Study Desk

So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelite men at Gibeath-haaraloth.

For the Israelites wandered in the wilderness 40 years until all the nation's men of war who came out of Egypt had died off because they did not obey the Lord . So the Lord vowed never to let them see the land He had sworn to their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

The commander of the Lord 's army said to Joshua, "Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.

So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant and have seven priests carry seven trumpets in front of the ark of the Lord ."

So the ark of the Lord was carried around the city, circling it once. They returned to the camp and spent the night there.

So the people shouted, and the trumpets sounded. When they heard the blast of the trumpet, the people gave a great shout, and the wall collapsed. The people advanced into the city, each man straight ahead, and they captured the city.

So the young men who had scouted went in and brought out Rahab and her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and settled them outside the camp of Israel.

Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and scout the land." So the men went up and scouted Ai.

After returning to Joshua they reported to him, "Don't send all the people, but send about 2,000 or 3,000 men to attack Ai. Since the people of Ai are so few, don't wear out all our people there."

So about 3,000 men went up there, but they fled from the men of Ai.

So Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the Lord , the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you, tell me what you have done. Don't hide anything from me."

So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there was the cloak, concealed in his tent, with the money underneath.

Joshua said, "Why have you troubled us? Today the Lord will trouble you!" So all Israel stoned them to death. They burned their bodies, threw stones on them,

So Joshua and the whole military force set out to attack Ai. Joshua selected 30,000 fighting men and sent them out at night.

So Joshua sent them out, and they went to the ambush site and waited between Bethel and Ai, to the west of Ai. But he spent that night with the troops.

When the king of Ai saw the Israelites, the men of the city hurried and went out early in the morning so that he and all his people could engage Israel in battle at a suitable place facing the Arabah. But he did not know there was an ambush waiting for him behind the city.

Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Hold out the sword in your hand toward Ai, for I will hand the city over to you." So Joshua held out his sword toward it.

So our elders and all the inhabitants of our land told us, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey; go and meet them and say, "We are your servants. Please make a treaty with us."'

So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.

So the Israelites set out and reached the Gibeonite cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.