονομέωverb of relative clause (taking possession)→ constative aorist (completed inheritance)κληρονομέω: 'inherit / take possession of'; renders יָרַשׁ / נָחַל; the verb of allotted-land inheritance, here with a redundant resumptive pronoun (αὐτὴν) in Hebraizing style.
αὐτὴνitAccusativeresumptive pronoun (Hebraism: redundant object after relative)αὐτός: the resumptive αὐτὴν after the relative ἣν reproduces the Hebrew construction אֲשֶׁר … אֹתָהּ, a pleonastic relative typical of Septuagint translation-Greek.
διὰthrough / bypreposition + genitive (means)διά + gen.: 'through / by means of'; marking the command as the instrument of the inheritance.
προστάγματοςcommandGenitivegenitive of means (with διά)πρόσταγμα: 'ordinance / decree / command'; renders פֶּה ('mouth/word') or מִצְוָה; the eastern allotment rests on a divine decree, not mere human arrangement.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of source (whose command)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the command is the LORD's, establishing the divine warrant for the Transjordan inheritance.
ἐνbypreposition + dative (instrument/agency)ἐν + dat.: instrumental, 'by the hand of,' a Hebraism (בְּיַד).
χειρὶhandDativedative of means (idiom: 'by the hand of')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐν χειρὶ Μωυσῆ ('by the hand of Moses') renders בְּיַד מֹשֶׁה, the standard idiom for mediated agency — the LORD commanded through Moses.
Μωυσῆof MosesGenitivegenitive of relationship (with χειρὶ)Μωυσῆς: the genitive Μωυσῆ ('of Moses') is the contract form; Moses is the human mediator of the divine command granting Gilead.
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καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Γαλγαλα τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἥ ἐστιν ἐν γῇ Χανααν καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση ἐκεῖ βωμὸν ἐπὶ τοῦ Ιορδάνου βωμὸν μέγαν τοῦ ἰδεῖν

And they came to Gilgal of the Jordan, which is in the land of Canaan, and the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by the Jordan, a great altar to look upon.

Pivotal action: the building of the great altar (narrative crisis)καὶ ἦλθον εἰς Γαλγαλα
The narrative turning-point: at Gilgal by the Jordan, still ἐν γῇ Χανααν (a detail that will matter to the dispute), the eastern tribes build a βωμός. The doubled βωμόν … βωμὸν μέγαν τοῦ ἰδεῖν ('an altar … a great altar to behold') stresses its conspicuous size; the term βωμός (not θυσιαστήριον) hints from the outset at a potentially illegitimate rival shrine.
Word-by-word analysis· 34 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἦλθονthey cameAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἔρχομαιmain verb (arrival)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)ἔρχομαι: 'come / arrive'; the tribes reach Gilgal at the Jordan on their return route.
εἰςtopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ΓαλγαλαGilgalaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Γαλγαλα: transliteration of Hebrew גִּלְגָּל; indeclinable; Γαλγαλα τοῦ Ιορδάνου, 'Gilgal of the Jordan,' a site near the river on the Canaan side (cf. Josh 4:19).
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive of relationship (locating Gilgal)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river, by which Gilgal lay.
ἥwhichNominativerelative pronoun (feminine, modifying the locality)ὅς (fem. ἥ): relative pronoun; agreeing ad sensum with the feminine locality (Γαλγαλα construed as a region/γῆ).
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (locative description)→ stative present (geographical fact)εἰμί: 'be'; the present ἐστιν gives a timeless geographical note: Gilgal is in the land of Canaan.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῇlandDativedative of place (locative)γῆ: 'land'; the note ἐν γῇ Χανααν stresses that the altar stood on the western (Canaan) side, fueling the suspicion of a rival sanctuary.
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of apposition (indeclinable)Χανααν: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ᾠκοδόμησανthey builtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb (the pivotal building-act)→ constative aorist (completed construction)οἰκοδομέω: 'build / construct'; renders בָּנָה; the act of building the altar (βωμός) is the narrative crisis around which the whole chapter turns.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (first member; here Gad precedes Reuben)υἱός: 'son'; the order Gad–Reuben (varying from earlier Reuben–Gad) is a stylistic variation within the fixed triad.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (second member)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfNominativesubject (third member, substantival)ἥμισυς: 'half'; the eastern half-tribe of Manasseh.
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of placeἐκεῖ: 'there / in that place'; locating the building at Gilgal by the Jordan.
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object of ᾠκοδόμησανβωμός: 'altar / raised platform'; renders מִזְבֵּחַ; significantly, the LXX reserves βωμός in this chapter for the disputed/illegitimate altar, while θυσιαστήριον (vv. 19, 28, 29) names the legitimate altar of the LORD — a deliberate lexical contrast central to the dispute.
ἐπὶby / atpreposition + genitive (location at)ἐπί + gen.: 'on / at / by'; the altar stood at the Jordan.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive object of ἐπίΙορδάνης: the river by which the altar was raised.
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object (resumptive, in apposition)βωμός: the repetition (βωμὸν … βωμὸν μέγαν) is emphatic Hebraizing apposition, underscoring the altar's conspicuousness.
μέγανgreatAccusativeattributive adjective (with βωμὸν)μέγας: 'great / large'; the great size of the altar makes it a visible monument — and a visible provocation.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of purpose)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἰδεῖνto beholdAor Act Inf · ὁράωarticular infinitive of purpose/result ('to look upon')→ constative aorist infinitive (purpose: visibility)ὁράω (aor. inf. ἰδεῖν): 'see / behold'; the articular infinitive τοῦ ἰδεῖν expresses purpose or result — the altar was 'great to behold,' built to be conspicuous, perhaps as a witness-monument (as the eastern tribes will later claim).
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καὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ λεγόντων ἰδοὺ ᾠκοδόμησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση βωμὸν ἐφ᾿ ὁρίων γῆς Χανααν ἐπὶ τοῦ Γαλααδ τοῦ Ιορδάνου ἐν τῷ πέραν υἱῶν Ισραηλ

And the sons of Israel heard it said, 'Behold, the sons of Gad and the sons of Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar on the borders of the land of Canaan, at Gilead of the Jordan, on the side belonging to the sons of Israel.'

Report received: the rumor that triggers the crisisκαὶ ἤκουσαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ
The western tribes 'hear' (ἤκουσαν) a report introduced by ἰδού ('behold'), reproducing the alarmed rumor. The geographical specifications (on the borders of Canaan, at Gilead of the Jordan, on Israel's side) define the altar's contested location — on the Canaan side, where only the LORD's altar should stand.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤκουσανheardAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀκούωmain verb (reception of report)→ ingressive aorist (came to hear)ἀκούω: 'hear / be told'; the western tribes receive a report of the altar's construction.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubjectυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the western tribes.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
λεγόντωνsayingPres Act Part Gen Masc Pl · λέγωgenitive participle (impersonal: 'people saying' / report-introducer)→ imperfective present participle (the ongoing report)λέγω: the genitive plural participle λεγόντων is used impersonally ('men saying / it being said'), a Hebraizing way of introducing reported speech without a named subject (cf. לֵאמֹר).
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particle (attention-marker)ἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; a presentative interjection heightening the alarm of the report.
ᾠκοδόμησανhave builtAor Act Indic 3 Pl · οἰκοδομέωmain verb of the reported speech→ constative aorist (reported completed act)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; the reported fact of the altar's construction.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of the reported speech (first member)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (second member)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfNominativesubject (third member)ἥμισυς: 'half.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object of ᾠκοδόμησαν (reported)βωμός: the disputed altar; the report's use of βωμός (not θυσιαστήριον) carries the suspicion of an illegitimate cult-site.
ἐφ᾿onpreposition + genitive (location, elided before vowel)ἐπί (ἐφ᾿ before rough breathing): 'on / at'; locating the altar on the borders.
ὁρίωνbordersGenitivegenitive object of ἐφ᾿ὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary / border / region'; renders גְּבוּל; the altar stood on the frontier-region of Canaan, a liminal and so contested location.
γῆςof landGenitivegenitive of relationship (the borders of the land)γῆ: 'land'; the borders 'of the land of Canaan.'
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of apposition (indeclinable)Χανααν: indeclinable.
ἐπὶatpreposition + genitive (location)ἐπί + gen.: 'at / by'; further specifying the location.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with indeclinable Γαλααδ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitive object of ἐπί (indeclinable, with article)Γαλααδ: indeclinable; the article τοῦ supplies the case-marking for the indeclinable name; here a frontier locale 'at the Gilead of the Jordan.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνουof the JordanGenitivegenitive of relationshipΙορδάνης: the Jordan.
ἐνonpreposition + dative (location)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τῷtheDativearticle (substantivizing πέραν)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πέρανsideimproper preposition / adverb (substantivized: 'the side')πέραν: 'side / region across'; ἐν τῷ πέραν υἱῶν Ισραηλ, 'on the side belonging to the sons of Israel,' i.e. the Canaan (western) side — the very point of offense, since a second altar there rivals the LORD's altar.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of possession (whose side)υἱός: 'sons of Israel,' the western tribes whose territory the altar borders.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
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καὶ συνηθροίσθησαν πάντες οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ εἰς Σηλω ὥστε ἀναβάντες ἐκπολεμῆσαι αὐτούς

And all the sons of Israel gathered together at Shiloh, to go up and make war against them.

Escalation: muster for civil war (response to the report)καὶ συνηθροίσθησαν
The whole assembly gathers at Shiloh (the sanctuary site) with the explicit purpose ὥστε … ἐκπολεμῆσαι ('so as to make war'). The mustering against fellow Israelites marks the height of the crisis; the participle ἀναβάντες ('having gone up') is the standard idiom for marching out to battle.
Word-by-word analysis· 12 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
συνηθροίσθησανgathered togetherAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · συναθροίζωmain verb (assembling for war)→ ingressive aorist (came together)συναθροίζω: 'gather together / assemble'; the συν- prefix stresses the convening of the whole nation; renders קָהַל / קָבַץ; the passive denotes the people being mustered as one body.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with υἱοὶ)πᾶς: 'all'; the totality of the western tribes assembles — a full national muster.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubjectυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the western tribes.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
εἰςat / topreposition + accusative (place of assembly)εἰς: 'to / at'; the gathering-point is Shiloh, the site of the tent of meeting.
ΣηλωShilohaccusative object of εἰς (indeclinable place-name)Σηλω: indeclinable; that the war-council convenes at the sanctuary underscores that the issue is cultic — the integrity of the worship of the LORD.
ὥστεso as toconjunction (introducing infinitive of purpose/result)ὥστε: 'so that / so as to'; with the infinitive ἐκπολεμῆσαι it expresses the intended purpose of the assembly: war.
ἀναβάντεςhaving gone upAor Act Part Nom Masc Pl · ἀναβαίνωcircumstantial participle (attendant on ἐκπολεμῆσαι)→ coincident aorist participle (marching up to battle)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / ascend'; renders עָלָה; the idiom 'go up against' is standard military language for advancing to attack (cf. v. 33).
ἐκπολεμῆσαιto make warAor Act Inf · ἐκπολεμέωinfinitive of purpose (with ὥστε)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (to launch war)ἐκπολεμέω: 'make war upon / wage war against'; the ἐκ- intensifies; renders לָצֵאת לַצָּבָא / לְהִלָּחֵם; the prospect of inter-tribal war is the gravest threat to Israel's covenant unity.
αὐτούςthemAccusativedirect object of ἐκπολεμῆσαιαὐτός: the eastern tribes, now the object of the threatened war.
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καὶ ἀπέστειλαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ρουβην καὶ πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Γαδ καὶ πρὸς τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση εἰς γῆν Γαλααδ τόν τε Φινεες υἱὸν Ελεαζαρ υἱοῦ Ααρων τοῦ ἀρχιερέως

And the sons of Israel sent to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the high priest,

De-escalation: a delegation is sent before war (sequential)καὶ ἀπέστειλαν
Before fighting, Israel sends an embassy — wisely seeking explanation. The chosen envoy is Phinehas son of Eleazar son of Aaron the high priest, whose priestly lineage and zeal at Peor (Num 25) make him uniquely fitted to address an alleged cultic apostasy; the τε … καί construction links his name to the ten chiefs of v. 14.
Word-by-word analysis· 32 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστειλανsentAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀποστέλλωmain verb (dispatch of delegation)→ constative aorist (act of sending)ἀποστέλλω: 'send / dispatch (with a commission)'; renders שָׁלַח; the choice to send envoys rather than march immediately shows restraint and due process before war.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubjectυἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the western tribes.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward recipients)πρός + acc.: 'to / toward'; marking the recipients of the embassy.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (first member)υἱοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (second member)υἱοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (third member)ἥμισυς: 'half'; the eastern half-tribe of Manasseh.
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination of embassy)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςγῆ: 'land'; the delegation travels to Transjordan Gilead.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitive of apposition (indeclinable)Γαλααδ: indeclinable.
τόνtheAccusativearticle (with the object Φινεες)τόν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τεandenclitic connective (τε … καί construction)τε: enclitic 'and / both'; here linking the sending of Phinehas to the ten chiefs of v. 14 (τόν τε Φινεες … καὶ δέκα τῶν ἀρχόντων).
ΦινεεςPhinehasaccusative object of ἀπέστειλαν (indeclinable, the dispatched envoy)Φινεες: transliteration of Hebrew פִּינְחָס; indeclinable; the priest who turned away wrath at Peor (Num 25:7–13) and received a covenant of perpetual priesthood — uniquely qualified to confront an alleged apostasy.
υἱὸνsonAccusativeaccusative in apposition to Φινεεςυἱός: 'son'; introducing Phinehas' genealogy.
Ελεαζαρof Eleazargenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'son of Eleazar')Ελεαζαρ: transliteration of Hebrew אֶלְעָזָר; indeclinable; Eleazar, son of Aaron, succeeded his father as high priest (Num 20:25–28).
υἱοῦsonGenitivegenitive in apposition (Eleazar son of Aaron)υἱός: the genitive υἱοῦ continues the genealogy back to Aaron.
Ααρωνof Aarongenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ααρων: transliteration of Hebrew אַהֲרֹן; indeclinable; the first high priest, founder of the priestly line.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with appositive ἀρχιερέως)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχιερέωςhigh priestGenitivegenitive in apposition to Ααρωνἀρχιερεύς: 'high priest / chief priest'; renders הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל; the title attaches the embassy to the highest cultic authority, underscoring that the matter is one of legitimate worship.
14

καὶ δέκα τῶν ἀρχόντων μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἄρχων εἷς ἀπὸ οἴκου πατριᾶς ἀπὸ πασῶν φυλῶν Ισραηλ ἄρχοντες οἴκων πατριῶν εἰσιν χιλίαρχοι Ισραηλ

and ten of the chiefs with him, one chief from an ancestral house, from all the tribes of Israel; they are the heads of ancestral houses, the commanders of thousands of Israel.

Composition of the delegation (appositional elaboration)καὶ δέκα τῶν ἀρχόντων
The embassy is broadened to a representative council: ten chiefs, one per tribe (ἄρχων εἷς ἀπὸ οἴκου πατριᾶς), drawn from all the tribes of Israel. The closing clause identifies them as heads of ancestral houses and χιλίαρχοι ('commanders of thousands'), lending the delegation full corporate and military authority.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (τε … καί)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
δέκαtenindeclinable numeral (with ἀρχόντων)δέκα: 'ten'; indeclinable cardinal numeral; ten chiefs accompany Phinehas, one for each of the western tribes (counting the two halves of Joseph/Manasseh together as appropriate).
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (partitive)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀρχόντωνchiefs / rulersGenitivepartitive genitive (ten of the rulers)ἄρχων: 'ruler / chief / leader'; renders נָשִׂיא / רֹאשׁ; the tribal princes who, with Phinehas, form the official delegation.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετά + gen.: 'with'; the chiefs accompany Phinehas.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (Phinehas)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἄρχωνchiefNominativenominative (distributive apposition: 'one chief each')ἄρχων: here distributively, ἄρχων εἷς ('one ruler each') from each ancestral house, a Hebraizing distributive (אִישׁ אֶחָד).
εἷςoneNominativenumeral adjective (distributive: 'one each')εἷς, μία, ἕν: 'one'; with ἄρχων it marks the one-per-tribe representation.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source/origin)ἀπό: 'from'; each chief is drawn from an ancestral house.
οἴκουhouseGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόοἶκος: 'house / household'; οἶκος πατριᾶς ('ancestral house') renders בֵּית אָב, the basic kinship unit of the tribe.
πατριᾶςof family / ancestryGenitivegenitive of definition (ancestral house)πατριά: 'lineage / clan / paternal house'; renders אָב / מִשְׁפָּחָה; defines the unit each chief heads.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (source)ἀπό: 'from'; the chiefs come from all the tribes.
πασῶνallGenitiveattributive adjective (with φυλῶν)πᾶς: 'all'; the representation is comprehensive, spanning all the western tribes.
φυλῶνtribesGenitivegenitive object of ἀπόφυλή: 'tribe'; the delegation embodies the whole confederation.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
ἄρχοντεςchiefsNominativepredicate nominative (identifying the chiefs)ἄρχων: 'ruler / head'; the explanatory clause defines the envoys' status.
οἴκωνof housesGenitivegenitive of relationship (heads of houses)οἶκος: 'house'; ἄρχοντες οἴκων πατριῶν, 'heads of ancestral houses.'
πατριῶνof familiesGenitivegenitive of definitionπατριά: 'ancestral line'; defining the houses they head.
εἰσινthey arePres Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίcopula (identifying clause)→ stative present (their standing office)εἰμί: 'be'; the present εἰσιν identifies the chiefs' permanent office and rank.
χιλίαρχοιcommanders of thousandsNominativepredicate nominative (in apposition to ἄρχοντες)χιλίαρχος: 'commander of a thousand / chiliarch'; renders שַׂר אֶלֶף / רֹאשׁ אַלְפֵי; the military-administrative leaders of the tribal levies, giving the embassy authority to bind the nation.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
15

καὶ παρεγένοντο πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Γαδ καὶ πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ρουβην καὶ πρὸς τοὺς ἡμίσεις φυλῆς Μανασση εἰς γῆν Γαλααδ καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς αὐτοὺς λέγοντες

And they came to the sons of Gad and to the sons of Reuben and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, and they spoke to them, saying,

Arrival of the delegation and opening of speech (sequential)καὶ παρεγένοντο
The envoys arrive (παρεγένοντο) and address the eastern tribes; the participle λέγοντες ('saying') introduces the formal accusation of vv. 16–20. The verse is transitional, setting the stage for the delegation's charge.
Word-by-word analysis· 25 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
παρεγένοντοthey cameAor Mid Indic 3 Pl · παραγίνομαιmain verb (arrival)→ constative aorist (completed arrival)παραγίνομαι: 'arrive / come / be present'; deponent; the envoys reach the eastern tribes in Gilead.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρός + acc.: 'to / toward.'
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (first member)υἱοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (second member)υἱοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσειςhalvesAccusativesubstantivized adjective (object of πρὸς, third member)ἥμισυς (masc. pl. ἡμίσεις): 'half'; the plural form here treats the half-tribe's members collectively, 'the half-portion of the tribe of Manasseh.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςγῆ: 'land'; Gilead, the destination.
ΓαλααδGileadgenitive of apposition (indeclinable)Γαλααδ: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάλησανspokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (act of addressing)λαλέω: 'speak / address'; renders דִּבֶּר; introduces the formal address.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (addressees)πρὸς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸςαὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective present participle (Hebraizing λέγοντες = לֵאמֹר)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες ('saying') is the LXX equivalent of Hebrew לֵאמֹר, introducing the verbatim words of the delegation's charge.
16

τάδε λέγει πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ κυρίου τίς ἡ πλημμέλεια αὕτη ἣν ἐπλημμελήσατε ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ Ισραηλ ἀποστραφῆναι σήμερον ἀπὸ κυρίου οἰκοδομήσαντες ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς βωμὸν ἀποστάτας ὑμᾶς γενέσθαι ἀπὸ κυρίου

Thus says the whole congregation of the LORD: 'What is this trespass that you have committed before the God of Israel, to turn away today from the LORD by building yourselves an altar, so as to become apostates from the LORD?'

Formal accusation: the charge of apostasy (prophetic messenger-formula)τάδε λέγει πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ κυρίου
The charge opens with the messenger-formula τάδε λέγει ('thus says'), here spoken not by a prophet but by πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγὴ κυρίου ('the whole congregation of the LORD') — investing the accusation with the authority of the assembled covenant people. The rhetorical question τίς ἡ πλημμέλεια αὕτη interprets the altar as a πλημμέλεια ('trespass') and an act of apostasy (ἀποστάτας … γενέσθαι ἀπὸ κυρίου).
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
τάδεthusAccusativedemonstrative pronoun (object of λέγει: content of the message)ὅδε, ἥδε, τόδε: 'this / these things'; τάδε λέγει renders כֹּה אָמַר, the prophetic messenger-formula, here lent to the congregation's collective verdict.
λέγειsaysPres Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb of messenger-formula→ gnomic/performative present (authoritative pronouncement)λέγω: the present λέγει in the formula gives the pronouncement standing immediacy and authority.
πᾶσαall / wholeNominativeattributive adjective (with συναγωγὴ)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; πᾶσα ἡ συναγωγή stresses that the entire assembly stands behind the accusation.
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγὴcongregationNominativesubject of λέγεισυναγωγή: 'assembly / congregation / gathering'; renders עֵדָה / קָהָל; the covenant community as a corporate body; συναγωγὴ κυρίου is the LORD's own assembly, whose unity the altar threatens.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose congregation)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the congregation belongs to the LORD.
τίςwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (subject of the question)τίς: interrogative 'who? what?'; introduces the indignant rhetorical question.
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πλημμέλειαtrespassNominativepredicate nominative (what the trespass is)πλημμέλεια: 'fault / trespass / offense'; renders מַעַל, the technical term for sacrilegious unfaithfulness against the LORD; the word frames the altar as a covenant-violation (cf. the cognate verb ἐπλημμελήσατε).
αὕτηthisNominativedemonstrative adjective (with πλημμέλεια)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing to the altar-building as the specific offense.
ἣνwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (cognate object of ἐπλημμελήσατε)ὅς: relative pronoun, feminine accusative; the cognate construction πλημμέλεια ἣν ἐπλημμελήσατε ('trespass which you trespassed') is a Hebraizing figura etymologica.
ἐπλημμελήσατεyou committedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · πλημμελέωverb of relative clause (cognate to πλημμέλεια)→ constative aorist (alleged completed offense)πλημμελέω: 'commit a fault / trespass / act faithlessly'; renders מָעַל; the cognate accusative intensifies the charge of sacrilege.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence/sight of)ἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; Hebraism rendering לִפְנֵי; the trespass is committed in the very presence of the God of Israel.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίονθεός: 'God'; ὁ θεὸς Ισραηλ ('the God of Israel') is the covenant title underscoring that the offense is against Israel's own God.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
ἀποστραφῆναιto turn awayAor Pass Inf · ἀποστρέφωepexegetic infinitive (defining the trespass)→ constative aorist infinitive (the act of apostasy)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn away / turn back / apostatize'; renders שׁוּב מֵאַחֲרֵי; the same verb that meant 'return home' (v. 4) now carries the sinister sense of turning away from the LORD — a pointed verbal irony.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverbσήμερον: 'today'; emphasizing the immediacy and present reality of the alleged apostasy.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from / away from'; ἀποστραφῆναι ἀπὸ κυρίου, 'to turn away from the LORD.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
οἰκοδομήσαντεςhaving builtAor Act Part Nom Masc Pl · οἰκοδομέωcircumstantial participle (means: 'by building')→ coincident aorist participle (the means of the apostasy)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; the participle of means — the apostasy consists in building the altar.
ὑμῖνfor yourselvesDativedative of advantage (ethical dative)σύ (dat. pl.): the dative ὑμῖν together with the reflexive ἑαυτοῖς doubly stresses self-interest — 'for your own selves,' as opposed to for the LORD.
ἑαυτοῖςyourselvesDativereflexive pronoun (dative of advantage, emphatic with ὑμῖν)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'yourselves'; the pleonastic ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς is a Hebraizing emphatic reflexive (לָכֶם), heightening the accusation of self-serving cult.
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομήσαντεςβωμός: the disputed altar, again named with the suspect term rather than θυσιαστήριον.
ἀποστάταςapostatesAccusativepredicate accusative (with γενέσθαι: 'to become apostates')ἀποστάτης: 'rebel / apostate / deserter'; renders מוֹרֵד / סָרָה; the strongest term of covenant treason, casting the altar as outright defection from the LORD.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive γενέσθαιὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
γενέσθαιto becomeAor Mid Inf · γίνομαιinfinitive of result (the outcome of the building)→ constative aorist infinitive (result)γίνομαι: 'become / come to be'; the result-infinitive frames the altar as making the tribes apostates — the gravest possible construal of their act.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from'; ἀποστάτας … ἀπὸ κυρίου, apostates 'from the LORD.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
17

μὴ μικρὸν ἡμῖν τὸ ἁμάρτημα Φογωρ ὅτι οὐκ ἐκαθαρίσθημεν ἀπ᾿ αὐτοῦ ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης καὶ ἐγενήθη πληγὴ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ κυρίου

Is the sin of Peor too small for us, from which we have not been cleansed to this day, though a plague came upon the congregation of the LORD?

Precedent 1: the sin of Peor (rhetorical question expecting 'no')μὴ μικρὸν ἡμῖν τὸ ἁμάρτημα Φογωρ
The delegation invokes the first historical precedent of corporate guilt: the apostasy at Peor (Num 25). The interrogative μή expects the answer 'no' — the sin of Peor was not 'small'; its defilement lingers (οὐκ ἐκαθαρίσθημεν) and brought a plague (πληγή) on the whole congregation. The logic: a second cultic offense risks renewed corporate judgment.
Word-by-word analysis· 22 words
μὴnotinterrogative particle (expecting negative answer)μή: here introducing a rhetorical question that expects the answer 'no' — 'surely the sin of Peor is not too small for us?'
μικρὸνsmallNominativepredicate adjective (with implied 'is')μικρός: 'small / little / trivial'; renders מְעַט; the rhetorical point: the past sin was anything but trivial, and so neither is the present danger.
ἡμῖνfor usDativedative of reference ('too small for us')ἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸtheNominativearticleτὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἁμάρτημαsinNominativesubject (with implied copula)ἁμάρτημα: 'sin / sinful deed'; renders חֵטְא / עָוֹן; the concrete act of sin, here the idolatry and immorality at Baal-Peor.
Φογωρof Peorgenitive of relationship (indeclinable place-name)Φογωρ: transliteration of Hebrew פְּעוֹר (Peor); indeclinable; the place of the apostasy with Baal of Peor (Num 25), where 24,000 died in a plague — the paradigmatic instance of corporate punishment for cultic sin, and the very episode in which Phinehas distinguished himself.
ὅτιthat / from whichconjunction (here relative-causal: 'in that / from which')ὅτι: 'that / because'; here loosely connecting the relative-causal clause explaining the lingering defilement of Peor.
οὐκnotnegative particleοὐ: objective negation.
ἐκαθαρίσθημενwe have been cleansedAor Pass Indic 1 Pl · καθαρίζωmain verb of subordinate clause (negated)→ constative aorist (no purification has occurred)καθαρίζω: 'cleanse / purify'; renders טִהֵר; the cultic language of purification; the claim that they are not yet cleansed of Peor's guilt makes the corporate defilement an ongoing reality.
ἀπ᾿frompreposition + genitive (separation, elided)ἀπό: 'from'; cleansed 'from it' (the sin).
αὐτοῦitGenitivegenitive object of ἀπ᾿ (the sin of Peor)αὐτός: referring back to τὸ ἁμάρτημα.
ἕωςuntilpreposition + genitive (temporal terminus)ἕως: 'until / up to.'
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμέραςdayGenitivegenitive object of ἕωςἡμέρα: 'day'; ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ('to this day') stresses the persistence of the defilement.
ταύτηςthisGenitivedemonstrative adjective (with ἡμέρας)οὗτος: 'this.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (concessive: 'and yet / though')καί: here with concessive force, 'and (yet) a plague came.'
ἐγενήθηcameAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the resulting plague)→ constative aorist (the plague's occurrence)γίνομαι: 'become / happen / come about'; the passive ἐγενήθη ('there came to be') narrates the outbreak of the plague as a divine visitation.
πληγὴplagueNominativesubject of ἐγενήθηπληγή: 'plague / blow / stroke'; renders מַגֵּפָה; the deadly plague at Peor (Num 25:8–9), proof that cultic sin brings corporate judgment.
ἐνupon / inpreposition + dative (location/sphere)ἐν + dat.: 'in / among'; the plague fell within the congregation.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῇcongregationDativedative of place/sphere (where the plague struck)συναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; the whole community suffered for the sin of some — the principle of corporate solidarity in guilt.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose congregation)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the congregation belongs to the LORD, whose holiness the sin offended.
18

καὶ ὑμεῖς ἀποστραφήσεσθε σήμερον ἀπὸ κυρίου καὶ ἔσται ἐὰν ἀποστῆτε σήμερον ἀπὸ κυρίου καὶ αὔριον ἐπὶ πάντα Ισραηλ ἔσται ἡ ὀργή

And will you yourselves turn away today from the LORD? And it will be, if you revolt today from the LORD, that tomorrow the wrath will be upon all Israel.

Application of the precedent: the threat of corporate wrathκαὶ ὑμεῖς ἀποστραφήσεσθε
The delegation applies the Peor logic directly: the emphatic ὑμεῖς ('you yourselves') makes the eastern tribes the new Peor-generation. A conditional (ἐὰν ἀποστῆτε … ἔσται ἡ ὀργή) warns that their revolt 'today' will draw wrath on all Israel 'tomorrow' — the temporal pair σήμερον/αὔριον dramatizing the swift spread of corporate guilt.
Word-by-word analysis· 21 words
καὶandnarrative/connective conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑμεῖςyouNominativesubject (emphatic pronoun)σύ (pl.): the emphatic ὑμεῖς identifies the eastern tribes as repeating the very sin of the Peor generation.
ἀποστραφήσεσθεyou will turn awayFut Pass Indic 2 Pl · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (rhetorical question / accusation)→ predictive/deliberative future (an apostasy in the making)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn away / apostatize'; the future here functions as an indignant question or accusation — 'are you turning away today?'; the same verb of vv. 16, 23, 29.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverbσήμερον: 'today'; paired with αὔριον below to dramatize the swift consequence.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the apodosis-formula)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἔσταιit will beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb (καὶ ἔσται formula introducing the consequence)→ predictive future (the certain consequence)εἰμί: 'be'; the formula καὶ ἔσται renders Hebrew וְהָיָה, a standard apodosis-introducer for conditional/future statements.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (introducing protasis + subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if'; with the subjunctive ἀποστῆτε, forming a future-more-vivid condition.
ἀποστῆτεyou revoltAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἀφίστημιverb of the protasis (conditional subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (should you revolt)ἀφίστημι: 'withdraw / revolt / fall away'; renders מָרַד / סוּר; the intransitive aorist denotes the act of apostatizing; near-synonym of ἀποστρέφω here.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverbσήμερον: 'today.'
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
καὶthenapodotic conjunction (introducing the result of the condition)καί: here apodotic ('then'), introducing the consequence after the conditional clause — a Hebraizing construction.
αὔριονtomorrowtemporal adverbαὔριον: 'tomorrow / the next day'; renders מָחָר; the σήμερον/αὔριον pairing stresses how swiftly one group's sin becomes the whole nation's judgment.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (object of wrath)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon / against'; the wrath falls upon all Israel.
πάνταallAccusativeattributive adjective (with Ισραηλ)πᾶς: 'all'; the corporate scope — the whole nation suffers for the part.
ΙσραηλIsraelobject of ἐπὶ (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the whole covenant nation as the object of the threatened wrath.
ἔσταιwill beFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίmain verb of the apodosis→ predictive future (certain outcome)εἰμί: 'be'; the wrath 'will be' upon all Israel — the predicted divine response.
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ὀργήwrathNominativesubject of ἔσταιὀργή: 'wrath / anger'; renders חָרוֹן / קֶצֶף; the divine wrath that corporate sin provokes — as at Peor, so now feared again.
19

καὶ νῦν εἰ μικρὰ ὑμῖν ἡ γῆ τῆς κατασχέσεως ὑμῶν διάβητε εἰς τὴν γῆν τῆς κατασχέσεως κυρίου οὗ κατασκηνοῖ ἐκεῖ ἡ σκηνὴ κυρίου καὶ κατακληρονομήσατε ἐν ἡμῖν καὶ μὴ ἀποστάται ἀπὸ θεοῦ γενήθητε καὶ μὴ ἀπόστητε ἀπὸ κυρίου διὰ τὸ οἰκοδομῆσαι ὑμᾶς βωμὸν ἔξω τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν

And now, if the land of your possession is unclean, cross over into the land of the LORD's possession, where the tent of the LORD dwells, and take an inheritance among us; only do not become apostates from God, and do not revolt from the LORD by building yourselves an altar besides the altar of the LORD our God.

Generous remedy and renewed prohibitionκαὶ νῦν εἰ μικρὰ ὑμῖν ἡ γῆ
καὶ νῦν ('and now') turns from threat to offer: if their land is somehow unclean/insufficient (μικρά), let them cross over and share the western tribes' inheritance rather than build a rival altar. The double prohibition μὴ … γενήθητε / μὴ ἀπόστητε with the explanatory διὰ τὸ οἰκοδομῆσαι names the offense precisely: an altar ἔξω ('outside / besides') the one legitimate θυσιαστήριον κυρίου.
Word-by-word analysis· 50 words
καὶandconnective conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
νῦνnowtemporal adverb (transition to the offer)νῦν: 'now'; καὶ νῦν marks the rhetorical pivot from accusation to remedy.
εἰifconditional conjunction (real condition)εἰ: 'if'; introducing a first-class condition assumed for argument's sake.
μικρὰsmall / uncleanNominativepredicate adjective (with γῆ)μικρός: 'small / scant'; here the sense is that the land is inadequate or (in the parallel Hebrew, טְמֵאָה) ritually unclean — either way, an insufficient reason to build a rival altar; the LXX μικρά frames it as 'too little.'
ὑμῖνfor youDativedative of referenceὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆlandNominativesubject of the conditional clauseγῆ: 'land'; the eastern tribes' Transjordan territory.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατασχέσεωςof possessionGenitivegenitive of definitionκατάσχεσις: 'possession / holding'; the allotted inheritance.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of possessionὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
διάβητεcross overAor Act Impv 2 Pl · διαβαίνωmain verb (imperative of the offer)→ ingressive aorist imperative (come across)διαβαίνω: 'cross over / pass through'; renders עָבַר; the invitation to cross the Jordan and share the western inheritance offers a generous alternative to a rival altar.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςγῆ: 'land'; the western land is called 'the land of the LORD's possession' because the tent of the LORD dwells there.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κατασχέσεωςof possessionGenitivegenitive of definitionκατάσχεσις: 'possession'; here the LORD's own possession — the land where his sanctuary stands.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (whose land)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the western land is the LORD's by virtue of his dwelling there.
οὗwhererelative adverb of place ('where')οὗ: relative adverb 'where' (the genitive of ὅς used adverbially of place); indeclinable in this function.
κατασκηνοῖdwellsPres Act Indic 3 Sg · κατασκηνόωverb of relative clause (the tent's dwelling)→ stative/customary present (the abiding presence)κατασκηνόω: 'pitch a tent / encamp / dwell'; renders שָׁכַן; cognate with σκηνή ('tent'); the verb of the LORD's tabernacling presence — the theological heart of the one-sanctuary argument.
ἐκεῖthereadverb of place (resumptive with οὗ)ἐκεῖ: 'there'; the resumptive 'there' after the relative οὗ is a Hebraism (אֲשֶׁר … שָׁם).
ἡtheNominativearticleἡ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνὴtentNominativesubject of κατασκηνοῖσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; renders מִשְׁכָּן / אֹהֶל; the tent of meeting at Shiloh, the one legitimate place of the LORD's presence and sacrifice.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (whose tent)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατακληρονομήσατεtake an inheritanceAor Act Impv 2 Pl · κατακληρονομέωmain verb (imperative continuing the offer)→ ingressive aorist imperative (receive a holding)κατακληρονομέω: 'take possession / inherit'; renders נָחַל; the offer is that the eastern tribes may receive a share of land 'among us' (the western tribes) rather than maintain a separate cult.
ἐνamongpreposition + dative (sphere)ἐν + dat.: 'among / in the midst of.'
ἡμῖνusDativedative object of ἐν (among the western tribes)ἡμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing prohibition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μὴnotnegative particle (prohibition with imperative)μή: the negative of prohibition with the imperative γενήθητε.
ἀποστάταιapostatesNominativepredicate nominative (with γενήθητε)ἀποστάτης: 'rebel / apostate'; the same charge-word as v. 16, here in prohibition: do not become such.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸθεός: 'God'; ἀποστάται ἀπὸ θεοῦ, apostates from God.
γενήθητεbecomeAor Pass Impv 2 Pl · γίνομαιmain verb (prohibition: 'do not become')→ ingressive aorist imperative (negated)γίνομαι: 'become'; the prohibitive imperative warns against becoming apostates.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (second prohibition)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
μὴnotnegative particle (prohibition)μή: prohibitive negative.
ἀπόστητεrevoltAor Act Subj 2 Pl · ἀφίστημιprohibitive subjunctive (μή + aorist subjunctive)→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (negated: do not fall away)ἀφίστημι: 'withdraw / revolt / fall away'; μὴ ἀπόστητε is a prohibitive subjunctive, 'do not revolt.'
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
διὰby / because ofpreposition + accusative (cause, with articular infinitive)διά + acc.: 'because of / by reason of'; with the articular infinitive τὸ οἰκοδομῆσαι it gives the ground of the alleged revolt.
τὸtheAccusativearticle (with articular infinitive)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκοδομῆσαιto buildAor Act Inf · οἰκοδομέωarticular infinitive (causal: 'by building')→ constative aorist infinitive (the act of building)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; the articular infinitive names the offense: building a rival altar.
ὑμᾶςyouAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitiveὑμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομῆσαιβωμός: the disputed/illegitimate altar — set in pointed contrast with the legitimate θυσιαστήριον that immediately follows.
ἔξωbesides / outsideimproper preposition + genitive ('apart from / besides')ἔξω: 'outside / besides / apart from'; with the genitive τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου it means 'besides / in addition to' the one legitimate altar — the very heart of the offense: a second altar beside the LORD's.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive object of ἔξωθυσιαστήριον: 'altar (of sacrifice)'; renders מִזְבֵּחַ; in this chapter the LXX reserves θυσιαστήριον for the one legitimate altar of the LORD, in deliberate contrast with βωμός (the suspect altar) — the lexical distinction encodes the theology of a single sanctioned place of sacrifice.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possession (whose altar)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with appositive θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίουθεός: κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, 'the LORD our God,' the covenant title binding the western and eastern tribes to one God and one altar.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationship (covenant possessive)ἡμῶν: 'our'; the first-person plural includes the eastern tribes, appealing to their shared covenant loyalty.
20

οὐκ ἰδοὺ Αχαρ ὁ τοῦ Ζαρα πλημμελείᾳ ἐπλημμέλησεν ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀναθέματος καὶ ἐπὶ πᾶσαν συναγωγὴν Ισραηλ ἐγενήθη ὀργή καὶ οὗτος εἷς μόνος ἦν μὴ μόνος οὗτος ἀπέθανεν τῇ ἑαυτοῦ ἁμαρτίᾳ

Did not Achar son of Zara commit a trespass concerning the devoted thing, and wrath came upon the whole congregation of Israel? And he was but one man — did he die alone in his own sin?

Precedent 2: Achar and the devoted thing (clinching corporate-guilt argument)οὐκ ἰδοὺ Αχαρ ὁ τοῦ Ζαρα
The second precedent (Josh 7): Achar/Achan's single trespass with the ἀνάθεμα ('devoted thing') brought wrath on the whole congregation. The interrogative οὐκ ἰδού expects assent. The closing rhetorical question — μὴ μόνος οὗτος ἀπέθανεν ('did he die alone?') — drives home that one man's sin destroyed many, so the eastern tribes' act endangers all Israel.
Word-by-word analysis· 30 words
οὐκnotinterrogative negative (expecting 'yes')οὐ: the negative οὐκ ἰδού introduces a question expecting affirmative assent — 'is it not the case that...?'
ἰδοὺbeholdpresentative particleἰδού: 'behold / look'; renders הִנֵּה; calling the precedent of Achar vividly to mind.
ΑχαρAcharsubject (indeclinable proper noun)Αχαρ: the LXX form of the name (Hebrew עָכָן 'Achan,' wordplay with עָכוֹר 'trouble'); indeclinable; the man who took from the devoted spoil of Jericho (Josh 7), bringing defeat and death on Israel until he was punished.
ὁthe (son)Nominativearticle (substantival: 'the [son] of Zara')ὁ τοῦ Ζαρα: the article with a genitive name is the idiom for 'the son of Zara,' a standard way of indicating filiation.
τοῦofGenitivearticle (genitive, with Ζαρα)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΖαραZaragenitive of relationship (indeclinable: 'of Zerah')Ζαρα: transliteration of Hebrew זֶרַח (Zerah); indeclinable; Achar's ancestor of the tribe of Judah (Josh 7:1).
πλημμελείᾳwith a trespassDativecognate dative (with ἐπλημμέλησεν: Hebraism)πλημμέλεια: 'trespass / sacrilege'; the cognate dative πλημμελείᾳ ἐπλημμέλησεν ('he trespassed with a trespass') renders the Hebrew infinitive-absolute construction (מָעֹל מָעַל), intensifying the gravity of the offense.
ἐπλημμέλησενcommitted trespassAor Act Indic 3 Sg · πλημμελέωmain verb (Achar's offense)→ constative aorist (the historical offense)πλημμελέω: 'commit a fault / trespass'; renders מָעַל; the same verb used of the eastern tribes' alleged sin (v. 16), drawing the parallel tight.
ἀπὸconcerning / frompreposition + genitive (in respect of)ἀπό: here 'concerning / in respect of'; the trespass was 'from / regarding the devoted thing' — taking what was under the ban.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἀναθέματοςdevoted thingGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸἀνάθεμα: 'devoted/accursed thing / that which is under the ban'; renders חֵרֶם; spoil consecrated to destruction for the LORD; taking it was sacrilege that defiled the whole camp (Josh 7:1, 11–12).
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (consecutive)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπὶuponpreposition + accusative (object of wrath)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon / against.'
πᾶσανall / wholeAccusativeattributive adjective (with συναγωγὴν)πᾶς: 'all / whole'; the wrath fell on the entire congregation, not just Achar — the corporate principle.
συναγωγὴνcongregationAccusativeaccusative object of ἐπὶσυναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; the whole community bore the consequence of one man's sin.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
ἐγενήθηcameAor Pass Indic 3 Sg · γίνομαιmain verb (the resulting wrath)→ constative aorist (the wrath's occurrence)γίνομαι: 'become / come about'; the wrath 'came to be' upon all Israel, as the plague did at Peor (v. 17).
ὀργήwrathNominativesubject of ἐγενήθηὀργή: 'wrath / anger'; the divine anger provoked by sacrilege against the ban.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὗτοςthis oneNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject: Achar)οὗτος: 'this one'; resuming Achar — 'and he was one man only.'
εἷςoneNominativepredicate (numeral: 'one [man]')εἷς: 'one'; stressing that a single individual's sin had corporate effect.
μόνοςaloneNominativepredicate adjective (with ἦν: 'was alone / only one')μόνος: 'alone / only'; εἷς μόνος, 'one man only' — yet his guilt spread to all.
ἦνwasImpf Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (descriptive imperfect)→ stative imperfect (he was [but] one)εἰμί: 'be'; the imperfect ἦν describes Achar's status as a single offender.
μὴnotinterrogative particle (expecting 'no')μή: introducing the clinching rhetorical question expecting 'no' — 'did he not die alone [but caused others to perish]?' The sense is that his sin did not stay confined to himself.
μόνοςaloneNominativepredicate adjective (with ἀπέθανεν)μόνος: 'alone'; the question μὴ μόνος … ἀπέθανεν presses that Achar did not perish alone — others died in the defeat at Ai and under the wrath (Josh 7:5).
οὗτοςthis oneNominativedemonstrative pronoun (subject of ἀπέθανεν)οὗτος: 'this one'; again Achar.
ἀπέθανενdiedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποθνῄσκωmain verb of the rhetorical question→ constative aorist (his death)ἀποθνῄσκω: 'die'; renders מוּת; Achar died for his sin (stoned, Josh 7:25), but not he alone — the implication that drives the warning home.
τῇtheDativearticleτῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἑαυτοῦhis ownGenitivereflexive possessive (with ἁμαρτίᾳ)ἑαυτοῦ: reflexive 'his own'; 'in his own sin' — the sin was his, yet its punishment spread beyond him.
ἁμαρτίᾳsinDativedative of cause/reference ('for/in his sin')ἁμαρτία: 'sin'; renders חֵטְא / עָוֹן; the dative gives the ground of his death — yet the rhetorical force is that his guilt was not his alone to bear.
21

καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση καὶ ἐλάλησαν τοῖς χιλιάρχοις Ισραηλ λέγοντες

And the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered and spoke to the commanders of thousands of Israel, saying,

Transition to the defense (sequential)καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν
The accused now reply. The doublet ἀπεκρίθησαν … ἐλάλησαν ('answered and spoke') is a Hebraizing fullness of expression; the addressees are the χιλίαρχοι Ισραηλ (cf. v. 14). The participle λέγοντες introduces the solemn defense of vv. 22–29.
Word-by-word analysis· 20 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπεκρίθησανansweredAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (response)→ constative aorist (act of reply)ἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / reply'; renders עָנָה; the aorist passive form is the regular LXX/Koine deponent for 'answered.'
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (first member)υἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (second member)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfNominativesubject (third member)ἥμισυς: 'half.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (doublet)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάλησανspokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb (coordinate with ἀπεκρίθησαν)→ constative aorist (act of speaking)λαλέω: 'speak'; the doublet ἀπεκρίθησαν … ἐλάλησαν reflects a Hebraizing fullness ('answered and said').
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
χιλιάρχοιςcommanders of thousandsDativedative indirect object (addressees)χιλίαρχος: 'commander of a thousand'; the tribal heads of the delegation (cf. v. 14).
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · λέγωparticiple of speech (introducing direct discourse)→ imperfective present participle (λέγοντες = לֵאמֹר)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες introduces the verbatim defense that follows.
22

ὁ θεὸς θεός ἐστιν κύριος καὶ ὁ θεὸς θεὸς κύριος αὐτὸς οἶδεν καὶ Ισραηλ αὐτὸς γνώσεται εἰ ἐν ἀποστασίᾳ ἐπλημμελήσαμεν ἔναντι τοῦ κυρίου μὴ ῥύσαιτο ἡμᾶς ἐν ταύτῃ

'God, God is the LORD; and God, God is the LORD: he himself knows, and Israel itself shall know. If in apostasy we trespassed before the LORD, may he not deliver us this day.

Solemn oath of self-imprecation (opening of the defense)ὁ θεὸς θεός ἐστιν κύριος
The defense opens with the most solemn possible oath: a doubled triple-naming of God (ὁ θεὸς θεὸς … κύριος) renders the Hebrew אֵל אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה, calling the LORD himself as witness. They submit to his omniscience (αὐτὸς οἶδεν) and stake a conditional self-curse (εἰ … ἐπλημμελήσαμεν, μὴ ῥύσαιτο ἡμᾶς) — if guilty of apostasy, let God not save them.
Word-by-word analysis· 28 words
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (first divine name of the oath)θεός: 'God'; here renders Hebrew אֵל; the triple naming ὁ θεὸς θεὸς … κύριος reproduces אֵל אֱלֹהִים יְהוָה, an emphatic invocation heaping the divine titles to solemnize the oath.
θεόςGodNominativepredicate/appositional (second divine name)θεός: the second θεός renders אֱלֹהִים; the piling of names is not redundancy but liturgical solemnity, like invoking God by all his names at once.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula→ stative present (the divine identity affirmed)εἰμί: 'be'; affirming the identity/unity of God under his several titles.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativepredicate nominative (the divine name climaxing the invocation)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton יהוה; the climactic name of the oath-formula, identifying אֵל and אֱלֹהִים as YHWH himself.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (introducing the repeated invocation)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with θεὸς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativesubject (repeated invocation for emphasis)θεός: the repetition of the whole triple-name doubles the solemnity, as in a sworn oath that brooks no equivocation.
θεὸςGodNominativeappositional (second name, repeated)θεός: repeated.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativepredicate nominative (repeated divine name)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the second utterance of the full name seals the oath.
αὐτὸςhe himselfNominativeintensive pronoun (subject of οἶδεν)αὐτός: intensive 'he himself'; God himself is the witness who knows the truth of their hearts — the appeal to divine omniscience.
οἶδενknowsPerf Act Indic 3 Sg · οἶδαmain verb (divine omniscience)→ perfect with present sense (settled knowledge)οἶδα: 'know' (perfect with present meaning); renders יָדַע; God's perfect knowledge is appealed to as the unimpeachable witness to their motive.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ΙσραηλIsraelsubject of γνώσεται (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable; the nation too will come to know the truth of their innocence.
αὐτὸςitselfNominativeintensive pronoun (with Ισραηλ)αὐτός: intensive 'itself'; Israel as a body will recognize the truth.
γνώσεταιshall knowFut Mid Indic 3 Sg · γινώσκωmain verb (Israel's future recognition)→ predictive future (will come to know)γινώσκω: 'know / come to know'; renders יָדַע; the future indicates that the nation will be vindicated in its knowledge of their loyalty.
εἰifconditional conjunction (introducing oath-protasis)εἰ: 'if'; in oath-formulas εἰ introduces a self-imprecatory condition ('if we did this … may God not...').
ἐνinpreposition + dative (manner/state)ἐν + dat.: 'in / with'; ἐν ἀποστασίᾳ, 'in apostasy / rebelliously.'
ἀποστασίᾳapostasyDativedative of manner (with ἐπλημμελήσαμεν)ἀποστασία: 'revolt / apostasy / defection'; renders מֶרֶד / מַעַל; the very charge laid against them (cf. ἀποστάτης, v. 16, 19); they conditionally accept the worst construal only to deny it under oath.
ἐπλημμελήσαμενwe trespassedAor Act Indic 1 Pl · πλημμελέωverb of the oath-protasis→ constative aorist (hypothetical offense)πλημμελέω: 'commit a fault / trespass'; the same verb as the accusation (v. 16); they use the accusers' own word in their conditional self-curse.
ἔναντιbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of)ἔναντι: 'before / in the presence of'; Hebraism (לִפְנֵי); a variant of ἐναντίον; the trespass, if any, would be 'before the LORD.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἔναντικύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
μὴnotnegative particle (with optative of imprecation)μή: with the optative ῥύσαιτο it forms a negative wish/imprecation — 'may he not deliver us.'
ῥύσαιτοmay he deliverAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · ῥύομαιoptative of wish (self-imprecation)→ volitive aorist optative (negated wish)ῥύομαι: 'rescue / deliver / save'; renders הִצִּיל / נָצַל; the optative of wish in a self-curse: if they are guilty, let God not rescue them — the strongest protestation of innocence.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativedirect object of ῥύσαιτοἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἐνin / onpreposition + dative (temporal: 'on this day')ἐν + dat.: here temporal, ἐν ταύτῃ ('on this [day]'), with ἡμέρᾳ understood — 'this very day.'
ταύτῃthisDativedemonstrative (with implied ἡμέρᾳ: 'on this day')οὗτος: 'this'; the feminine ταύτῃ implies ἡμέρᾳ ('day'), a Hebraizing temporal expression for 'this very day.'
23

καὶ εἰ ᾠκοδομήσαμεν αὑτοῖς βωμὸν ὥστε ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν ὥστε ἀναβιβάσαι ἐπ᾿ αὐτὸν θυσίαν ὁλοκαυτωμάτων ἢ ὥστε ποιῆσαι ἐπ᾿ αὐτοῦ θυσίαν σωτηρίου κύριος ἐκζητήσει

And if we built ourselves an altar so as to turn away from the LORD our God, so as to offer up on it a sacrifice of whole burnt offerings, or so as to make on it a sacrifice of deliverance, may the LORD himself require it.

Continuation of the oath: denial of sacrificial intentκαὶ εἰ ᾠκοδομήσαμεν
The conditional self-curse continues: if they built the altar to apostatize or to offer sacrifices on it (burnt offerings or peace offerings), then κύριος ἐκζητήσει ('let the LORD require it'). By naming the three illicit sacrificial purposes and disavowing them, they specify exactly what the altar is not for, preparing the positive explanation of vv. 26–28.
Word-by-word analysis· 27 words
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἰifconditional conjunction (oath-protasis continued)εἰ: 'if'; continuing the self-imprecatory condition of v. 22.
ᾠκοδομήσαμενwe builtAor Act Indic 1 Pl · οἰκοδομέωverb of the protasis→ constative aorist (the act of building)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; they acknowledge building the altar but deny the illicit purpose.
αὑτοῖςfor ourselvesDativereflexive dative of advantageἑαυτοῦ: the reflexive αὑτοῖς (with rough breathing, = ἑαυτοῖς) means 'for ourselves'; echoing the accusation's ὑμῖν ἑαυτοῖς (v. 16).
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object of ᾠκοδομήσαμενβωμός: the altar in question, here named with the same suspect term used by the accusers.
ὥστεso as toconjunction (introducing infinitive of purpose)ὥστε: 'so as to / in order to'; introducing the hypothetical illicit purposes.
ἀποστῆναιto turn awayAor Act Inf · ἀφίστημιinfinitive of purpose (first denied intent)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (purpose)ἀφίστημι: 'withdraw / revolt / fall away'; the first denied purpose — apostasy from the LORD.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with appositive θεοῦ)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεοῦGodGenitivegenitive in apposition to κυρίουθεός: κυρίου τοῦ θεοῦ ἡμῶν, 'the LORD our God.'
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ὥστεso as toconjunction (second purpose-infinitive)ὥστε: introducing the second denied purpose.
ἀναβιβάσαιto offer upAor Act Inf · ἀναβιβάζωinfinitive of purpose (second denied intent)→ constative aorist infinitive (causative: 'to bring up')ἀναβιβάζω: 'bring/cause to go up / offer up'; causative of ἀναβαίνω; renders הֶעֱלָה (Hiphil of עָלָה), the technical verb for 'offering up' a sacrifice on the altar.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + accusative (place onto which, elided)ἐπί + acc.: 'upon / onto'; offering upon the altar.
αὐτὸνitAccusativeobject of ἐπ᾿ (the altar)αὐτός: the altar (βωμός, masc.).
θυσίανsacrificeAccusativedirect object of ἀναβιβάσαιθυσία: 'sacrifice / offering'; renders זֶבַח / מִנְחָה; the general term, here specified by the genitive ὁλοκαυτωμάτων.
ὁλοκαυτωμάτωνof whole burnt offeringsGenitivegenitive of definition (kind of sacrifice)ὁλοκαύτωμα: 'whole burnt offering'; renders עֹלָה; the offering wholly consumed by fire; one of the sacrifices that may be made only at the legitimate altar (Deut 12:13–14).
ἢordisjunctive conjunctionἤ: 'or'; introducing the third alternative denied purpose.
ὥστεso as toconjunction (third purpose-infinitive)ὥστε: introducing the third denied purpose.
ποιῆσαιto makeAor Act Inf · ποιέωinfinitive of purpose (third denied intent)→ constative aorist infinitive (purpose)ποιέω: 'make / offer'; here ποιῆσαι θυσίαν, 'to make/offer a sacrifice,' a Hebraism (עָשָׂה זֶבַח).
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + genitive (location, elided)ἐπί + gen.: 'upon / on'; on the altar.
αὐτοῦitGenitiveobject of ἐπ᾿ (the altar)αὐτός: the altar.
θυσίανsacrificeAccusativedirect object of ποιῆσαιθυσία: 'sacrifice'; here the peace/deliverance offering.
σωτηρίουof deliverance / peace-offeringGenitivegenitive of definition (kind of sacrifice)σωτήριον: 'deliverance / well-being / peace-offering'; renders שֶׁלֶם / שְׁלָמִים; the LXX θυσία σωτηρίου is the regular rendering of the 'peace/fellowship offering,' the third type of sacrifice disavowed here.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of ἐκζητήσει (apodosis of the oath)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the LORD himself is invoked as the one who will 'require / call to account' if they are guilty.
ἐκζητήσειwill requireFut Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐκζητέωmain verb (apodosis of the self-imprecation)→ predictive/jussive future (let him require it)ἐκζητέω: 'seek out / require / call to account'; renders דָּרַשׁ / בִּקֵּשׁ; the legal sense 'exact a reckoning' — the apodosis of the oath: if guilty, let the LORD himself demand satisfaction.
24

ἀλλ᾿ ἕνεκεν εὐλαβείας ῥήματος ἐποιήσαμεν τοῦτο λέγοντες ἵνα μὴ εἴπωσιν αὔριον τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν τοῖς τέκνοις ἡμῶν τί ὑμῖν κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ Ισραηλ

But it was out of cautious concern for a matter that we did this, saying, 'Lest tomorrow your children say to our children, What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?'

The true motive: anxious foresight (adversative explanation)ἀλλ᾿ ἕνεκεν εὐλαβείας ῥήματος
The strong ἀλλά pivots from denial to the real reason: ἕνεκεν εὐλαβείας ('out of caution / reverent concern'). The motive is anticipatory — a fear (ἵνα μή … εἴπωσιν) that the western tribes' descendants will one day disown the eastern tribes' share in the LORD: τί ὑμῖν κυρίῳ ('what have you to do with the LORD?').
Word-by-word analysis· 23 words
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative conjunction (elided)ἀλλά: 'but / rather'; pivoting from the disavowal to the true motive.
ἕνεκενbecause ofimproper preposition + genitive (cause)ἕνεκεν: 'on account of / because of'; with the genitive εὐλαβείας it gives the motive of the act.
εὐλαβείαςcaution / reverent concernGenitivegenitive of cause (with ἕνεκεν)εὐλάβεια: 'caution / circumspection / reverent fear'; renders דְּאָגָה ('anxiety') or יִרְאָה ('fear'); the term denotes careful, godly anxiety — they acted out of pious foresight, not rebellion.
ῥήματοςof a matter / wordGenitiveobjective genitive (concern about a matter)ῥῆμα: 'word / thing / matter'; renders דָּבָר; the Hebraism ῥῆμα can mean 'matter/affair'; here 'cautious concern about a [future] matter.'
ἐποιήσαμενwe didAor Act Indic 1 Pl · ποιέωmain verb (the act explained)→ constative aorist (the completed act of building)ποιέω: 'do / make'; the act of building the altar, now given its true rationale.
τοῦτοthisAccusativedirect object of ἐποιήσαμενοὗτος: 'this'; the building of the altar.
λέγοντεςsayingPres Act Part Nom Masc Pl · λέγωcircumstantial participle (expressing their reasoning)→ imperfective present participle (the thinking behind the act)λέγω: the participle λέγοντες ('saying [to ourselves]') introduces the anxious reasoning that prompted the altar.
ἵναlest / so thatconjunction (negative purpose with μή)ἵνα: 'in order that'; with μή it expresses a negative purpose — 'so that … not / lest.'
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἵνα + subjunctive)μή: negating the purpose clause.
εἴπωσινthey might sayAor Act Subj 3 Pl · λέγωverb of the negative-purpose clause→ aorist subjunctive (feared future speech)λέγω: 'say'; the feared future utterance of the western descendants.
αὔριονtomorrow / in time to cometemporal adverbαὔριον: 'tomorrow'; here idiomatic for 'in the future / in time to come' (rendering מָחָר in the sense 'someday'), as in v. 28.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέκναchildrenNominativesubject of εἴπωσιντέκνον: 'child / descendant'; renders בֵּן / בָּנִים; the future generations of the western tribes.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationship (the delegation's descendants)ὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέκνοιςchildrenDativedative indirect object (addressees of the feared speech)τέκνον: 'child'; the future generations of the eastern tribes, who might be disowned.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τίwhatNominativeinterrogative pronoun (idiom: 'what have you to do with...?')τίς: interrogative 'what?'; the idiom τί ὑμῖν καί τινι / τί ὑμῖν + dative ('what to you and...?') is a Hebraism (מַה־לָּכֶם) meaning 'what share/business have you with...?' — here a feared denial of the eastern tribes' part in the LORD.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative of possession/relation (in the idiom)σύ (dat. pl.): 'what is there to you [in common] with the LORD?'
κυρίῳthe LORDDativedative (the party with whom they allegedly have no share)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the dread is that the western tribes might say the eastern tribes have no portion in the LORD.
τῷtheDativearticle (with appositive θεῷ)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεῷGodDativedative in apposition to κυρίῳθεός: κυρίῳ τῷ θεῷ Ισραηλ, 'the LORD, the God of Israel,' the covenant title from whom they fear being cut off.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
25

καὶ ὅρια ἔθηκεν κύριος ἀνὰ μέσον ἡμῶν καὶ ὑμῶν τὸν Ιορδάνην καὶ οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμῖν μερὶς κυρίου καὶ ἀπαλλοτριώσουσιν οἱ υἱοὶ ὑμῶν τοὺς υἱοὺς ἡμῶν ἵνα μὴ σέβωνται κύριον

For the LORD has set borders between us and you — the Jordan — and you have no portion in the LORD; and so your sons would alienate our sons, that they should not worship the LORD.

Ground of the fear: the Jordan boundaryκαὶ ὅρια ἔθηκεν κύριος
The feared speech is elaborated: the LORD has set the Jordan as a border (ὅρια … τὸν Ιορδάνην) between the tribes, which the western descendants might exploit to deny the eastern tribes a μερίς ('portion') in the LORD. The dreaded outcome is ἀπαλλοτρίωσις ('alienation') — that the western sons would estrange the eastern sons from worshiping the LORD.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶfor / andconjunction (explanatory continuation of feared speech)καί: 'and'; here continuing the reasoning of the imagined western descendants.
ὅριαbordersAccusativedirect object of ἔθηκενὅριον (pl. ὅρια): 'boundary / border'; renders גְּבוּל; the Jordan is cast as a divinely-set border, the pretext for the feared exclusion.
ἔθηκενhas setAor Act Indic 3 Sg · τίθημιmain verb (the divine setting of a boundary)→ constative aorist (the established boundary)τίθημι: 'put / place / set'; renders שָׂם / נָתַן; the LORD 'set' the Jordan as a geographical divider — a fact the western descendants might twist into a spiritual division.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubjectκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον: 'in the midst / between')ἀνά: in the phrase ἀνὰ μέσον ('between / in the midst of'), a fixed Septuagintal idiom rendering בֵּין.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject within the prepositional idiom ἀνὰ μέσονμέσος: 'middle / midst'; ἀνὰ μέσον … καί … is the standard rendering of בֵּין … וּבֵין ('between … and …').
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)ἡμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within the 'between … and' idiom)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τὸνtheAccusativearticle (with Ιορδάνην, in apposition to ὅρια)τὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
Ιορδάνηνthe JordanAccusativeaccusative in apposition to ὅρια (the border = the Jordan)Ιορδάνης: the Jordan river, here identified as the divinely-set border between the tribes.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (drawing the feared inference)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οὐκnotnegative particleοὐ: negation.
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of possession (οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμῖν: 'you have no')→ stative present (the feared denial)εἰμί: 'be'; οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμῖν μερίς ('there is to you no portion') is the dreaded verdict the western descendants might pronounce.
ὑμῖνto youDativedative of possessionὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
μερὶςportionNominativesubject of ἔστινμερίς: 'part / portion / share'; renders חֵלֶק; μερὶς κυρίου, 'a share in the LORD' — the covenant participation the eastern tribes fear being denied.
κυρίουin the LORDGenitiveobjective/partitive genitive (a portion in the LORD)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; 'a portion in/of the LORD' means a recognized share in his worship and people.
καὶand socoordinate conjunction (consecutive)καί: here consecutive, 'and so / with the result that.'
ἀπαλλοτριώσουσινwould alienateFut Act Indic 3 Pl · ἀπαλλοτριόωmain verb (the feared estrangement)→ predictive future (the dreaded outcome)ἀπαλλοτριόω: 'estrange / alienate / make a stranger'; renders הִשְׁבִּית / נִכֵּר; the western sons might 'make strangers' of the eastern sons, cutting them off from covenant worship — the deepest fear behind the altar.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (the western descendants)υἱός: 'sons'; the future generations of the western tribes.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of ἀπαλλοτριώσουσιν (the eastern descendants)υἱός: 'sons'; the future generations of the eastern tribes, the ones at risk of estrangement.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
ἵναso thatconjunction (negative result/purpose with μή)ἵνα: 'so that'; with μή expressing the feared result — that the eastern sons would be kept from worship.
μὴnotnegative particle (with ἵνα + subjunctive)μή: negating the result clause.
σέβωνταιthey should worshipPres Mid Subj 3 Pl · σέβομαιverb of the negative-result clause→ imperfective present subjunctive (ongoing worship denied)σέβομαι: 'worship / revere / venerate'; renders יָרֵא / עָבַד; the dreaded end-state: the eastern descendants prevented from worshiping the LORD — the very opposite of the altar's true intent.
κύριονthe LORDAccusativedirect object of σέβωνταικύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the object of the worship that the eastern tribes wish to safeguard for their children.
26

καὶ εἴπαμεν ποιῆσαι οὕτως τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι τὸν βωμὸν τοῦτον οὐχ ἕνεκεν καρπωμάτων οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν θυσιῶν

And we said, 'Let us do thus, to build this altar — not for offerings nor for sacrifices,

The resolution to build, with disclaimerκαὶ εἴπαμεν ποιῆσαι οὕτως
The positive explanation begins: 'we resolved to do thus, to build this altar.' The immediate disclaimer οὐχ ἕνεκεν καρπωμάτων οὐδὲ … θυσιῶν ('not for offerings nor sacrifices') flatly denies any sacrificial function, setting up the positive purpose (a witness) in v. 27.
Word-by-word analysis· 15 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἴπαμενwe saidAor Act Indic 1 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the deliberative decision)→ constative aorist (the resolution made)λέγω: 'say'; the alpha-aorist εἴπαμεν (for εἴπομεν) is common Koine; introduces their deliberate resolve.
ποιῆσαιto doAor Act Inf · ποιέωcomplementary infinitive (object of εἴπαμεν: 'we resolved to do')→ constative aorist infinitive (resolve to act)ποιέω: 'do / act'; ποιῆσαι οὕτως, 'to act thus.'
οὕτωςthusadverb of mannerοὕτως: 'thus / in this way'; anticipating the action defined by the following infinitive.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with epexegetic articular infinitive)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
οἰκοδομῆσαιto buildAor Act Inf · οἰκοδομέωepexegetic articular infinitive (defining οὕτως)→ constative aorist infinitive (the intended building)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; the articular infinitive τοῦ οἰκοδομῆσαι epexegetically specifies 'thus' — namely, to build the altar.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομῆσαιβωμός: the altar; even in their defense the eastern tribes call it βωμός, reserving θυσιαστήριον for the LORD's legitimate altar (v. 28, 29).
τοῦτονthisAccusativedemonstrative adjective (with βωμὸν)οὗτος: 'this'; pointing to the specific altar at issue.
οὐχnotnegative particle (before rough breathing)οὐ (οὐχ before rough breathing): the emphatic denial of sacrificial purpose.
ἕνεκενfor / because ofimproper preposition + genitive (purpose)ἕνεκεν: 'for the sake of / for'; here marking the purpose denied — not for offerings.
καρπωμάτωνof offeringsGenitivegenitive of purpose (with ἕνεκεν)κάρπωμα: 'burnt offering / fruit-offering / oblation'; renders אִשֶּׁה / עֹלָה; a sacrifice consumed by fire on the altar; the altar is explicitly not for these.
οὐδὲnornegative conjunction (correlative with οὐχ)οὐδέ: 'nor / and not'; continuing the denial.
ἕνεκενfor / because ofimproper preposition + genitive (purpose)ἕνεκεν: 'for the sake of.'
θυσιῶνof sacrificesGenitivegenitive of purpose (with ἕνεκεν)θυσία: 'sacrifice'; renders זֶבַח; the pairing καρπώματα / θυσίαι covers the whole range of altar-offerings, all of which are disclaimed.
27

ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα ᾖ τοῦτο μαρτύριον ἀνὰ μέσον ἡμῶν καὶ ὑμῶν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν γενεῶν ἡμῶν μεθ᾿ ἡμᾶς τοῦ λατρεύειν λατρείαν κυρίῳ ἐναντίον αὐτοῦ ἐν τοῖς καρπώμασιν ἡμῶν καὶ ἐν ταῖς θυσίαις ἡμῶν καὶ ἐν ταῖς θυσίαις τῶν σωτηρίων ἡμῶν καὶ οὐκ ἐροῦσιν τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν τοῖς τέκνοις ἡμῶν αὔριον οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμῖν μερὶς κυρίου

but that this may be a witness between us and you and between our generations after us, that we serve the service of the LORD before him with our offerings and with our sacrifices and with our sacrifices of peace, so that your children will not say to our children tomorrow, You have no portion in the LORD.

The true purpose: the altar as witness (positive counterpart)ἀλλ᾿ ἵνα ᾖ τοῦτο μαρτύριον
The strong ἀλλά supplies the positive purpose denied in v. 26: the altar is a μαρτύριον ('witness'), the key term of the chapter (cf. vv. 28, 34). It witnesses to the eastern tribes' right to λατρεύειν λατρείαν κυρίῳ ('serve the service of the LORD') at the legitimate sanctuary, so that no future generation can deny them their μερίς ('portion') in the LORD.
Word-by-word analysis· 55 words
ἀλλ᾿butstrong adversative conjunction (elided)ἀλλά: 'but / rather'; supplying the positive purpose against the denied one.
ἵναthatconjunction (purpose with subjunctive)ἵνα: 'in order that'; introducing the true purpose of the altar.
ᾖmay bePres Act Subj 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the purpose clause→ imperfective present subjunctive (abiding purpose)εἰμί: 'be'; ἵνα ᾖ … μαρτύριον, 'that it may be a witness' — an enduring testimonial function.
τοῦτοthisNominativesubject of ᾖ (the altar)οὗτος: 'this'; the altar.
μαρτύριονwitnessNominativepredicate nominative (the altar's true function)μαρτύριον: 'witness / testimony'; renders עֵד / עֵדוּת; the central term of the chapter — the altar is a standing monument testifying to covenant participation, not a place of sacrifice (cf. vv. 28, 34; and the witness-heap of Gen 31:48).
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον)ἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον, 'between.'
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject within ἀνὰ μέσον idiomμέσος: 'midst'; ἀνὰ μέσον … καί, 'between … and.'
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)ἡμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (within idiom)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον)ἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject within ἀνὰ μέσον idiomμέσος: 'midst'; the witness extends to future generations as well.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενεῶνgenerationsGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)γενεά: 'generation'; renders דּוֹר; the witness binds not only the present tribes but their posterity.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
μεθ᾿afterpreposition + accusative (temporal: 'after us', elided)μετά + acc.: here temporal, 'after us / coming after us.'
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeobject of μεθ᾿ (the generations after us)ἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with articular infinitive of purpose)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λατρεύεινto servePres Act Inf · λατρεύωarticular infinitive of purpose (the testified right)→ imperfective present infinitive (ongoing worship)λατρεύω: 'serve / worship'; renders עָבַד; the altar witnesses to their continuing right to worship the LORD; the cognate λατρεύειν λατρείαν is a Hebraizing figura etymologica (עָבַד עֲבֹדָה).
λατρείανserviceAccusativecognate accusative (with λατρεύειν)λατρεία: 'service / worship'; renders עֲבֹדָה; the cognate accusative intensifies — 'to serve the [full] service of the LORD.'
κυρίῳto the LORDDativedative of the one servedκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the recipient of their worship.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the presence of)ἐναντίον: 'before / in the presence of'; their worship is rendered before the LORD — i.e., at the legitimate sanctuary, not at this altar.
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίοναὐτός: the LORD, in whose presence they worship.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument/accompaniment)ἐν + dat.: 'with / by means of'; introducing the offerings of true worship.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρπώμασινofferingsDativedative of means (with ἐν)κάρπωμα: 'burnt offering / oblation'; the offerings they will bring at the true altar — not at the βωμός.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίαιςsacrificesDativedative of meansθυσία: 'sacrifice'; their sacrifices, offered at the legitimate altar.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐνwithpreposition + dative (instrument)ἐν: preposition governing its complement and marking the relation specified by the clause.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίαιςsacrificesDativedative of meansθυσία: 'sacrifice'; here the peace-offerings.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σωτηρίωνof peace-offeringsGenitivegenitive of definition (kind of sacrifice)σωτήριον: 'deliverance / peace-offering'; θυσίαι τῶν σωτηρίων, 'sacrifices of peace/well-being' (renders זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים), the fellowship offerings.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of possessionἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
καὶand socoordinate conjunction (consecutive)καί: here consecutive, drawing the intended result.
οὐκnotnegative particleοὐ: negation.
ἐροῦσινwill sayFut Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the prevented future denial)→ predictive future (negated: they will not say)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the altar-witness ensures the western descendants 'will not say' the dreaded words.
τὰtheNominativearticleτὰ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέκναchildrenNominativesubject of ἐροῦσιντέκνον: 'child / descendant'; the future western generations.
ὑμῶνyourGenitivegenitive of relationshipὑμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
τέκνοιςchildrenDativedative indirect objectτέκνον: 'child'; the future eastern generations.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
αὔριονtomorrowtemporal adverbαὔριον: 'tomorrow / in time to come.'
οὐκnotnegative particle (within the quoted denial)οὐ: negation.
ἔστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of the quoted denial (οὐκ ἔστιν ὑμῖν: 'you have no')→ stative present (the now-prevented verdict)εἰμί: 'be'; the very words the altar-witness is meant to forestall — 'you have no portion in the LORD.'
ὑμῖνto youDativedative of possessionὑμῖν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
μερὶςportionNominativesubject of ἔστινμερίς: 'portion / share'; μερὶς κυρίου, 'a share in the LORD'; the witness secures it for the eastern tribes' posterity.
κυρίουin the LORDGenitiveobjective/partitive genitiveκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
28

καὶ εἴπαμεν ἐὰν γένηταί ποτε καὶ λαλήσωσιν πρὸς ἡμᾶς καὶ ταῖς γενεαῖς ἡμῶν αὔριον καὶ ἐροῦσιν ἴδετε ὁμοίωμα τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κυρίου ὃ ἐποίησαν οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν οὐχ ἕνεκεν καρπωμάτων οὐδὲ ἕνεκεν θυσιῶν ἀλλὰ μαρτύριόν ἐστιν ἀνὰ μέσον ὑμῶν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον ἡμῶν καὶ ἀνὰ μέσον τῶν υἱῶν ἡμῶν

And we said, 'If it should ever happen that they speak to us, or to our generations in time to come, then we will say, Behold the copy of the altar of the LORD which our fathers made — not for offerings nor for sacrifices, but it is a witness between you and between us and between our sons.'

Anticipated future appeal to the witnessκαὶ εἴπαμεν ἐὰν γένηταί ποτε
The eastern tribes rehearse how the witness will function: should the western descendants ever challenge them, they will point to the altar as an ὁμοίωμα ('copy / replica') of the LORD's altar, repeating the disclaimer (οὐχ ἕνεκεν καρπωμάτων) and the positive declaration μαρτύριόν ἐστιν. The threefold ἀνὰ μέσον (you / us / our sons) stresses the witness binds all generations.
Word-by-word analysis· 48 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἴπαμενwe saidAor Act Indic 1 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the further resolve)→ constative aorist (resolution)λέγω: 'say'; introducing the contingency-plan for the witness's use.
ἐὰνifconditional conjunction (with subjunctive)ἐάν: 'if / whenever'; a future-more-vivid condition.
γένηταίit should happenAor Mid Subj 3 Sg · γίνομαιverb of the protasis→ ingressive aorist subjunctive (should it come about)γίνομαι: 'happen / come about'; impersonal 'if it ever happens.'
ποτεeverindefinite temporal adverb (enclitic)ποτέ: 'at some time / ever'; enclitic; 'if it should ever happen.'
καὶand / thatcoordinate conjunction (continuing the protasis)καί: 'and'; coordinating the second verb of the condition.
λαλήσωσινthey should speakAor Act Subj 3 Pl · λαλέωverb of the protasis (the western descendants' challenge)→ aorist subjunctive (hypothetical future speech)λαλέω: 'speak / say'; the future challenge from the western descendants.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusativeπρός + acc.: 'to.'
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸςἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶor / andcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γενεαῖςgenerationsDativedative indirect object (to our generations)γενεά: 'generation'; the future generations of the eastern tribes.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
αὔριονin time to cometemporal adverbαὔριον: 'tomorrow / hereafter'; idiomatic for 'in the future.'
καὶthenapodotic conjunction (introducing the response)καί: apodotic 'then,' introducing the planned reply.
ἐροῦσινthey will sayFut Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb of the apodosis (the eastern descendants' reply)→ predictive future (the planned response)λέγω (fut. ἐρῶ): 'say'; the eastern descendants will reply by pointing to the altar-witness.
ἴδετεbeholdAor Act Impv 2 Pl · ὁράωimperative (within the planned reply: 'see!')→ aorist imperative (pointing call to attention)ὁράω (aor. impv. ἴδετε): 'see / behold / look'; the reply directs attention to the altar as proof.
ὁμοίωμαcopy / likenessAccusativedirect object of ἴδετεὁμοίωμα: 'likeness / copy / replica'; renders תַּבְנִית / דְּמוּת; the altar is a replica of the LORD's altar — built to look like it precisely so as to testify that the eastern tribes share the same worship, not to rival it.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive of relationship (copy of the altar)θυσιαστήριον: 'altar (of the LORD)'; the legitimate altar, here named with the proper term — their βωμός is only a ὁμοίωμα of the true θυσιαστήριον, not a functioning altar.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possessionκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
ὃwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐποίησαν)ὅς: relative pronoun, neuter accusative agreeing with ὁμοίωμα.
ἐποίησανmadeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · ποιέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the fathers' act)ποιέω: 'make'; the fathers made the replica-altar.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
πατέρεςfathersNominativesubject of ἐποίησανπατήρ: 'father / ancestor'; renders אָב; the present eastern tribes anticipate being remembered as the 'fathers' who built the witness.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
οὐχnotnegative particle (before rough breathing)οὐ (οὐχ): the repeated disclaimer (cf. v. 26).
ἕνεκενforimproper preposition + genitive (purpose)ἕνεκεν: 'for the sake of.'
καρπωμάτωνof offeringsGenitivegenitive of purpose (denied)κάρπωμα: 'burnt offering'; again denied as the altar's purpose.
οὐδὲnornegative conjunctionοὐδέ: 'nor.'
ἕνεκενforimproper preposition + genitive (purpose)ἕνεκεν: 'for the sake of.'
θυσιῶνof sacrificesGenitivegenitive of purpose (denied)θυσία: 'sacrifice'; again denied.
ἀλλὰbutstrong adversative conjunctionἀλλά: 'but / rather'; introducing the positive declaration.
μαρτύριόνwitnessNominativepredicate nominative (the altar's function)μαρτύριον: 'witness / testimony'; the climactic affirmation, repeated from v. 27 and anticipating v. 34.
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicating μαρτύριον of the altar)→ stative present (the altar's abiding character)εἰμί: 'be'; 'it is a witness' — the settled identity of the altar.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον)ἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject within ἀνὰ μέσον idiomμέσος: 'midst'; first of the threefold 'between.'
ὑμῶνyouGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)ὑμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον)ἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject within ἀνὰ μέσον idiomμέσος: 'midst'; second 'between.'
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)ἡμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον)ἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον.
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject within ἀνὰ μέσον idiomμέσος: 'midst'; third 'between,' extending to posterity.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)υἱός: 'sons'; the future generations included in the witness.
ἡμῶνourGenitivegenitive of relationshipἡμῶν: pronominal form marking person, possession, or reference within the clause.
29

μὴ γένοιτο οὖν ἡμᾶς ἀποστραφῆναι ἀπὸ κυρίου ἐν ταῖς σήμερον ἡμέραις ἀποστῆναι ἀπὸ κυρίου ὥστε οἰκοδομῆσαι ἡμᾶς θυσιαστήριον τοῖς καρπώμασιν καὶ ταῖς θυσίαις σαλαμιν καὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ τοῦ σωτηρίου πλὴν τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου κυρίου ὅ ἐστιν ἐναντίον τῆς σκηνῆς αὐτοῦ

Far be it from us, then, that we should turn away from the LORD in these present days, to revolt from the LORD so as to build an altar for offerings and sacrifices of peace and for the sacrifice of deliverance, besides the altar of the LORD which is before his tent.

Emphatic disavowal: the conclusion of the defenseμὴ γένοιτο οὖν
The defense closes with the strongest idiom of refusal, μὴ γένοιτο ('far be it / God forbid'). They utterly disavow any intent to build a sacrificial altar πλὴν ('besides') the one legitimate θυσιαστήριον κυρίου that stands ἐναντίον τῆς σκηνῆς ('before the tent'). The contrast βωμός (their witness) vs. θυσιαστήριον (the LORD's true altar) reaches its climax here.
Word-by-word analysis· 39 words
μὴnotnegative particle (with optative: idiom of refusal)μή: with the optative γένοιτο forms the strong idiom μὴ γένοιτο, 'may it not be / far be it / God forbid' (the LXX rendering of חָלִילָה).
γένοιτοmay it beAor Mid Opt 3 Sg · γίνομαιoptative of wish (deprecatory)→ volitive aorist optative (strong negation)γίνομαι: 'become / happen'; the optative of wish; μὴ γένοιτο is the most emphatic Greek expression of repudiation, famously taken up by Paul (Rom 3:4, 6, etc.).
οὖνthen / thereforeinferential particleοὖν: 'therefore / then'; drawing the conclusion of the whole defense.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative subject of the infinitive ἀποστραφῆναιἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ἀποστραφῆναιto turn awayAor Pass Inf · ἀποστρέφωinfinitive (subject of the μὴ γένοιτο construction)→ constative aorist infinitive (the disavowed apostasy)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn away / apostatize'; the very act they are accused of and here utterly disavow.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
ἐνinpreposition + dative (temporal)ἐν + dat.: 'in / during'; temporal.
ταῖςtheDativearticleταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σήμερονpresentadverb (attributive with ἡμέραις: 'the present days')σήμερον: 'today'; ταῖς σήμερον ἡμέραις, 'in these present days,' a Hebraizing temporal phrase.
ἡμέραιςdaysDativedative of time (when)ἡμέρα: 'day.'
ἀποστῆναιto revoltAor Act Inf · ἀφίστημιinfinitive (epexegetic of ἀποστραφῆναι)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (the disavowed revolt)ἀφίστημι: 'withdraw / revolt'; the near-synonym pairing ἀποστραφῆναι … ἀποστῆναι doubly emphasizes the rejected apostasy.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
ὥστεso as toconjunction (introducing infinitive of result)ὥστε: 'so as to'; introducing the disavowed result — building a sacrificial altar.
οἰκοδομῆσαιto buildAor Act Inf · οἰκοδομέωinfinitive of result (with ὥστε)→ constative aorist infinitive (the disavowed building)οἰκοδομέω: 'build'; here the building of a rival sacrificial altar (θυσιαστήριον), which they deny intending.
ἡμᾶςusAccusativeaccusative subject of οἰκοδομῆσαιἡμᾶς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
θυσιαστήριονaltarAccusativedirect object of οἰκοδομῆσαιθυσιαστήριον: 'altar (of sacrifice)'; notably they use θυσιαστήριον (not βωμός) for the kind of altar they deny building — a functioning sacrificial altar that would rival the LORD's; the lexical switch is deliberate and pointed.
τοῖςfor theDativearticle (dative of purpose)τοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
καρπώμασινofferingsDativedative of purpose (for offerings)κάρπωμα: 'burnt offering'; the purpose they deny.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ταῖςtheDativearticle (dative of purpose)ταῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίαιςsacrificesDativedative of purpose (for sacrifices)θυσία: 'sacrifice'; the purpose denied.
σαλαμινof peace-offeringsindeclinable transliteration (in apposition to θυσίαις)σαλαμιν: an untranslated transliteration of Hebrew שְׁלָמִים (shelamim, 'peace/fellowship offerings'); indeclinable; the translator carried the Hebrew term over in Greek letters rather than rendering it (as elsewhere with σωτήριον), a sign of close formal dependence on the Hebrew.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῇtheDativearticle (dative of purpose)τῇ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσίᾳsacrificeDativedative of purposeθυσία: 'sacrifice'; the peace/deliverance offering, again disavowed.
τοῦof theGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σωτηρίουof deliveranceGenitivegenitive of definition (sacrifice of peace/deliverance)σωτήριον: 'deliverance / peace-offering'; here the Greek rendering parallels the transliterated σαλαμιν just above — both refer to the שְׁלָמִים.
πλὴνbesides / exceptimproper preposition + genitive (exception)πλήν: 'except / besides / apart from'; with the genitive τοῦ θυσιαστηρίου it marks the one legitimate altar as the sole exception — no sacrificial altar is to exist besides it.
τοῦtheGenitivearticleτοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θυσιαστηρίουaltarGenitivegenitive object of πλὴνθυσιαστήριον: the one legitimate altar of the LORD — the only place where sacrifice may be offered (Deut 12).
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of possessionκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
ὅwhichNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἐστιν)ὅς: relative pronoun, neuter nominative agreeing with θυσιαστηρίου.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίverb of relative clause (locating the true altar)→ stative present (its abiding location)εἰμί: 'be'; the true altar stands permanently before the tent.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (in front of)ἐναντίον: 'before / in front of'; locating the legitimate altar at the one sanctuary.
τῆςtheGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
σκηνῆςtentGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίονσκηνή: 'tent / tabernacle'; the tent of meeting, before which the only legitimate altar stands — the architectural embodiment of the one-sanctuary principle.
αὐτοῦhisGenitivegenitive of possession (the LORD's tent)αὐτός: 'his'; the tent belongs to the LORD.
30

καὶ ἀκούσας Φινεες ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ πάντες οἱ ἄρχοντες τῆς συναγωγῆς Ισραηλ οἳ ἦσαν μετ᾿ αὐτοῦ τοὺς λόγους οὓς ἐλάλησαν οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην καὶ οἱ υἱοὶ Γαδ καὶ τὸ ἥμισυ φυλῆς Μανασση καὶ ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς

And when Phinehas the priest and all the chiefs of the congregation of Israel who were with him heard the words that the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.

Resolution begins: the delegation is satisfiedκαὶ ἀκούσας Φινεες ὁ ἱερεὺς
The crisis turns toward peace. The aorist participle ἀκούσας ('having heard') and the verb ἤρεσεν ('it pleased') signal acceptance of the defense. Phinehas the priest and the chiefs are persuaded; the impersonal ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς ('it was pleasing to them') is the key marker of reconciliation, repeated at v. 33.
Word-by-word analysis· 35 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀκούσαςhaving heardAor Act Part Nom Masc Sg · ἀκούωcircumstantial participle (temporal: 'when he heard')→ antecedent aorist participle (the hearing precedes the pleasure)ἀκούω: 'hear'; the singular participle agrees with Phinehas as the lead subject, though the chiefs are joined to him; a constructio ad sensum.
ΦινεεςPhinehassubject (indeclinable)Φινεες: indeclinable; the priestly leader of the delegation.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositive ἱερεὺς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativenominative in apposition to Φινεεςἱερεύς: 'priest'; renders כֹּהֵן; Phinehas' priestly office is stressed, as the dispute concerns legitimate worship.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
πάντεςallNominativeattributive adjective (with ἄρχοντες)πᾶς: 'all'; the whole delegation of chiefs concurs.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςchiefsNominativesubject (coordinate with Φινεες)ἄρχων: 'ruler / chief'; the ten tribal heads of v. 14.
τῆςof theGenitivearticleτῆς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
συναγωγῆςcongregationGenitivegenitive of relationship (chiefs of the congregation)συναγωγή: 'congregation / assembly'; the chiefs represent the whole assembly of Israel.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
οἳwhoNominativerelative pronoun (subject of ἦσαν)ὅς: relative pronoun, masculine plural, referring to the chiefs.
ἦσανwereImpf Act Indic 3 Pl · εἰμίverb of relative clause→ stative imperfect (their accompanying presence)εἰμί: 'be'; 'who were with him' — the chiefs accompanying Phinehas.
μετ᾿withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετά + gen.: 'with.'
αὐτοῦhimGenitivegenitive object of μετ᾿ (Phinehas)αὐτοῦ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativedirect object of ἀκούσαςλόγος: 'word / saying'; renders דָּבָר; the defense-speech of vv. 22–29 that the delegation heard.
οὓςwhichAccusativerelative pronoun (object of ἐλάλησαν)ὅς: relative pronoun, masculine plural accusative.
ἐλάλησανspokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωverb of relative clause→ constative aorist (the words spoken)λαλέω: 'speak'; the eastern tribes' defense.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject of ἐλάλησαν (first member)υἱός: οἱ υἱοὶ Ρουβην.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὶsonsNominativesubject (second member)υἱοὶ: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τὸtheNominativearticle (with ἥμισυ)τὸ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἥμισυhalfNominativesubject (third member)ἥμισυς: 'half.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunction (apodosis)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤρεσενit pleasedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀρέσκωmain verb (impersonal: 'it was pleasing')→ ingressive aorist (came to be pleasing)ἀρέσκω: 'please / be pleasing'; renders יָטַב בְּעֵינֵי ('be good in the eyes of'); the impersonal ἤρεσεν αὐτοῖς ('it pleased them') is the pivotal marker that the explanation was accepted — civil war is averted.
αὐτοῖςthemDativedative of the one pleased (Phinehas and the chiefs)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
31

καὶ εἶπεν Φινεες ὁ ἱερεὺς τοῖς υἱοῖς Ρουβην καὶ τοῖς υἱοῖς Γαδ καὶ τῷ ἡμίσει φυλῆς Μανασση σήμερον ἐγνώκαμεν ὅτι μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν κύριος διότι οὐκ ἐπλημμελήσατε ἐναντίον κυρίου πλημμέλειαν καὶ ὅτι ἐρρύσασθε τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ ἐκ χειρὸς κυρίου

And Phinehas the priest said to the sons of Reuben and to the sons of Gad and to the half-tribe of Manasseh, 'Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed a trespass before the LORD, and because you have delivered the sons of Israel from the hand of the LORD.'

Priestly declaration of acquittal and divine presenceκαὶ εἶπεν Φινεες ὁ ἱερεὺς
Phinehas pronounces the verdict of acquittal: σήμερον ἐγνώκαμεν ὅτι μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν κύριος ('today we know the LORD is among us'). The two causal clauses (διότι … καὶ ὅτι) ground this: the eastern tribes did not trespass, and by their faithful explanation they have ἐρρύσασθε ('delivered') all Israel from the LORD's wrath-bearing hand.
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (speech-introduction)→ constative aorist (the declaration)λέγω: 'say'; Phinehas pronounces the verdict.
ΦινεεςPhinehassubject (indeclinable)Φινεες: indeclinable.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositive ἱερεὺς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativenominative in apposition to Φινεεςἱερεύς: 'priest'; his priestly authority lends weight to the acquittal.
τοῖςto theDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (first member)υἱός: 'sons'; τοῖς υἱοῖς Ρουβην.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῖςto theDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative indirect object (second member)υἱοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῷto theDativearticle (with ἡμίσει)τῷ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσειhalfDativedative indirect object (third member)ἥμισυς: 'half.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
σήμερονtodaytemporal adverbσήμερον: 'today'; the day of acquittal answers the repeated 'today' of the accusation (vv. 16, 18).
ἐγνώκαμενwe knowPerf Act Indic 1 Pl · γινώσκωmain verb (declarative)→ resultative perfect (we have come to know, and now know)γινώσκω: 'know / recognize'; the perfect ἐγνώκαμεν conveys a settled present knowledge resulting from the explanation just heard.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing object clause)ὅτι: 'that'; introducing what is known.
μεθ᾿among / withpreposition + genitive (accompaniment, elided)μετά + gen.: 'with / among'; μεθ᾿ ἡμῶν κύριος, 'the LORD is among us' — the proof of covenant favor and unity.
ἡμῶνusGenitivegenitive object of μεθ᾿ἡμῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of the ὅτι-clause (with implied copula)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; his presence among them is the sign that no apostasy has occurred.
διότιbecausecausal conjunctionδιότι: 'because / for the reason that'; introducing the first ground of the acquittal.
οὐκnotnegative particleοὐ: negation.
ἐπλημμελήσατεyou committedAor Act Indic 2 Pl · πλημμελέωverb of the causal clause (negated)→ constative aorist (no trespass occurred)πλημμελέω: 'commit a fault / trespass'; the same verb of the accusation (v. 16); the verdict is the exact negation of the charge.
ἐναντίονbeforepreposition + genitive (in the sight of)ἐναντίον: 'before / in the sight of'; Hebraism (לִפְנֵי).
κυρίουthe LORDGenitivegenitive object of ἐναντίονκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton.
πλημμέλειανtrespassAccusativecognate accusative (with ἐπλημμελήσατε)πλημμέλεια: 'trespass'; the cognate accusative (πλημμέλειαν ἐπλημμελήσατε) intensifies — 'you have not committed [any] trespass at all'; the accuser's own cognate figure (v. 16) is now reversed in acquittal.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ὅτιbecause / thatcausal conjunction (second ground)ὅτι: 'because'; introducing the second ground of the acquittal.
ἐρρύσασθεyou deliveredAor Mid Indic 2 Pl · ῥύομαιverb of the second causal clause→ constative aorist (the deliverance accomplished)ῥύομαι: 'rescue / deliver'; the same verb used in the oath (v. 22); by clearing themselves the eastern tribes have spared all Israel the wrath that corporate apostasy would have brought — they 'delivered' the nation from the LORD's hand of judgment.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativedirect object of ἐρρύσασθευἱός: 'sons'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the whole nation spared from wrath.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
ἐκfrompreposition + genitive (separation/rescue)ἐκ: 'out of / from'; deliverance 'out of the hand of.'
χειρὸςhandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκ (idiom: 'from the hand of')χείρ: 'hand'; ἐκ χειρὸς κυρίου ('from the hand of the LORD') renders מִיַּד יְהוָה — here the LORD's hand of judgment, from which the faithful explanation has rescued Israel.
κυρίουof the LORDGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose hand)κύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the hand that would have struck in wrath had apostasy been real.
32

καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Φινεες ὁ ἱερεὺς καὶ οἱ ἄρχοντες ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Ρουβην καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν Γαδ καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ ἡμίσους φυλῆς Μανασση ἐκ γῆς Γαλααδ εἰς γῆν Χανααν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ καὶ ἀπεκρίθησαν αὐτοῖς τοὺς λόγους

And Phinehas the priest and the chiefs returned from the sons of Reuben and from the sons of Gad and from the half-tribe of Manasseh, out of the land of Gilead into the land of Canaan, to the sons of Israel, and they reported the words to them.

The delegation returns and reports (sequential)καὶ ἀπέστρεψεν Φινεες ὁ ἱερεὺς
The embassy retraces its journey, from Gilead back into Canaan to the assembled sons of Israel, and ἀπεκρίθησαν … τοὺς λόγους ('reported the words'). The accusative τοὺς λόγους with ἀπεκρίθησαν is a Hebraizing construction ('answered/brought back the words').
Word-by-word analysis· 38 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπέστρεψενreturnedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀποστρέφωmain verb (return journey; sg. with compound subject)→ constative aorist (completed return)ἀποστρέφω: 'turn back / return'; here in the innocent sense of 'return home,' contrasting with its sinister use for 'apostatize' earlier in the chapter (vv. 16, 18, 29).
ΦινεεςPhinehassubject (indeclinable)Φινεες: indeclinable.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositive ἱερεὺς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἱερεὺςpriestNominativenominative in apposition to Φινεεςἱερεύς: 'priest.'
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
οἱtheNominativearticleοἱ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἄρχοντεςchiefsNominativesubject (coordinate with Φινεες)ἄρχων: 'ruler / chief'; the tribal heads.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from'; departing from the eastern tribes.
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸ (first member)υἱός: 'sons'; τῶν υἱῶν Ρουβην.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
τῶνtheGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸ (second member)υἱῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπὸfrompreposition + genitive (separation)ἀπό: 'from.'
τοῦtheGenitivearticle (with ἡμίσους)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσουςhalfGenitivegenitive object of ἀπὸ (third member)ἥμισυς (gen. ἡμίσους): 'half'; the genitive form of the substantivized adjective.
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
ἐκout ofpreposition + genitive (source)ἐκ: 'out of'; departing from the territory of Gilead.
γῆςlandGenitivegenitive object of ἐκγῆ: 'land'; the land of Gilead (Transjordan).
Γαλααδof Gileadgenitive of apposition (indeclinable)Γαλααδ: indeclinable.
εἰςintopreposition + accusative (destination)εἰς: 'into'; back to the western land.
γῆνlandAccusativeaccusative object of εἰςγῆ: 'land'; the land of Canaan (Cisjordan).
Χαναανof Canaangenitive of apposition (indeclinable)Χανααν: indeclinable.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction toward)πρός + acc.: 'to'; to the assembled western tribes.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸςυἱός: 'sons'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the western tribes who had mustered.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἀπεκρίθησανthey reportedAor Pass Indic 3 Pl · ἀποκρίνομαιmain verb (delivering the report)→ constative aorist (the report given)ἀποκρίνομαι: 'answer / report back'; with the accusative τοὺς λόγους it means 'brought back / reported the words,' a Hebraizing construction (הֵשִׁיב דָּבָר).
αὐτοῖςto themDativedative indirect object (the western tribes)αὐτοῖς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
λόγουςwordsAccusativeaccusative of content (with ἀπεκρίθησαν: Hebraism)λόγος: 'word / report'; the eastern tribes' explanation, now relayed to the assembly.
33

καὶ ἤρεσεν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ καὶ ἐλάλησαν πρὸς τοὺς υἱοὺς Ισραηλ καὶ εὐλόγησαν τὸν θεὸν υἱῶν Ισραηλ καὶ εἶπαν μηκέτι ἀναβῆναι πρὸς αὐτοὺς εἰς πόλεμον ἐξολεθρεῦσαι τὴν γῆν τῶν υἱῶν Ρουβην καὶ τῶν υἱῶν Γαδ καὶ τοῦ ἡμίσους φυλῆς Μανασση καὶ κατῴκησαν ἐπ᾿ αὐτῆς

And it pleased the sons of Israel, and they spoke to the sons of Israel and blessed the God of the sons of Israel, and said no longer to go up against them to war, to destroy the land of the sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh; and they dwelt upon it.

Full reconciliation: war renounced, God blessedκαὶ ἤρεσεν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ
The reconciliation is complete: the report pleases all Israel (ἤρεσεν, echoing v. 30), who bless God (εὐλόγησαν τὸν θεόν) and renounce the war (μηκέτι ἀναβῆναι … εἰς πόλεμον). The eastern tribes are left to dwell securely on their land — the threatened destruction (ἐξολεθρεῦσαι) is annulled.
Word-by-word analysis· 44 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἤρεσενit pleasedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἀρέσκωmain verb (impersonal: 'it was pleasing')→ ingressive aorist (came to be pleasing)ἀρέσκω: 'please'; ἤρεσεν τοῖς υἱοῖς Ισραηλ ('it pleased the sons of Israel'), echoing v. 30 — the whole assembly now accepts the explanation.
τοῖςtheDativearticleτοῖς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοῖςsonsDativedative of the one pleasedυἱός: 'sons'; οἱ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ, the western tribes.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐλάλησανthey spokeAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λαλέωmain verb→ constative aorist (act of speaking)λαλέω: 'speak'; the assembly speaks together in agreement.
πρὸςtopreposition + accusative (direction)πρός + acc.: 'to.'
τοὺςtheAccusativearticleτοὺς: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱοὺςsonsAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸςυἱός: 'sons'; the sons of Israel deliberating among themselves.
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εὐλόγησανblessedAor Act Indic 3 Pl · εὐλογέωmain verb (act of praise)→ constative aorist (act of blessing God)εὐλογέω: 'bless / praise'; renders בֵּרַךְ; here directed to God in thanksgiving for the peaceful resolution — blessing God for averting bloodshed.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸνGodAccusativedirect object of εὐλόγησανθεός: 'God'; τὸν θεὸν υἱῶν Ισραηλ, 'the God of the sons of Israel' — the one God who unites both eastern and western tribes.
υἱῶνof the sonsGenitivegenitive of relationship (whose God)υἱός: 'sons'; the genitive 'of the sons of Israel.'
Ισραηλof Israelgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ισραηλ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπανsaidAor Act Indic 3 Pl · λέγωmain verb (the decision rendered)→ constative aorist (the resolution made)λέγω: 'say'; the alpha-aorist εἶπαν (for εἶπον) is common Koine; introduces their decision not to make war.
μηκέτιno longernegative temporal adverb (with infinitive)μηκέτι: 'no longer / no more'; the negative of intention — they resolve not to proceed with the war.
ἀναβῆναιto go upAor Act Inf · ἀναβαίνωinfinitive (content of the decision)→ ingressive aorist infinitive (the renounced march)ἀναβαίνω: 'go up / march up'; the military idiom (cf. v. 12); the renounced advance to battle.
πρὸςagainstpreposition + accusative (hostile direction)πρός + acc.: here hostile, 'against.'
αὐτοὺςthemAccusativeaccusative object of πρὸς (the eastern tribes)αὐτοὺς: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
εἰςto / forpreposition + accusative (purpose)εἰς: 'for / unto'; εἰς πόλεμον, 'for war.'
πόλεμονwarAccusativeaccusative object of εἰς (purpose)πόλεμος: 'war / battle'; renders מִלְחָמָה; the war now renounced.
ἐξολεθρεῦσαιto destroyAor Act Inf · ἐξολεθρεύωinfinitive of purpose (epexegetic of πόλεμον)→ constative aorist infinitive (the renounced destruction)ἐξολεθρεύω: 'destroy utterly / exterminate'; renders הִשְׁמִיד / הֶחֱרִים; the total destruction that war would have brought on the eastern land — now abandoned.
τὴνtheAccusativearticleτὴν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
γῆνlandAccusativedirect object of ἐξολεθρεῦσαιγῆ: 'land'; the Transjordan territory that would have been ravaged.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of possession (first member)υἱός: 'sons'; τῶν υἱῶν Ρουβην.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Ρουβην: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῶνof theGenitivearticleτῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
υἱῶνsonsGenitivegenitive of possession (second member)υἱῶν: lexical item interpreted according to its local syntactic role in this passage.
ΓαδGadgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἡμίσους)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσουςhalfGenitivegenitive of possession (third member)ἥμισυς (gen. ἡμίσους): 'half.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
καὶandnarrative conjunction (consequence)καὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
κατῴκησανthey dweltAor Act Indic 3 Pl · κατοικέωmain verb (settled outcome)→ constative/ingressive aorist (settled secure dwelling)κατοικέω: 'dwell / settle / inhabit'; renders יָשַׁב; the eastern tribes (subject) now dwell securely on their land — the peaceful resolution of the whole episode.
ἐπ᾿uponpreposition + genitive (location, elided)ἐπί + gen.: 'upon / on'; dwelling upon the land.
αὐτῆςitGenitivegenitive object of ἐπ᾿ (the land)αὐτός: 'it'; referring to γῆ ('the land'), feminine; the eastern tribes dwell on their inheritance in peace.
34

καὶ ἐπωνόμασεν Ἰησοῦς τὸν βωμὸν τῶν Ρουβην καὶ τῶν Γαδ καὶ τοῦ ἡμίσους φυλῆς Μανασση καὶ εἶπεν ὅτι μαρτύριόν ἐστιν ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν ὅτι κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτῶν ἐστιν

And Joshua named the altar of the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said that it is a witness between them that the LORD is their God.

Closing etiology: the altar named 'Witness'καὶ ἐπωνόμασεν Ἰησοῦς τὸν βωμὸν
The chapter ends with an etiological naming: Joshua names the altar, declaring it a μαρτύριον ('witness') between the tribes — the term that has dominated the eastern tribes' defense (vv. 27, 28). The closing ὅτι-clause states the witness's content: κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτῶν ἐστιν ('the LORD is their God'), affirming the covenant unity of all Israel under one God.
Word-by-word analysis· 29 words
καὶandnarrative conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
ἐπωνόμασενnamedAor Act Indic 3 Sg · ἐπονομάζωmain verb (etiological naming)→ constative aorist (the naming-act)ἐπονομάζω: 'name / give a name to / call'; renders קָרָא שֵׁם; the etiological naming gives the altar enduring significance as a witness; in the Hebrew the name itself is 'Ed' (עֵד, 'Witness').
ἸησοῦςJoshuaNominativesubjectἸησοῦς: 'Joshua'; the leader who opened the episode (v. 1) now closes it, framing the whole chapter.
τὸνtheAccusativearticleτὸν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
βωμὸνaltarAccusativedirect object of ἐπωνόμασενβωμός: the altar; even at the resolution it remains βωμός (not θυσιαστήριον) — a monument/witness, never a sacrificial rival to the LORD's altar.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with indeclinable Ρουβην: 'of the Reubenites')τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΡουβηνReubengenitive of possession (indeclinable, with article: 'the [sons] of Reuben')Ρουβην: indeclinable; here τῶν Ρουβην ('of the Reubenites') with the article alone marking the genitive plural and the people.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τῶνof theGenitivearticle (with indeclinable Γαδ)τῶν: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ΓαδGadgenitive of possession (indeclinable: 'the Gadites')Γαδ: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
τοῦof theGenitivearticle (with ἡμίσους)τοῦ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
ἡμίσουςhalfGenitivegenitive of possession (third member)ἥμισυς (gen. ἡμίσους): 'half.'
φυλῆςof tribeGenitivepartitive genitiveφυλή: 'tribe.'
Μανασσηof Manassehgenitive of relationship (indeclinable)Μανασση: indeclinable.
καὶandcoordinate conjunctionκαὶ: connective element linking clauses, phrases, or discourse developments in the passage.
εἶπενsaidAor Act Indic 3 Sg · λέγωmain verb (declaring the name's meaning)→ constative aorist (the declaration)λέγω: 'say'; Joshua explains the significance of the name.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the explanatory clause)ὅτι: 'that'; introducing the content of Joshua's declaration.
μαρτύριόνwitnessNominativepredicate nominative (the altar's name/function)μαρτύριον: 'witness / testimony'; the climactic and final use of the chapter's key term; the altar's whole meaning is summed up as a μαρτύριον, exactly as the eastern tribes argued (vv. 27, 28).
ἐστινit isPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (predicating μαρτύριον)→ stative present (the altar's abiding character)εἰμί: 'be'; 'it is a witness' — the enduring identity now publicly ratified by Joshua.
ἀνὰbetweenpreposition (with μέσον)ἀνά: in ἀνὰ μέσον, 'between.'
μέσονmidstAccusativeobject within ἀνὰ μέσον idiomμέσος: 'midst'; ἀνὰ μέσον αὐτῶν, 'between them' — the witness binds the eastern and western tribes.
αὐτῶνthemGenitivegenitive object (within ἀνὰ μέσον)αὐτός: 'them'; all the tribes of Israel.
ὅτιthatconjunction (introducing the witness's content)ὅτι: 'that'; introducing what the altar testifies.
κύριοςthe LORDNominativesubject of the final ὅτι-clauseκύριος: rendering of the Tetragrammaton; the content of the witness — that YHWH alone is their God, the confession uniting all Israel.
ὁtheNominativearticle (with appositive θεὸς)ὁ: Greek article marking definiteness and the role of the accompanying noun phrase.
θεὸςGodNominativepredicate nominative (in apposition: 'is their God')θεός: 'God'; κύριος ὁ θεὸς αὐτῶν, 'the LORD is their God' — the closing confession that seals the chapter's theology of one God, one people, one altar.
αὐτῶνtheirGenitivegenitive of relationship (covenant possessive)αὐτός: 'their'; the LORD belongs to all the tribes alike, east and west of the Jordan.
ἐστινisPres Act Indic 3 Sg · εἰμίcopula (closing the confession)→ stative present (the abiding covenant truth)εἰμί: 'be'; the final word of the chapter affirms the timeless covenant reality — the LORD is their God.