The Readable Bible: Joshua, Judges, & Ruth

Joshua Judges Ruth

From Iron Stream Media

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Joshua Judges Ruth

Used by God

Translated and Edited by Rodney S. Laughlin Brendan I. Kennedy, PhD

Birmingham, Alabama

The Readable Bible: Joshua, Judges, Ruth

Iron Stream

An imprint of Iron Stream Media 100 Missionary Ridge Birmingham, AL 35242 www.ironstreammedia.com

Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin

The Readable Bible text may be quoted in any form (written, visual, electronic, or audio) up to and inclusive of five hundred verses without express written permission of the publisher provided that (a) the verses quoted do not account for more than 25 percent of the total work in which they are quoted, (b) no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted, (c) all quotations conform accurately to The Readable Bible text, and (d) one of the following credit lines appears on the copyright page or title page of the work:

Scripture quotations marked TRB are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture quotations are taken from The Readable Bible®. Copyright © 2022 by Rodney S. Laughlin, Leawood, Kansas. Used by permission of Iron Stream Media.

When quotations from The Readable Bible text are used in not-for-sale media (e.g., church bulletins, orders of service, newsletters, digital presentations), a copyright notice is not required, but the initials “TRB” must appear at the end of each quotation. Websites and blogs may quote up to five hundred verses without express written permission provided they include the initials “TRB” at the end of each quotation and provided that the verses quoted account for not more than 25 percent of any web page upon which they appear and that no more than 25 percent of a book of the Bible is quoted.

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2022938636

Cover design: twoline | | Studio

Interior designer/illustrator: Clyde Adams (www.clydeadams.com)

Map geographic features courtesy of Bible Mapper (www.biblemapper.com).

Typeface: Veritas AE from Altered Ego Fonts, a division of Aespire

Joshua 6

Conquest of Jericho

Israel Defeated at Ai Due to Sin in the Camp

Conquest of Ai

Achan’s Guilt Uncovered

Conquest of Ai

Joshua 7

Joshua 8

Joshua 9

Gibeon’s Deception Leads to a Treaty 13

Joshua 10

Defeat of the Amorites

Defeat

Hazor and Its Allies

Defeat of Hazor

Joshua 11

15

19

Joshua 12

Conquered Cities 21

Part 2. The Settlement of Canaan

Joshua 13

Allocation of the Land 22 Territory of the Eastern Tribes

Allocation of the Land

22

23

23 Territory of Reuben

Territory of Levi

24 Territory of Gad

24 Territory of Manasseh

Joshua 14

Summary of the Land Allocation

Caleb’s Land

Joshua 15

24

25

25

Table: Territory of Judah 26

Table: Towns of Judah 27

Joshua 16

Table: Territory of Ephraim and Manasseh

Table: Division of Manasseh’s Land

Territory of the Seven Remaining Tribes

Distribution of the Land to Seven Tribes

Joshua 17

Joshua 18

28

29

30

31

Joshua

Joshua

Table: Cities

Tribal Group

Joshua

Farewell

Judges

Part 1. Conquest of Judah’s Lands

Battles with the Canaanites

Part 2. The Judges

Judges 4

Sisera Oppresses Israel

The Lord Promises Deborah Victory

Deborah and Barak Defeat Sisera

Jael Kills Sisera

Song of Deborah

Judges 5

Judges 6

56

Gideon 59

Midian Oppresses Israel 59 Gideon Called to Deliver Israel 59 Gideon Asks for a Sign 60

Asks for a Second Sign

The Lord Gives Gideon Victory over Midian

Gideon Defeats the Midianite Alliance

Judges 7

61

62

Judges 8

Victory over Zebah and Zalmunna

65

64 Forty Years of Peace Until Gideon’s Death

Judges 9

Map: Abimelech Takes Shechem 66 Abimelech 65

Abimelech Kills His Brothers and Becomes King 65 Abimelech’s Downfall

Shechem Rebels and Is Retaken

Tola

67

68

Judges 10

Judges 11

Jephthah

Jephthah Defeats the Ammonites

Jephthah’s Tragic Vow

Gilead Defeats Ephraim

Gileadites Defeat the Ephraimites

Birth Foretold

Judges 12

70

70

70

71

Judges 13

74

Judges 14

Samson’s Wedding

Riddle

Geography of Samson

Samson’s Vengeance on the Philistines

Samson and Delilah

Dies with the Philistines

Part 3. The Tribe of Dan Moves North

Micah’s Idolatry

Danites Seek Their Own Land

The Migration of Dan

Invade Laish and Take

Priest

Part 4. Civil War in Israel

Judges 15

Judges 16

Judges 17

Judges 18

Judges 19

84 Israel’s Anger at Benjamin

A Levite’s Concubine Raped and Killed in Benjamin

Map: Benjamin Defeated at Gibeah

Tribes Defeat Benjamin

Recap

War with Jabesh Gilead

with Benjamin

Israel’s Remorse and Care for Benjamin

Ruth

Introduction to Ruth

Genealogy: Naomi

Widowed in Moab, Returns to Bethlehem with Ruth

Ruth Gleans Boaz’ Field and Finds Favor

Ruth Goes to Boaz at the Threshing Floor

Boaz Redeems Ruth and Marries Her

King David

Judges 20

Judges 21

Preface

To the Reader

One day I was standing in an airport bookstore looking for a book to read. I asked myself, “Why am I looking for something to read when I have a Bible in my briefcase?” I answered, “The Bible is hard to read. I want to read something easier.” Then I asked myself, “Why is it so hard to read? You’re a seminary graduate, a former pastor, a Bible teacher!” Thus began a quest that has led to The Readable Bible—the Bible as it would look if Moses, Joshua, Matthew, Mark, Paul, and the other writers had been sitting in front of a computer when God spoke through them.

It seems to me that the Bible is hard to read because all material is presented in sentence format. Today we use tables to present census information and charts for genealogies. When we want something built, we draw up a specification document. Law codes are organized in outline form. We use bullet points, bold text, and other aids to help us grasp information. Yet in today’s Bibles, all the information is still presented in sentence format in plain text. Surely those men of old would have used modern formats if they had known about them when God spoke through them. Modern formatting does not change the information; it simply presents it in a way that makes it easier to grasp. The Readable Bible brings you the biblical text in modern formats.

You may struggle with the idea of Scripture in modern formats. Actually, all of today’s Bibles present the text in a form much different from that of the original manuscripts. Consider how many format changes that were developed over the past two thousand years led to the format considered normal today. Each change was radical in its time:

• Vowels: The earliest Hebrew manuscripts have no vowels; they were added hundreds of years later.

• Capital Letters: The Hebrew Old Testament and the Greek New Testament manuscripts have no uppercase and lowercase letters.

• Punctuation: The original manuscripts have no punctuation (no commas or periods!).

• Chapter Numbers: These were not common in Bibles until the thirteenth century AD.

• Verse Numbers: The first verse-numbering system was developed over a thousand years after the last Bible book was written. It had one-third of today’s verse numbers, making verses three or four times longer. Today’s Christian Bible numbering system was not developed until the sixteenth century.

• Paragraphs: The first paragraphed King James Bible was published in the mid-1800s.

So presenting the words of Scripture in tables, cascading the text of long, complex sentences, and using other modern formatting techniques is simply continuing the long-term trend of making the Bible easier to understand.

Our hope is that people who have never read the Bible will decide to read this version because it is so approachable. Please give a copy to someone who struggles to understand the Bible and, especially, to those who do not read the Bible.

Acknowledgments

My thanks to all the members of our editing team, our volunteer development team, and the many others who have donated funds and worked to bring The Readable Bible to completion.

A big “thank you” to my designer and partner in this project, Clyde Adams, for joining me in this faith venture. He has turned the translation into well-laid-out text and my formatting concepts into reality. The maps, tables, charts, book layout, and cover are all his work.

Most of all, I thank my wife, Rebecca, for her ideas, her love, and her strong support of this endeavor over the past twelve years.

Dedication

And now I dedicate to our Lord this translation of his holy Word, humbly asking him to grant that it may bring forth fruit to his glory and the building up of his people.

L

Introduction to Joshua

The book of Joshua begins a new phase in the story of the Old Testament. Moses, the great leader of Israel through the exodus and the wanderings in the wilderness, has died. So God charges Joshua, Moses’ longtime assistant, to lead Israel, finish the conquest of Canaan, and settle the promised land.a Whereas the Pentateuchb centers on history and legal code, the historical books (Joshua through Esther) center on history that is interpreted in light of the laws, promises, and threats given in the Pentateuch. That is, the sequence of events and the significance of them are discussed in terms of God’s activity and intentions.

Little is known about Joshua. He began to serve Moses as a young manc and was designated as his successor before Moses died.d He was faithful to the God of Israele and an excellent battle commander. He lived to be 110 and was buried on his inherited property in the territory of Ephraim.f

The book of Joshua is a record of the conquest of the promised land by the generation of Israelites that followed those who fled Egypt in the exodus. The events take place somewhere between 1400 and 1100 BC. The Israelites entered the promised land from the southeast, near Jericho, and gradually spread northwest to the hill country and the regions around the Sea of Galilee, conquering and dispossessing the land’s inhabitants.

Rather than being a military or political history of this period, Joshua is a theological history. God’s relationship with Israel and their obedience or disobedience to him are the driving forces behind the text. When Israel is obedient, God moves forward with his plan; g when they are disobedient, God holds back and/or alters his plan.h But no matter how much they disobeyed, God’s overarching plans were realized: Israel occupied the promised land.

Before You Read

Words in italics are additions to the biblical text. In the context of commands, rules, and regulations, “shall,” “must,” and “are/is to” are equal terms, all the same strength.

Read lists from top to bottom in the first column then read the next column.

We encourage you to read “Translation Notes” and “Format and Presentation Notes” in the back of the book. They are easy reading and will increase your understanding of the text.

Please browse the glossary before you begin reading. You will find helpful information about words that appear frequently in this book, as well as important explanations of the words “L” and “Yahweh.”

a See Deuteronomy 34:5–9; Joshua 1:1–6.

b The term “Pentateuch” refers to the first five books of the Old Testament, the ones that precede Joshua (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy).

c See Exodus 17:9–14; 24:13; 33:11.

d See Deuteronomy 3:21; 31:3–23.

e See Numbers 14:6–9; Joshua 24:15.

f See Joshua 24:29–30.

g See Joshua 6:1–27.

h See Joshua 7:1–26; 9:1–27.

Joshua

Part 1. The Conquest of Canaan

Joshua 1

God’s Charge to Joshua

1 After Moses the servant of the L died, the L spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ attendant:

2 “My servant Moses is dead. So now get up and cross the Jordan, you and all thesea people, into the land that I am giving to them, the descendants of Israel (a k a Jacob). 3 I have given you every place where the soles of your feet will tread, just like I promisedb Moses. 4 Your territory will be from the Negev to Lebanon, even to the great Euphrates River, all the land of the Hittites, and over to the Mediterranean Seac to the west.

5 “No one will be able to withstand you all the days of your life. Just like I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous, for you will lead these people to possess the land that I swore to give to their ancestors. 7 Only be strong and very courageous, to guard and to observe all the Law that my servant Moses commanded to you. Do not turn aside from it to the right or to the left so that you may succeed everywhere you go. 8 This book of the Law must never depart from your mouth. Meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to observe all that is written in it, for then you will prosper in your ways. Then you will succeed. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the L your God is with you wherever you go.”

10 Joshua commanded the officers of the people:

11 “Go through the middle of the camp. Give this order to the people: ‘Prepare provisions for yourselves, for in three days you are going to cross this Jordan River to enter and possess the land that the L your God is giving you as a possession.’ ”

Joshua’s Orders for the Eastern Tribes

12 Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh,

13 “Remember the instructiond of Moses the servant of the L who commanded that you obey:

‘The L your God is giving you a place of rest. He is giving you this land.’ e

14 “Your wives, children, and property may stay in the land that Moses gave you across (i.e., on the east side of) the Jordan, but you must cross the river

a Literally, “this people”; and verse 6.

b Literally, “I spoke to.”

c Literally, “the Great Sea.”

d Literally, “the word.”

e See Deuteronomy 3:18.

organized for battle in front of your relatives. All your mighty warriors must help them 15 until the L gives your relatives rest like he did for you, and they have also taken possession of the land that the L your God is giving them. Then you may return to the land you have inherited and possess it (i.e., the land that Moses the servant of the L gave you across the Jordan River on the east side, toward the sunrise).”

16 They answered Joshua, “We will do all that you have commanded us. We will go everywhere you send us. 17 In every way that we obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the L your God be with you just like he was with Moses. 18 Anyone who rejects your leadershipa and does not obey your words in everything you command them will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”

2 Joshua Rahab’s Help Spying on Jericho

1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men from Shittim as spies, saying, “Go and check out the land and the city of Jericho.” So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and slept there.

2 It was reported to the king of Jericho: “Look! Israelite men have come here by night to spy out the land.” 3 So the king of Jericho sent soldiers to Rahab with this order: “Bring out the men who have come to you, who have entered your house, for they have come to spy on the whole land.”

4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. She replied, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from. 5 They left at dusk when the city gate about to be shut. I don’t know where they went. Go after them after them fast enough and you might catch up to them.” 6 (She had brought them up to the roof and hidden them among the stalks of flax she had laid out there.) 7 So the king’s men pursued them on the road to the Jordan River crossings, and the gate was shut behind them just as they went out.

8 Before the spies lay down for the night, Rahab went up to them on the roof. 9 She said to the men, “I know that the L has given the land to you, and that the fear of you has fallen on us. All the residents of the land are melting with fear because of you. 10 For we have heard how the L dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt,b and we heard what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, Sihon and Og, on the east side of the Jordan—how you totally exterminated them.c 11 We have heard, and our hearts are melting with fear. No one has any courage to face you,d for the L your God is truly God in heaven above and on earth below.

12 And now, please swear to me by the L that you will show kindness to my

a Literally, “your mouth.”

b See Exodus 14:21–29.

c See Numbers 21:21–35; Deuteronomy 2:24–3:11.

d Literally, “Spirit has not risen any longer in people before you.”

family, because I showed kindness to you. Give me a reliable sign.a 13 Let my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and everyone with them live. Rescue our lives from death.”

14 The men said to her, “We will give our lives for yours,b but only if you don’t tell about our activities. When the L gives us the land, we will deal with you truthfully and with loyal love.” 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for her house was built into the city wall.c

16 She said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers won’t catch up to you. Hide there for three days until the pursuers come back. Go your way after that.”

17 The men said to her, “We will be released from this oath of yours that you made us swear 18 unless, when we invade this land, (1) you tie this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and (2) you gather into your house your father, your mother, your siblings, and all your father’s household. 19 As for anyone who goes out the door of your house to the street, their blood will be on their own head, but we will be clear of it. But as for anyone who is with you in the house, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them. 20 If you should report these plans,d we will be free from your oath that you made us swear.”

21 Rahab replied, “Let it be as you say.” She sent them away, and they left. She tied the scarlet cord in the window. 22 The men departed and entered the hill country and stayed there for three days, until the pursuers returned. The pursuers searched for them along the entire road, but did not find them. 23 The two men headed back.e They descended from the hills, crossed the Jordan, and came to Joshua son of Nun. They reported to him everything that had happened to them. 24 They said to Joshua, “Surely the L has given the entire land into our hands. All the inhabitants of the land are melting in fear before us!”

Joshua

God’s Help Crossing the Jordan River

1 Joshua got up early in the morning, and he and all the Israelites set out from Shittim. They came to the Jordan, and they spent the night there before they crossed it. 2 At the end of three days the officers went through the middle of the camp 3 giving this command to the people:

“When you see the ark of the covenant of your God and the priests and Levites carrying it, you are to leave your place and walk behind it. 4 Since you have not passed this way before, so that you will know the way to go, keep a distance of about three thousand feet f between you and it. Do not come near it.”

5 Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for the L will do wondrous things in your midst tomorrow.” 6 He said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross

a Literally, “a sign of truth.”

b Literally, “our lives instead of yours to die.”

c Literally, “for her house was on the city wall, and she lived in the wall.”

d Literally, “these doings.”

e Literally, “returned.”

f Literally, “two thousand cubits.” Ten football fields, just over half a mile.

ahead of the people.” So they carried the ark of the covenant and went before the people.

7 Then the L said to Joshua, “This is the day when I will begin to increase your staturea in the eyes of all Israel, so they will know that I am with you just like I was with Moses. 8 As for you, give this order to the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant: ‘When you come to the edge of the Jordan water, stand in it.’ ”

9 So Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the word of the L your God.”

10 He continued, “By this you will know that the living God is among you: when he completely drives out the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites before you. 11 Pay attention! The ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing the Jordan ahead of you. 12 Now select twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe. 13 When the soles of the feet of the priests who are carrying the ark of the L, the Lord of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the river waters will be cut off. The waters that are coming down from upstream will stand in one heap.”

14 When the people set out from their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests were carrying the ark of the covenant in front of them. 15 When those carrying the ark came to the Jordan and the feet of the priests who were carrying the ark dipped into the edge of the water, even though the Jordan overflows all its banks during harvest time, 16 the water stopped coming down from above. It piled up in one heap very far away at Adam, the city below Zarethan. The waters heading down to the Dead Seab were completely cut off. So the people crossed over heading towardc Jericho. 17 The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the L stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, and all the Israelites crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

4 Joshua

1 When the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the L said to Joshua, 2 “Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe. 3 Give them this command: ‘Take twelve stones for yourselves from here in the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. Carry them with you and lay them down in the place where you are staying for the night.’ ”

4 So Joshua called to the twelve men whom he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and he said to them, “Go back to d the ark of the L your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift up a stone on his shoulder according to the number of tribes of the Israelites 6 so that these may become a sign among you. When your children

a Literally, “begin to magnify you.”

b Literally, “the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea.”

c Literally, “across from.”

d Literally, “Pass before.”

JORDAN RIVER

Israel’s Movements

3:1 Left Shittim and camped at the Jordan for three days.

3:3 Levites lead with the ark of the covenant.

3:11–17 Waters piled up at Adam. Israel crossed the Jordan River.

4:19 Camped at Gilgal.

ask you tomorrow, ‘What do these stones mean to you? ’ a 7 you can say to them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the L when it crossed over the Jordan. The waters of the Jordan were cut off, and these stones will be a memorial for the Israelites forever.”

8 So the Israelites did this just as Joshua had commanded. They picked up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of Israel, just like the L had said to Joshua. They carried them to the camp and laid them down there. 9 Joshua set the twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan at the place where the feet of the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood, and they are there to this day.

10 The priests who were carrying the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan until all that the L had ordered Joshua to tell the people was completed, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried and crossed. 11 Just when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the L and the priests crossed while the people watched.b 12 And the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, organized for battle, ahead of the Israelites, just as Moses

a Literally, “What are these stones to you?” b Literally, “crossed before the people.”

had told them.a 13 About forty thousand battle-armed men crossed over before the L to fight on the desert plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the L magnified Joshua in the eyes of all Israel, and they respected him all the days of his life just like they had respected Moses.

15 Then the L said to Joshua, 16 “Order the priests who are carrying the ark of the covenant to come up from the Jordan.”

17 So Joshua ordered the priests: “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 When the priests who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the L came up from the middle of the Jordan, the priests raised the soles of their feet to dry ground. Then the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and went as they had before over all their banks.

19 The people went up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal, on the eastern edge of the territory of Jericho. 20 And at Gilgal Joshua erected a monument with the twelve stones that they had taken from the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “When your children ask their parents later, ‘What are these stones? ’ 22 you will let them know. Tell them, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground,’ 23 because the L your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you crossed, just like the L your God did to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed it.b 24 This is so that all the peoples of the earth will know the power c of the L, that it is strong, and so that you will fear the L your God forever.”

5 Joshua Ceremonial Preparation for Battle

1 When all the Amorite kings who were on the west side of the Jordan heard, and the Canaanite kings along the sea heard that the L had dried up the waters of the Jordan before the Israelites until they had crossed, their hearts melted and they had no more courage d because of the presencee of the Israelites.

2 At that time the L said to Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites a second time.” 3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth.f 4 This is the reason why Joshua circumcised them: All the meng who had come out of Egypt, all the warriors, had died on the way in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. 5 Now all those who came out had been circumcised, but none of the people who were born on the way in the wilderness after coming out of Egypt had been circumcised.

6 For forty years the Israelites had journeyed in the wilderness until the death of all the men of military ageh who came out of Egypt— the men who had not obeyed the voice of the L,

a See Joshua 1:12.

b See Exodus 14:15–31.

c Literally, “the hand.”

d Literally, “there was no longer spirit.”

e Literally, “the face.”

f “Gibeath Haaraloth” means “hill of foreskins.”

g Literally, “people who were males.”

h Literally, “fighting men.”

to whom the L had sworn that he would not let them see the land that the L had sworn to their ancestors to give them, a land flowing with milk and honey.

7 Joshua circumcised their sons, whom the Lord had raised up to take their fathers’ places, for they were uncircumcised, as there had been no circumcisiona during the journey. 8 When the whole nation had been circumcised, they stayed in their places in the camp until they were healed. 9 Then the L said to Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” They called the name of that place “Gilgal” (i.e., Circle), and so it is to this day.

10 The Israelites camped at Gilgal, and they observed the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month in the plains of Jericho. 11 On the day after Passover, that very day, they ate from the produce of the land: unleavened bread and parched grain. 12 The manna stopped the day after they ate the produce of the land. The Israelites did not have manna again; they ate from the produce of the land of Canaan that year.

13 When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and realized there wasb a man standing opposite him with a drawn sword in his hand! Joshua came to him and said, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”

14 He replied, “Neither, for I have come now as the commander of the army of the L.”

Joshua fell facedown and worshiped. He asked, “What does my lord say to his servant?”

15 The commander of the army of the L replied to Joshua, “Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

Joshua

Conquest of Jericho

1 Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one went out and no one came in.

Jericho Battle Instructions

2 The L said to Joshua, “Look, I have given Jericho, its king, and all its fighting men into your hand.

Days 1–6 3 Your entire army is to circle the city, marching around it once a day, 4 with seven priests carrying seven rams’ horn trumpets walking in front of the ark.

Day 7 1. March around the city seven times, having the priests sound the trumpets.

2. 5 When you hear a long blast on the ram’s horn and the sound of the trumpet, all the people must shout with a great shout.

3. The city walls will collapse.

4. Then every soldier is to go up straight ahead.”

a Literally, “they had not been circumcised.”

b Literally, “lifted his eyes and looked, and look.”

6

Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and told the people, “Take up the ark of the covenant. Seven priests are to carry seven trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the ark of the L.” 7 He said to the people, “Forward! March around the city with a armed men going ahead of the ark of the L.”

8 As Joshua was speaking to the people, seven priests carrying seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the L advanced and sounded the trumpets. The ark of the covenant of the L went behind them. 9 The front guard went before the priests blowing the trumpets. The rear guard followed the ark while they continued to blow the trumpets. 10 But Joshua gave this command to the people: “Do not shout; do not make your voices heard; do not let a word come out of your mouths until the day when I tell you to shout. Then shout!”

11 He had the ark of the L taken around the city, marched around it once. Then they went to the camp and stayed the night there. 12 Joshua got up early in the morning and the priests carried the ark of the L 13 Seven priests carrying seven trumpets of rams’ horns were walking in front of the ark of the L and sounding the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them and the rear guard went behind the ark of the L while the trumpets continued to sound.

14 They marched around the city once on the second day and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.

15 On the seventh day, they got up at dawn and circled the city in the same manner seven times. Only on that day did they do it seven times.a 16 On the seventh time, the priests sounded the trumpets, and Joshua said to the people, “Shout, for the L has given you the city! 17 Completely destroy for the L the city and everything in it. Only Rahab the prostitute shall survive, she and all who are with her in the house, for she hid the spies that we sent. 18 As for you, keep away from the things that are set apart for destruction, so you do not covet themb or take some of the things that are supposed to be destroyed.c That would make the camp of Israel accursed and bring trouble on it. 19 All the silver and gold, and articles of bronze and iron are holy to the L. They will go into the L’s treasury.”

20 The people shouted, and the priests sounded the trumpets. When the people heard the signal from the trumpet, they shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat. And the army went up into the city, each man straight in, and they captured the city. 21 They killedd everything in the city: man and woman, youth and elderly, and cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

22 And Joshua said to the two men who had spied on the land, “Enter the prostitute’s house. Bring out from there the woman and all who are with her, just as you swore to her.” 23 The young men who had done the spying entered it and brought out Rahab, her parents, her brothers, and everyone else who was with her. They brought out her entire family and lodged them outside the camp of Israel.

24 They burned up the city and everything in it except for the silver, the gold, and the articles of bronze and iron. They gave these to the treasury of the house of the L

a Literally, “do this.”

b From the Septuagint; Masoretic text: “lest you become cursed.”

c Literally, “devoted to destruction.”

d Literally, “devoted to the edge of the sword.”

25 And Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her family,a and all who were with her; and she lives in Israel to this day. For she hid the spies whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

26 Joshua swore an oath at that time: “Cursed before the L be the man who rises up to rebuild this city Jericho! With the price of his firstborn will he lay its foundation, and with the cost of his youngest child will he set up its gates!”b 27 So the L was with Joshua, and his reputation spread in all the land.

Joshua 7

Israel Defeated at Ai Due to Sin in the Camp

1 The Israelites sinned in the matter of the things that were to be designated for destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zimri, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah, took some of the things set aside for destruction. So the L’s anger burned against the Israelites.

2 Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth Aven, east of Bethel. He said to them, “Go up and spy out the land.” So the men went up and spied out Ai. 3 They came back to Joshua and reported to him, “The whole army needn’t go up to fight, only about two or three thousand should go. They can go up and defeat Ai; don’t weary the whole army, because the people of Ai are few.” 4 About three thousand soldiers went up there to fight, but they fled before the troops of Ai. 5 The troops of Ai struck down about thirty-six men and chased the survivorsc from the gate as far as Shebarim. They struck them down on the downward slope so that the hearts of the people melted in fear and became like water.

6 Joshua tore his robe and fell with his face to the ground before the ark of the L until evening, along with the elders of Israel. They also threw dust on their heads.d 7 Joshua said, “Oh, Lord G, why did you bring these peoplee across the Jordan in order to give us into the hands of the Amorites and destroy us? If only we had been willing to live on the other side of the Jordan! 8 O Lord, what can I say, since Israel has run fromf their enemies? 9 The Canaanites and all the other inhabitants of the land will hear about it, surround us, and obliterate us.g Then what will you do for your great name?”

10 The L said to Joshua, “Get up. Why are you doing this, falling on your face? 11 Israel has sinned and transgressed my covenant that I commanded to them. They have even taken some of the things that were to be designated for destruction. They have not only stolen, but they have also lied. And they have put them with their own possessions. 12 Therefore the Israelites are not able to stand against their enemies. They turn their backs to them, for they themselves have been set apart for destruction. I will no longer be with you if you do not destroy the set-apart items

a Literally, “her father’s house.”

b See 1 Kings 16:34.

c Literally, “chased them.”

d Tearing clothes, prostrating yourself, and throwing dust on yourself are signs of mourning.

e Literally, “this people.”

f Literally, “turned the back of the neck before.”

g Literally, “cut off our name from the earth.”

LEGEND: Israelite and Ai Army Movements

7:2 Joshua sends spies to Ai.

Israel attacks Ai.

7:5 Ai wins the battle, and Israel retreats to Shebarim.*

8:3 30,000 men set out at night under Joshua.

8:4, 9, 12 5,000-man ambush force hides.

8:5, 13 Attack force sets up behind hill. Assumed A screening force prevents an attack in the rear by Bethel.

8:14 Ai comes out to battle.

8:15 Attack force fakes a retreat.

8:16 All Ai’s men come out of the city to pursue Joshua’s fake retreat.

8:19 Ambush force captures and burns the city.

8:21 Joshua turns back and strikes down the Ai army.

8:22 Ambush force attacks Ai in the rear. Israel victory sites. * The location of Shebarim is unknown.

Ai are shown farther apart than they actually were to make the battle movements clearer.

Bethel, Beth Aven,

and remove them from your midst. 13 Get up and consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for the L God of Israel says this: There are items that should be set apart among you,a O Israel. You will be unable to stand against your enemies until you remove those designated things from your midst. ’ 14 “Come to me in the morning by your tribes. The tribe that the L chooses by lot shall come forward by clans. The clan that the L chooses by lot shall come forward by families. The family that the L chooses shall come forward by men. 15 The one who is caught with the items that should have been set apartb shall be burned up, he and all that belongs to him, for he transgressed the covenant of the L and has done an outrageous thing in Israel!”

Literally, “devoted things among you.” b Literally, “the devoted things.”