Joshua Becomes the Leader of Israel

Moses, the Lord's servant, was dead. So the Lord spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had been the assistant of Moses. The Lord said:

Joshua, I will always be with you and help you as I helped Moses, and no one will ever be able to defeat you.

The Eastern Tribes Promise To Help

Joshua ordered the tribal leaders

Joshua told the men of the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh:

Rahab Helps the Israelite Spies

Joshua chose two men as spies and sent them from their camp at Acacia with these instructions: “Go across the river and find out as much as you can about the whole region, especially about the town of Jericho.” The two spies left the Israelite camp at Acacia and went to Jericho, where they decided to spend the night at the house of a prostitute named Rahab.

the two spies went down into the Jordan valley and crossed the river. They reported to Joshua and told him everything that had happened.

Israel Crosses the Jordan River

Early the next morning, Joshua and the Israelites packed up and left Acacia. They went to the Jordan River and camped there that night.

Joshua told the people, “Make yourselves acceptable to worship the Lord, because he is going to do some amazing things for us.”

Then Joshua turned to the priests and said, “Take the chest and cross the Jordan River ahead of us.” So the priests picked up the chest by its carrying poles and went on ahead.

The Lord told Joshua, “Beginning today I will show the people that you are their leader, and they will know that I am helping you as I helped Moses.

Joshua spoke to the people: Come here and listen to what the Lord our God said he will do!

The People Set Up a Monument

After Israel had crossed the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua:

Joshua chose twelve men; then he called them together

The men followed the instructions that the Lord had given Joshua. They picked up twelve rocks, one for each tribe, and carried them to the camp, where they put them down.

Joshua set up a monument next to the place where the priests were standing. This monument was also made of twelve large rocks, and it is still there in the middle of the river.

The People of Israel Set Up Camp at Gilgal

The army got ready for battle and crossed the Jordan with everyone else. They marched quickly past the sacred chest and into the desert near Jericho. Forty thousand soldiers from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh led the way, as Moses had ordered. The priests stayed right where they were until the people had followed the orders that the Lord had given Moses and Joshua. Then they watched as the priests carried the chest the rest of the way across.

“Joshua,” the Lord said, “tell the priests to come up from the Jordan and bring the chest with them.” So Joshua went over to the priests and told them what the Lord had said. And as soon as the priests carried the chest past the highest place that the floodwaters of the Jordan had reached, the river flooded its banks again. That's how the Lord showed the Israelites that Joshua was their leader. For the rest of Joshua's life, they respected him as they had respected Moses.

The men who had carried the twelve rocks from the Jordan brought them to Joshua, and they made them into a monument.

Then Joshua told the people: Years from now your children will ask you why these rocks are here.

Israel Gets Ready To Celebrate Passover

While Israel was camped at Gilgal, the Lord said, “Joshua, make some flint knives and circumcise the rest of the Israelite men and boys.”

Joshua made the knives, then circumcised those men and boys at Haaraloth Hill.

The Lord told Joshua, “It was a disgrace for my people to be slaves in Egypt, but now I have taken away that disgrace.” So the Israelites named the place Gilgal, and it still has that name.

Israel Captures Jericho

One day, Joshua was near Jericho when he saw a man standing some distance in front of him. The man was holding a sword, so Joshua walked up to him and asked, “Are you on our side or on our enemies' side?”

“Neither,” he answered. “I am here because I am the commander of the Lord's army.” Joshua fell to his knees and bowed down to the ground. “I am your servant,” he said. “Tell me what to do.”

“Take off your sandals,” the commander answered. “This is a holy place.” So Joshua took off his sandals.