Beginning
5 1 The Canaanites are afraid of the Israelites. 2 Circumcision is commanded the second time. 10 The passover is kept. 12 Manna ceaseth. 13 The Angel appeareth unto Joshua.
1 Now when all the Kings of the [a]Amorites, which were beyond Jordan Westward, and all the Kings of the Canaanites which were by the Sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of Jordan before the children of Israel until they were gone over, their hearts fainted: and there was no courage in them anymore because of the children of Israel.
2 ¶ That same time the Lord said unto Joshua, (A)Make thee sharp knives, [b]and return, and circumcise the sons of Israel the second time.
3 Then Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the sons of Israel in [c]the hill of the foreskins.
4 And this is the cause why Joshua circumcised all the people, even the males that came out of Egypt, because all the men of war were dead in the wilderness by the way after they came out of Egypt.
5 For all the people that came out, were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way after they came out of Egypt, were [d]not circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people of the men of war that came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the Lord: unto whom the Lord sware that he would not show them the land, (B)which the Lord had sworn unto their fathers, that he would give us, even a land that floweth with milk and honey.
7 So their sons whom he raised up in their stead, Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they circumcised them not by the way.
8 And when they had made an end of circumcising all the people, they abode in the places in the camp till they [e]were whole.
9 After, the Lord said unto Joshua, This day I have taken away the [f]shame of Egypt from you: wherefore he called the name of that place, Gilgal, unto this day.
10 ¶ So the children of Israel abode in Gilgal, and kept the feast of the Passover the fourteenth day of the month at even, in the plain of Jericho.
11 And they did eat of the corn of the land, on the morrow after the Passover, unleavened bread, and parched corn in the same day.
12 And the Manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the corn of the land, neither had the children of Israel Manna anymore, but did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
13 ¶ And when Joshua was by Jericho, he lift up his eyes and looked: and behold, there stood a (C)man against him, having a sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou on our side, or on our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay, but as a captain of the host of the Lord am I now come: then Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and [g]did worship, and said unto him, What saith the Lord unto his servant?
15 And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, (D)Loose thy shoe of thy foot: for the place whereon thou standest, is holy: and Joshua did so.
6 2 The Lord instructeth Joshua what he should do as touching Jericho. 6 Joshua commandeth the Priests and warriors what to do. 20 The walls fall. 22 Rahab is saved. 24 All is burnt save gold and metal. 26 The curse of him that buildeth the city.
1 Now Jericho was [h]shut up, and [i]closed, [j]because of the children of Israel, none might go out nor enter in.
2 And the Lord said unto Joshua, Behold, I have given into thine hand Jericho and the king thereof, and the strong men of war.
3 All ye therefore that be men of war, shall compass the city, in going round about the city [k]once: thus shall you do six days:
4 And seven Priests shall bear seven trumpets of [l]rams’ horns before the Ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the Priests shall blow with the trumpets,
5 And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout: then shall the wall of the city fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him.
6 ¶ Then Joshua the son of Nun called the Priests and said unto them, Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and let seven Priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the Ark of the Lord.
7 But he said unto the people, [m]Go and compass the city: and let him that is armed go forth before the Ark of the Lord.
8 ¶ And when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bare the seven trumpets of rams’ horns, and went forth before the Ark of the Lord, and blew with the trumpets, and the ark of the Covenant of the Lord followed them.
9 ¶ And the men of arms went before the priests and blew the trumpets: then the [n]gathering host came after the Ark, and they went and blew the trumpets.
10 (Now Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, neither make any noise with your voice, neither shall a word proceed out of your mouth, until the day that I say unto you, Shout, then shall ye shout.)
11 So the Ark of the Lord compassed the city, and went about it [o]once: then they returned into the host, and lodged in the camp.
12 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the Priests bare the Ark of the Lord:
13 Also seven Priests bare seven trumpets of rams’ horns, and went before the Ark of the Lord, and going blew with the trumpets: and the men of arms went before them, but the [p]gathering host came after the Ark of the Lord, as they went and blew the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the host: thus they did six days.
15 And when the seventh day came, they rose early, even with the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner [q]seven times: only that day they compassed the city seven times.
16 And when the Priests had blown the trumpets the seventh time, Joshua said unto the people, Shout: for the Lord hath given you the city.
17 And the city shall be [r]an execrable thing, both it, and all that are therein, unto the Lord: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she, and all that are with her in the house: for (E)she hid the messengers that we sent.
18 Notwithstanding, be ye ware of the execrable thing, lest ye make yourselves execrable, and in taking of the execrable thing, make also the host of Israel (F)execrable, and trouble it.
19 But all silver, and gold, and vessels of brass, and iron shall be [s]consecrate unto the Lord, and shall come into the Lord’s treasury.
20 So the people shouted, when they had blown trumpets: for when the people had heard the sound of the trumpets, they shouted with a great shout: and the (G)wall fell down flat: so the people went up into the city, every man straight before him: and they took the city.
21 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the cities both man and woman, young, and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass with the edge of the sword.
22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, (H)as ye swore to her.
23 So the young men that were spies, went in and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had: also they brought out all her family, and put them [t]without the host of Israel.
24 After, they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of brass and iron, they put unto the treasure of the [u]house of the Lord.
25 So Joshua saved Rahab the harlot, and her father’s household, and all that she had, and she [v]dwelt in Israel, even unto this day, because she had hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 ¶ And Joshua swore at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up, and buildeth the city Jericho: [w]he shall lay the foundation thereof in his eldest son, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and he was famous through all the world.
7 1 The Lord is angry with Achan. 4 They of Ai put the Israelites to flight. 6 Joshua prayeth to the Lord. 16 Joshua inquireth out him that sinned, and stoneth him and all his.
1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the [x]excommunicate thing: for (I)Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took of the excommunicate thing: wherefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the children of Israel.
2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to [y]Ai, which is beside Beth Aven, on the East side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up, and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai,
3 And returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up, but let as it were two or three thousand men go up, and smite Ai, and make not all the people to labor thither, for they are few.
4 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the [z]men of Ai smote of them upon a thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted away like water.
6 Then Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of the Lord, until the eventide, he, and the Elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7 And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, wherefore hast thou brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, and to destroy us? would God we had been content to dwell on the [aa]other side Jordan.
8 Oh Lord what shall I say, when Israel turn their backs before their enemies?
9 For the Canaanites, and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall compass us, and destroy our name out of the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy mighty [ab]Name?
10 ¶ And the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up: wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
11 Israel hath sinned, and they have transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the excommunicate thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and have put it even with their own stuff.
12 Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand before their enemies: but have turned their backs before their enemies, because they be execrable: neither will I be with you anymore, except ye [ac]destroy the excommunicate from among you.
13 Up therefore, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus saith the Lord God of Israel, There is an execrable thing among you, O Israel, therefore ye cannot stand against your enemies, until ye have put the [ad]execrable thing from among you.
14 In the morning therefore ye shall come according to your tribes, and the tribe which the Lord taketh, shall come according to the families: and the family which the Lord shall take, shall come by the households: and the household which the Lord shall take, shall come man by man.
15 And he that is [ae]taken with the excommunicate thing, shall be burnt with fire, he, and all that he hath, because he hath transgressed the covenant of the Lord, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
16 ¶ So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes: and the tribe of Judah was taken.
17 And he brought the families of Judah, and took the family of the Zarhites, and he brought the family of the Zarhites, man by man, and Zabdi was taken.
18 And he brought his household, man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah was taken.
19 Then Joshua said unto Achan, My son, I beseech thee, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and [af]make confession unto him, and show me now what thou hast done: hide it not from me.
20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus, and thus have I done.
21 I saw among the spoil a goodly [ag]Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, and I covered them, and took them: and behold, they lie hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
22 ¶ Then Joshua sent messengers, which ran unto the tent, and behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
23 Therefore they took them out of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them before the Lord.
24 Then Joshua took Achan the [ah]son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the [ai]wedge of gold, and his [aj]sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and all Israel with him, brought them unto the valley of Achor.
25 And Joshua said, [ak]In as much as thou hast troubled us, the Lord shall trouble thee this day: and all Israel threw stones at him, and burned them with fire, and stoned them with stones.
26 And they cast upon him a great heap of stones unto this day: and so the Lord turned from his fierce wrath: therefore he called the name of that place, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
8 3 The siege, 19 and winning of Ai. 29 The king thereof is hanged. 30 Joshua setteth up an Altar. 32 He writeth the Law upon stones, 35 and readeth it to all the people.
1 After, the Lord said unto Joshua, (J)Fear not, neither be thou faint hearted: take all the men of war with thee and arise, go up to Ai: behold, I have given into thine hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.
2 And thou shalt do to Ai and to the king thereof, as thou didst unto (K)Jericho and to the king thereof: nevertheless the spoil thereof and (L)the cattle thereof shall ye take unto you for a prey: thou shalt lie in wait against the city on the [al]back side thereof.
3 ¶ Then Joshua arose, and all the men of war to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand strong men, and valiant, and sent them away by night.
4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye [am]shall lie in wait against the city on the back side of the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all in a readiness.
5 And I and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and when they shall come out against us, as they did at the first time, then will we flee before them.
6 For they will come out after us, till we have brought them out of the city: for they will say, They flee before us as at the first time: so we will flee before them.
7 Then you shall rise up from lying in wait and [an]destroy the city: for the Lord your God will deliver it into your hand.
8 And when ye have taken the city, ye shall set it on fire: according to the commandment of the Lord shall ye do: behold, I have charged you.
9 ¶ Joshua then sent them forth, and they went to lie in wait, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the West side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night [ao]among the people.
10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and [ap]numbered the people: and he and the Elders of Israel went up before the people against Ai.
11 Also all the men of war that were with him went up and drew near, and came against the city, and pitched on the North side of Ai: and there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 And he took about five thousand men, [aq]and set them to lie in wait between Bethel and Ai on the West side of the city.
13 And the people set all the host that was on the North side against the city, and the liars in wait on the West, against the city: and Joshua went the same night into the [ar]midst of the valley.
14 ¶ And when the king of Ai saw it, then the men of the city hasted and rose up early, and went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at the time appointed, before the plain: for he knew not that any lay in wait against him on the back side of the city.
15 Then Joshua and all Israel [as]as beaten before them, fled by the way of the wilderness.
16 And all the people of the city were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away out of the city,
17 So that there was not a man left in Ai, nor in Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18 Then the Lord said unto Joshua, [at]Stretch out the spear that is in thine hand, toward Ai: for I will give it into thine hand: and Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand, toward the city.
19 And they that lay in wait, arose quickly out of their place, and ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted, and set the city on fire.
20 And the men of Ai looked behind them, and saw it: for lo, the smoke of the city ascended up [au]to heaven, and they had no [av]power to flee this way or that way: for the people that fled to the wilderness, turned back upon the pursuers.
21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that they that lay in wait, had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city mounted up, then they turned again and slew the men of Ai.
22 Also the [aw]other issued out of the city against them: so were they in the midst of Israel, these being on the one side, and the rest on the other side: and they slew them, so that they let none of them (M)remain nor escape.
23 And the King of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24 And when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, that is, in the wilderness where they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and [ax]smote it with the edge of the sword.
25 And all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26 For Joshua drew not his hand back again which he had stretched out with the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 (N)Only the cattle and the spoil of this city, Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the Lord, which he commanded Joshua.
28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap [ay]forever, and a wilderness unto this day.
29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree, unto the evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded [az]that they should take his carcass down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and (O)lay thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
30 ¶ Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel, in mount Ebal,
31 As Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the (P)book of the Law of Moses, an altar of whole stone, over which no man had lift an iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 Also he wrote there upon the stones, a [ba]rehearsal of the Law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
33 And all Israel (and their Elders, and officers and their Judges stood on this side of the Ark, and on that side, before the Priests of the Levites, which bare the Ark of the covenant of the Lord) as well the stranger, as he that is born in the country: half of them were over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal, (Q)as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the children of Israel.
34 Then afterward he read all the words of the Law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the Law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded, which Joshua read not before all the Congregation of Israel, (R)as well before the [bb]women and the children, as the stranger that was conversant among them.
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