All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.  When Jabin king of Hazor heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Akshaph, and to the northern kings who were in the mountains . . .  They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots -- a huge army, as numerou...  Read More

Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies.  . . . Then the five kings of the Amorites . . . joined forces.  . . . and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it. The Gibeonites then s...  Read More

. . . when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse . . .  They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal . . .  "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us." The Israelites said to the Hivites, "But perhaps yo...  Read More

Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites.   . . . an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings . . . There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.All the Israelites, with their elders, officials...  Read More

But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things; Achan . . . took some of them. So the LORD's anger burned against Israel. Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai . . . and told them, "Go up and spy out the region."  . . . When they returned to Joshua, they said, "Not all the army will have to go up against Ai.  . . . So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the m...  Read More

Now the gates of Jericho were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in. Then the LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have delivered Jericho into your hands, along with its king and fighting men. March around the city once with all the armed (fighting) men. Do this for six days.   . . . On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the...  Read More

At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again." So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt -- all the men of military age -- died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt. All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in...  Read More

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight." . . . In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do ...  Read More

And the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: "When you reach the edge of the Jordan's waters, go and stand in the river.' "    . . . "And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the LORD -- the LORD of all the earth -- set foot in the Jordan, ...  Read More

Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given you this land . . .  Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will show kindness to my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them -- and that you wi...  Read More

Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out of your positions and follow it. Then you will know which wa...  Read More

Now the men had said to her, "This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will no...  Read More