[ Joshua Chapter 8 ]
1 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all
the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy
hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
2 And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king:
only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto
yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua
chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
4 And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city,
even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
5 And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and
it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we
will flee before them,
6 (For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city, for
they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee
before them.
7 Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD
your God will deliver it into your hand.
8 And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on
fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have
commanded you.
9 Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode
between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night
among the people.
10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went
up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11 And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and
drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now
there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between
Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of
the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that
night into the midst of the valley.
14 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up
early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his
people, at a time appointed, before the plain, but he wist not that there were
liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15 And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled
by the way of the wilderness.
16 And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them:
and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17 And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel:
and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand
toward Ai, for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the
spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he
had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and
hasted and set the city on fire.
20 And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke
of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or
that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the
pursuers.
21 And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and
that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of
Ai.
22 And the other issued out of the city against them, so they were in the midst
of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so
that they let none of them remain or escape.
23 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the
inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and
when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed,
that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the
sword.
25 And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were
twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26 For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear,
until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto
themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto
this day.
29 And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun
was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree,
and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great
heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is
written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no
man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the
LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote
in the presence of the children of Israel.
33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on
this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare
the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born
among them, half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over
against mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that
they should bless the people of Israel.
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings,
according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not
before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and
the strangers that were conversant among them.
[ Joshua Chapter 9 ]
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the
hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against
Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite,
and the Jebusite, heard thereof,
2 That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel,
with one accord.
3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and
to Ai,
4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and
took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up,
5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them, and all
the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the
men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league
with us.
7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us,
and how shall we make a league with you?
8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who
are ye? and from whence come ye?
9 And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because
of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that
he did in Egypt,
10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond
Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at
Ashtaroth.
11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us,
saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say
unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we
came forth to go unto you, but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new, and, behold, they be
rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very
long journey.
14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the
LORD.
15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them
live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league
with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt
among them.
17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third
day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the
congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the
congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them
by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them, we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us,
because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live, but let them be hewers of wood
and drawers of water unto all the congregation, as the princes had promised
them.
22 And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye
beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you, when ye dwell among us?
23 Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being
bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24 And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy
servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all
the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you,
therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this
thing.
25 And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee
to do unto us, do.
26 And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children
of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the
congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place
which he should choose.
[ Joshua Chapter 10 ]
1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua
had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it, as he had done to Jericho and her
king, so he had done to Ai and her king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had
made peace with Israel, and were among them,
2 That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal
cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
3 Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem, sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and
unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king
of Eglon, saying,
4 Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace
with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of
Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered
themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before
Gibeon, and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack
not thy hand from thy servants, come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us:
for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered
together against us.
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and
all the mighty men of valour.
8 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into
thine hand, there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
9 Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10 And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great
slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron,
and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going
down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them
unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they
whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
12 Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the
Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun,
stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged
themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the
sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole
day.
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened
unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.
15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at
Makkedah.
18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by
it for to keep them:
19 And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of
them, suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath
delivered them into your hand.
20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end
of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the
rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none
moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings
unto me out of the cave.
23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave,
the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of
Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that
Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men
of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these
kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good
courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five
trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua
commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave
wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which
remain until this very day.
28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword,
and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were
therein, he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto
the king of Jericho.
29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and
fought against Libnah:
30 And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of
Israel, and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were
therein, he let none remain in it, but did unto the king thereof as he did unto
the king of Jericho.
31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and
encamped against it, and fought against it:
32 And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the
second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were
therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua smote him and
his people, until he had left him none remaining.
34 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him, and they
encamped against it, and fought against it:
35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and
all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all
that he had done to Lachish.
36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron, and they
fought against it:
37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king
thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein, he
left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but destroyed
it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against
it:
39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and they
smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that
were therein, he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to
Debir, and to the king thereof, as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the
vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but
utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
41 And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country
of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the
LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
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