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约书亚记 1-10
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)

主对约书亚的吩咐

1 耶和华的仆人摩西死了以后，耶和华对摩西的助手——嫩的儿子约书亚说： 2 “我的仆人摩西已经死了，现在你和全体以色列人要准备渡过约旦河，到我要赐给你们的地方去。 3 我已把你们脚掌将踏之地都赐给了你们，正如我对摩西的应许。 4 从南部的旷野直到北部的黎巴嫩，从东部的幼发拉底大河直到西部的地中海，包括赫人居住的全境，都将是你们的领土。 5 在你有生之年，没有人能够抵挡你。过去我怎样与摩西同在，也必照样与你同在，我必不离开你，也不丢弃你。 6 你要刚强勇敢，因为你要带领这些人占领我起誓赐给他们祖先的土地。 7 你只要刚强勇敢，谨遵我仆人摩西所吩咐你的一切律法，毫不偏离，就可以无往不利。 8 你要常常诵读这律法书，昼夜不断地思想，以便谨遵律法书上的一切指示。这样，你必亨通、顺利。 9 我再次吩咐你，要刚强勇敢！不要害怕，也不要灰心，因为你无论走到哪里，你的上帝耶和华必与你同在。”

10 于是，约书亚吩咐民众的首领说： 11 “你们要走遍全营，吩咐大家预备好食物。因为三天之内，你们就要过约旦河，去占领你们的上帝耶和华赐给你们的土地。”

12 约书亚又对吕便支派、迦得支派和玛拿西半个支派的人说： 13 “你们要牢记耶和华的仆人摩西吩咐你们的话，他说你们的上帝耶和华要把约旦河东面的土地赐给你们，让你们安居。 14 你们的妻子儿女和牲畜可以留在约旦河东岸摩西分给你们的土地上，但你们当中所有的勇士要带着兵器先过约旦河，帮助你们的弟兄。 15 要等到你们的上帝耶和华使你们的弟兄像你们一样得到祂所赐的土地，安居以后，你们才可以回到约旦河东，在耶和华的仆人摩西分给你们的土地上定居。” 16 他们回答约书亚说：“凡你命令我们的，我们一定遵行。无论你派我们去哪里，我们一定去。 17 我们在一切的事上怎样服从摩西，也必照样服从你，愿你的上帝耶和华与你同在，像与摩西同在一样。 18 任何人违抗你的命令，不照你的吩咐去做，都要被处死。你要刚强勇敢！”

喇合营救探子

2 嫩的儿子约书亚暗中从什亭派出两个探子去侦察对岸，特别是耶利哥的情况。他们来到一个名叫喇合的妓女家中，就住在那里。 2 有人告诉耶利哥王说：“今天晚上有以色列人来这里刺探。” 3 耶利哥王便派人到喇合那里，对她说：“把来到你家里的人交出来，因为他们是来刺探我们的。” 4 但喇合已经把二人藏起来了，她答道：“不错，他们来过，可是我不知他们是从哪里来的。 5 天黑要关闭城门的时候，他们就离开了，我不知道他们去了哪里。你们快去追吧，还可以追得上。” 6 其实喇合已经把二人带到屋顶上，藏在那里的麻秆堆里了。 7 搜查的人便沿着通往约旦河渡口的路追去，他们一出城，城门便关闭了。

8 在两个探子睡觉前，喇合上到屋顶对他们说： 9 “我知道耶和华已经把这地方赐给你们，我们十分害怕。这里所有的居民都吓得胆战心惊。 10 因为你们离开埃及过红海的时候，耶和华怎样使红海在你们面前成为干地，你们怎样对付约旦河东的两个亚摩利王西宏和噩，怎样把他们彻底消灭，我们都听说了。 11 我们听了这些事，感到心惊胆战、勇气尽失。你们的上帝耶和华是天地万物的上帝。 12 我既然恩待了你们，现在请你们凭耶和华向我起誓，你们也照样恩待我家，并且给我一个可靠的凭据， 13 保证让我的父母、兄弟、姐妹和他们所有的亲人免于一死。” 14 二人便对她说：“如果你不泄露我们的事，我们愿意用性命担保，当耶和华把这地方赐给我们的时候，我们一定守信善待你。”

15 喇合的房子就在城墙边，她就住在城墙上，于是她用绳子把二人从窗口缒下去， 16 并对他们说：“你们往山上去，免得被追捕的人发现。你们要在那里躲三天，等追捕的人回城以后才可以走。” 17 二人对她说：“要让我们信守誓言，你必须这样做， 18 我们来攻占这座城的时候，你要把这条朱红色的绳子系在缒我们下去的窗户上，并且把你的父母、兄弟、姊妹和他们的亲人都召集到你家里。 19 倘若有人因离开这房子跑到街上而遭遇不测，我们不负任何责任。我们一定保证屋内所有人的性命安全。 20 如果你泄露我们的事，你要我们起的誓也就作废了。” 21 喇合答道：“一言为定！”于是她送走他们，把朱红色的绳子系在窗户上。

22 二人到山上躲藏了三天，等待追捕的人回去。追捕的人沿途搜索，毫无所获，便回去了。 23 二人便下山，过河回到嫩的儿子约书亚那里，向他禀告整个经过， 24 又说：“耶和华确实将那整片土地交给我们了，那里的居民听到我们的消息，都吓得胆战心惊。”

走过约旦河

3 约书亚清早起来，率领全体以色列人离开什亭，来到约旦河边安营，等候过河。 2 过了三天，官长走遍各营，吩咐民众说： 3 “你们看见做祭司的利未人抬着你们上帝耶和华的约柜出发时，就要起身跟在后面。 4 这样，你们就会知道路，因为你们从来没有走过这条路。但你们要跟约柜保持九百米的距离，不要走近约柜。” 5 约书亚又对民众说：“你们要洁净自己，因为明天耶和华要在你们当中行奇事。” 6 约书亚又对祭司说：“抬起约柜，率领民众过河吧！”他们就抬起约柜，走在民众前面。

7 耶和华对约书亚说：“从今天开始，我要使你在以色列人面前得到尊荣，让他们知道我与你同在，正如从前我跟摩西同在一样。 8 你要吩咐抬约柜的祭司走到约旦河边，站在水中。” 9 约书亚对以色列人说：“你们要来听你们的上帝耶和华的话。 10 今天你们会明白永活的上帝就在你们当中，祂必在你们面前赶走迦南人、赫人、希未人、比利洗人、革迦撒人、亚摩利人和耶布斯人。 11 看啊，天下之主的约柜要在你们前面过约旦河。 12 现在，你们要从以色列的十二支派中选出十二个人来，每支派选一人。 13 当祭司抬着天下之主——耶和华的约柜一踏进约旦河，往下流的河水必会止住，形成一道水堤。”

14-15 那时是收割的季节，河水高涨，淹没两岸。民众拔营准备过河的时候，抬约柜的祭司走在前头，当他们的脚刚一踏进河水， 16 往下流的水立即止住了，在很远的撒拉但附近的亚当城那里涨成一道水墙。流入亚拉巴海，即盐海的水被完全截断了，民众便走到对面的耶利哥。 17 以色列人过河的时候，抬耶和华约柜的祭司站立在河中间的干地上，直到所有人都从干地上过了约旦河。

堆石为证

4 民众都过河之后，耶和华对约书亚说： 2 “你去从民众中选出十二个人，每支派选一人， 3 吩咐他们从约旦河床祭司站立的地方取十二块石头，放在你们今天晚上住宿的地方。” 4 约书亚便召来他从以色列人中选的十二个人，对他们说： 5 “你们到约旦河床你们的上帝耶和华的约柜前面，每人扛一块石头回来，每个支派一块，一共十二块。 6 这些石头要在你们中间作记号。以后，倘若你们的子孙问你们，‘这些石头是什么意思？’ 7 你们就告诉他们，‘约旦河水在耶和华的约柜前曾经被截断，当约柜过河的时候，河水被截断了。这些石头要在以色列人当中作为永久的纪念。’”

8 以色列人就照约书亚的吩咐，也就是照耶和华对约书亚的吩咐，按以色列人支派的数目，从约旦河中取了十二块石头，搬来放在住宿的地方。 9 约书亚又在约旦河床抬约柜的祭司站立的地方立了十二块石头。石头至今还在那里。 10 抬约柜的祭司站在约旦河中间，一直站到耶和华吩咐约书亚交待民众做的每一件事都完成了，正如摩西对约书亚的吩咐。民众迅速过了河。 11 所有人都过河以后，祭司才抬着耶和华的约柜在民众注视之下过了河。 12 吕便支派、迦得支派和玛拿西半个支派的人照摩西从前的嘱咐，带着兵器走在以色列人的前面。 13 大约有四万全副武装的以色列人在耶和华面前过了河，前往耶利哥平原，准备作战。 14 那一天，耶和华使约书亚在以色列众人面前受尊重，他像摩西一样终生受民众敬畏。

15 耶和华对约书亚说： 16 “你去吩咐抬约柜的祭司从约旦河里上来。” 17 约书亚便吩咐他们上来。 18 抬耶和华约柜的祭司从河床上来，脚刚一踏上岸，约旦河的水立刻恢复了原状，像以往一样涨过两岸。

19 那天是一月十日。以色列人从约旦河上来之后，就在耶利哥东边的吉甲扎营。 20 约书亚把从约旦河取来的十二块石头立在吉甲， 21 并对以色列人说：“以后，你们的子孙问你们这堆石头是什么意思， 22 你们就告诉他们，‘这是代表以色列人曾在干地上走过约旦河。’ 23 因为你们的上帝耶和华为了让你们过河而使约旦河成为干地，就像祂从前为了让我们过红海而使海成为干地一样。 24 这是要让天下万民都知道耶和华有无比的能力，要让你们永远敬畏你们的上帝耶和华。”

在吉甲行割礼

5 在约旦河西岸一带的亚摩利众王和沿海一带的迦南众王，听说耶和华为了让以色列人过河而使约旦河成为干地，都吓得胆战心惊，勇气尽失。

2 那时，耶和华对约书亚说：“你用火石做成刀子，再次给以色列人行割礼。” 3 约书亚便用火石做成刀子，在割礼山给以色列人行了割礼。 4 约书亚给他们举行割礼，是因为所有从埃及出来、能够作战的男子都死在旷野的路上。 5 从埃及出来的男子都受过割礼，而后来在旷野出生的以色列人都没有受过割礼。 6 以色列人在旷野飘泊了四十年，直到从埃及出来可以作战的男子都死了为止，因为他们不听从耶和华的话。耶和华向他们起誓，不让他们看见那奶蜜之乡，衪曾应许他们祖先要把那个地方赐给他们。 7 耶和华立他们的子孙代替他们。这新一代的以色列人没有受过割礼，因为在路上没有为他们行过割礼。于是，约书亚为他们行了割礼。

8 全体民众受了割礼后，都留在自己的营内，直到康复为止。 9 耶和华对约书亚说：“今天我除去了你们在埃及受的羞辱。”因此，那地方叫吉甲[a]，沿用至今。

在迦南守逾越节

10 以色列人都在耶利哥平原上的吉甲扎营，并于一月十四日傍晚在那里守逾越节。 11 第二天他们就吃当地的谷物，吃无酵饼和烤麦穗。 12 他们吃了当地出产后的第二天，吗哪便不再降下，以色列人再没有吗哪吃了。那一年他们开始吃迦南的出产。

耶和华军队的元帅

13 约书亚走近耶利哥，举目看见一个人手里拿着拔出来的剑站在他面前。约书亚上前去问道：“你是来帮助我们的，还是来帮助我们敌人的？” 14 那人答道：“都不是，我来是做耶和华军队的统帅。”约书亚就俯伏下拜说：“我主，有什么话要吩咐仆人？” 15 耶和华军队的统帅对约书亚说：“把你脚上的鞋脱下！因为你站的地方是圣洁的。”约书亚便把鞋脱下来。

耶利哥城塌陷

6 耶利哥人害怕以色列人，就把所有的城门都关得紧紧的，无人出入。 2 耶和华对约书亚说：“看啊，我已经把耶利哥、耶利哥王及其英勇的战士都交在你手中了。 3 你所有的军队要每天绕城一圈，连续六天， 4 让七个祭司拿着七个羊角号走在约柜前面。到了第七天，你们要绕城七圈，祭司要吹响号角。 5 当你们听到号角长鸣时，所有的人都要高声吶喊，城墙就会坍塌，众人便可以直冲上去。” 6 嫩的儿子约书亚便召来祭司，对他们说：“你们抬起约柜，派七位祭司拿着七个羊角号走在耶和华的约柜前面。” 7 他又对民众说：“你们要前去绕着城墙走，军队要走在耶和华的约柜前面。”

8 听完约书亚的吩咐，七个祭司便在耶和华面前拿着羊角号边走边吹，耶和华的约柜就跟在他们后面， 9 军队走在吹号的祭司前面，殿后军队跟在约柜后面。祭司一路上吹着号角。 10 约书亚吩咐民众：“在我下令叫你们吶喊以前，谁也不许作声，一句话也不许说。” 11 这样，约书亚使耶和华的约柜绕城一圈，然后众人各自回营休息。

12 第二天，约书亚一早起来，祭司又抬起耶和华的约柜。 13 七个祭司拿着七个羊角号走在耶和华的约柜前面，一边走一边吹角。军队走在祭司前面，殿后军队跟在耶和华的约柜后面。 14 这一天他们又绕城一圈，然后各自回营。六天都是这样。

15 第七天黎明时分，他们起来照样绕城，只是这一天他们绕城走了七次。 16 走到第七次，祭司吹响了号角，约书亚吩咐民众说：“吶喊吧！因为耶和华已经将这城交给你们了。 17 要把这座城和城里所有的东西毁灭，作为献给耶和华之物。只有妓女喇合和她家中所有的人可以活命，因为她曾把我们派去的探子隐藏起来。 18 你们要小心，不可私拿任何应当毁灭的东西，免得你们自取灭亡，并给以色列全营带来灾祸。 19 要把所有的金银和铜铁器皿分别出来献给耶和华，放进耶和华的库房里。” 20 于是，民众听到号角声时，就高声呐喊，城墙便坍塌了。民众便一拥而上，占领了耶利哥城， 21 用刀杀了城里所有的男女老少、牛羊和驴。

22 约书亚对那两个探子说：“你们到那个妓女家里，照着你们向她起过的誓，把她和她的家人都带出来。” 23 于是，那两个年轻探子便进去，把喇合和她的父母、兄弟及所有的亲人都带出来，安置在以色列人的营外。 24 以色列人烧毁全城和城内一切的东西，只把金银和铜铁器皿放在耶和华的库房里。 25 约书亚因为妓女喇合把两个探子隐藏起来，就饶了她和她一家人的性命。他们至今仍住在以色列人当中。

26 之后，约书亚起誓说：

“重建耶利哥城的人必定在耶和华面前受咒诅，
他立地基的时候必死长子，
建城门的时候必丧幼子。”

27 耶和华与约书亚同在，他的声名传遍各地。

亚干犯罪

7 以色列人在当毁灭之物的事上犯了罪。因为犹大支派中谢拉的曾孙、撒底的孙子、迦米的儿子亚干拿了一些本该毁灭的东西，耶和华便向以色列人发怒。

2 当时，约书亚从耶利哥派人去侦察伯特利东边靠近伯·亚文的艾城。 3 他们侦察回来后对约书亚说：“那里的居民很少，我们不必劳师动众派所有的人上去，只要派两三千人上去便可以攻取艾城。” 4 于是，大约有三千以色列人去攻打艾城，不料却被艾城人击溃。 5 艾城的人杀了他们三十六人，从城门前追杀他们，一直到示巴琳，在下坡处杀败他们。以色列人吓得心惊胆战。

6 约书亚和以色列的长老便撕裂衣服，把灰撒在头上，俯伏在耶和华的约柜面前，直到晚上。 7 约书亚说：“唉！主耶和华啊，你让我们过了约旦河，为什么把我们交在亚摩利人手上，让他们毁灭我们呢？倒不如让我们住在约旦河对岸！ 8 主啊，现在以色列人被仇敌打败，我还有什么话可说呢？ 9 迦南人和这一带的人听到这消息以后，必从四面八方来围攻我们，将我们从地上斩尽杀绝。那时候，你的威名又何在呢？”

10 耶和华对约书亚说：“起来吧！你为何俯伏在地？ 11 以色列人犯了罪，违背了我吩咐他们应守的约，偷拿了本该毁灭的东西放在自己的行囊里，还撒谎。 12 所以，以色列人受咒诅，无法抵挡敌人，掉头败逃。你必须将那些本该毁灭的东西从你们中间除掉，不然我就不再与你们同在。 13 起来吧！去吩咐民众洁净自己，让他们为明天洁净自己，因为以色列的上帝耶和华这样说，‘以色列啊！你们中间有本该毁灭的东西，你们不除掉这些东西就无法抵挡敌人。 14 明天早上，你们要按支派一个一个前来，耶和华指出哪个支派，哪支派的各宗族便要前来。耶和华指出哪个宗族，哪宗族的各家族便要前来。耶和华指出哪个家族，哪家族的各成员便要前来。 15 哪个人被指出拿了本该毁灭的东西，哪个人及其所有的东西就要被火焚烧。因为他违背了耶和华的约，在以色列人中做了可耻的事。’”

16 第二天清早，约书亚按照支派召来以色列人，结果抽中犹大支派； 17 他让犹大支派各宗族前来，结果抽中谢拉宗族；他让谢拉宗族前来，结果抽中撒底家族； 18 他让撒底家族的人一个一个前来，结果抽中迦米的儿子亚干。 19 约书亚对亚干说：“孩子啊，我劝你把荣耀归给以色列的上帝耶和华，向祂认罪，把你所做的事告诉我，不要隐瞒。” 20 亚干答道：“我的确得罪了以色列的上帝耶和华。事情是这样的， 21 在夺得的财物中，我看上了一件漂亮的示拿外衣、两千二百克银子和五百五十克金子，我一时贪心便拿去了，藏在我帐篷的地底下，银子就放在衣服下面。”

22 约书亚派人跑到他的帐篷里，果然在那里找到了那件衣服和衣服下面的银子。 23 他们将这些东西带到约书亚和民众那里，摆在耶和华面前。 24 约书亚和全体以色列人把谢拉家族的亚干、那些银子、衣服和金子及其儿女、牛、驴、羊、帐篷和一切所有都带到亚割谷。 25 约书亚对亚干说：“你为什么给我们惹祸呢？今天耶和华要降祸给你。”于是，以色列人便拿石头打死了他和他一切的人畜，将其烧毁。 26 他们在亚干身上堆起一大堆石头，那些石头今天还在。耶和华这才息怒，因此那地方至今还叫亚割[b]谷。

艾城之战

8 耶和华对约书亚说：“不要害怕，也不用沮丧。只管率领全军去攻打艾城，我已经将艾城的王、他的人民、城池和土地都交在你手里了。 2 你怎样对待耶利哥和耶利哥王，也要照样对待艾城和艾城的王。不过你们可以拿去城中的财物和牲畜。你要在城后设下伏兵。”

3 于是，约书亚率领全军前往艾城。他挑选了三万精兵，派他们在黑夜出发， 4 并吩咐他们说：“你们要在城后埋伏，不可离城太远，要随时准备行动。 5 我会率领军队正面攻城，当敌人像上次那样出城应战时，我们便逃跑。 6 他们必定乘胜追击，我们便引他们离城，因为敌人一定会以为我们又像上次一样临阵逃跑。 7 那时，你们便从埋伏的地方冲出来攻占艾城，你们的上帝耶和华一定会把艾城交在你们手里。 8 你们攻陷艾城以后，要照耶和华的话放火焚城。这是我的命令。” 9 于是，约书亚派遣他们出去。他们去埋伏在伯特利和艾城之间，就是艾城的西面。那一夜，约书亚住在民众当中。

10 第二天清早，约书亚召集民众，与以色列的众首领率领全军前往艾城。 11 他们来到城外，在城的北面扎营，与艾城相隔一个山谷。 12 约书亚选了五千人，让他们埋伏在艾城和伯特利之间，就是艾城的西面。 13 于是，城北的主力军队和城西的伏兵都部署好了。当晚，约书亚在山谷里过夜。 14 艾城的王见以色列人兵临城下，清早便急忙和全城的人起来出城迎战，在亚拉巴谷附近跟以色列军交锋，他不知道城后有伏兵。 15 约书亚带领以色列军诈败，沿着通往旷野的路逃跑。 16 艾城的人都被召去追赶以色列人，他们都被诱出城。 17 这样，伯特利和艾城的人倾巢而出，追杀以色列人，他们的城门大开。

18 耶和华对约书亚说：“把你手中的矛指向艾城，因为我要将这城交在你手里。”约书亚就把手中的矛指向艾城。 19 他一伸手，城后的伏兵立即行动，迅速冲进城去，一举占领艾城，并放火烧城。 20 艾城的人回头发现城内烟气冲天，却无路可逃，因为那些诈败的以色列人已掉头攻击他们。 21 约书亚和全军见伏兵已经占领艾城，城中浓烟滚滚，便掉头攻击艾城的人。 22 伏兵也出城追击艾城的人。以色列军前后夹攻，把敌人围困在中间全部歼灭，无一漏网。 23 他们生擒了艾城的王，将他押到约书亚那里。

24 以色列军在田间和旷野杀尽了追赶他们的艾城人后，又进城杀了留在城里的人， 25 当天被杀的艾城人男男女女共有一万二千人。 26 一直到艾城所有的人都被杀光了，约书亚才收回手中的矛。 27 以色列人照耶和华对约书亚的吩咐，只带走了城中的牲畜和财物。 28 约书亚烧毁全城，使城永远成为一堆废墟，至今仍一片荒凉。 29 约书亚又将艾城王的尸体挂在树上示众。黄昏时，他才吩咐人把尸体取下来丢在城门口，又在尸体上堆了一大堆石头。石堆至今还在。

重申律法

30-31 约书亚照耶和华的仆人摩西在律法书上吩咐以色列人的话，用未经铁器凿过的完整石头，在以巴路山上为以色列的上帝耶和华筑了一座祭坛。以色列人就在这坛上把燔祭和平安祭献给耶和华。 32 约书亚又在众人面前，将摩西所写的律法刻在石头上。 33 所有的以色列人，无论本族人、外族人、长老、官员或审判官，都站在耶和华的约柜两旁，面对着抬约柜的利未祭司。照耶和华的仆人摩西从前祝福他们时的吩咐，他们一半人站在基利心山前，一半人站在以巴路山前。 34 随后，约书亚向民众宣读记在摩西律法书上的一切祝福和咒诅。 35 他在全体会众，包括妇女、小孩以及住在他们中间的外族人面前，一字不漏地宣读摩西的一切吩咐。

以色列人被基遍人欺骗

9 住在约旦河西的山区、丘陵以及地中海沿岸、远至黎巴嫩的诸王，就是那些赫人、亚摩利人、迦南人、比利洗人、希未人和耶布斯人的王听说这件事， 2 就联合起来对抗约书亚和以色列人。 3 基遍的居民听说约书亚在耶利哥和艾城所做的事， 4 便想出一个诡计来。他们装作特使，把旧皮袋和缝补过的酒囊驮在驴背上， 5 穿着缝补过的旧鞋和破烂衣服，带着又干又发霉的饼， 6 到吉甲营去见约书亚。他们对约书亚和以色列人说：“我们从很远的地方来求你们跟我们缔结盟约。” 7 以色列人对这些希未人说：“你们也许就住在附近。我们怎么能跟你们缔结盟约呢？” 8 他们对约书亚说：“我们是你的奴仆。”约书亚说：“你们是什么人？从哪里来？” 9 他们答道：“仆人们从很远的地方来。我们听说了你的上帝耶和华的威名，听说了祂在埃及的一切作为， 10 以及祂怎样对付约旦河东的两个亚摩利王——希实本王西宏和亚斯她录的巴珊王噩。 11 因此，我们的长老和人民就派我们带着干粮来迎接你们，甘做你们的仆人，希望跟你们缔结盟约。 12 我们出来的时候带的饼是热的，看啊，现在又干又发霉了。 13 这些皮酒囊原来也是新的，但现在已经破了。因为长途跋涉，我们的衣服和鞋子也都破旧不堪了。” 14 以色列人接受了他们的食物，却没有求问耶和华。 15 约书亚与他们立了和平盟约，容他们存活，会众的首领也向他们起誓守约。

16 立约三天后，以色列人才发现他们原来就住在附近。 17 以色列人启程，走了三天来到他们居住的基遍、基非拉、比录和基列·耶琳各城。 18 会众的首领曾凭以色列的上帝耶和华向他们起过誓，所以不能杀他们。全体会众因此向首领大发怨言。 19 首领便对全体会众说：“我们曾凭以色列的上帝耶和华向他们起誓，我们现在不能动他们。 20 我们要容他们存活，免得我们因违背誓言而惹耶和华发怒。” 21 首领又说：“就容他们存活吧。”首领就叫他们为全体会众劈柴挑水。

22 于是，约书亚召来他们，对他们说：“你们为什么要欺骗我们，说你们住得很远？其实你们就住在附近。 23 因此，你们是受咒诅的。你们要永远做奴仆，为我上帝的殿劈柴挑水。” 24 他们答道：“仆人们这样做是因为害怕丧命。我们听说你的上帝耶和华曾经应许祂仆人摩西，要把这整片土地都赐给你们，并要将这里的居民杀尽。 25 现在我们既然落在你的手中，你们想怎样对待我们就怎样对待吧。” 26 约书亚不让以色列人加害他们，因此他们没有被杀死。 27 那天，约书亚让他们在耶和华指定的地方，为会众和耶和华的祭坛劈柴挑水。他们至今仍做这样的工作。

太阳停止

10 耶路撒冷王亚多尼·洗德听说约书亚夺取并毁灭了艾城，像对付耶利哥和耶利哥王一样对付艾城和艾城的王，又听说基遍人已经跟以色列人立了盟约，住在他们中间， 2 便大为恐惧。因为基遍是一座大城，宏伟得像座都城，比艾城更大，城中的人都骁勇善战。 3 耶路撒冷王亚多尼·洗德便派遣使者去见希伯仑王何咸、耶末王毗兰、拉吉王雅非亚和伊矶伦王底璧，说： 4 “求你们上来帮助我攻打基遍，因为这城已经与约书亚和以色列人立了和约。” 5 这五位亚摩利王便联合起来，率领他们所有的军队在基遍附近扎营，攻打基遍。

6 基遍人派人去吉甲告诉约书亚说：“住在山区的亚摩利众王正联合起来攻打我们，求你赶快来救我们！不要不顾你的仆人。” 7 于是，约书亚便率领他的全军，包括所有的精兵，从吉甲上去。 8 耶和华对约书亚说：“不要害怕，我已经把他们交在你手中，他们没有一人能抵挡你。” 9 约书亚从吉甲出发，连夜赶路，突袭敌人。 10 耶和华使亚摩利联军阵脚大乱，以色列人就在基遍大败敌军，在去伯·和仑的上坡路上追杀他们，一直追到亚西加和玛基大。 11 敌人在从伯·和仑到亚西加的下坡路上逃窜的时候，耶和华降下大冰雹，被冰雹砸死的人比以色列人用刀杀死的还要多。

12 耶和华将亚摩利人交在以色列人手中，那天约书亚当众向耶和华祷告：

“太阳啊，停在基遍！
月亮啊，停在亚雅仑谷！”
13 果然太阳停住了，
月亮也不动了，
直到以色列人杀败敌人。

《雅煞珥书》记载了这事。约有一天的时间，太阳停留在天空，没有西沉。 14 耶和华这样垂听一个人的祈求是空前绝后的，这是因为耶和华要为以色列争战。

15 后来，约书亚率领以色列军返回了吉甲的营地。

亚摩利五王被杀

16 那五王逃进玛基大的山洞里，躲藏起来。 17 有人告诉约书亚那五个王藏在玛基大的山洞里， 18 约书亚便下令说：“滚几块大石头堵住洞口，派人看守。 19 你们不可停下来，要继续追杀敌人，不要让他们逃回城，你们的上帝耶和华已经把他们交在你们手中了。” 20 约书亚和以色列人把敌人杀得大败，几乎全军覆没，一些残余都逃进了坚固的城垒。 21 以色列人都安然无恙地回到约书亚驻扎的玛基大营。再也没有人敢威胁以色列人了。

22 约书亚说：“打开洞口，把里面的五个王押出来见我。” 23 众人便把耶路撒冷王、希伯仑王、耶末王、拉吉王、伊矶伦王从洞里押出来，带到约书亚面前。 24 约书亚召来全体以色列人，然后对那些跟他一起出征的将领说：“你们上前来，用脚踏在这些王的颈上。”各将领便照着约书亚的吩咐做了。 25 约书亚对他们说：“你们不要害怕，也不要惊慌，应该刚强勇敢，因为耶和华要使你们所有的仇敌都落此下场。” 26 随后约书亚将这五个王杀死，把尸体分别挂在五棵树上，直到傍晚。 27 日落时，约书亚才下令把尸体放下，丢在他们先前躲藏的山洞里，用大石头堵住洞口，石头至今还在那里。

28 约书亚在当天占领了玛基大，把玛基大王和所有的居民都杀了，一个没留。他对待玛基大王跟以前对待耶利哥王一样。

29 约书亚和以色列军又从玛基大出发，去攻打立拿。 30 耶和华将立拿城和立拿王交在以色列人手中，他们杀了全城的人，一个没留。他们对待立拿王跟以前对待耶利哥王一样。

31 约书亚和以色列军从立拿前往拉吉，他们在城外扎营，攻打拉吉。 32 耶和华将拉吉交在以色列人手中，第二天约书亚便攻占了拉吉，杀了全城的人，就像在立拿所行的一样。 33 基色王何兰前来支持拉吉，结果也被约书亚杀得一个不剩。

34 约书亚又率领以色列全军从拉吉前往伊矶伦，在城外扎营，攻打伊矶伦。 35 他们当天就攻陷该城，杀了城内所有的人，就像在拉吉所行的一样。

36 约书亚和全体以色列人又从伊矶伦去攻打希伯仑。 37 他们攻陷该城及其附属城邑，杀了希伯仑王和城邑中的居民，一个没留，就像在伊矶伦所行的一样。

38 然后，约书亚和全体以色列人再回兵攻打底璧， 39 攻取了该城及其附属城邑，擒获底璧王，杀了城中所有的人，一个没留，就像对待希伯仑、立拿和立拿王一样。

Footnotes

  1. 5:9 “吉甲”意思是“除去”。
  2. 7:26 “亚割”意思是“连累”。
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Joshua 1-10
New International Version

Joshua Installed as Leader

1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord,(A) the Lord said to Joshua(B) son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River(C) into the land(D) I am about to give to them(E)—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot,(F) as I promised Moses.(G) 4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon,(H) and from the great river, the Euphrates(I)—all the Hittite(J) country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.(K) 5 No one will be able to stand against you(L) all the days of your life. As I was with(M) Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake(N) you. 6 Be strong(O) and courageous,(P) because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors(Q) to give them.

7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey(R) all the law(S) my servant Moses(T) gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left,(U) that you may be successful wherever you go.(V) 8 Keep this Book of the Law(W) always on your lips;(X) meditate(Y) on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.(Z) 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;(AA) do not be discouraged,(AB) for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”(AC)

10 So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:(AD) 11 “Go through the camp(AE) and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions(AF) ready. Three days(AG) from now you will cross the Jordan(AH) here to go in and take possession(AI) of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”

12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh,(AJ) Joshua said, 13 “Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest(AK) by giving you this land.’ 14 Your wives,(AL) your children and your livestock may stay in the land(AM) that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle,(AN) must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites.(AO) You are to help them 15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise.”(AP)

16 Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.(AQ) 17 Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you.(AR) Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey(AS) it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!(AT)”

Rahab and the Spies

2 Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies(AU) from Shittim.(AV) “Go, look over(AW) the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.(AX)” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab(AY) and stayed there.

2 The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab:(AZ) “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.”

4 But the woman had taken the two men(BA) and hidden them.(BB) She said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate,(BC) they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.”(BD) 6 (But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax(BE) she had laid out on the roof.)(BF) 7 So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan,(BG) and as soon as the pursuers(BH) had gone out, the gate was shut.

8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof(BI) 9 and said to them, “I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear(BJ) of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the Lord dried up(BK) the water of the Red Sea[a] for you when you came out of Egypt,(BL) and what you did to Sihon and Og,(BM) the two kings of the Amorites(BN) east of the Jordan,(BO) whom you completely destroyed.[b](BP) 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear(BQ) and everyone’s courage failed(BR) because of you,(BS) for the Lord your God(BT) is God in heaven above and on the earth(BU) below.

12 “Now then, please swear to me(BV) by the Lord that you will show kindness(BW) to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign(BX) 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them(BY)—and that you will save us from death.”

14 “Our lives for your lives!”(BZ) the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully(CA) when the Lord gives us the land.”

15 So she let them down by a rope(CB) through the window,(CC) for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 She said to them, “Go to the hills(CD) so the pursuers(CE) will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days(CF) until they return, and then go on your way.”(CG)

17 Now the men had said to her, “This oath(CH) you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord(CI) in the window(CJ) through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family(CK) into your house. 19 If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads;(CL) we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head(CM) if a hand is laid on them. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.(CN)”

21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.”

So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord(CO) in the window.(CP)

22 When they left, they went into the hills and stayed there three days,(CQ) until the pursuers(CR) had searched all along the road and returned without finding them. 23 Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands;(CS) all the people are melting in fear(CT) because of us.”

Crossing the Jordan

3 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim(CU) and went to the Jordan,(CV) where they camped before crossing over. 2 After three days(CW) the officers(CX) went throughout the camp,(CY) 3 giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant(CZ) of the Lord your God, and the Levitical(DA) priests(DB) carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 4 Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits[c](DC) between you and the ark; do not go near it.”

5 Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves,(DD) for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things(DE) among you.”

6 Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.

7 And the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you(DF) in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.(DG) 8 Tell the priests(DH) who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

9 Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the Lord your God. 10 This is how you will know that the living God(DI) is among you(DJ) and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites,(DK) Hivites, Perizzites,(DL) Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.(DM) 11 See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth(DN) will go into the Jordan ahead of you.(DO) 12 Now then, choose twelve men(DP) from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the Lord—the Lord of all the earth(DQ)—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream(DR) will be cut off(DS) and stand up in a heap.(DT)”

14 So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant(DU) went ahead(DV) of them. 15 Now the Jordan(DW) is at flood stage(DX) all during harvest.(DY) Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, 16 the water from upstream stopped flowing.(DZ) It piled up in a heap(EA) a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan,(EB) while the water flowing down(EC) to the Sea of the Arabah(ED) (that is, the Dead Sea(EE)) was completely cut off.(EF) So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.(EG) 17 The priests(EH) who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stopped in the middle of the Jordan and stood on dry ground,(EI) while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.(EJ)

4 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan,(EK) the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Choose twelve men(EL) from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones(EM) from the middle of the Jordan,(EN) from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.(EO)”

4 So Joshua called together the twelve men(EP) he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan.(EQ) Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign(ER) among you. In the future, when your children(ES) ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’(ET) 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off(EU) before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial(EV) to the people of Israel forever.”

8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones(EW) from the middle of the Jordan,(EX) according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua;(EY) and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones(EZ) that had been[d] in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.(FA)

10 Now the priests who carried the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything the Lord had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over, 11 and as soon as all of them had crossed, the ark of the Lord and the priests came to the other side while the people watched. 12 The men of Reuben,(FB) Gad(FC) and the half-tribe of Manasseh(FD) crossed over, ready for battle, in front of the Israelites,(FE) as Moses had directed them.(FF) 13 About forty thousand armed for battle(FG) crossed over(FH) before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for war.

14 That day the Lord exalted(FI) Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they stood in awe of him all the days of his life, just as they had stood in awe of Moses.

15 Then the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant law(FJ) to come up out of the Jordan.”

17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”

18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place(FK) and ran at flood stage(FL) as before.

19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal(FM) on the eastern border of Jericho. 20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones(FN) they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’(FO) 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’(FP) 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea[e] when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.(FQ) 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know(FR) that the hand of the Lord is powerful(FS) and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.(FT)”

5 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast(FU) heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until they[f] had crossed over, their hearts melted in fear(FV) and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.

Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal

2 At that time the Lord said to Joshua, “Make flint knives(FW) and circumcise(FX) the Israelites again.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.[g]

4 Now this is why he did so: All those who came out of Egypt—all the men of military age(FY)—died in the wilderness on the way after leaving Egypt.(FZ) 5 All the people that came out had been circumcised, but all the people born in the wilderness during the journey from Egypt had not. 6 The Israelites had moved about in the wilderness(GA) forty years(GB) until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the Lord. For the Lord had sworn to them that they would not see the land he had solemnly promised their ancestors to give us,(GC) a land flowing with milk and honey.(GD) 7 So he raised up their sons in their place, and these were the ones Joshua circumcised. They were still uncircumcised because they had not been circumcised on the way. 8 And after the whole nation had been circumcised, they remained where they were in camp until they were healed.(GE)

9 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal[h](GF) to this day.

10 On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month,(GG) while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover.(GH) 11 The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land:(GI) unleavened bread(GJ) and roasted grain.(GK) 12 The manna stopped the day after[i] they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan.(GL)

The Fall of Jericho

13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man(GM) standing in front of him with a drawn sword(GN) in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown(GO) to the ground(GP) in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord[j] have for his servant?”

15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.”(GQ) And Joshua did so.

6 Now the gates of Jericho(GR) were securely barred because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

2 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have delivered(GS) Jericho into your hands, along with its king and its fighting men. 3 March around the city once with all the armed men. Do this for six days. 4 Have seven priests carry trumpets of rams’ horns(GT) in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.(GU) 5 When you hear them sound a long blast(GV) on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout;(GW) then the wall of the city will collapse and the army will go up, everyone straight in.”

6 So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, “Take up the ark of the covenant of the Lord and have seven priests carry trumpets in front of it.”(GX) 7 And he ordered the army, “Advance(GY)! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark(GZ) of the Lord.”

8 When Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets before the Lord went forward, blowing their trumpets, and the ark of the Lord’s covenant followed them. 9 The armed guard marched ahead of the priests who blew the trumpets, and the rear guard(HA) followed the ark. All this time the trumpets were sounding. 10 But Joshua had commanded the army, “Do not give a war cry, do not raise your voices, do not say a word until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout!(HB)” 11 So he had the ark of the Lord carried around the city, circling it once. Then the army returned to camp and spent the night there.

12 Joshua got up early the next morning and the priests took up the ark of the Lord. 13 The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets went forward, marching before the ark of the Lord and blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard followed the ark of the Lord, while the trumpets kept sounding. 14 So on the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day, they got up at daybreak and marched around the city seven times in the same manner, except that on that day they circled the city seven times.(HC) 16 The seventh time around, when the priests sounded the trumpet blast, Joshua commanded the army, “Shout! For the Lord has given you the city!(HD) 17 The city and all that is in it are to be devoted[k](HE) to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute(HF) and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid(HG) the spies we sent. 18 But keep away from the devoted things,(HH) so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction(HI) and bring trouble(HJ) on it. 19 All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron(HK) are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

20 When the trumpets sounded,(HL) the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout,(HM) the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.(HN) 21 They devoted(HO) the city to the Lord and destroyed(HP) with the sword every living thing in it—men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep and donkeys.

22 Joshua said to the two men(HQ) who had spied out(HR) the land, “Go into the prostitute’s house and bring her out and all who belong to her, in accordance with your oath to her.(HS)” 23 So the young men who had done the spying went in and brought out Rahab, her father and mother, her brothers and sisters and all who belonged to her.(HT) They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.

24 Then they burned the whole city(HU) and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron(HV) into the treasury of the Lord’s house.(HW) 25 But Joshua spared(HX) Rahab the prostitute,(HY) with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho(HZ)—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

26 At that time Joshua pronounced this solemn oath:(IA) “Cursed(IB) before the Lord is the one who undertakes to rebuild this city, Jericho:

“At the cost of his firstborn son
    he will lay its foundations;
at the cost of his youngest
    he will set up its gates.”(IC)

27 So the Lord was with Joshua,(ID) and his fame spread(IE) throughout the land.

Achan’s Sin

7 But the Israelites were unfaithful in regard to the devoted things[l];(IF) Achan(IG) son of Karmi, the son of Zimri,[m] the son of Zerah,(IH) of the tribe of Judah,(II) took some of them. So the Lord’s anger burned(IJ) against Israel.(IK)

2 Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai,(IL) which is near Beth Aven(IM) to the east of Bethel,(IN) and told them, “Go up and spy out(IO) the region.” So the men went up and spied out Ai.

3 When they returned to Joshua, they said, “Not all the army will have to go up against Ai. Send two or three thousand men to take it and do not weary the whole army, for only a few people live there.” 4 So about three thousand went up; but they were routed by the men of Ai,(IP) 5 who killed about thirty-six(IQ) of them. They chased the Israelites from the city gate as far as the stone quarries and struck them down on the slopes. At this the hearts of the people melted in fear(IR) and became like water.

6 Then Joshua tore his clothes(IS) and fell facedown(IT) to the ground before the ark of the Lord, remaining there till evening.(IU) The elders of Israel(IV) did the same, and sprinkled dust(IW) on their heads. 7 And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why(IX) did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?(IY) If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth.(IZ) What then will you do for your own great name?(JA)”

10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned;(JB) they have violated my covenant,(JC) which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied,(JD) they have put them with their own possessions.(JE) 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies;(JF) they turn their backs(JG) and run(JH) because they have been made liable to destruction.(JI) I will not be with you anymore(JJ) unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.

13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves(JK) in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.

14 “‘In the morning, present(JL) yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe the Lord chooses(JM) shall come forward clan by clan; the clan the Lord chooses shall come forward family by family; and the family the Lord chooses shall come forward man by man. 15 Whoever is caught with the devoted things(JN) shall be destroyed by fire,(JO) along with all that belongs to him.(JP) He has violated the covenant(JQ) of the Lord and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!’”(JR)

16 Early the next morning Joshua had Israel come forward by tribes, and Judah was chosen. 17 The clans of Judah came forward, and the Zerahites were chosen.(JS) He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward by families, and Zimri was chosen. 18 Joshua had his family come forward man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, the son of Zimri, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah,(JT) was chosen.(JU)

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory(JV) to the Lord, the God of Israel, and honor him. Tell(JW) me what you have done; do not hide it from me.”

20 Achan replied, “It is true! I have sinned against the Lord, the God of Israel. This is what I have done: 21 When I saw in the plunder(JX) a beautiful robe from Babylonia,[n] two hundred shekels[o] of silver and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels,[p] I coveted(JY) them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”

22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. 23 They took the things from the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites and spread them out before the Lord.

24 Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons(JZ) and daughters, his cattle, donkeys and sheep, his tent and all that he had, to the Valley of Achor.(KA) 25 Joshua said, “Why have you brought this trouble(KB) on us? The Lord will bring trouble on you today.”

Then all Israel stoned him,(KC) and after they had stoned the rest, they burned them.(KD) 26 Over Achan they heaped(KE) up a large pile of rocks, which remains to this day.(KF) Then the Lord turned from his fierce anger.(KG) Therefore that place has been called the Valley of Achor[q](KH) ever since.

Ai Destroyed

8 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid;(KI) do not be discouraged.(KJ) Take the whole army(KK) with you, and go up and attack Ai.(KL) For I have delivered(KM) into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder(KN) and livestock for yourselves.(KO) Set an ambush(KP) behind the city.”

3 So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best fighting men and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: “Listen carefully. You are to set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from it. All of you be on the alert. 5 I and all those with me will advance on the city, and when the men come out against us, as they did before, we will flee from them. 6 They will pursue us until we have lured them away from the city, for they will say, ‘They are running away from us as they did before.’ So when we flee from them, 7 you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. The Lord your God will give it into your hand.(KQ) 8 When you have taken the city, set it on fire.(KR) Do what the Lord has commanded.(KS) See to it; you have my orders.”

9 Then Joshua sent them off, and they went to the place of ambush(KT) and lay in wait between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai—but Joshua spent that night with the people.

10 Early the next morning(KU) Joshua mustered his army, and he and the leaders of Israel(KV) marched before them to Ai. 11 The entire force that was with him marched up and approached the city and arrived in front of it. They set up camp north of Ai, with the valley between them and the city. 12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to the west of the city. 13 So the soldiers took up their positions—with the main camp to the north of the city and the ambush to the west of it. That night Joshua went into the valley.

14 When the king of Ai saw this, he and all the men of the city hurried out early in the morning to meet Israel in battle at a certain place overlooking the Arabah.(KW) But he did not know(KX) that an ambush had been set against him behind the city. 15 Joshua and all Israel let themselves be driven back(KY) before them, and they fled toward the wilderness.(KZ) 16 All the men of Ai were called to pursue them, and they pursued Joshua and were lured away(LA) from the city. 17 Not a man remained in Ai or Bethel who did not go after Israel. They left the city open and went in pursuit of Israel.

18 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Hold out toward Ai the javelin(LB) that is in your hand,(LC) for into your hand I will deliver the city.” So Joshua held out toward the city the javelin that was in his hand.(LD) 19 As soon as he did this, the men in the ambush rose quickly(LE) from their position and rushed forward. They entered the city and captured it and quickly set it on fire.(LF)

20 The men of Ai looked back and saw the smoke of the city rising up into the sky,(LG) but they had no chance to escape in any direction; the Israelites who had been fleeing toward the wilderness had turned back against their pursuers. 21 For when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city and that smoke was going up from it, they turned around(LH) and attacked the men of Ai. 22 Those in the ambush also came out of the city against them, so that they were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel cut them down, leaving them neither survivors nor fugitives.(LI) 23 But they took the king of Ai alive(LJ) and brought him to Joshua.

24 When Israel had finished killing all the men of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness where they had chased them, and when every one of them had been put to the sword, all the Israelites returned to Ai and killed those who were in it. 25 Twelve thousand men and women fell that day—all the people of Ai.(LK) 26 For Joshua did not draw back the hand that held out his javelin(LL) until he had destroyed[r](LM) all who lived in Ai.(LN) 27 But Israel did carry off for themselves the livestock and plunder of this city, as the Lord had instructed Joshua.(LO)

28 So Joshua burned(LP) Ai[s](LQ) and made it a permanent heap of ruins,(LR) a desolate place to this day.(LS) 29 He impaled the body of the king of Ai on a pole and left it there until evening. At sunset,(LT) Joshua ordered them to take the body from the pole and throw it down at the entrance of the city gate. And they raised a large pile of rocks(LU) over it, which remains to this day.

The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal

30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal(LV) an altar(LW) to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool(LX) had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.(LY) 32 There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.(LZ) 33 All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical(MA) priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born(MB) were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal,(MC) as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel.

34 Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law—the blessings and the curses—just as it is written in the Book of the Law.(MD) 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.(ME)

The Gibeonite Deception

9 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country,(MF) in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea(MG) as far as Lebanon(MH) (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites,(MI) Hivites(MJ) and Jebusites)(MK)— 2 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.

3 However, when the people of Gibeon(ML) heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,(MM) 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded[t] with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal(MN) and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country;(MO) make a treaty(MP) with us.”

7 The Israelites said to the Hivites,(MQ) “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty(MR) with you?”

8 “We are your servants,(MS)” they said to Joshua.

But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country(MT) because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports(MU) of him: all that he did in Egypt,(MV) 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon,(MW) and Og king of Bashan,(MX) who reigned in Ashtaroth.(MY) 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”

14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire(MZ) of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace(NA) with them to let them live,(NB) and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near(NC) them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth(ND) and Kiriath Jearim.(NE) 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath(NF) to them by the Lord, the God of Israel.

The whole assembly grumbled(NG) against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath(NH) we swore to them.” 21 They continued, “Let them live,(NI) but let them be woodcutters and water carriers(NJ) in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to them was kept.

22 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, “Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way(NK) from you,’ while actually you live near(NL) us? 23 You are now under a curse:(NM) You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

24 They answered Joshua, “Your servants were clearly told(NN) how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands.(NO) Do to us whatever seems good and right(NP) to you.”

26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites(NQ) woodcutters and water carriers(NR) for the assembly, to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose.(NS) And that is what they are to this day.

The Sun Stands Still

10 Now Adoni-Zedek(NT) king of Jerusalem(NU) heard that Joshua had taken Ai(NV) and totally destroyed[u](NW) it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon(NX) had made a treaty of peace(NY) with Israel and had become their allies. 2 He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron,(NZ) Piram king of Jarmuth,(OA) Japhia king of Lachish(OB) and Debir(OC) king of Eglon.(OD) 4 “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace(OE) with Joshua and the Israelites.”

5 Then the five kings(OF) of the Amorites(OG)—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal:(OH) “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

7 So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army,(OI) including all the best fighting men. 8 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid(OJ) of them; I have given them into your hand.(OK) Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”(OL)

9 After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The Lord threw them into confusion(OM) before Israel,(ON) so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon.(OO) Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon(OP) and cut them down all the way to Azekah(OQ) and Makkedah.(OR) 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones(OS) down on them,(OT) and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

12 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites(OU) over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.(OV)”
13 So the sun stood still,(OW)
    and the moon stopped,
    till the nation avenged itself on[v] its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.(OX)

The sun stopped(OY) in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting(OZ) for Israel!

15 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.(PA)

Five Amorite Kings Killed

16 Now the five kings had fled(PB) and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely,(PC) but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.(PD) 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings(PE) to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet(PF) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet(PG) on their necks.

25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.(PH) This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” 26 Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.

27 At sunset(PI) Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.(PJ)

Southern Cities Conquered

28 That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.(PK) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.(PL)

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah(PM) and attacked it. 30 The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish;(PN) he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer(PO) had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon;(PP) they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron(PQ) and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone(PR) in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 2:10 Or the Sea of Reeds
  2. Joshua 2:10 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  3. Joshua 3:4 That is, about 3,000 feet or about 900 meters
  4. Joshua 4:9 Or Joshua also set up twelve stones
  5. Joshua 4:23 Or the Sea of Reeds
  6. Joshua 5:1 Another textual tradition we
  7. Joshua 5:3 Gibeath Haaraloth means the hill of foreskins.
  8. Joshua 5:9 Gilgal sounds like the Hebrew for roll.
  9. Joshua 5:12 Or the day
  10. Joshua 5:14 Or lord
  11. Joshua 6:17 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 18 and 21.
  12. Joshua 7:1 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 11, 12, 13 and 15.
  13. Joshua 7:1 See Septuagint and 1 Chron. 2:6; Hebrew Zabdi; also in verses 17 and 18.
  14. Joshua 7:21 Hebrew Shinar
  15. Joshua 7:21 That is, about 5 pounds or about 2.3 kilograms
  16. Joshua 7:21 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
  17. Joshua 7:26 Achor means trouble.
  18. Joshua 8:26 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them.
  19. Joshua 8:28 Ai means the ruin.
  20. Joshua 9:4 Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint) They prepared provisions and loaded their donkeys
  21. Joshua 10:1 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 28, 35, 37, 39 and 40.
  22. Joshua 10:13 Or nation triumphed over
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