13. But first they sent a priest, Phinehas the son of Eleazar, to talk with the two and a half tribes.
14. Each of the tribes at Shiloh sent the leader of one of its families along with Phinehas.
15. Phinehas and these leaders went to Gilead and met with the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh. They said:
16. All the Lord's people have gathered together and have sent us to find out why you are unfaithful to our God. You have turned your backs on the Lord by building that altar. Why are you rebelling against him?
17. Wasn't our people's sin at Peor terrible enough for you? The Lord punished us by sending a horrible sickness that killed many of us, and we still suffer because of that sin.
18. Now you are turning your backs on the Lord again.If you don't stop rebelling against the Lord at once, he will be angry with the whole nation.