20 Didn’t divine anger fall on the entire community of Israel when Achan, a member of the clan of Zerah, sinned by stealing the things set apart for the lord? He was not the only one who died because of his sin.”
21 Then the people of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel:
22 “The lord, the Mighty One, is God! The lord, the Mighty One, is God! He knows the truth, and may Israel know it, too! We have not built the altar in treacherous rebellion against the lord. If we have done so, do not spare our lives this day.
23 If we have built an altar for ourselves to turn away from the lord or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings or peace offerings, may the lord himself punish us.
24 “The truth is, we have built this altar because we fear that in the future your descendants will say to ours, ‘What right do you have to worship the lord, the God of Israel?
25 The lord has placed the Jordan River as a barrier between our people and you people of Reuben and Gad. You have no claim to the lord.’ So your descendants may prevent our descendants from worshiping the lord.
26 “So we decided to build the altar, not for burnt offerings or sacrifices,