the tabernacle, on which
they would offer their sacrifices; that as to the altar they had raised,
on account of which they were thus suspected, it was not built for
worship, "but that it might be a sign and a monument of our relation
to you for ever, and a necessary caution to us to act wisely, and to
continue in the laws of our country, but not a handle for transgressing
them, as you suspect: and let God be our authentic witness, that this
was the occasion of our building this altar: whence we beg you will have
a better opinion of us, and do not impute such a thing to us as would
render any of the posterity of Abraham well worthy of perdition, in case
they attempt to bring in new rites, and such as are different from our
usual practices."

28. When they had made this answer, and Phineas had commended them for
it, he came to Joshua, and explained before the people what answer they
had received. Now Joshua was glad that he was under no necessity of
setting them in array, or of leading them to shed blood, and make war
against men of their own kindred; and accordingly he offered sacrifices
of thanksgiving to God for the same. So Joshua after that dissolved this
great assembly of the people, and sent them to their own inheritances,
while he himself lived in Shechem. But in the twentieth year after this,
when he was very old, he sent for those of the greatest dignity in the
several cities, with those in authority, and the senate, and as many of
the common people as could be present; and when they were come, he put
them in mind of all the benefits God had bestowed on them, which could
not but be a great many, since from a low estate they were advanced to
so great a degree of glory and plenty; and exhorted them to take notice
of the intentions of God, which had been so gracious towards them; and
told them that the Deity would continue their friend by nothing else but
their piety; and that it was proper for him, now that he was about to
depart out of this life, to leave such an admonition to them; and he
desired that they would keep in memory this his exhortation to them.

29. So Joshua, when he had thus discoursed to them, died, having lived
a hundred and ten years; forty of which he lived with Moses, in order to
learn what might be for his advantage afterwards. He also became their
commander after his death for twenty-five years. He was a man that
wanted not wisdom nor eloquence to declare his intentions to the
people, but