Old/New Testament
God’s Instructions to Joshua
1 After Moses, the servant of the Lord, had died, the Lord spoke to Nun’s son Joshua, announcing to him, 2 “My servant Moses is dead. Now get ready to cross the Jordan River[a]—you and all the people—to the land that I’m giving the Israelis. 3 I’m giving you every place where the sole of your foot falls, just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territorial border will extend from the wilderness to the Lebanon Mountains,[b] to the river—that great River Euphrates—all the land of the Hittites—as far as the Mediterranean[c] Sea where the sun sets. 5 No one will be victorious[d] against you for the rest of your life. I’ll be with you just like I was with Moses—I’ll neither fail you nor abandon you.
6 “Be strong and courageous, because you’ll be leading this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. 7 Only be strong and very courageous to ensure that you obey all the instructions[e] that my servant Moses gave you—turn neither to the right nor to the left from it—so that you may succeed wherever you go. 8 This set of instructions[f] is not to cease being a part of your conversations.[g] Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to carry out everything that’s written in it, for then you’ll prosper and succeed. 9 I’ve commanded you, haven’t I? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be fearful or discouraged, because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua Gives Orders to His Leaders
10 Then Joshua gave orders to the officials of the people. 11 “Go through the camp,” he said, “and command the people, ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, because within three days you’ll be crossing the Jordan River to take possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving you—so go get it!’”
12 Joshua told the descendants of Reuben, the descendants of Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, 13 “Remember what[h] Moses commanded you when he said, ‘The Lord your God will provide you rest, as well as this land.’ 14 Your wives, your young children, and your livestock will remain in the land that Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan River, but you and all your warriors will cross, ready for battle, in full view of your relatives, and you will help them 15 until the Lord gives relief to your relatives, as he did to you. Then they’ll take the land that the Lord your God is giving them as their inheritance. You’ll return to the land of your heritage and receive the inheritance that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you on the east side of the Jordan River, in the direction of the sunrise.”
The People Reaffirm Their Commitment
16 “We’ll do everything that you commanded,” they replied. “We’ll go wherever you send us. 17 We’ll listen and obey you in everything, just like we did with Moses. Only may the Lord your God be with you, just as he was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rebels against what you say and doesn’t listen to your words regarding everything that you command will be executed. Only be strong and courageous.”
Rahab Receives Two Scouts
2 After this, Nun’s son Joshua sent two men from the Acacia groves[i] as undercover scouts. He told them, “Go and look over the land. Pay special attention to Jericho.” So they went out, came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 Then the king of Jericho was told, “Look! Israeli men arrived tonight to scout out the land.”
3 So the king of Jericho sent for Rahab and ordered her, “Bring out the men who came to visit you and lodged in your house, because they’ve come to scout out the entire land.”
4 Now the woman had taken the two men and hid them. So she replied, “The men really did come to me, but I didn’t know from where they came. 5 At dusk, when it was time to close the city gates, the men left. I don’t know where the men went. Go after them quickly, and[j] you might overtake them.”
6 But she had taken them up to the roof and had hidden them among stalks of flax that she had laid out in order on the roof. 7 So the men pursued them along the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan River. As soon as the search party had left, they shut the city gate after them.
Rahab Seeks Protection
8 Before the scouts[k] had lain down, she went up to them on the roof 9 “I’m really convinced that the Lord has given you the land,” she said,[l] “because we’re overwhelmed with fear of you. All the other inhabitants of the land are demoralized at your presence, 10 because we heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Reed[m] Sea right in front of you as you were coming out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other[n] side of the Jordan River—to Sihon and Og—whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard these reports,[o] we all became terrified and discouraged[p] because of you, for the Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath. 12 Now therefore, since I’ve treated you so kindly,[q] please swear in the name of[r] the Lord that you’ll also be kind[s] to my father’s household by giving me this[t] sure sign: 13 Spare my father, my mother, and my brothers and sisters, along with everyone who belongs with them so we won’t be killed.”
A Promise of Protection
14 So the men told her, “Our life for yours—even to death—if you don’t betray this mission of ours. Then when the Lord gives us this land, we’ll treat you graciously and faithfully.”
15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, since her house was built into the town wall where she lived. 16 She told them, “Go out to the hill country, so the search party won’t find you, and hide for three days. After that, you may go on your own way.”
17 The men replied, “We’ll be free from our commitment to you to which you’ve obligated us 18 when we invade the land, if you don’t tie this rope made with red cords in the window through which you let us down, and if you don’t gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and all of the rest of your father’s household into your house. 19 Everyone who leaves through the doors of your house into the street will be responsible for his own death, but we’ll be responsible for anyone who remains with you in the house if even so much as a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you report this incident, we’ll be free from the oath to which you’ve made us swear.”
21 “Since you put it that way,”[u] she replied, “I agree.”[v] After she sent them on their way and they had left, she tied the red cord in the window.
The Scouts Report to Joshua
22 The scouts[w] left for the hill country and remained there for three days until the search party returned. The search party searched the entire road, but was unable to find them. 23 Later, the two men returned from the hill country, crossed over the Jordan River,[x] approached Nun’s son Joshua, and told him everything that had happened to them. 24 They reported to Joshua, “The Lord really has given the entire land into our control. The inhabitants of the land have melted away right in front of us!”
Joshua Prepares to Conquer Jericho
3 Joshua got up early the next morning. Accompanied by all the Israelis, he set out from the Acacia groves and arrived at the Jordan River, where they encamped before crossing it. 2 Three days later, the officers went throughout the camp, 3 giving orders to the people. They said, “When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then get up, leave where you are, and follow it. 4 Be sure to keep a distance of about 2,000 cubits[y] between you and it. Don’t come near it, so you can be certain where you’re going, since you haven’t passed this way before.”
5 Then Joshua addressed the people: “Consecrate yourselves, because tomorrow the Lord will do marvelous things among you.”
6 After this, Joshua[z] instructed the priests, “Take up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over ahead of the people.” So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went on ahead of the people.
The Lord Addresses Joshua
7 At this point, the Lord told Joshua, “Today I’m going to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they’ll be sure that I’m going to be with you just as I was with Moses. 8 Give this command to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant: ‘When you arrive at the water of the Jordan River, stand still in the Jordan.’”
Joshua Addresses Israel
9 So Joshua told the Israelis, “Come here and listen to what the Lord your God has to say.” 10 Joshua continued, “This is how you’ll know that the living God really is among you: he’s going to remove the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Hivites, the Perizzites, the Girgashites, the Amorites, and the Jebusites right in front of you. 11 Look! The Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of whole the earth is crossing ahead of you into the Jordan River. 12 So take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe. 13 When the soles of the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the Lord, the Lord of the whole earth, touch the water in the Jordan River, the water that feeds the Jordan will be cut off from above and they’ll stand still in a single location.”
The Jordan River Stops Flowing
14 So the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan River, with the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant in full view of the people. 15 When the priests who carried the ark entered the Jordan River, as their feet touched the water’s edge (The Jordan River overflows all of its banks daily during the harvest season.), 16 the water flowing downstream from above stood still in a single location, a great distance away at Adam, a city near Zarethan. The water that flowed south toward the sea in the Arabah (that is, the Dead[aa] Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 The priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan River, while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan River.
Jesus is Raised from the Dead(A)
16 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene,[a] Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices to go and anoint Jesus.[b] 2 Very early on the first day of the week,[c] when the sun had just come up, they were going to the tomb. 3 They kept saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 Then they looked up and saw that the stone had been rolled away. (It was a very large stone.)
5 As they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were utterly astonished. 6 But he told them, “Stop being astonished! You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised. He is not here. Look at the place where they laid him. 7 But go and tell his disciples—especially Peter—that Jesus[d] is going ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
8 So they left the tomb and ran away, overwhelmed by shock and astonishment. They didn’t say a thing to anyone, because they were afraid.[e]
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene(B)
9 After Jesus[f] had risen early on the first day of that week,[g] he appeared first to Mary Magdalene,[h] from whom he had driven out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Jesus[i] and who now were grieving and crying. 11 When they heard that he was alive and that he had been seen by her, they refused to believe Mary.[j]
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples(C)
12 After this, Jesus[k] appeared in a different form to two disciples[l] as they were walking into the country. 13 They went back and told the others, who didn’t believe them, either.
Jesus Commissions His Disciples(D)
14 Finally he appeared to his eleven disciples[m] while they were eating. He rebuked them for their unbelief and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who had seen him after he had risen. 15 Then he told them, “As you go into the entire world, proclaim the gospel to everyone.[n] 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever doesn’t believe will be condemned. 17 These are the signs that will accompany those who believe: In my name they’ll drive out demons. they’ll speak in new languages,[o] 18 and they’ll pick up snakes with their hands.[p] Even if they drink any deadly poison, it won’t hurt them, and they’ll place their hands on the sick, and they’ll recover.”
Jesus is Taken Up to Heaven(E)
19 So the Lord Jesus,[q] after talking with his disciples,[r] was taken up to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 Then his disciples[s] went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord kept working with them and confirming the message by the signs that accompanied it.
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