28. “In the future if your children say that, our children can say, ‘See the altar made by our ancestors. It is exactly like the Lord’s altar, but we do not use it for sacrifices. It shows that we are part of Israel.’
29. “Truly, we don’t want to be against the Lord or to stop following him by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices. We know the only true altar to the Lord our God is in front of the Holy Tent.”
30. When Phinehas the priest and the ten leaders heard the people of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh, they were pleased.
31. So Phinehas, son of Eleazar the priest, said, “Now we know the Lord is with us and that you didn’t turn against him. Now the Israelites will not be punished by the Lord.”
32. Then Phinehas and the leaders left the people of Reuben and Gad in Gilead and went back to Canaan where they told the Israelites what had happened.
33. They were pleased and thanked God. So they decided not to fight the people of Reuben and Gad and destroy those lands.
34. And the people of Reuben and Gad named the altar Proof That We Believe the Lord Is God.