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“Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites.
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I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.
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Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.
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No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
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Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
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Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
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Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
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So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:
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“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’”
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“Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, ‘The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.’
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Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
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Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.
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Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”
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“Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
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that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
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“Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.”
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She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.”
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Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us
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If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them.
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But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
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They said to Joshua, “The Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
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giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
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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 between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
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Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”
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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.
