¹² The tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, “What crime is this that has been committed among you?^(A)

¹⁴ then you shall inquire and make a thorough investigation. If the charge is established that such an abhorrent thing has been done among you,

¹⁸ If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.^(A)

Reproving Another Who Sins

¹⁵ “If your brother or sister sins against you,^[a] go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If you are listened to, you have regained that one.^{(A) 16} But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses.^{(B) 17} If that person refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church, and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a gentile and a tax collector.^{(C) 18} Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.^(D)

¹³ Then the Israelites sent the priest Phinehas son of Eleazar to the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead,^{(A) 14} and with him ten chiefs, one from each of the tribal families of Israel, every one of them the head of a family among the clans of Israel. ¹⁵ They came to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, in the land of Gilead, and they said to them, ¹⁶ “Thus says the whole congregation of the Lord: What is this treachery that you have committed against the God of Israel in turning away today from following the Lord, by building yourselves an altar today in rebellion against the Lord?^(B)

¹⁰ “When you draw near to a town to fight against it, offer it terms of peace.^(A)