Exploring Canaan

13 The Lord said to Moses, ² “Send some men to explore^(A) the land of Canaan,^(B) which I am giving to the Israelites.^(C) From each ancestral tribe^(D) send one of its leaders.”

³ So at the Lord’s command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.^{(E) 4} These are their names:

¹⁶ These are the names of the men Moses sent to explore^(H) the land. (Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun^(I) the name Joshua.)^(J)

¹⁷ When Moses sent them to explore Canaan,^(K) he said, “Go up through the Negev^(L) and on into the hill country.^{(M) 18} See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. ¹⁹ What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad? What kind of towns do they live in? Are they unwalled or fortified? ²⁰ How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees in it or not? Do your best to bring back some of the fruit of the land.^(N)” (It was the season for the first ripe grapes.)^(O)

²¹ So they went up and explored the land from the Desert of Zin^(P) as far as Rehob,^(Q) toward Lebo Hamath.^{(R) 22} They went up through the Negev and came to Hebron,^(S) where Ahiman, Sheshai and Talmai,^(T) the descendants of Anak,^(U) lived. (Hebron had been built seven years before Zoan in Egypt.)^{(V) 23} When they reached the Valley of Eshkol,^[a](W) they cut off a branch bearing a single cluster of grapes. Two of them carried it on a pole between them, along with some pomegranates^(X) and figs.^{(Y) 24} That place was called the Valley of Eshkol because of the cluster of grapes the Israelites cut off there. ²⁵ At the end of forty days^(Z) they returned from exploring the land.^(AA)

Report on the Exploration

²⁶ They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh^(AB) in the Desert of Paran.^(AC) There they reported to them^(AD) and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land.^{(AE) 27} They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey!^(AF) Here is its fruit.^{(AG) 28} But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large.^(AH) We even saw descendants of Anak^(AI) there.^{(AJ) 29} The Amalekites^(AK) live in the Negev; the Hittites,^(AL) Jebusites^(AM) and Amorites^(AN) live in the hill country;^(AO) and the Canaanites^(AP) live near the sea and along the Jordan.^(AQ)”

³⁰ Then Caleb^(AR) silenced the people before Moses and said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.”

³¹ But the men who had gone up with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.”^{(AS) 32} And they spread among the Israelites a bad report^(AT) about the land they had explored. They said, “The land we explored devours^(AU) those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size.^{(AV) 33} We saw the Nephilim^(AW) there (the descendants of Anak^(AX) come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers^(AY) in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

The People Rebel

14 That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.^{(AZ) 2} All the Israelites grumbled^(BA) against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt!^(BB) Or in this wilderness!^{(BC) 3} Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword?^(BD) Our wives and children^(BE) will be taken as plunder.^(BF) Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?^(BG)” ⁴ And they said to each other, “We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt.^(BH)”

⁵ Then Moses and Aaron fell facedown^(BI) in front of the whole Israelite assembly^(BJ) gathered there. ⁶ Joshua son of Nun^(BK) and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had explored the land, tore their clothes^{(BL) 7} and said to the entire Israelite assembly, “The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good.^{(BM) 8} If the Lord is pleased with us,^(BN) he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey,^(BO) and will give it to us.^{(BP) 9} Only do not rebel^(BQ) against the Lord. And do not be afraid^(BR) of the people of the land,^(BS) because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with^(BT) us.^(BU) Do not be afraid of them.”^(BV)

¹⁰ But the whole assembly talked about stoning^(BW) them. Then the glory of the Lord^(BX) appeared at the tent of meeting to all the Israelites. ¹¹ The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt?^(BY) How long will they refuse to believe in me,^(BZ) in spite of all the signs^(CA) I have performed among them? ¹² I will strike them down with a plague^(CB) and destroy them, but I will make you into a nation^(CC) greater and stronger than they.”^(CD)

¹³ Moses said to the Lord, “Then the Egyptians will hear about it! By your power you brought these people up from among them.^{(CE) 14} And they will tell the inhabitants of this land about it. They have already heard^(CF) that you, Lord, are with these people^(CG) and that you, Lord, have been seen face to face,^(CH) that your cloud stays over them,^(CI) and that you go before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.^{(CJ) 15} If you put all these people to death, leaving none alive, the nations who have heard this report about you will say, ¹⁶ ‘The Lord was not able to bring these people into the land he promised them on oath,^(CK) so he slaughtered them in the wilderness.’^(CL)

¹⁷ “Now may the Lord’s strength be displayed, just as you have declared: ¹⁸ ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.^(CM) Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’^{(CN) 19} In accordance with your great love, forgive^(CO) the sin of these people,^(CP) just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.”^(CQ)

²⁰ The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them,^(CR) as you asked. ²¹ Nevertheless, as surely as I live^(CS) and as surely as the glory of the Lord^(CT) fills the whole earth,^{(CU) 22} not one of those who saw my glory and the signs^(CV) I performed in Egypt and in the wilderness but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times^(CW)— ²³ not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath^(CX) to their ancestors. No one who has treated me with contempt^(CY) will ever see it.^{(CZ) 24} But because my servant Caleb^(DA) has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly,^(DB) I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.^{(DC) 25} Since the Amalekites^(DD) and the Canaanites^(DE) are living in the valleys, turn^(DF) back tomorrow and set out toward the desert along the route to the Red Sea.^[b](DG)”

²⁶ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: ²⁷ “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites.^{(DH) 28} So tell them, ‘As surely as I live,^(DI) declares the Lord, I will do to you^(DJ) the very thing I heard you say: ²⁹ In this wilderness your bodies will fall^(DK)—every one of you twenty years old or more^(DL) who was counted in the census^(DM) and who has grumbled against me. ³⁰ Not one of you will enter the land^(DN) I swore with uplifted hand^(DO) to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh^(DP) and Joshua son of Nun.^{(DQ) 31} As for your children that you said would be taken as plunder, I will bring them in to enjoy the land you have rejected.^{(DR) 32} But as for you, your bodies will fall^(DS) in this wilderness. ³³ Your children will be shepherds here for forty years,^(DT) suffering for your unfaithfulness, until the last of your bodies lies in the wilderness. ³⁴ For forty years^(DU)—one year for each of the forty days you explored the land^(DV)—you will suffer for your sins and know what it is like to have me against you.’ ³⁵ I, the Lord, have spoken, and I will surely do these things^(DW) to this whole wicked community, which has banded together against me. They will meet their end in this wilderness; here they will die.^(DX)”

³⁶ So the men Moses had sent^(DY) to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble^(DZ) against him by spreading a bad report^(EA) about it— ³⁷ these men who were responsible for spreading the bad report^(EB) about the land were struck down and died of a plague^(EC) before the Lord. ³⁸ Of the men who went to explore the land,^(ED) only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh survived.^(EE)

³⁹ When Moses reported this^(EF) to all the Israelites, they mourned^(EG) bitterly. ⁴⁰ Early the next morning they set out for the highest point in the hill country,^(EH) saying, “Now we are ready to go up to the land the Lord promised. Surely we have sinned!^(EI)”

⁴¹ But Moses said, “Why are you disobeying the Lord’s command? This will not succeed!^{(EJ) 42} Do not go up, because the Lord is not with you. You will be defeated by your enemies,^{(EK) 43} for the Amalekites^(EL) and the Canaanites^(EM) will face you there. Because you have turned away from the Lord, he will not be with you^(EN) and you will fall by the sword.”

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, in their presumption they went up^(EO) toward the highest point in the hill country, though neither Moses nor the ark of the Lord’s covenant moved from the camp.^{(EP) 45} Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites^(EQ) who lived in that hill country^(ER) came down and attacked them and beat them down all the way to Hormah.^(ES)

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^(A) and I am no longer able to lead you.^(B) The Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross the Jordan.’^{(C) 3} The Lord your God himself will cross^(D) over ahead of you.^(E) He will destroy these nations^(F) before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross^(G) over ahead of you, as the Lord said. ⁴ And the Lord will do to them what he did to Sihon and Og,^(H) the kings of the Amorites, whom he destroyed along with their land. ⁵ The Lord will deliver^(I) them to you, and you must do to them all that I have commanded you. ⁶ Be strong and courageous.^(J) Do not be afraid or terrified^(K) because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you;^(L) he will never leave you^(M) nor forsake^(N) you.”

⁷ Then Moses summoned Joshua and said^(O) 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,^(P) and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. ⁸ The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you;^(Q) he will never leave you nor forsake you.^(R) Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”

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)”

The Fall of Jericho

¹³ Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man^(A) standing in front of him with a drawn sword^(B) 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^(C) to the ground^(D) in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord^[a] 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.”^(E) And Joshua did so.

6 Now the gates of Jericho^(F) 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^(G) 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^(H) in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.^{(I) 5} When you hear them sound a long blast^(J) on the trumpets, have the whole army give a loud shout;^(K) 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.”^{(L) 7} And he ordered the army, “Advance^(M)! March around the city, with an armed guard going ahead of the ark^(N) 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^(O) 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!^(P)” 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.^{(Q) 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!^{(R) 17} The city and all that is in it are to be devoted^[b](S) to the Lord. Only Rahab the prostitute^(T) and all who are with her in her house shall be spared, because she hid^(U) the spies we sent. ¹⁸ But keep away from the devoted things,^(V) 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^(W) and bring trouble^(X) on it. ¹⁹ All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron^(Y) are sacred to the Lord and must go into his treasury.”

²⁰ When the trumpets sounded,^(Z) the army shouted, and at the sound of the trumpet, when the men gave a loud shout,^(AA) the wall collapsed; so everyone charged straight in, and they took the city.^{(AB) 21} They devoted^(AC) the city to the Lord and destroyed^(AD) 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^(AE) who had spied out^(AF) 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.^(AG)” 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.^(AH) They brought out her entire family and put them in a place outside the camp of Israel.

²⁴ Then they burned the whole city^(AI) and everything in it, but they put the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron^(AJ) into the treasury of the Lord’s house.^{(AK) 25} But Joshua spared^(AL) Rahab the prostitute,^(AM) with her family and all who belonged to her, because she hid the men Joshua had sent as spies to Jericho^(AN)—and she lives among the Israelites to this day.

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

²⁷ So the Lord was with Joshua,^(AR) and his fame spread^(AS) throughout the land.

The Covenant Renewed at Mount Ebal

³⁰ Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal^(A) an altar^(B) 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^(C) had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.^{(D) 32} There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.^{(E) 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^(F) priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born^(G) were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal,^(H) 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.^{(I) 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.^(J)

The Sun Stands Still

10 Now Adoni-Zedek^(A) king of Jerusalem^(B) heard that Joshua had taken Ai^(C) and totally destroyed^[a](D) it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon^(E) had made a treaty of peace^(F) 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,^(G) Piram king of Jarmuth,^(H) Japhia king of Lachish^(I) and Debir^(J) king of Eglon.^{(K) 4} “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace^(L) with Joshua and the Israelites.”

⁵ Then the five kings^(M) of the Amorites^(N)—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:^(O) “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,^(P) including all the best fighting men. ⁸ The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid^(Q) of them; I have given them into your hand.^(R) Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”^(S)

⁹ After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. ¹⁰ The Lord threw them into confusion^(T) before Israel,^(U) so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon.^(V) Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon^(W) and cut them down all the way to Azekah^(X) and Makkedah.^{(Y) 11} As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones^(Z) down on them,^(AA) 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^(AB) over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

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

The sun stopped^(AF) 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^(AG) for Israel!

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

Five Amorite Kings Killed

¹⁶ Now the five kings had fled^(AI) 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,^(AJ) but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.^{(AK) 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^(AL) 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^(AM) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet^(AN) on their necks.

²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.^(AO) 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^(AP) 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.^(AQ)

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.^(AR) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.^(AS)

²⁹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah^(AT) 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;^(AU) 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^(AV) 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;^(AW) 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^(AX) and attacked it. ³⁷ They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone^(AY) in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

³⁸ Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir.^{(AZ) 39} They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.^(BA)

⁴⁰ So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev,^(BB) the western foothills and the mountain slopes,^(BC) together with all their kings.^(BD) He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.^{(BE) 41} Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea^(BF) to Gaza^(BG) and from the whole region of Goshen^(BH) to Gibeon. ⁴² All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought^(BI) for Israel.

⁴³ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.^(BJ)

Northern Kings Defeated

11 When Jabin^(BK) king of Hazor^(BL) heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron^(BM) and Akshaph,^{(BN) 2} and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah^(BO) south of Kinnereth,^(BP) in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor^(BQ) on the west;