This eBook was produced by David Widger
with the help of Derek Andrew's text from January 1992
and the work of Bryan Taylor in November 2002.
Book 06 Joshua
06:001:001 Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came
to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun,
Moses' minister, saying,
06:001:002 Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this
Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do
give to them, even to the children of Israel.
06:001:003 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that
have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
06:001:004 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great
river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and
unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be
your coast.
06:001:005 There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the
days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee:
I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
06:001:006 Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt
thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto
their fathers to give them.
06:001:007 Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant
commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the
left, that thou mayest prosper withersoever thou goest.
06:001:008 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but
thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest
observe to do according to all that is written therein: for
then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt
have good success.
06:001:009 Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be
not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is
with thee whithersoever thou goest.
06:001:010 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
06:001:011 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare
you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this
Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God
giveth you to possess it.
06:001:012 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the
tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
06:001:013 Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD
commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest,
and hath given you this land.
06:001:014 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in
the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye
shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of
valour, and help them;
06:001:015 Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given
you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your
God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your
possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD's servant gave
you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
06:001:016 And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us
we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
06:001:017 According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we
hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he
was with Moses.
06:001:018 Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and
will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest
him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good
courage.
06:002:001 And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy
secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they
went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged
there.
06:002:002 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there
came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to
search out the country.
06:002:003 And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth
the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine
house: for they be come to search out all the country.
06:002:004 And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus,
There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
06:002:005 And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate,
when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went
I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake
them.
06:002:006 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid
them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon
the roof.
06:002:007 And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the
fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone
out, they shut the gate.
06:002:008 And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the
roof;
06:002:009 And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you
the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all
the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
06:002:010 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red
sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto
the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side
Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
06:002:011 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt,
neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because
of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and
in earth beneath.
06:002:012 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I
have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto
my father's house, and give me a true token:
06:002:013 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my
brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver
our lives from death.
06:002:014 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not
this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given
us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
06:002:015 Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her
house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
06:002:016 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the
pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until
the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
06:002:017 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine
oath which thou hast made us swear.
06:002:018 Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line
of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down
by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy
brethren, and all thy father's household, home unto thee.
06:002:019 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of
thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head,
and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in
the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon
him.
06:002:020 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of
thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
06:002:021 And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she
sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet
line in the window.
06:002:022 And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there
three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers
sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
06:002:023 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and
passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him
all things that befell them:
06:002:024 And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into
our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the
country do faint because of us.
06:003:001 And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from
Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of
Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
06:003:002 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went
through the host;
06:003:003 And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of
the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites
bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after
it.
06:003:004 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two
thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may
know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this
way heretofore.
06:003:005 And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to
morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
06:003:006 And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of
the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took
up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
06:003:007 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to
magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know
that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
06:003:008 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the
covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water
of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
06:003:009 And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and
hear the words of the LORD your God.
06:003:010 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is
among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before
you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the
Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the
Jebusites.
06:003:011 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth
passeth over before you into Jordan.
06:003:012 Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel,
out of every tribe a man.
06:003:013 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of
the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the
earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of
Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from
above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
06:003:014 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents,
to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the
covenant before the people;
06:003:015 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the
feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim
of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the
time of harvest,)
06:003:016 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up
upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside
Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain,
even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people
passed over right against Jericho.
06:003:017 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD
stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the
Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people
were passed clean over Jordan.
06:004:001 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed
over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
06:004:002 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a
man,
06:004:003 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst
of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood
firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you,
and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this
night.
06:004:004 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the
children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
06:004:005 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the
LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every
man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the
number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
06:004:006 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask
their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these
stones?
06:004:007 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut
off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed
over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these
stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for
ever.
06:004:008 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and
took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD
spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of
the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto
the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
06:004:009 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the
place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the
covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
06:004:010 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of
Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded
Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses
commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
06:004:011 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed
over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests,
in the presence of the people.
06:004:012 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half
the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children
of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
06:004:013 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the
LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
06:004:014 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all
Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the
days of his life.
06:004:015 And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
06:004:016 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that
they come up out of Jordan.
06:004:017 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out
of Jordan.
06:004:018 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the
covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan,
and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry
land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and
flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
06:004:019 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the
first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of
Jericho.
06:004:020 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did
Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
06:004:021 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your
children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What
mean these stones?
06:004:022 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over
this Jordan on dry land.
06:004:023 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from
before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God
did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we
were gone over:
06:004:024 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the
LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God
for ever.
06:005:001 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which
were on the side of 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 from before the children of
Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted,
neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the
children of Israel.
06:005:002 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp
knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second
time.
06:005:003 And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children
of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
06:005:004 And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the
people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the
men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came
out of Egypt.
06:005:005 Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the
people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they
came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
06:005:006 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the
wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which
came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the
voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not
shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers
that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and
honey.
06:005:007 And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them
Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they
had not circumcised them by the way.
06:005:008 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the
people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they
were whole.
06:005:009 And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the
reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the
place is called Gilgal unto this day.
06:005:010 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the
passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the
plains of Jericho.
06:005:011 And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow
after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the
selfsame day.
06:005:012 And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the
old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna
any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan
that year.
06:005:013 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he
lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man
over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua
went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our
adversaries?
06:005:014 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I
now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did
worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his
servant?
06:005:015 And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy
shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is
holy. And Joshua did so.
06:006:001 Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of
Israel: none went out, and none came in.
06:006:002 And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine
hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of
valour.
06:006:003 And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round
about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
06:006:004 And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of
rams' horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city
seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
06:006:005 And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast
with the ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the
trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and
the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people
shall ascend up every man straight before him.
06:006:006 And 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.
06:006:007 And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city,
and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
06:006:008 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people,
that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams'
horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets:
and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
06:006:009 And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the
trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests
going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
06:006:010 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not
shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any
word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout;
then shall ye shout.
06:006:011 So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it
once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
06:006:012 And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up
the ark of the LORD.
06:006:013 And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before
the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the
trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward
came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and
blowing with the trumpets.
06:006:014 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned
into the camp: so they did six days.
06:006:015 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early
about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the
same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the
city seven times.
06:006:016 And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew
with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the
LORD hath given you the city.
06:006:017 And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are
therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she
and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the
messengers that we sent.
06:006:018 And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing,
lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed
thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
06:006:019 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron,
are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the
treasury of the LORD.
06:006:020 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets:
and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the
trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the
wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city,
every man straight before him, and they took the city.
06:006:021 And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man
and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the
edge of the sword.
06:006:022 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, as ye sware unto her.
06:006:023 And 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; and they brought out all her kindred, and
left them without the camp of Israel.
06:006:024 And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein:
only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of
iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
06:006:025 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's
household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel
even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which
Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
06:006:026 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the
man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city
Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn,
and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
06:006:027 So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised
throughout all the country.
06:007:001 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the
accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi,
the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed
thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the
children of Israel.
06:007:002 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside
Bethaven, on the east of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying,
Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
06:007:003 And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all
the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go
up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour
thither; for they are but few.
06:007:004 So there went up thither of the people about three thousand
men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
06:007:005 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for
they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and
smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the
people melted, and became as water.
06:007:006 And 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.
06:007:007 And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all
brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand
of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been
content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
06:007:008 O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs
before their enemies!
06:007:009 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall
hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name
from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
06:007:010 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest
thou thus upon thy face?
06:007:011 Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my
covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of
the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also,
and they have put it even among their own stuff.
06:007:012 Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their
enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because
they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more,
except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
06:007:013 Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against
to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an
accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not
stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed
thing from among you.
06:007:014 In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your
tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh
shall come according to the families thereof; and the family
which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the
household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.
06:007:015 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed 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.
06:007:016 So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by
their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
06:007:017 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of
the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by
man; and Zabdi was taken:
06:007:018 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.
06:007:019 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory
to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and
tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
06:007:020 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned
against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
06:007:021 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and
two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty
shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and,
behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and
the silver under it.
06:007:022 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and,
behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
06:007:023 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought
them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and
laid them out before the LORD.
06:007:024 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of
Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold,
and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses,
and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they
brought them unto the valley of Achor.
06:007:025 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall
trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones,
and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with
stones.
06:007:026 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day.
So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore
the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto
this day.
06:008:001 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou
dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go
up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and
his people, and his city, and his land:
06:008:002 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto
Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle
thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an
ambush for the city behind it.
06:008:003 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against
Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour,
and sent them away by night.
06:008:004 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait
against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from
the city, but be ye all ready:
06:008:005 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto
the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out
against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
06:008:006 (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from
the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the
first: therefore we will flee before them.
06:008:007 Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the
city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
06:008:008 And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall
set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD
shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
06:008:009 Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in
ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of
Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
06:008:010 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the
people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the
people to Ai.
06:008:011 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him,
went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched
on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them
and Ai.
06:008:012 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in
ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
06:008:013 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was
on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west
of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the
valley.
06:008:014 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they
hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out
against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time
appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were
liers in ambush against him behind the city.
06:008:015 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before
them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
06:008:016 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to
pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were
drawn away from the city.
06:008:017 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not
out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued
after Israel.
06:008:018 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is
in thy 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.
06:008:019 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they 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.
06:008:020 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and,
behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they
had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that
fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
06:008:021 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken
the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they
turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
06:008:022 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they
were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on
that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them
remain or escape.
06:008:023 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
06:008:024 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying
all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness
wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the
edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the
Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the
sword.
06:008:025 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and
women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
06:008:026 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out
the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants
of Ai.
06:008:027 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a
prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD
which he commanded Joshua.
06:008:028 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a
desolation unto this day.
06:008:029 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as
soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should
take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the
entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great
heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
06:008:030 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in
mount Ebal,
06:008:031 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of
Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an
altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any
iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD,
and sacrificed peace offerings.
06:008:032 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses,
which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
06:008:033 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their
judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the
priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the
LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them;
half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over
against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had
commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
06:008:034 And 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.
06:008:035 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua
read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the
women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were
conversant among them.
06:009:001 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this
side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the
coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and
the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the
Jebusite, heard thereof;
06:009:002 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua
and with Israel, with one accord.
06:009:003 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done
unto Jericho and to Ai,
06:009:004 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been
ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine
bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
06:009:005 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments
upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and
mouldy.
06:009:006 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto
him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country:
now therefore make ye a league with us.
06:009:007 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye
dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
06:009:008 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua
said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
06:009:009 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants
are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have
heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
06:009:010 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that
were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king
of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
06:009:011 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country
spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey,
and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants:
therefore now make ye a league with us.
06:009:012 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses
on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it
is dry, and it is mouldy:
06:009:013 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and,
behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are
become old by reason of the very long journey.
06:009:014 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at
the mouth of the LORD.
06:009:015 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them,
to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware
unto them.
06:009:016 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had
made a league with them, that they heard that they were their
neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
06:009:017 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their
cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and
Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
06:009:018 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes
of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of
Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
06:009:019 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have
sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we
may not touch them.
06:009:020 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest
wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto
them.
06:009:021 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be
hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation;
as the princes had promised them.
06:009:022 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying,
Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from
you; when ye dwell among us?
06:009:023 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be
freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of
water for the house of my God.
06:009:024 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly
told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his
servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the
inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were
sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this
thing.
06:009:025 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and
right unto thee to do unto us, do.
06:009:026 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of
the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
06:009:027 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of
water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD,
even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
06:010:001 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem had
heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it;
as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai
and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace
with Israel, and were among them;
06:010:002 That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as
one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai,
and all the men thereof were mighty.
06:010:003 Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem, sent unto Hoham king
of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia
king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
06:010:004 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it
hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
06:010:005 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of
Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king
of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together,
and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before
Gibeon, and made war against it.
06:010:006 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal,
saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us
quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the
Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together
against us.
06:010:007 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war
with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
06:010:008 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have
delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them
stand before thee.
06:010:009 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from
Gilgal all night.
06:010:010 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them
with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the
way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and
unto Makkedah.
06:010:011 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were
in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great
stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they
were more which died with hailstones than they whom the
children of Israel slew with the sword.
06:010:012 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD
delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and
he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon
Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
06:010:013 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people
had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written
in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of
heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
06:010:014 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the
LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought
for Israel.
06:010:015 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to
Gilgal.
06:010:016 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at
Makkedah.
06:010:017 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid
in a cave at Makkedah.
06:010:018 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave,
and set men by it for to keep them:
06:010:019 And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the
hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities:
for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.
06:010:020 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel
had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter,
till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them
entered into fenced cities.
06:010:021 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah
in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of
Israel.
06:010:022 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out
those five kings unto me out of the cave.
06:010:023 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him
out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron,
the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of
Eglon.
06:010:024 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto
Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said
unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come
near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they
came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
06:010:025 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be
strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all
your enemies against whom ye fight.
06:010:026 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged
them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until
the evening.
06:010:027 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun,
that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees,
and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and
laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this
very day.
06:010:028 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, 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 let none remain: and
he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of
Jericho.
06:010:029 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him,
unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
06:010:030 And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the
hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword,
and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it;
but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of
Jericho.
06:010:031 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto
Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
06:010:032 And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which
took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the
sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all
that he had done to Libnah.
06:010:033 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua
smote him and his people, until he had left him none
remaining.
06:010:034 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with
him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
06:010:035 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of
the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly
destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to
Lachish.
06:010:036 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto
Hebron; and they fought against it:
06:010:037 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and
the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the
souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to
all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and
all the souls that were therein.
06:010:038 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and
fought against it:
06:010:039 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities
thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and
utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left
none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir,
and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to
her king.
06:010:040 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the
south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their
kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that
breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
06:010:041 And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and
all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
06:010:042 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one
time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
06:010:043 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to
Gilgal.
06:011:001 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those
things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king
of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
06:011:002 And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and
of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in
the borders of Dor on the west,
06:011:003 And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the
Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite
in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land
of Mizpeh.
06:011:004 And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much
people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in
multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
06:011:005 And when all these kings were met together, they came and
pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against
Israel.
06:011:006 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them:
for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain
before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their
chariots with fire.
06:011:007 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against
them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
06:011:008 And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote
them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto
Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and
they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
06:011:009 And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed
their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
06:011:010 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote
the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the
head of all those kingdoms.
06:011:011 And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge
of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left
to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
06:011:012 And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them,
did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword,
and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the
LORD commanded.
06:011:013 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength,
Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua
burn.
06:011:014 And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the
children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every
man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had
destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
06:011:015 As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command
Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that
the LORD commanded Moses.