Joshua 10:1-43 The Israelites Assist the City of Gibeon, Against the Amorite Kings

 

The Israelites Assist the City of Gibeon, Against the Amorite Kings

Joshua 10:1-43               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

Now it [happened,] when Adoni Zedek, [Jerusalem’s] king, heard how Joshua had taken Ai & [totally] destroyed it & [its] king; [like] he had done to Jericho & [its] king & how [Gibeon’s] inhabitants had made peace with Israel & were among them.

They were [very afraid,] because Gibeon was a [large] city, [like] 1 of the royal cities & it was [larger] than Ai & all [its] men were mighty.

[Therefore,] Adoni Zekek, [Jerusalem’s] king, sent to Hoham, [Hebron’s] king, Piram, [Jarmuth’s] king, Japhia, [Lachish’s] king & Debir, [Eglon’s] king, saying, Come up to me & help me, [so] we may [attack] Gibeon.

For it has made peace with Joshua & with the children [people] of Israel. Therefore, the 5 [Amorite] kings, the kings of: Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish & Eglon gathered themselves together & went up [with] all their [armies.]

They [camped] before Gibeon & made war against it. The men of Gibeon sent to the camp of Gilgal, to Joshua, saying, [Don’t be slow to assist] your servants. Come up to us quickly, help us & save us.

For all the [Amorite] kings [who live] in the mountains are gathered together against us. So, Joshua & all [his] people of war & mighty men of valor, [went up] from Gilgal.

The Lord said to Joshua, [Don’t be fearful:] for I have delivered them into your hand. Not a man of them shall stand before you. Therefore, Joshua went all night from Gilgal & came to them suddenly.

The Lord [defeated] them before Israel & [killed] them with a great slaughter at Gibeon & chased them along the [road] that goes up to Beth Horon & [attacked] them [all the way] to Azekah & Makkedah.

It [happened,] as they fled before Israel & were going down to Beth Horon, the Lord cast down [large hail] stones from heaven upon them [all the way to] Azekah & they died.

[Those who] died by the hailstone were more than [those of] the [people] of Israel [killed] with the sword. Then, Joshua spoke to the Lord [on] the day when the Lord delivered the Amorites, before the [people] of Israel.

[Joshua] said in the sight of Israel, Sun, you stand still upon Gibeon & Moon, [stop] in the Valley of Ajalon. The sun stood still & the moon [stopped,] until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.

Isn’t this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven & didn’t go down [almost] the whole day. There was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord [paid attention to] the voice of a man.

For the Lord fought for Israel. Joshua returned & all of Israel with him to the camp [at] Gilgal. But the 5 kings fled & hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. Joshua was told, The 5 kings are found [hidden] in a cave at Makkedah.

Joshua said, Roll [large] stones upon the mouth of the cave & [put] men by it to [guard] them. [Don’t stop,] but pursue after your enemies & [attack] them [from behind.]

[Don’t allow] them to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God has delivered them into your [hands.] It [happened,] when Joshua & the [people] of Israel had [finished attacking] them with a [large] slaughter & [until] they were [destroyed.]

The rest [who] remained, entered into fenced cities. All the [Israelites] returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. None [spoke] against any of the [people] of Israel.

Then, Joshua said, Open the mouth of the cave & bring out of the cave, those 5 kings to me & [they did so.] They brought [out] of the cave, those 5 kings to Joshua. The [kings of:] Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish & Eglon.

It [happened,] when they brought out the kings to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel & said to the captains of war [who] went with him, Come near & put your feet upon the necks of these kings & [they did so.]

Joshua said to them, [Don’] be fearful, nor discouraged.] Be strong & [courageous.] For the Lord will do this to all your enemies you fight against. Afterward, Joshua [struck & killed] the [kings] & [hung] their bodies on 5 trees until evening.

It [happened at sundown,] Joshua commanded & [had them taken] down off the trees & had them [thrown] into the cave [where they had been hidden] & [had large] stones [put] over the cave’s mouth, [that] remain there this very day.

That day, Joshua [captured] Makkedah & [struck] it with the edge of the sword. He [totally] destroyed [its] king & all [who were in it.] He [didn’t let any] remain. [Joshua] did to [Makkedah’s] king [like] he did to [Jericho’s] king.

Then, Joshua & all Israel with him [crossed] from Makkedah to Libnah & fought against Libnah. The Lord also delivered Libnah & [its] king into the hand of Israel. He smote it & all the [people within it] with the edge of the sword.

He let none remain & did to [its] king [like] he did to [Jericho’s] king. Joshua & all Israel with him [crossed] from Libnah to Lachish & [camped] against it & fought against it.

The Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which [captured] it on the 2nd day & [struck] it & [all the people within it] with the edge of the sword, [like] he had done to Libnah.

Then, Horam, [Gezer’s] king, came up to help Lachish & Joshua [attacked] him & his people until none [remained.] From Lachish, Joshua & all Israel with him [crossed] into Eglon & they [camped] against it & fought against it.

They [captured] it on that day & [struck] it & all [the people within it] with the edge of the sword, [like] he had done in Lachish. He [totally] destroyed that day, all [who were in there.] Joshua & all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron & they fought against it.

They [captured Hebron] & [struck] it, [Its] king, all [its] cities & [all its people within them] with the edge of the sword, [like] he had done to Eglon & [totally] destroyed it. He left none remaining [like] he had done to Eglon.

Joshua & all Israel with him, returned to Debir & fought against it. He [captured] it & [its] king, all [its] cities & all the people [within them] & [struck] them with the edge of the sword & [totally] destroyed all & left none remaining [like] he did to Hebron, Debir, & Libnah & [their kings.]

So, Joshua [attacked] all the hill country, the south, the [valley,] the springs & all their kings. He left none remaining & [totally] destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.

Joshua, even [attacked] them from Kadesh Barnea [all the way to] Gaza & all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon. All these kings & their land, Joshua took at 1 time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. And Joshua & all Israel with him, returned to the camp in Gilgal.

Joshua 9:1-27 Being Fooled into a Treaty with the City of Gibeon of the Hivites

 

Being Fooled into a Treaty with the City of Gibeon of the Hivites

Joshua 9:1-27               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

It [happened,] when all the Hittite, Amorite, Canaanite, Perizzite, Hivite & Jebusite kings on this side [of] Jordan, in the hills, valleys & coasts of [the Mediterranean Sea up to] Lebanon heard [of it;]

They gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua & Israel & [united like 1 army.] When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho & Ai, they worked [deceitfully] & [acted as if] they had been ambassadors & [put] old sacks upon their [mules with] old [torn & mended] wine bottles.

[They had] old [patched] shoes upon their feet & [wore] old [clothing] & all the bread [they brought] was dry & moldy. They went to the camp at Gilgal, to Joshua & said to him & the men of Israel, We [have] come from a [distant] country. Therefore, make a [treaty] with us now.

The [Israelite] men said to the [Gibeonites of] the Hivites, [If] you [live] among us, how shall we make a [treaty] with you? They said to Joshua, We are your servants.

Joshua said to them, Who are you? [Where] did you come from? They said to [Joshua, We,] your servants, have come from a very [distant] country, because of the Name of the Lord your God.

For we have heard of His fame & all He did in Egypt & all He did to the [Amorite’s] 2 kings beyond [the] Jordan, to Sihon, [Heshbon’s] king & Og, [Bashan’s] king, [who] was at Ashtaroth.

[Therefore,] our elders & the inhabitants of our country said to us, Take [food] with you for the journey & go & meet them & say to them, We are your servants, therefore make a [treaty] with us.

We took this bread hot for our provisions [from] our [homes] the [day we left to come here;] but now, [look, it’s] dry & moldy. These bottles of wine, we filled, [when] they were new & [look] they are [torn.]

Our [clothing] & shoes [have become] old, [because of] the very long journey. The men took [some of their food & didn’t] ask for [guidance] from the mouth of the Lord.

Joshua made peace with them & made a [treaty] with them, to let them live & the princes of the congregation [swore in agreement with] them.

It [happened,] at the end of 3 days, after they had made a [treaty] with [the Gibeonites,] the [Israelites] heard they were their neighbors [who lived near] them.

The children [people] of Israel, journeyed 3 days & came to the cities: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth & Kirjath Jearim. The [people] of Israel [didn’t attack] them, because of the [treaty] the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel.

All the congregation [of Israelites complained] against the princes. But all the princes said to the congregation, We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel: therefore we may not touch them.

We will do this to them & we will let them live, lest anger is upon us, because of the oath we swore to them. The princes said, [In addition to letting] them live, we will let them be our wood [cutters] & our water [carriers] for all the congregation; as the [Israelite] princes promised them.

Joshua called for them & spoke to [the Gibeonites,] saying, [Why] have you [deceived] us, saying, We are [from] very far [away] from you, when you [live near] us? Therefore, you are now cursed & none of you shall be freed from being bondmen & wood [cutters] & water [carriers for] the house of my God.

[The Gibeonites] answered Joshua & said, Because, we, your servants, were certainly told, [that] the Lord your God commanded Moses to give you all the land & to destroy [its] inhabitants before you.

Therefore, we were [very] afraid [for] our lives, because of you & we have done this thing. Now [look,] we are in your [hands.] [Do] as it seems good & right to you to do to us.

[Joshua  did this] to them & delivered them out of the hand of the [people] of Israel, [so] they [didn’t kill] them. That day, Joshua made [the Gibeonites] wood [cutters] & water [carriers] for the congregation & for the altar of the Lord, in the place He [would] choose, even [until] this day.

Joshua 8:1-35 Conquering the City of Ai

 

Conquering the City of Ai

Joshua 8:1-35               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

The Lord said to Joshua, [Don’t be fearful or discouraged.] Take all the [men] of war with you & arise & go up to Ai. See, I have given the king of Ai, his people, his city & his land, into your hand.

You shall do to Ai & [its] king, [just as you did] to Jericho & her king. You shall take [as plunder] for yourself, only [its livestock.] Lay an ambush behind the city. So, Joshua arose & all  the [men] of war, to go up against Ai.

Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor & sent them away [at] night. He commanded them, saying, [Look,] you shall lie in wait behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city & all [of] you be ready.

The people [who] are with me & I  will approach the city. It shall [happen,] when they come out against us, [like the 1st time,] we will flee [in front of them.] (For they will come out after us) [until] we have drawn them from the city:

For they will say, They flee before us, [like] the 1st [time.] Therefore, we will flee [in front of them.] Then, we shall rise up from the ambush & seize the city, for the Lord your God will deliver it into your [hands.]

It shall [happen,] when you have taken the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the command of the Lord, [like] I have [ordered] you.

Therefore, Joshua sent them [out] & they went to lie in ambush & [stayed] on the west side of Ai, between Bethel & Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people [of Israel.]

Joshua rose up early in the morning & numbered the people. [Joshua] & the elders went up before the [Israelites] to Ai. All the people, [including] the people of war that were with him & went up & [came close] to the [front] of the city.

They pitched [their tents] on the north side of Ai. Now, there was a valley between them and Ai. [Joshua] took about 5,000 men & [had] them lie in ambush between Bethel & Ai on the west side of the city.

When [all] the people were [positioned] & all the [army] was on the north [side] of the city & [those on] the west [side, who lie] in wait [to ambush;] Joshua went into the [middle] of the valley that night.

It [happened,] when [Ai’s] king saw it, they [hurried] & rose up early. The [king,] the men of the city & all the people went out against Israel to battle, at the appointed time, [in front of the plain,] but the [king didn’t know] there were [those lying] in wait behind the city [to] ambush them.

Joshua & all Israel [acted] as if they were beaten before them & fled by the [road] of the wilderness. All of [Ai’s] people called [out] to pursue together after Joshua & [they] were drawn away from the city.

There wasn’t a man left in Ai or Bethel, [who didn’t go] out after Israel. They left the city open & pursued after Israel. The Lord said to Joshua, Stretch out the spear in your hand toward Ai; for I will give [the city] into your hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear in his hand toward the city.

The [ambushers] arose quickly out of their place & ran [out] as soon as [Joshua] stretched out his hand. They entered into the city & [captured] it & [hurried] & set the city on fire.

When the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw the smoke of the city [going] up to heaven & they had no power to flee this way or that way. The [Israelites who had] fled into the wilderness, turned back upon the pursuers.

When Joshua & all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city & that the smoke of the city ascended up, they then [returned] again & [killed] the men of Ai. [The Israelites inside the] city, [came out] against them.

So they were in the [middle] of [the Israelites,] some on this side & some on that side. [They struck them down,] so that none of them [remained or escaped.] They took [Ai’s] king alive & brought him to Joshua.

It [happened,] when Israel had made an end of [killing all of Ai’s] inhabitants in the field, in the wilderness [where] they chased them & when they had been [struck] with the edge of the sword & were [destroyed, then] all the Israelites returned to Ai & [struck] it with the edge of the sword.

So it was, all [who] fell that day [of] both me & women were 12,000, even all the men of Ai. For Joshua [didn’t pull back] his hand he used to [hold] out the spear, until they had [totally] destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Israel took only the [livestock & the plunder] of that city, for themselves, according to the word [that] the Lord [had] commanded Joshua. Joshua burnt Ai & made it a desolate heap forever, even [until] this day.

[Joshua had hung Ai’s] king on a tree until [twilight.] As soon as the sun set, Joshua commanded that they should take down his [carcass] from the tree & [throw] it by the [entrance] gate of the city.

They [put] a heap of stones [on it where] they remain to this day. Then, Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel in Mount Ebal, [like] Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded the children [people] of Israel.

[Like] it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, an altar [should be made] of whole stones, [in which] no iron [tools have been used.] They offered burnt offerings to the Lord [on it] & sacrificed Peace Offerings.

[Joshua] wrote a copy of Moses’ Law upon the stones in the presence of the children [people] of Israel. And all Israel, their elders, officers & their judges stood on this side [of] the Ark.

On the [other] side stood the priests, the Levites, [who carried] the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord, as well [as the strangers] & [those who were] born among them.

Half of them [were] over against Mount Gerizim & half were over against Mount Ebal; as Moses, the servant of the Lord, [had previously] commanded, that they should bless the people of Israel.

Afterward, [Joshua] read all the words of the Law, the blessings & [curses,] according to all that is written in the Book of the Law.

[There] wasn’t a word that Moses commanded, [that] Joshua didn’t read before the congregation of Israel, with the women & little ones & the strangers [living] among them.

Joshua 7:1-26 Some of the Israelites Chose to Take the Cursed Items

 

Some of the Israelites Chose to Take the Cursed Items

Joshua 7:1-26               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

But the children [people] of Israel committed a [sin with the cursed] thing. For Achan, [Carmi’s] son, [who was] the son of Abdi, and [he was] the son of Zerah [from] the tribe of Judah, took the [cursed] thing & the [Lord’s] anger [grew] against the children [people] of Israel.

[Joshua 6:18 And you, keep yoursleves in [all ways] from the [cursed] thing, lest you make yourselves [cursed,] when you take the [cursed] thing & make a [curse in] the camp of Israel & trouble it.]

Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is [near] Beth Aven, on the east side of Bethel & [said] to them, Go up & [spy out] the country & they went up and [examined] Ai.

They returned to Joshua & said to him, Don’t let all the people go up; but [only] let about 2,000-3,000 men go up & [attack] Ai. [Since Ai has few people, don’t] make all the [Israelites] labor [there.]

So, 3,000 men of the people [of Israel] went up [there] & they fled before the men of Ai. The men of Ai [killed] 36 [Israelites] & chased them [in front of] the gate [all the way to] Shebarim & [attacked] them [while] going [downward.]

[Therefore,] the hearts of the [Israelites] melted & became [like] water. Joshua [tore] his clothes & fell [facing the ground in front of] the Ark of the Lord until [evening.] He & the elders of Israel, put dust upon their heads.

[Genesis 37:34 And Jacob [tore] his clothes & put sackcloth upon his [waist] & mourned for his son many days.] Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, [why] have you brought [these] people over [the] Jordan [River] to deliver us into the [hands] of the Amorites, to destroy us?

God, [If only] we had been content & [stayed] on the other side [of] Jordan! O Lord, what shall I say, when [the Israelites] turn their backs before their enemies!

For the Canaanites & all the inhabitants of the land shall hear [this] & shall [surround] us & cut off our name from the earth. [Then,] what will You do [for] Your great Name?

The Lord said to Joshua, Go up. [Why] do you lie upon your face [like this]? Israel has sinned & they have also [sinned against] My covenant [that] I have commanded them.

For they have stolen & taken the [cursed] thing & also [deceived] & have put it among their own stuff. Therefore, the children [people] of Israel could not stand before their enemies.

[They] turned their backs before their enemies, because they were [cursed.] Neither will I be with you any more, [unless] you destroy the [cursed] thing from among you. [Go] up & sanctify the people & say, Sanctify yourselves [for] tomorrow.

For the Lord God of Israel [says this,] There is a [cursed] thing in the midst of you, O Israel. You can’t stand before your enemies, until you take away the [cursed] thing from among you.

Therefore, in the morning, you shall be brought according to your tribes. It shall be that the tribe [that] the Lord takes shall come according to [its] families. The family [that] the Lord shall take, shall come by households.

The household [that] the Lord shall take, shall come man by man. It shall be, that he [who] is taken with the [cursed] thing shall be burnt with fire, he & all that he has, because he has [sinned against] the Lord & he has [done a horrible thing] in Israel.

So, Joshua rose up early in the morning & brought Israel by their tribes & the tribe of Judah was taken. He brought the family of Judah & he took the family of the Zarhites & he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man & Zabdi was taken. He brought his household man by man & Achan, [Carmi’s] son, [who was] the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, was taken.

Joshua said to Achan, My son, I pray that you give glory to the Lord God of Israel & [confess to] Him. Tell me now what you have done & [don’t] hide it [from] me.

Achan answered Joshua & said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel & I have done [this.] When I [saw a pretty] Babylonish garment & 200 shekels of silver & a wedge of gold [weighing] 50 shekels & I [desired them] & took them.

[Look,] they are [hidden] in the [middle] of my tent in the [ground with] the silver under it. So, Joshua sent messengers & they ran to the tent & [saw] it was [hidden] in his tent [with] the silver under it.

They took [the items] out [from the middle] of the tent & brought them to Joshua & all the children [people] of Israel & laid them out before the Lord.

Joshua & all Israel with him, took Achan, [Zerah’s] son, & the silver, the garment & the wedge of gold, his sons, his daughters, his oxen & [mules,] sheep & his tent & all that he had.

They brought them into the Valley of Achor. Joshua said, Why have you troubled us? The Lord shall trouble you, this day. And all [of] Israel stoned him [to death] & [then] burned them with fire.

They raised a great heap of stones [that are] over him to this day. So, the Lord turned from His [fierce] anger. [Therefore,] the place was called, The Valley of Achor, to this day.

Joshua 6:1-27 The Walls of Jericho Fall

 

The Walls of Jericho Fall

Joshua 6:1-27               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

Now, Jericho was [securely] shut up, because of the children [people] of Israel. None went out & none came in. The Lord said to Joshua, See, I have given Jericho, [its] king & [its] mighty men of valor into your hand.

You & all your men of war shall [march around] the city. Go around the city once [on each of] 6 days. The 7 priests shall [carry] trumpets of ram’s horns before the Ark.

The 7th day, you shall [go around] the city 7 times & the priests shall blow [the] trumpets. It shall [happen,] that when they make a long blast [on] the ram’s horn & you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a [loud] shout.

The wall of the city shall fall down flat & every man shall [go up] straight [in front of] him.  Joshua, [Nun’s] son, called the priests & said to them, [Pick] up the Ark of the Covenant & let 7 priests [carry] 7 trumpets of ram’s horns [in front of] the Ark of the Lord.

And [Joshua] said to the people, Pass on & [circle] the city & let [those who armed] pass on [in front of] the Ark of the Lord. It [happened,] when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the 7 priests [carrying] the 7 trumpets of ram’s horns before the Lord, blew the trumpets.

The Ark of the covenant of the Lord followed them. The armed men went [in front of] the priests [who] blew the trumpets. The [rear guard] came after the Ark & the priests [continued] on, blowing the trumpets.

Joshua had commanded the people, saying, You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice. Neither shall any word [come] out of your mouth, until the day [that I tell you to] shout.

Then you shall shout. So, the Ark of the Lord, [circled] the city, going [around] it once. [Then,] they came into the camp & lodged in the camp. Joshua rose early in the morning & the priests [picked] up the Ark of the Lord.

The 7 priests [carrying the] 7 trumpets of ram’s horns [in front of] the Ark of the Lord, [continued] on & blew the trumpets & the armed men went [in front of] them; but the [rear guard] came after the Ark of the Lord. The 2nd day, they [marched around] the city once & returned to camp. They did [this] for 6 days.

It [happened,] on the 7th day, that they rose early [around] dawn & [marched around] the city [in the] same manner 7 times. [That was] the only day they [circled] the city 7 times.

It [happened, on] the 7th time, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, Shout; for the Lord has given you the city. And the city & all [who are in it] shall be [cursed by] the Lord.

Only Rahab, the [prostitute] shall live & all [who] are with her in the house, because she hid the [Israelite] messengers that we sent. [Be careful to not take] any of the [cursed things,] lest you make yourselves [cursed.]

[If you take any of] the cursed [things, you] make the camp of Israel [cursed &] trouble it. But all the silver & gold & [containers] of brass & iron are [to be set aside for] the Lord. They shall [go] into the [Lord’s] treasury.

So, the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. It [happened,] when the people heard the sound of the trumpet & the people [gave a loud] shout, the wall fell down flat.

[So, the Israelites] went up into the city, every man straight [in front of them] & took the city. They [totally] destroyed all that was in the city, both man, woman, young & old & ox, sheep & [mule,] with the edge of the sword.

But Joshua had said to the 2 men [who] had spied out the country, Go into [Rahab’s] house & bring out [of there, her] & all she has, as you [swore] to her.

The young men [who were spies,] went in & brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her [siblings] & all she had. They brought out all her [relatives] & left them [outside] the camp of Israel.

They burnt the city with fire & all that was [in it.] Only the silver & gold & the [containers] of brass & iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the Lord.

And Joshua saved Rahab, [the prostitute] & all her father’s household alive & all that she had. She [lives] in Israel even to this day; because she hid the [2] messengers that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

At that time, Joshua [warned] them, saying, Cursed is the man before the Lord, [who] rises up & [rebuilds] the city of Jericho. [At the cost of] his firstborn [son,] he shall lay the foundation [of this city] & [put up its] gates. So, the Lord was with Joshua & his fame [was spread] throughout all the country.