OVERVIEW for the Book of JOSHUA

(Time covered believed to be 1473- 1450 BCE)

According to the books of Exodus, Numbers and Joshua, as Moses' assistant was
the man who became the leader of the Israelite families upon the death of Moses.
He was Hoshea the son of Nun, of the tribe of Ephraim, but Moses called him
Joshua, the name by which he is commonly known today. Bible chronology has
him born in Egypt prior to the Exodus.

The book of Joshua chronicles the nation of Israel’s history after the exodus from
Egypt until the time of the Judges, before Israel opted for their own human
sovereign, who ultimately came to rule them in the form of King Saul. During
Joshua’s lifetime, they were still being led by YHWH with his choice of Joshua as
titular head of the nation.

The BOOK OF JOSHUA, Part 1.

JOSHUA Chapter 1.

GOD Commissions Joshua

(Deuteronomy 11:8–17)

JOSHUA 1:1 Now it came to pass after the death of Moses the servant of YHWH, that YHWH
spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying; 2 "Now that my servant Moses has died,
you will lead my people across the Jordan River into the land I am giving them”.

3 As I promised Moses, I will grant to them possession of every place where you set foot, 4 from
the Negev Desert in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, from the Euphrates River
on the east, to the Mediterranean Sea on the west, also, all the land of the Hittites.'

5 Not a man will be able stand against you all the days of your life; and as I was with Moses, so
will I also be with you, and I will not fail you, or neglect you.

6 Long ago I promised the ancestors of Israel that I would give this land to their descendants. 7 So
be brave and confident in me!

7 Be careful to do everything my servant Moses taught you. Never stop reading the Book of the
Law, he gave you. Day and night, you must think about what it says. If you obey it completely, I
will enable you and Israel with the ability to take this land.

8 Never stop reciting these teachings. You must think about them night and day so that you will
faithfully do everything written in them. Only then will you prosper and succeed.
9 "I have commanded you, 'Be brave and confident! Don't tremble or be terrified because YHWH
your god will be with you wherever you go.”

Joshua Takes Command

10 Then Joshua commanded the leaders among the families of Israel, saying; "Go through the
camp and tell the people, 11 'Get some supplies and food ready. Three days from now we will go
across the Jordan River and take the land that YHWH our god is giving us.'"

12 Next, Joshua said to the families of Reuben and Gad and half of the tribe of Manasseh, 13
YHWH's servant Moses said that YHWH our god has given you land here on the east side of the
Jordan River, where you could live in peace. Your wives and children and your animals can stay
here in the land Moses gave you.

14 But all of you that can serve in our army must pick up your weapons and lead the men of the
other tribes across the Jordan River. They are your relatives, so you must help them 15 until they
have occupied the land west of the Jordan that YHWH your god has given them. When he has
given safety to all the families of Israel, then you may come back and settle here in your own land
east of the Jordan, which Moses, YHWH's servant, gave to you."

16 They answered Joshua, 'We will do whatever you order us, and wherever you send us we will
go.

17 Just as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey you. Only may YHWH your god be with
you, as he was with Moses! 18 And, if anyone rebels against your orders and does not obey every
command you give him, he shall be put to death. But be brave and confident."

JOSHUA Chapter 2.

Rahab Hides Joshua’s Spies

(Hebrews 11:30–31)

JOSHUA 2:1 Then 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, and they went and came to the
house of a harlot named Rahab and they stayed there. 2 But someone found out about them and
told the king of Jericho, "Some Israelite men came here tonight, and they are spies."

3 Then the king of Jericho sent orders to Rahab, "Bring out the men who have come to you, who
entered your house, for they have come only to search out the whole land."

4 But Rahab had taken the two men and hidden them. And she said, "True, the men came to me,
but I did not know where they were from. 5 In the evening, when it was time to close the city gate,
the men left. I do not know where they went. But if you go quickly, maybe you can catch them." 6
(But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out
on the roof.)
7. So the king’s men went after them on the road to Jordan as far as the river-crossing: and when
they had gone out after them, the door into the town was shut.

A Promise Made to Rahab

8 And it came to pass when the king’s men who pursued after them were gone, and before the
spies had lain down to sleep, that Rahab came up to them on the top of the house. 9 And she said
to the men, I know that YHWH has given the land to you, and that a fear has fallen on us, and that
all those living in the land have become faint because you.

10 We have heard how YHWH dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of
Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom
you completely vanquished.

11 No wonder our hearts have melted in fear! No one has the courage to fight after hearing such
things. For YHWH, your god is the supreme god of the heavens above and the earth below.

12 Please promise me in YHWH's name that you will be as kind to my family as I have been to
you. Do something to show 13 that you will not let your people kill my father and mother and my
brothers and sisters and their families.

14 "Rahab," the spies answered, "if you keep quiet about what we're doing, we promise to be kind
to you when YHWH gives us this land. We pray that He will kill us if we don't keep our promise!"

15 Rahab's house was built into a part of the town wall, and one of the windows in her house faced
outside the wall. She gave the spies a rope, showed them the window, and said, "Use this rope to
let yourselves down to the ground outside the wall. 16 Then you can hide in the hills. The men
who are looking for you will not be able to find you there. They'll give up and come back after a
few days, and you can be on your way."

17 The spies said: You made us promise to let you and your family live. We will keep our promise,
but you cannot tell anyone why we were here. 18 You must tie this red rope on your window when
we attack, and your father and mother, your brothers, and everyone else in your family must be
here in this house with you. We will take the responsibility if anyone who stays in this house gets
hurt. 19 But, if anyone leaves your house and is killed, and it will not be our fault.

20 And, if you tell anyone what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us
swear."

21 Rahab answered, "I will do just what you said." She said goodbye, and the men left her house.
Then she tied the red rope in the window.

22 The spies hid in the hills for three days while the king's soldiers looked for them along the
roads. As soon as the soldiers gave up and returned to Jericho, 23 the two men started back. They
went down out of the hills, forded the Jordan River, and came to Joshua, son of Nun and told him
everything that had happened to them.
JOSHUA Chapter 3.

Crossing the Jordan River

Joshua 3:1 Early the next morning Joshua and all the Israelites left Acacia and arrived at the
banks of the Jordan River, where they made camp before crossing.

2 Three days later, the Israelite leaders went through the camp and they charged the people,
saying, 3 When you shall see the ark of the covenant of YHWH your god, and our Priests and the
Levites bearing it, you shall depart from your places, and you shall follow after it.

4.Since you have never traveled this way before, they will guide you. Stay about a half mile behind
them, keeping a clear distance between you and the Ark. Make sure you don't come any closer."

5 And Joshua said to the people; Sanctify yourselves; that is, separate yourselves for a special holy
purpose, for tomorrow YHWH, your god will do wonders among you.

6 Then in the morning, Joshua said to the priests; take up the ark of the covenant and go over in
front of the people. So, they took up the ark of the agreement and went in front of the people. 7
And YHWH said to Joshua; Today will I begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they
may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.

8 Give these instructions to the priests who are carrying the Ark of the Covenant; 'When you reach
the banks of the Jordan River, take a few steps into the water and stop.' "

9 Then Joshua said to the people, "Come here and listen to what YHWH your god has to say. 10
By this you will see that the living god is among you, and that he will certainly drive out from
before you the Canaanite and the Hittite and the Hivite and the Perizzite and the Girgashite and
the Amorite and the Jebusite.

11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of YHWH of all the earth shall go before you into the Jordan. 12
So take twelve men out of the families of Israel, a man from every family. 13 And it shall come to
pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of YHWH of all the earth, shall rest
in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan will stop flowing and fill up behind that
place like at a dam.

14 The Israelites packed up and left camp. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant walked in
front, 15 until they came to the Jordan River. The water in the river had risen over its banks, as it
often does in springtime. 16 But as soon as the feet of the priests touched the water, the river
stopped flowing, and the water started damming up at the town of Adam near Zarethan. No water
flowed toward the Dead Sea, and the priests stood in the middle of a dry riverbed near Jericho
while everyone else crossed over.17 The ground at that place had become dry, and the priests
carried the Ark of the Covenant of YHWH to the middle of the river and stopped. There they
waited until all the Israelites walked across the Jordan River on dry land.
JOSHUA Chapter 4.

Twelve Stones from the Jordan River

Joshua 4:1 After Israel had crossed the Jordan, YHWH said to Joshua; 2 Now, take the twelve
men you have chosen from the people, out of every family a man, 3 and say to them; Take up from
the middle of the Jordan, where the feet of the priests were resting, twelve stones, and take them
over with you and set them down in the place where you take your rest tonight.

5 He said to them, "Go to the middle of the Jordan River in front of the ark of YHWH your god.
Each man must take a stone on his shoulder, one for each tribe of Israel.

5 And Joshua having called twelve men of distinction among the children of Israel, one of each
family group, said to them; 6 This will be a sign for you. In the future your children will ask, 'What
do these stones mean to you?' 7 You should answer, 'The water of the Jordan River was cut off in
front of the ark of YHWH'S promise. When the ark crossed the Jordan, the river stopped flowing.
So, these stones shall be to the Israelites a memorial forever.

8 So the men did as Joshua told them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan
River, one for each family group, just as YHWH had commanded Joshua. They carried them to
the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there.

9 Joshua also set twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan River. He put them at the place where
the priests had stood while carrying the Holy Ark. These rocks are still there, in place today.

10 Now the priests that carried the ark, stood in the middle of the Jordan, till all things were
accomplished, which YHWH had commanded Joshua and Moses to speak to the people, while the
people made haste, and passed over the dried riverbed.

11 And when all the people had finished passing over, then the ark of YHWH and the priests
passed over as the people watched. 12 Armed warriors from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the
half-tribe of Manasseh led the Israelites across the Jordan, just as Moses had directed. 13 These
warriors -- about forty thousand strong -- were ready for battle, and they crossed over to the
plains of Jericho in YHWH's presence.

14 On that day YHWH magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they respected him, as they
respected Moses, all the days of his life.

15 Then YHWH said to Joshua, 16 Charge the priests that bear the Ark of the covenant of the
testimony of YHWH, to go up out of Jordan. 17 So Joshua ordered the priests, "Come out of the
Jordan."

18 When the priests who carried the ark of YHWH’S covenant came out of the middle of the
Jordan, as soon as their feet stepped onto dry land beyond the riverbed, the water of the Jordan
returned to its seasonal flood level.
19 So the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and pitched camp
in Gilgal, in the East side of Jericho.

20 At Gilgal Joshua set up the 12 stones they had taken from the Jordan. 21 He said to the people
of Israel, "In the future when children ask their parents, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 the
children should be told that Israel miraculously crossed the Jordan River on dry ground.

23 Your God dried up the Jordan ahead of you until you had crossed, as he did to the Red Sea
until we had crossed. 24 YHWH did this so that everyone in the world would know his mighty
power and always stand in awe of YHWH your god."

JOSHUA Chapter 5.

Circumcision and a Passover at Gilgal

Joshua 5:1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, that were beyond the Jordan
westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, that were by the sea, heard how YHWH had dried
up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that
their heart melted, neither was there ‘fight’ in them, anymore, because of the children of Israel.

2.At this time YHWH said to Joshua, 'Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again (a
second time). 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the sons of Israel again at Gibeath-
haaraloth. 4 Now this is the reason for the second circumcision:

All the people that came out of Egypt that were males, the men fit for war, died in the desert,
during the time of the long going about in the way: 5 They had all been circumcised, but all the
males who were born in the wilderness had not been circumcised.

6 For the people of Israel had walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, the men of
war who came out of Egypt, perished, because they did not obey the voice of YHWH. So, YHWH
swore to them that he would not let them see the land that He had sworn to their fathers to give to
us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

7 So Joshua circumcised their sons who had not been circumcised on the way to the Promised
Land, those who had grown up to take their fathers' places. 8 And, when all the nation had
undergone circumcision, they kept in their tents and rested till they were well again.

9 After that, YHWH said to Joshua, “This day have I rolled the reproach of Egypt from off you”.
Wherefore the name of that place was called Gilgal, till this very day.

10 The people of Israel camped at Gilgal in the Jericho plain where they celebrated the Passover
on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month.
11 On the day after the Passover, they ate some of the produce of the land, unleavened bread and
roasted grain. 12 The day after that, the manna stopped. The people of Israel never had manna
again. That year they began to eat the crops that grew in Canaan.

An Angelic Commander for YHWH’s Army

13 One day, when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him
with a sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, "Are you one of us or one of our
enemies?"

14 The man answered, "Neither one! I am here as the commander of YHWH'S army."
Immediately, Joshua bowed with his face touching the ground and did obeisance. He asked, "Sir,
what do you want to tell me?"

JOSHUA Chapter 6.

March Around Jericho

Joshua 6:1 Now the gates to the city of Jericho were tightly shut because the people there were
afraid of the Israelites. No one was allowed to go in or out.

2 Then YHWH said to Joshua, "See, I am going to deliver Jericho into your hands, along with its
king and its fighting men. 3 Now let all your fighting-men circle around the town, going all round
it once. Repeat this action for six days.

4 And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark: and on the seventh
day you shall circle the city seven times, and the priests shall blow their trumpets.

5 And When they give an extra-long blast on the ram's horns and you hear that signal, all the
people must shout aloud. Then the wall of the city will collapse, and your forces will be able to
make a frontal attack."

6 So Joshua called together the priests and said, "Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and assign
seven priests to walk in front of it, each carrying a ram's horn."7 And he said to the people of
Israel, "Proceed, and march around the city, and let him who is armed advance before the ark of
YHWH.”

8 So after Joshua had said this to the people, the seven priests with their seven horns went
forward in the presence of YHWH, blowing on their horns: and the ark of YHWH's Covenant went
after them.

9. Armed men marched both in front of the priests and behind the Ark, with the priests
continually blowing the horns.10 But Joshua commanded the people, "You shall not shout or
make your voice heard, neither shall a single word go out of your mouth, until the day I tell you to
shout. Then you shall all shout at once."
11 So the Ark of YHWH was carried around the city once that day, and then everyone returned to
spend the night in the camp. 12 And early in the morning Joshua got up, and the priests took up
the ark of YHWH. 13 Also, the seven priests bearing the ram's horns marched in front of the ark of
YHWH blowing their horns. Ahead of these marched the elect troops, while the rear guard
followed the ark of YHWH, and the blowing of horns was kept up continually.

14 The second day they went all around the town once, and then went back to their tents: and they
did this for six days.

15 Then on the seventh day they got up early, at the dawn of the day, and went around the town in
the same way, but that day they went around it seven times.16 And at the seventh time around,
the priests blew long, extended notes on their trumpets and Joshua said to the people, 'Raise the
war cry, for YHWH has given you the city!

Destruction of Jericho

17 The entire city has been claimed for destruction by YHWH. Everything in it belongs to him.
Only the prostitute Rahab and all who are in the house with her will live because she concealed
the messengers we sent.

18 And as for you, don’t take anything for yourselves from the accursed thing, for fear that you
may get a desire for it and take some of it for yourselves, and so be the cause of a curse and great
trouble on the tents of Israel.

19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are holy to YHWH; they shall come
into the treasury of YHWH.

20 When the people heard the long notes sounded on the horns, they shouted as loud as they
could. Suddenly, the walls of Jericho collapsed, and the Israelites charged straight into the city
from every side and captured it. 21 Then they devoted everything in the city to destruction, both
men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword.

Joshua Keeps A Promise

22 Meanwhile, Joshua said to the two spies, "Keep your promise. Go to the prostitute's house and
bring her out, along with all her family."

23 So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab and her father and
mother and brothers and all who belonged to her. And they brought all her relatives and put them
outside the camp of Israel.

24 Then the Israelites burned the city and everything in it. Only the things made from silver, gold,
bronze, or iron were kept for the treasury of YHWH's house.
25 Thus Joshua saved alive Rahab the harlot, and her father's household, and all that she had,
and she lives in the midst of Israel to this day; because she hid the messengers whom Joshua had
sent to spy out Jericho.

26 And Joshua charged the people with an oath at that time, saying: 'Cursed be the man before
YHWH, who rises up and re-builds this city. With the loss of his first-born shall he lay the
foundation for Jericho, and with the loss of his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.'

27 And so it was; YHWH was with Joshua; and his fame spread in all the land.

JOSHUA Chapter 7.

Defeat follows Transgression at Ai

Joshua 7:1 But the children of Israel transgressed the commandment and took for their own use
of that which was accursed. For Achan, the son of Charmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zare, of the
tribe of Judah, took something YHWH had condemned, so YHWH’s anger flared against the
children of Israel.

2. After they defeated Jericho, Joshua sent some men to Ai. Ai was near Beth Aven, east of Bethel.
He told them, "Go to Ai and look for weaknesses in that area." So, the men went to spy out that
land. 3 They returned to Joshua and advised; “You do not need to send all the army up; if only
about two or three thousand go up, they can overcome Ai. Why bother the whole army for a town
that small?"

4 So, Joshua sent about three thousand soldiers to attack Ai. But the men of Ai fought back and
chased the Israelite soldiers away from the town gate and down the hill to the stone quarries. 5
Thirty-six Israelite soldiers were killed in their retreat, and the Israelite army saw their courage
melt away.

6 Joshua and the leaders of Israel tore their clothing in dismay, threw dust on their heads, and
bowed down to the ground facing the Ark of YHWH until evening.

7 And Joshua said, I pray, YHWH, why has your servant brought this people over the Jordan only
to give them over to the Amorites to destroy us? Would not it have been better if we had remained
and settled ourselves on the other side of the Jordan.

8 Forgive me, YHWH, but what can I say, now that Israel has turned tail on the enemy.

9 Everyone will think you were not strong enough to protect your people. Now the Canaanites and
everyone else who lives in the land will surround us and wipe us out. What will that do to the
honor of your great name?

10 YHWH said to Joshua, "Get up! What are you doing bowing down to the ground?
11 I said everything in Jericho belonged to me and had to be destroyed. But the Israelites have
kept some of the things for themselves. They stole from me and hid what they took. Then they lied
about it. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs
and run because they have been made
susceptible to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you
was to be devoted to destruction. 12 What they stole was supposed to be destroyed, and now Israel
itself must be destroyed. I cannot help you anymore until you do exactly what I have said. That's
why Israel turns and runs from its enemies instead of standing up to them.

13 "Get up! Tell the people, 'Get ready for tomorrow by performing the ceremonies to make
yourselves holy. This is what YHWH, the god of Israel says: You have what I claimed for myself,
Israel. You will not be able to defend yourselves against your enemies until you rid yourselves of
what I have claimed.

14 Tomorrow morning, therefore, you will come forward a tribe by tribe, and then the tribe which
YHWH selects by lot will come forward b clan by clan, and the clan which YHWH selects by lot will
come forward, family by family, and the family which YHWH selects by lot will come forward d
man by man.

15 Then the man who is found with the cursed thing is to be burned, with everything which is his;
because he has gone against the agreement of YHWH and has done an act of shame in Israel.

Achan’s Sin

16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near, by their tribes; and the tribe
of Judah was selected: 17 Then Joshua brought the clans of Judah to YHWH, and YHWH showed
that the Zerah clan was guilty. One by one he brought the leader of each family in the Zerah clan
to YHWH, and YHWH showed that Zabdi's family was guilty.

18 Finally, Joshua brought each man in Zabdi's family to the YHWH, and then YHWH showed
that Achan was the guilty one.

19 Then Joshua said to Achan, "Son, you must honor YHWH, the god of Israel. Praise him and
confess your sins to him. Tell me what you did, and don't try to hide anything from me." 20 Achan
answered, "It is true! I sinned against YHWH, the god of Israel. This is what I did:

21 In Jericho, I saw a beautiful coat from Babylon, and about five pounds of silver, also about a
pound of gold. I wanted these things for myself, so I took them. You will find them buried in the
ground under my tent. The silver is under the coat."

22 So Joshua sent some men to the tent, and they found the things hidden there. The silver was
under the coat, just as Achan had said. 23 The men brought the things out of the tent and took
them to Joshua and all the Israelites. They threw them on the ground before YHWH.

24 Then Joshua and all Israel took Achan, the son of Zerah, and the silver and the robe and the
mass of gold, and his sons and his daughters and his oxen and his asses and his sheep and his tent
and everything he had; and they took them up into the valley of Achor. 25 Joshua said to Achor:
'Why have you brought misfortune on us? Today may YHWH bring misfortune on you!' And all
Israel stoned him to death (and they burned them after they threw stones at them).

Footnotes for Chapter Seven

a
tribe - The tribe in Hebrew genealogy was the the originating family unit deriving its
identity from one of Jacob’s twelve sons. It was in its original form, the father’s identity
from which progeny by the entire nation of Israel would stem from.
b
clan – A clan represented those family members who were seen as grouped together for
particular purposes or tasks within the nation.
c
family - was the basic organizational unit in Hebrew society consisting of a husband, his
wife and their children altogether. Other close relatives would also be seen as members of
the family.
d
man – represents an individual male member of a basic family unit.

JOSHUA Chapter 8.

Conquering Ai

Joshua 8:1 Then YHWH said to Joshua; Have no fear and do not be troubled: take with you all the
fighting-men and go up against Ai. For I have given into your hands the king of Ai and his people
and his town and his land.

2 You will destroy them just as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the
captured goods and the cattle for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."

3 So Joshua and the whole army moved out to attack Ai. He chose thirty thousand of his best
fighting men and sent them out at night 4 with these orders: "Listen carefully. You are to set an
ambush behind the city. Don't go very far from it. All of you be on the alert.

5 The rest of the people and I will come up to the city, and when they make a raid against us as
they did the last time, we will flee from them.6 We will let them chase us until they have all left
the city. For they will think, 'The Israelites are running away from us as they did before.'

7 Then you are to rise up from ambush and take the city. YHWH your god will give it into your
hand. 8 When you have captured the city, set fire to it, in obedience to YHWH 's command. Now,
then these are my orders.'

9 So they left that night and lay in ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua
remained among the people in the camp that night. 10 Early the next morning Joshua mustered
his men, and he and the leaders of Israel marched before them to Ai.

11 When all the troops he led were drawn up in position before the city, they pitched camp north
of Ai, on the other side of the ravine.
12 Joshua had taken about five thousand men and set them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, to
the west of the city. 13 So they stationed the main army north of the city and the ambush west of
the city. Joshua himself spent that night in the valley.

14 Now when the king of Ai saw them, he got up quickly and went out to war against Israel, he
and all his people, to the slope going down to the valley; but he had no idea that a secret force was
lying in wait at the rear of the city.

15 Then Joshua and all Israel, acting as if they were overcome before them, retreated by way of
the wilderness.

16 All the troops in the city gathered to pursue them. And in pursuing Joshua and the people with
him, they were drawn out of the city. 17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after
Israel. They left the city wide open and pursued Israel.

18 Finally, YHWH told Joshua, "Point your sword at the town of Ai, because now I am going to
help you defeat it!" 19 As soon as Joshua pointed his sword at the town, the men lying in ambush
rose quickly from their position and rushed toward the city. They entered the city speedily,
captured it and hurriedly set it on fire.

20 By the time the men of Ai who were pursuing Joshua looked back, the smoke from the city was
already sky-high. Escape in any direction was impossible, because the Israelites retreating toward
the desert now turned on their pursuers.

21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw the smoke ascending, they knew the men in ambush had
taken the city. Then, they turned again, and slew the men of Ai who were pursuing them.

22 Meanwhile, the Israelites who were inside the city had come out and started killing the enemy
from the rear. So, the troops of Ai were caught in a trap, and all of them died. Not a single person
survived or escaped. 23 Only the king of Ai was taken alive and brought to Joshua.

24 Then, after the destruction of all the people of Ai in the field and in the waste land where they
went after them, and when all the soldiers had been put to death without mercy, all Israel went
back to Ai, and put to death survivors who were in it without mercy.

25 So the entire population of Ai was wiped out that day, twelve thousand in all, including men
women and children. 26 For, Joshua did not draw back the hand with which he had pointed the
sword until he had subjected all the inhabitants of Ai to the curse of destruction.

27 However, the Israelites took the livestock and the spoils of the city as their booty, in
accordance with the instructions that YHWH had given to Joshua. 28 So, Joshua burned Ai and
made it forever a heap of ruins, as it is to this day.

29 And Joshua had the king of Ai put to death, hanging him on a tree till evening: and when the
sun went down, Joshua gave them orders to take his body down from the tree, and put it in the
public place of the town, covering it with a great pile of stones, which is there to this day.
Joshua Reaffirms the Law of Moses
(Deuteronomy 27:1–10)

30 Joshua then built an altar to YHWH, god of Israel, on Mount Ebal, 31 Just as Moses the
servant of YHWH had commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of
Moses. An altar of unhewn stones, upon which no man had lifted up any iron: and they offered
burnt-offerings to YHWH and sacrificed peace-offerings to him on it.

32 And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, Joshua had a copy of the law, which Moses
had written inscribed on those stones.

33 Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before
the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of YHWH, the stranger as well as he who
was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of
Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of YHWH had commanded before, that they should bless the
people of Israel.

34 Then were read aloud to all, the words of the law, the blessings, and the curses,
exactly as written in the book of the law. 35 Every command Moses had ever given was read to the
entire assembly, including the women and children and the foreigners who lived among the
Israelites.

JOSHUA Chapter 9.

Gibeonites Attempt to Deceive Joshua

Joshua 9:1 Now all the kings west of the Jordan heard about what had happened. (These were the
kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, who lived in the hill
country, in the western foothills, and along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as the
Lebanon mountains.)

2 They all formed an alliance to launch a unified attack against Joshua and Israel.

3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done in Jericho and to Ai, 4 they
devised a scheme. They decided that some of their men should pretend to be messengers to Israel
from a faraway country.

The men put worn-out bags on their donkeys and found some old wineskins that had cracked and
had been sewn back together. 5 They put old patched up shoes upon their feet and wore old
garments; and all the bread for their provisions was dry and crumbly.

6. When they arrived at the camp where Israel was at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of
Israel, "We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with us." 7 But the
men of Israel replied to the Hivites, "You may be living in a land that is now ours. Now, why
should we make an alliance with you?"

8 So, they responded to Joshua, "We're at your mercy, here to serve you." Joshua asked them,
"Who are you, and where did you come from?"

9 And they said to him; Your servants have come from a very far country, because of the
reputation of YHWH your god: for the story of his great name, and of all he did in Egypt has come
to our ears, 10 We have also heard what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River
-- King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan (who lived in Ashtaroth).

11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, take provisions in your
hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, We are your servants: and now
please make a covenant with us. 12 This bread which we have with us for our food, was warm and
new when we left our houses, starting on our journey to you; but now see, it has all become dry
and broken up.

13 And these wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and cracked. And our
clothing and sandals are worn out from our long, hard trip."

14 So Joshua’s men took some of their provisions to examine but did not ask counsel from
YHWH. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live,
and the leaders of the congregation of Israel ratified their agreement with a binding oath.

16 A few days later, the Israelites came to find out that these people actually lived in the nearby
towns of Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-Jearim.

17 So the Israelites left the place where they had camped and arrived at the four towns two days
later. 18 But the army of Israel did not try to fight against those cities since their leaders had made
a peace agreement with them. They had made a promise to them before YHWH, the god of Israel.
As a result, all the people complained against the leaders who made that agreement.

19 But the leaders replied, "We have sworn an oath in the presence of YHWH, the god of Israel.
So, we cannot touch them. 20 This we will do; take them alive, and we will preserve them: so,
there shall not be wrath against us by reason of the oath which we swore to them.

21 Therefore, let them live. But we will make them chop the wood and carry the water for the
entire community." So, the Israelites kept their promise to the Gibeonites.

22 Then, Joshua sent for the Gibeonites and asked them, 'Why did you deceive us by saying, "We
live very far away," when in fact you live right among us? 23 Now because of this you are cursed,
and you will forever be our servants, cutting wood and getting water for the house of my god.

24 The Gibeonites answered, "YHWH your god told his servant Moses that you were to kill
everyone who lives here and take their land for yourselves. We were afraid you would kill us, and
so we tricked you into making a peace treaty. But we agree to be your servants. 25 And now that
we are in your power, do with us what you think fit and right."

26 What he did with them was this: he saved them from the hand of the Israelites, who did not kill
them. 27 And he gave orders in that day, that they should be in the service of all the people, and of
the altar of YHWH, hewing wood, and carrying water, until this present time, in the place which
the YHWH has chosen.

JOSHUA Chapter 10.

A Day the Sun Stood Still

Joshua 10:1 Now when it came to the ears of Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, that Joshua had
taken Ai, and had given it up to the curse (for as he had done to Jericho and its king, and as he
had done to Ai and its king); and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were
living among them; 2 he became greatly frightened, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of
the royal cities, and was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors.

3 So Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, sent to Hoham, king of Hebron, and to Piram, king of
Jarmuth, and to Japhia, king of Lachish, and to Debir, king of Eglon, saying,4 "Come join me and
help me attack Gibeon for they have made a peace agreement with Joshua and the Israelites."

5 So the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of
Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, were banded together, and went up with all
their armies and took up their position before Gibeon and made war against it.

6 Thereupon, the men of Gibeon sent an appeal to Joshua in his camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon
your servants. Come up here quickly and save us. Help us, because all the Amorite kings of the
mountain country have joined forces against us."

7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal with all his army and all his men of war. 8 Meanwhile YHWH
had said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your power. Not one of them
will be able to withstand you."

9 So Joshua came upon the Ammorites suddenly, after having marched all night from Gilgal.10
And YHWH threw them into a panic before Israel, who inflicted a great slaughter on them at
Gibeon, chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as
Azekah and Makkedah.

11 As the Amorites retreated down the road from Beth-horon, YHWH decimated them with a
terrible hailstorm that continued until they reached Azekah. This hail killed more of the enemy
than the Israelites killed with the sword.

12 It was on that day when YHWH gave up the Amorites into the hands of the children of Israel
that Joshua said to Him, before the eyes of Israel, Sun, be at rest over Gibeon; and you, O moon,
in the valley of Aijalon.

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves on their
enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jashar? And the sun lingered in the midst of heaven
and stayed there, not going down for a whole day.
14 And, there has never been a day like it before or since, when YHWH obeyed the voice of a man,
while he fought for Israel. 15 After the battle, Joshua and the Israelites went back to their camp at
Gilgal.

Victory at Makkedah

16 Meanwhile, these five kings escaped and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17 And Joshua
was told; The five kings have been found, hiding in a cave at Makkedah.

18 Whereupon, he issued this command: "Cover the opening of the cave with large rocks and
place guards at the entrance to keep the kings inside”. 19 The rest of you continue chasing the
enemy and cut them down from the rear. Don't let them get back to their cities, for YHWH, your
god has granted you victory over them."

20 So Joshua and the Israelite army continued the slaughter and wiped out the five armies except
for a small remnant that managed to get back to their fortified cities.21 Then the Israelite army
returned safely to their camp at Makkedah. After that, no one dared to speak a word against
Israel.

22 Then Joshua gave orders to; "Remove the rocks covering the opening of the cave and bring the
five kings to me."

23 And they did so and brought those five kings out to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem,
the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

24 And when they had made the five kings come out to Joshua, Joshua sent for all
the army of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him; Come near
and put your feet on the necks of these kings. So, they came near and put their feet on their necks.

25 And Joshua said to them; Have no fear and do not be troubled; be strong and take heart: for so
will YHWH do to all against whom you make war.

26 Then Joshua had the five kings put to death, hanging them on five trees, where they were till
evening. 27 And when the sun went down, they were taken down from the trees, by Joshua's
orders, and put into the cave where they had gone to be safe; and great stones were placed at the
mouth of the cave, where they are to this day.

28 And Joshua took Makkedah on that same day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the
king thereof: he utterly destroyed them and all the souls that were therein; he left none
remaining; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Conquering the Southern Cities

29 From Makkedah, Joshua proceeded with all Israel to Libnah, and he attacked it. 30 YHWH
also gave the Israelites victory over this city and its king. They spared no one and killed every
person in it. They did to the king what they had done to the king of Jericho.

31 From Libnah, Joshua and the Israelites went to Lachish and attacked it. 32 And YHWH gave
Lachish into the hands of Israel, and on the second day he took it, putting it and every person in it
to the sword without mercy, as he had done to Libnah.

33 At that time Horam, king of Gezer, came up to help Lachish, but Joshua also defeated him and
his people, leaving him no survivors.

34 Then, Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Lachish to Eglon: and they took up their
position against it and made an attack on it; 35 And they captured it
in one day and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to
destruction that day, just as he had done to Lachish.
36 After leaving Eglon, they attacked Hebron 37 capturing it and all of its surrounding towns. And
just as they had done at Eglon, they completely destroyed the entire population. Not one person
was left alive.

38 And Joshua and all Israel returned to Dabir; and they encamped around it; 39 They captured
the city, its king, and all of its surrounding villages. And they killed everyone in it, leaving no
survivors. They completely destroyed Debir just as they had destroyed Libnah and Hebron.

40 Thus, Joshua captured towns everywhere in the region conquering the entire country; the
mountain regions, the Negeb, the foothills, and the mountain slopes, with all their kings. He left
no survivors, but fulfilled the doom on all who lived there, just as YHWH, the god of Israel, had
commanded.

41 Joshua conquered from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen to Gibeon. 42 And
all these kings and their land Joshua took at the same time, because YHWH, the god of Israel, was
fighting for Israel. 43 Afterward, Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.

JOSHUA Chapter 11.

Conquering the Northern Cities

Joshua 11:1 When Jabin, king of Hazor, heard of this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the
king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph, 2 and to the kings of the north in the hill country
and in the desert. Jabin sent the message to the kings of the Kinnereth, the Negev, and the
western foothills. He also sent the message to the king of Naphoth Dor in the west 3 and to the
Canaanites on the east and on the west, and to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites,
and the Jebusites in the hill-country, and the Hivites under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.

4 All these kings responded by mobilizing their warriors and uniting to fight against Israel. Their
combined armies, along with a vast array of horses and chariots, covered the landscape like the
sand on the seashore. 5 And all these kings met together and came and encamped together at the
waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

6 YHWH then said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I shall hand
them all over to you, wounded and cut to pieces; Israel you will hamstring their horses and burn
their chariots.'

7 So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and
attacked them, 8 JHWH put them at Israel's mercy, and they defeated them and pursued them as
far as Sidon the Great, and as far as Misrephoth to the west, and as far as the Valley of Mizpah to
the east; they harried them until not one of them was left alive.

9 And Joshua did to them as YHWH told him; he crippled their horses and burnt their chariots
with fire.

10 Joshua then turned back and captured Hazor, putting its king to the sword.

Hazor in olden days was the capital of all these kingdoms. 11 The Israelites completely destroyed
every living thing in the city. Not a single person was spared. And then Joshua burned the city.

12 And Joshua put to the sword and destroyed all the cities round about, and their kings, as
Moses the servant of God had commanded him.

13 Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on high mounds-- except Hazor, which Joshua
burned. 14 And all the spoil of these cities and the livestock, the people of Israel took for their
plunder. But every man they struck with the edge of the sword until they had destroyed them, and
they did not leave any one alive.

15 As YHWH had commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua: and so, did
Joshua command his troops; he left nothing undone of all that YHWH commanded Moses.

Joshua Takes the Whole Land

16 So Joshua conquered the entire region -- the hill country, the Negev, the land of Goshen, the
western foothills, the Jordan Valley, and the mountains and lowlands of Israel.

17 The Israelite territory now extended all the way from Mount Halak, which leads up to Seir, to
Baal-gad at the foot of Mount Hermon in the valley of Lebanon.

Joshua had killed all the kings of those territories;18 Joshua had waged war a long time ( at least
five years) with all those kings.

19 With the exception of the Hivites who lived in Gibeon, no city endured in peace with the
Israelites; all were taken in battle. 20 For it was YHWH who hardened their hearts to meet Israel
in battle, that they might be utterly destroyed, and that there might be no favor shown to them,
but that they might be destroyed, as YHWH had commanded Moses.
21 During that same era, Joshua wiped out the Anakim of the highlands, of Hebron, of Debir, of
Anab, of all the highlands of Judah and of all the highlands of Israel; he delivered them and their
towns over to the curse of destruction. 22 There were none of the Anakim left in the lands of the
children of Israel; only at Gaza, at Gath, and at Ashdod there remained some survivors.

23 So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as YHWH had instructed Moses. He gave it to
the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the twelve tribes
(originating families of Israel). So, the land was finally at rest from war.