Prosperity After Turning to the Lord

30 When all these blessings and curses^(A) I have set before you come on you and you take them to heart wherever the Lord your God disperses you among the nations,^{(B) 2} and when you and your children return^(C) to the Lord your God and obey him with all your heart^(D) and with all your soul according to everything I command you today, ³ then the Lord your God will restore your fortunes^[a](E) and have compassion^(F) on you and gather^(G) you again from all the nations where he scattered^(H) you.^{(I) 4} Even if you have been banished to the most distant land under the heavens,^(J) from there the Lord your God will gather^(K) you and bring you back.^{(L) 5} He will bring^(M) you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will take possession of it. He will make you more prosperous and numerous^(N) than your ancestors. ⁶ The Lord your God will circumcise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants,^(O) so that you may love^(P) him with all your heart and with all your soul, and live. ⁷ The Lord your God will put all these curses^(Q) on your enemies who hate and persecute you.^{(R) 8} You will again obey the Lord and follow all his commands I am giving you today. ⁹ Then the Lord your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land.^(S) The Lord will again delight^(T) in you and make you prosperous, just as he delighted in your ancestors, ¹⁰ if you obey the Lord your God and keep his commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law^(U) and turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.^(V)

The Offer of Life or Death

¹¹ Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach.^{(W) 12} It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven^(X) to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”^{(Y) 13} Nor is it beyond the sea,^(Z) so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?”^{(AA) 14} No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.^(AB)

¹⁵ See, I set before you today life^(AC) and prosperity,^(AD) death^(AE) and destruction.^{(AF) 16} For I command you today to love^(AG) the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live^(AH) and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

¹⁷ But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, ¹⁸ I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed.^(AI) You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess.

¹⁹ This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you^(AJ) that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses.^(AK) Now choose life, so that you and your children may live ²⁰ and that you may love^(AL) the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life,^(AM) and he will give^(AN) you many years in the land^(AO) he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Joshua to Succeed Moses

31 Then Moses went out and spoke these words to all Israel: ² “I am now a hundred and twenty years old^(AP) and I am no longer able to lead you.^(AQ) The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’^{(AR) 3} The Lord your God himself will cross^(AS) over ahead of you.^(AT) He will destroy these nations^(AU) before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross^(AV) over ahead of you, as the Lord said. ⁴ And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og,^(AW) the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. ⁵ The Lord will deliver^(AX) them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous.^(AY) Do not be afraid or terrified^(AZ) because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;^(BA) he will never leave you^(BB) nor forsake^(BC) you.”

⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said^(BD) to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the Lord swore to their ancestors to give them,^(BE) and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;^(BF) he will never leave you nor forsake you.^(BG) Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

Public Reading of the Law

⁹ So Moses wrote^(BH) down this law and gave it to the Levitical priests, who carried^(BI) the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and to all the elders of Israel. ¹⁰ Then Moses commanded them: “At the end of every seven years, in the year for canceling debts,^(BJ) during the Festival of Tabernacles,^{(BK) 11} when all Israel comes to appear^(BL) before the Lord your God at the place he will choose,^(BM) you shall read this law^(BN) before them in their hearing. ¹² Assemble the people—men, women and children, and the foreigners residing in your towns—so they can listen and learn^(BO) to fear^(BP) the Lord your God and follow carefully all the words of this law. ¹³ Their children,^(BQ) who do not know this law, must hear it and learn to fear the Lord your God as long as you live in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Israel’s Rebellion Predicted

¹⁴ The Lord said to Moses, “Now the day of your death^(BR) is near. Call Joshua^(BS) and present yourselves at the tent of meeting, where I will commission him.^(BT)” So Moses and Joshua came and presented themselves at the tent of meeting.^(BU)

¹⁵ Then the Lord appeared at the tent in a pillar of cloud, and the cloud stood over the entrance to the tent.^{(BV) 16} And the Lord said to Moses: “You are going to rest with your ancestors,^(BW) and these people will soon prostitute^(BX) themselves to the foreign gods of the land they are entering. They will forsake^(BY) me and break the covenant I made with them. ¹⁷ And in that day I will become angry^(BZ) with them and forsake^(CA) them; I will hide^(CB) my face^(CC) from them, and they will be destroyed. Many disasters^(CD) and calamities will come on them, and in that day they will ask, ‘Have not these disasters come on us because our God is not with us?’^{(CE) 18} And I will certainly hide my face in that day because of all their wickedness in turning to other gods.

¹⁹ “Now write^(CF) down this song and teach it to the Israelites and have them sing it, so that it may be a witness^(CG) for me against them. ²⁰ When I have brought them into the land flowing with milk and honey, the land I promised on oath to their ancestors,^(CH) and when they eat their fill and thrive, they will turn to other gods^(CI) and worship them,^(CJ) rejecting me and breaking my covenant.^{(CK) 21} And when many disasters and calamities come on them,^(CL) this song will testify against them, because it will not be forgotten by their descendants. I know what they are disposed to do,^(CM) even before I bring them into the land I promised them on oath.” ²² So Moses wrote^(CN) down this song that day and taught it to the Israelites.

²³ The Lord gave this command^(CO) to Joshua son of Nun: “Be strong and courageous,^(CP) for you will bring the Israelites into the land I promised them on oath, and I myself will be with you.”

²⁴ After Moses finished writing^(CQ) in a book the words of this law^(CR) from beginning to end, ²⁵ he gave this command to the Levites who carried^(CS) the ark of the covenant of the Lord: ²⁶ “Take this Book of the Law and place it beside the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God. There it will remain as a witness against you.^{(CT) 27} For I know how rebellious^(CU) and stiff-necked^(CV) you are. If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die! ²⁸ Assemble before me all the elders of your tribes and all your officials, so that I can speak these words in their hearing and call the heavens and the earth to testify against them.^{(CW) 29} For I know that after my death you are sure to become utterly corrupt^(CX) and to turn from the way I have commanded you. In days to come, disaster^(CY) will fall on you because you will do evil in the sight of the Lord and arouse his anger by what your hands have made.”

The Song of Moses

³⁰ And Moses recited the words of this song from beginning to end in the hearing of the whole assembly of Israel:

⁴⁴ Moses came with Joshua^[h](HS) son of Nun and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people. ⁴⁵ When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, ⁴⁶ he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day,^(HT) so that you may command^(HU) your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. ⁴⁷ They are not just idle words for you—they are your life.^(HV) By them you will live long^(HW) in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”

Moses to Die on Mount Nebo

⁴⁸ On that same day the Lord told Moses,^{(HX) 49} “Go up into the Abarim^(HY) Range to Mount Nebo^(HZ) in Moab, across from Jericho,^(IA) and view Canaan,^(IB) the land I am giving the Israelites as their own possession. ⁵⁰ There on the mountain that you have climbed you will die^(IC) and be gathered to your people, just as your brother Aaron died^(ID) on Mount Hor^(IE) and was gathered to his people. ⁵¹ This is because both of you broke faith with me in the presence of the Israelites at the waters of Meribah Kadesh^(IF) in the Desert of Zin^(IG) and because you did not uphold my holiness among the Israelites.^{(IH) 52} Therefore, you will see the land only from a distance;^(II) you will not enter^(IJ) the land I am giving to the people of Israel.”

Moses Blesses the Tribes^(IK)

33 This is the blessing^(IL) that Moses the man of God^(IM) pronounced on the Israelites before his death. ² He said:

⁷ And this he said about Judah:^(JA)

⁸ About Levi^(JB) he said:

¹² About Benjamin^(JN) he said:

¹³ About Joseph^(JS) he said:

¹⁸ About Zebulun^(KC) he said:

²⁰ About Gad^(KH) he said:

²² About Dan^(KM) he said:

²³ About Naphtali^(KN) he said:

²⁴ About Asher^(KO) he said:

The Death of Moses

34 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo^(LJ) from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah,^(LK) across from Jericho.^(LL) There the Lord showed^(LM) him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan,^{(LN) 2} all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea,^{(LO) 3} the Negev^(LP) and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms,^(LQ) as far as Zoar.^{(LR) 4} Then the Lord said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath^(LS) to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob^(LT) when I said, ‘I will give it^(LU) to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross^(LV) over into it.”

⁵ And Moses the servant of the Lord^(LW) died^(LX) there in Moab, as the Lord had said. ⁶ He buried him^[o] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor,^(LY) but to this day no one knows where his grave is.^{(LZ) 7} Moses was a hundred and twenty years old^(MA) when he died, yet his eyes were not weak^(MB) nor his strength gone.^{(MC) 8} The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab^(MD) thirty days,^(ME) until the time of weeping and mourning^(MF) was over.

⁹ Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit^[p] of wisdom^(MG) because Moses had laid his hands on him.^(MH) So the Israelites listened to him and did what the Lord had commanded Moses.

¹⁰ Since then, no prophet^(MI) has risen in Israel like Moses,^(MJ) whom the Lord knew face to face,^{(MK) 11} who did all those signs and wonders^(ML) the Lord sent him to do in Egypt—to Pharaoh and to all his officials^(MM) and to his whole land. ¹² For no one has^(MN) ever shown the mighty power or performed the awesome deeds^(MO) that Moses did in the sight of all Israel.

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.