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.

Joshua 5:1-15 The Males Born Along the Way are Circumcised

 

The Males Born Along the Way are Circumcised

Joshua 5:1-15               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

It [happened,] when all the [Amorite’s] kings were on the west side of Jordan & all the [Canaanite’s] kings by the sea, heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of [the] Jordan [River] before the children [people] of Israel to [cross] over, their [hearts] melted.

[Joshua 4:23-24 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of [the] Jordan [River,] from before you, until you were [crossed] over, [like] the Lord your God did to the Read Sea, [that] He dried up from before us, until we had gone over, [so] that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, [Who] is mighty. So, that you might fear [respect] the Lord your God forever.]

Neither was there [any] spirit [left] in them any more, because of the children [people] of Israel. At that time, the Lord said to Joshua, Make sharp knives & circumcise the [male] children [people] of Israel, again [this] 2nd time.

Joshua made sharp knives & circumcised the foreskins [of the sons of Israel.] Joshua [did this, because,] All males of [military age] had died in the wilderness [along] the way, after [coming] out of Egypt.

Now, all the [male Israelites who came out of Egypt] were circumcised: but [those who] were born [in the wilderness] had not been circumcised. For the children [people] of Israel walked 40 years in the wilderness, [until] all the men of war [died.]

[That’s] because they [didn’t obey] the voice of the Lord, to whom the Lord [swore] that He wouldn’t [show] them the land, [that] the Lord [swore] He would give us, a land that flows with milk & honey.

[Numbers 14:35-38 I the Lord have said, I will surely do it to all this evil congregation, [who] are gathered together against Me. They shall be consumed in this wilderness & they shall die there. And the men, [who] Moses sent to search the land, who returned & made all the congregation to [grumble] against him, by bringing up a [deceitful report] upon the land. Even those men, [who] did bring up the evil report [about] the land, died by the plague before the Lord.]

Joshua circumcised their [sons who had grown up to take their father’s place,] because they [hadn’t been circumcised along] the way.

It [happened,] when they had [finished] circumcising all [the male Israelites, they stayed in camp until all were healed.] The Lord said to Joshua, This day, I have rolled away the [shame] of Egypt from you.

[Therefore,] the name of [this] place is called Gilgal [until] this day. The children [people] of Israel [camped] in Gilgal & even in the plains of Jericho, they kept the Passover on the 14th day [of the 1st month.]

They [ate] the old [grain] of the land on the [day] after the Passover, unleavened cakes & [roasted] corn [all on the same] day. The manna ceased on the day [after] they had eaten the old [grain] of the land.

[None] of the children [people] of Israel [had] manna any more; but they [ate] of the fruit [produce] of the land of Canaan that year. It [happened,] when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted his eyes [up] & looked & [saw] a man with a sword drawn in his hand [opposite to] him.

Joshua went & said to him, Are you for us, or for our adversaries? He said, [Neither;] but [I’m] the captain of the [Lord’s army,] I [have come now. Joshua fell on his face to the [ground & worshiped] & said to him, What does my Lord say to [me,] His servant?

The captain of the Lord’s [army] said to Joshua, [Loosen] your shoe from off [of] your foot: for the place [where] you stand is holy & Joshua did so.

Joshua 4:1-24 12 Stones to Remind Them of Crossing Over the Jordan on Dry Ground

 

12 Stones to Remind Them of Crossing Over the Jordan on Dry Ground

Joshua 4:1-24               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

It [happened] when all the [Israelites] were [completely] over [the] Jordan [River,] that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, Take 12 men, 1 out of [each of the 12 tribes] of the people [of Israel.] Command them, saying, [Each of] you take a stone out of the midst of [the] Jordan, [in] the place where the priests’ feet stood firm.

You shall carry the 12 stones over with you & leave them in the place where you lodge [tonight.] Then, Joshua called the 12 men, whom he had [chosen from the 12 tribes] of the children [people] of Israel.

Joshua said to them, [Cross] over [in front of] the Ark of the Lord your God into the midst of [the] Jordan [River] & [each of you from the 12 tribes] take a stone upon his shoulder. [So,] this may be a sign among you, [so] when your children ask their fathers, [some] time [in the future,] saying, What [do] these stones mean?

Then, you shall answer them, That the waters of [the] Jordan [River] were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord; when it passed over [the] Jordan [River] & these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.

And the children [people] of Israel did as Joshua commanded. [They picked] up 12 stones [1 for each of the 12 tribes of Israel] out of the midst of Jordan, [like] the Lord [said] to Joshua. [They] carried them over with them to the place where they lodged & laid them down there.

Joshua [also put another pile of] 12 stones in the midst of [the] Jordan [River,] in the place where the feet of the priests [who carried] the Ark of the Covenant stood & they are [still] there to this day. For the priests [who carried] the Ark & stood in the [middle] of [the] Jordan [River,] until everything was finished.

The Lord commanded Joshua to speak to the [Israelites,] according to all Moses commanded Joshua: [so] the people [hurried] & passed over. It [happened,] when all the people [had totally crossed] over, that the Ark of the Lord & the priests [crossed] over, in the presence of the people.

The children [people] of Reuben, Gad & 1/2 of the tribe of Manasseh, [crossed] over armed before the children [people] of Israel, [like] Moses [had said] to them.

About 40,000 prepared for war [crossed] over to the plains of Jericho [for] battle, before the Lord. On that day, the Lord magnified Joshua to [make him a great leader] in the sight of all Israel.

They feared [respected] him, [like] they feared [respected] Moses, all the days of his life. The Lord [spoke] to Joshua, saying, Command the priests [who carry] the Ark of the Testimony, [so] that they come up out of [the] Jordan. Therefore, Joshua commanded the priests, saying, Come up out of [the] Jordan.

It [happened,] when the soles of the feet of the priests [who carried] the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord [had] come out of the midst of [the] Jordan & [stepped] up onto dry land, the waters of [the] Jordan [River] returned to [its] place & overflowed all [its] banks, like] they did before.

The people came up out of the Jordan on the 10th day of the 1st month & [camped] in Gilgal, on the east border of Jericho. In Gilgal, Joshua [stacked] up the 12 stones they took out of [the] Jordan.

[Joshua spoke] to the children [people] of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers, in [the future,] What [do] these stones mean? Then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan [River] on dry land.

For the Lord your God dried up the waters of [the] Jordan [River, in front of] you, until we [all] were [crossed] over, [like] the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, [that] He dried up before us, until we [had completely crossed] over, [so] all the people of the [world] might know the hand of the Lord, [Who] is mighty.

[So,] that you might fear [respect] the Lord your God forever.

Joshua 3:1-17 Crossing Over the Jordan River on Dry Land

 

Crossing Over the Jordan River on Dry Land

Joshua 3:1-17               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

Joshua [got up] early in the morning & Joshua & all the children [people] of Israel [left] from Shittim, [the Acacia Grove] & came to [the] Jordan [River.] They [camped] there, before they [crossed] over.

It [happened,] after 3 days, the officers went through the [army] & commanded the people, saying, When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord your God & the priests, the Levites [carrying] it, then you shall [leave] from your place & [follow] after it.

[Still] you shall leave a space between the [Ark] and you a [measurement of  about] 2,000 cubits. Don’t come near it, [so] you may know the way [that] you must go. For you haven’t passed this way [before.]

Joshua said to the people, Sanctify yourselves: for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you. Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, [Pick] up the Ark of the Covenant & pass over [the Jordan] before the people.

They [picked] up the Ark of the Covenant & went before the people. The Lord said to Joshua, This day I will begin to magnify you & [make you a great leader] in the sight of all Israel, [so] they know that I will be with you, [like] I was with Moses.

You shall command the priests [who carry] the Ark of the Covenant, saying, When you come to the [edge] of the water of [the] Jordan, you shall stand still in [the] Jordan [River.]

Joshua said to the children [people] of Israel, Come [here] & hear the words of the Lord your God. Joshua said, [Now] you shall know the living God is among you & that He will [definitely] drive out the: Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites & Jebusites before you.

[Look,] the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord of all the earth passes into the Jordan [River] before you. Therefore, take now 12 men, 1 man of every tribe of Israel.

It shall [happen,] as soon as the soles of feet of the priests, [who carry] the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan [River,] the waters of the Jordan will be cut off and stand [in heaps.]

It [happened,] when the people removed from their tents to pass over [the] Jordan [River with] the priests [carrying] the Ark of the Covenant [in front of] the people.

As the [priests who carried] the Ark [came] into [the] Jordan & the [priest’s] feet dipped into the [edge] of the water, (for [the] Jordan [River] overflows all [its] banks all of harvest time).

The waters which came from [upstream] rose [in a] heap far from the city [of] Adam, near Zaretan & the [waters downstream] that flow toward the plain of the Salt Sea [a.k.a. Dead Sea] were cut off.

The people passed over [the dry riverbed across] from Jericho. The priests [who carried] the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of [the] Jordan [Riverbed] & all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until [the last] of the people had [completely] passed over Jordan.

Joshua 2:1-24 2 Israelite Men Sent to Spy Out Jericho

 

2 Israelite Men Sent to Spy Out Jericho

Joshua 2:1-24              The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

Joshua, [Nun’s] son, sent 2 men out of Shittim to secretly [spy,] saying, Go view the land of Jericho. They went & came to [the house of a prostitute,] named Rahab & lodged there.

The king of Jericho was told, saying, [Look,] men [from] the children [people] of Israel came [here] tonight to [spy] out the country. The king of Jericho sent to Rahab [& said,] Bring [out] the men [who have] entered your house & [have] come to stay with you to search out all the country.

The woman took the 2 [Israelite] men & hid them & said, Men came to me, but I [didn’t know where] they were [from.] It [happened] when it was dark [around] the time [they shut] the gate, that the men went out.

[Where they] went, I don’t know. [Go] after them quickly; for you shall overtake them. But she had brought them up to the roof of [her] house & hid them with the stalks of flax, [that] she had laid in [bundles] on the roof.

The men [went] after the [2 Israelite men] to [the] Jordan [River all the way to] the fords. [Shortly after the men went] out [to pursue the 2 Israelite men,] they shut the gate.

Before they lay down, [Rahab] came up to the roof to them & she said, I know the Lord has given you the land & your terror has fallen on us & all the inhabitants of the land [are faint-hearted] because of you.

For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when you came out of Egypt & what you did to the 2 kings of the Amorites, Sihon & Og, whom you [totally] destroyed on the other side [of] Jordan.

As soon as we heard these things, our hearts [melted] & neither did there remain any more courage in any [of the men,] because of you. For the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above & earth beneath.

I pray that you therefore swear to me now before the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you will also show kindness to my father’s house & give me a token [to show I can trust you:] that you will save my father, mother, my [brothers] & sisters & all that they have & deliver our lives from death.

[The 2 Israelite] men answered her, Our [lives] for yours, [only] if you [don’t betray us &] utter [any] of our business. It shall [happen] when the Lord has given us the land, that we will deal kindly & [faithfully] with you.

Then, she let them down by a cord through the window. For her house was on the town wall. She said to them, [Go] down to the mountain, lest the pursuers [find] you. Hide yourselves there for 3 days, until the pursuers [have] returned. Afterward, you may go [on] your way.

The [2 Israelite] men said to her, [Look,] when we come into [your] land, [if you don’t] bind this line of scarlet thread in window [that you used to let us down] & you bring your father, mother, [brothers] & sisters & all your father’s household to [your] home, we will be blameless of this oath [that] you have made us swear.

[Also,] it shall [happen] if [anyone goes] out of the door of your house into the street, his blood shall be on his head & we will be guiltless. [But whoever is] with you in the house, his blood shall be on our [heads,] if any hand [is] upon him.

If you [betray us &] utter our business, then we will be [released from] the oath you made us swear. [Rahab] said, [It shall be] according to [what you said.] She sent them away & they departed and [Rahab] bound the scarlet thread in the window.

[The 2 Israelite men] came to the mountain & [stayed] there 3 days, until the pursuers returned [to Jericho.] The pursuers [had looked for] them [all along] the [road,] but [never] found them.

So, the 2 [Israelite] men returned & [climbed down] from the mountain & passed over [Jordan] & came to Joshua, [Nun’s] son & told him [what had happened.]

They said to Joshua, Truly, the Lord has delivered all this land [of Jericho] into our hands. For even the inhabitants of the country [are faint-hearted] because of us.

Joshua 1:1-18 The Lord’s Instructions to Joshua, the Israelite’s New Leader

 

The Lord’s Instructions to Joshua, the Israelite’s New Leader

Joshua 1:1-18               The Book of Joshua [in Smaller Chunks]

Now after the death of Moses, the servant of the Lord, it [happened,] that the Lord [spoke]d to Joshua, [Nun’s] son, Moses’ minister, saying, Moses, my servant, is dead.

Therefore, you & all [these] people, arise now & go over [the] Jordan [River,] to the land [that] I give to the children [people] of Israel. I have given you every place that the sole of your [feet] shall [walk] upon, [like] I said to Moses.

From the wilderness & Lebanon, [all the way] to the great Euphrates River. [Your territory shall be:] all the land of the Hittites, to the great Mediterranean Sea [in the west. No] man shall be able to stand before you all of your life.

I will be with you, [like] I was with Moses. I will not fail you, nor [abandon] you. Be strong & [courageous.] For you shall divide [the land as] an inheritance to [these] people. The land, [that] I swore to their [forefathers] to give them.

[Joshua, just] be strong & very courageous, [so] you may [obey] & do according to all the law, [that] Moses, My servant, commanded you. Don’t turn to the right hand or to the left [from it, so] you may prosper [wherever] you go.

This Book of the Law shall not depart [from] your mouth; but you shall meditate [on it] day & night, [so] you may [obey] & do all that is written [in it.] For then, you shall make your [ways] prosperous & [successful.]

Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong & courageous; don’t be afraid [or discouraged.] For the Lord your God is with you [wherever] you go.

Then, Joshua commanded the officers of the people [of Israel,] saying, Pass through the [army] & command the people, saying, Prepare your [food.] For within 3 days, you shall pass over [the] Jordan [River,] to go in to possess the land, [that] the Lord your God gives [to] you to possess.

Joshua [spoke] to the Reubenites, Gadites & to 1/2 of the tribe of Manasseh, saying, Remember the [words that] Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you, saying, The Lord your God has given you rest & has given you this land.

Your wives, your [children] & your [livestock,] shall remain in the land [that] Moses gave [to] you on this side [of the] Jordan [River.]

But you shall [go armed ahead of] your [fellow Israelites,] all the mighty men of valor & help them, until the Lord [gives] your brethren rest, [like] He has given [to] you & they have also possessed the land [that] the Lord your God gives [to] them.

Then, you shall return to your land [that’s] your possession & enjoy it, [that] Moses, the Lord’s servant, gave [to] you on this side [of the] Jordan [River] toward the [east.]

They answered Joshua, saying, We will do all that you have commanded us. [Wherever] you send us, we will go. We will [listen] to you, [like] we [listened] to Moses in all things.

Only let the Lord your God be with you [like] He was with Moses. [Whoever rebels] against your [command] & [doesn’t listen] to all your words that you [command,] shall be put to death. [Just] be strong & [courageous.]

Deuteronomy 34:1-12 Moses Dies in the Land of Moab

 

Moses Dies in the Land of Moab

Deuteronomy 34:1-12     Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses

Moses went up from the plains of Moab to the Mountain of Nebo, to the top of Pisgah, [across from] Jericho. The Lord [God showed Moses] all the land of Gilead [all the way] to Dan.

And all Naphtali & the land or Ephraim & Manasseh & all the land of Judah [as far as the Mediterranean Sea.] The south & [to the plain in] the Valley of Jericho & to Zoar, the City of Palm Trees.

The Lord said to [Moses,] This is the land [that] I [swore] to Abraham, Isaac & to Jacob, saying, I will give it to your [descendants.] I have [made it happen, for] you to see it with your [own] eyes, but you shall not go over [there.]

So, Moses, the servant of the Lord, died there in the land of Moab, according to the Word of the Lord. And [God] buried [Moses] in a valley, in the land of Moab, [across from] Beth Peor. But no man knows [where Moses’ tomb] is to this day.

Moses was 120 years old when he died. His [eyes weren’t] dim, nor was his natural [strength weakened.] The children [people] of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab [for] 30 days. [Then,] the days of weeping & mourning for Moses ended.

Joshua, [Nun’s] son, was full of the Spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon [Joshua.] The children [people] of Israel [listened] to him & did as the Lord commanded Moses.

There [hasn’t been] a prophet since [Moses] in Israel, whom the Lord knew & [spoke to] face to face. In all the signs & wonders [that] the Lord sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, all his servants & all [Pharaoh’s] land, and in all [his] mighty hand & in all the [magnificent] terror [that] Moses [showed] in the sight of all Israel.

[Exodus 14:26-28 And the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand over the sea, [so] the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, their chariots & their horsemen. And Moses stretched [out] his hand over the sea & the sea returned to [its] strength when the morning appeared. And the Egyptians fled against it & the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.]