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, [a.k.a. captured,] 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, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel. Therefore, the 5 [Amorite] kings, the kings of: Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish & Eglon, & all their [armies,] gathered themselves together, & went up.

They [camped] before, [a.k.a. in front of,] Gibeon & made war against it. The men of Gibeon sent to the camp of Gilgal, to Joshua, saying, [Don’t] [let] your hand be [slow] from [defending] 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] fear them:] for I have delivered them into your hand. Not a man of them shall stand before you. Therefore, Joshua went up all night from Gilgal & came to them suddenly.

The Lord [defeated] them [in front of] 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 [in front of] Israel, & were going down to Beth Horon, that 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]whom 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, you [stop] in the Valley of Ajalon. And 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 hurry] to go down [almost] a 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.

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

And Joshua said, Roll [large] stones, [a.k.a. boulders,] upon the mouth of the cave, & [put] men by it to [guard] them. And [don’t] stay [there,] 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 very [large] slaughter, [until] they were [destroyed.]

The rest of them, [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 me. And they did [this,] & brought [out] those 5 kings to [Joshua from] the cave. The [kings of:] Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish & Eglon.

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

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

It [happened at sundown,] Joshua commanded, & they took them down off the trees & [had them] [thrown] into the cave [where] they had been [hidden,] & laid [large] stones in the mouth [of] the [cave, that remains] there until 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 [struck] 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.

And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, [who 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.] And 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.] And 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.

And 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, & he left none remaining [like] he done 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.

And 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 [captured] 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, a.k.a. the Israelites destruction of the city of Ai & all the people.]

They gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua & Israel, with 1 accord, [a.k.a. 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 of their provisions [they brought,] [were] 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. You, therefore, make a league, [a.k.a. treaty,] with us now.

The [Israelite] men said to the Hivites, [from Gibeon,] [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,] 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 [Amorites'] 2 kings beyond [the] Jordan, to Sihon, [Heshbon’s] king & Og, [Bashan’s] king, [who] was at Ashtaroth.

[For this reason,] our elders & all 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] to you; but now, [look,] it’s: dry & [moldy.] And we filled these bottles of wine, [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 that they were their [neighbors, who lived] among them.

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

All the congregation [grumbled] 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 even let them live, lest anger [is] upon us, because of the oath [that] we [swore] to them. The princes said to them, Let them live; but [also we] will let them be our wood [cutters] & [those who] draw [our] water & [carry it] to all the congregation; as the [Israelite] princes had promised them.

Joshua called for them & [spoke] to [the Gibeonites,] saying, [Why] have you [deceived] us, saying, We are very far [away] from you, when you [live] among us? Therefore, you are now cursed & none of you shall be freed from being bondmen & wood [cutters] & [draw] water 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 & 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] & [those who] [draw] water for the congregation & for the altar of the Lord, in the place which 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, nor 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 & [its] king. You shall take for a [prize for] yourselves, only the [plunder of it, & its] cattle, [a.k.a. livestock.] You, [are to] lay behind the city, for an ambush. So, Joshua & all  the [men] of war, arose to go up against Ai.

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

For they will say, They flee before us, [like] the 1st [time.] Therefore, we will flee [in front of them.] Then, you 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, [a.k.a. captured,] the city, you shall set the city on fire. You shall do according to the [command] of the Lord. See, I have [also] commanded you [to do the Lord's command.]

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, [a.k.a. counted,] the people. [Joshua] & the elders of Israel, went up before, [a.k.a. in front of,] the people, [a.k.a. Israelites,] to Ai. All the people, [including] the people of war that were with him & went up, & came [in 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 [wait] between Bethel & Ai on the West side of the city, [ready to] ambush.

And when they had [positioned] the people, even all the [army] that was North of the city & [those who lie] in wait, [a.k.a. to ambush,] West of the city. Joshua went into the [middle] of the valley that night.

It [happened,] when [Ai’s] king saw it, that [the Israelites, 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] that there were [those lying in wait] behind the city [to] ambush him.

Joshua & all Israel [acted] as if they were beaten before them & fled by the [road] of the wilderness. And all [of] [Ai’s] people were called together to pursue 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 toward the city, that he had in his hand.

The [ambushers] arose quickly out of their [places,] & they 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 to the wilderness, turned back upon the [Ai] pursuers.

When Joshua & all Israel saw that the ambush had [captured] the city, & that the smoke of the city ascended [up,] they then [returned] again, & [killed] the men of Ai. And the [others emerged] out of the city, against [those][of Ai.]

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 [from Ai] [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. And when they all [had] fallen on the edge of the sword, until they 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: men & 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 he had [totally] destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

Israel took only the cattle, [a.k.a. livestock,] & [the plunder] of that city, [as] a [prize 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 Ai’s] king [hung] on a tree until [twilight.] As soon as the sun [set,] Joshua commanded that they should take down his [corpse] from the tree & [throw] it at the [entrance] gate of the city.

And [on the corpse] [they] [put] a [large] heap of stones, that [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, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel.

[Like] it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, [in which] no man [has lifted] up any iron [tools.] And they offered burnt offerings to the Lord & sacrificed Peace Offerings [on it.]

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

And on the [other] side, [in front of] 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 [in front of] all the congregation of Israel, with the women & little ones & the strangers [who] were [able to speak their language,] 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, [a.k.a. people,] of Israel committed a [sin with the cursed] thing. For Achan, [Carmi’s] son, [who was] the son of Zabdi, and [he was] the son of Zerah [from] the tribe of Judah, & took the [cursed] thing & the [Lord’s] anger [grew] against the children, [a.k.a. people] of Israel.

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

Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is [by] 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 people, [a.k.a. Israelites, labor there.]

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

[For this reason,] 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 all [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, Get [yourself] 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 even stolen & taken the [cursed] thing, & also [deceived,] & have even put it among their own stuff. Therefore, the children, [a.k.a. 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 anymore, [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 foolish 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, [from]the tribe of Judah, 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 & that.] When I [saw a pretty] Babylonish garment & 200 shekels of silver & a wedge of gold [weighing] 50 shekels, among the [plunder,] I coveted, [a.k.a. 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, [a.k.a. 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. [That's why,] the place was called, The Valley of Achor, to this day.