Study Desk

Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen some of the things that I commanded must be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them but have lied about it and hidden the things among their own belongings.

You will destroy them as you destroyed Jericho and its king. But this time you may keep the plunder and the livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the town."

So they left and went to the place of ambush between Bethel and the west side of Ai. But Joshua remained among the people in the camp that night.

When the king of Ai saw the Israelites across the valley, he and all his army hurried out early in the morning and attacked the Israelites at a place overlooking the Jordan Valley. But he didn't realize there was an ambush behind the town.

But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

They replied, "We are your servants." "But who are you?" Joshua demanded. "Where do you come from?"

"This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy.

These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey."

So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord .

But the Israelites did not attack the towns, for the Israelite leaders had made a vow to them in the name of the Lord , the God of Israel. The people of Israel grumbled against their leaders because of the treaty.

But the leaders replied, "Since we have sworn an oath in the presence of the Lord , the God of Israel, we cannot touch them.

But that day he made the Gibeonites the woodcutters and water carriers for the community of Israel and for the altar of the Lord —wherever the Lord would choose to build it. And that is what they do to this day.

During the attack on Lachish, King Horam of Gezer arrived with his army to help defend the town. But Joshua's men killed him and his army, leaving no survivors.

But the Israelites did not burn any of the towns built on mounds except Hazor, which Joshua burned.

And the Israelites took all the plunder and livestock of the ravaged towns for themselves. But they killed all the people, leaving no survivors.

But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

But Moses gave no allotment of land to the tribe of Levi, for the Lord , the God of Israel, had promised that he himself would be their allotment.

Moses had already given a grant of land to the two and a half tribes on the east side of the Jordan River, but he had given the Levites no such allotment.

but my brothers who went with me frightened the people from entering the Promised Land. For my part, I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God.

So give me the hill country that the Lord promised me. You will remember that as scouts we found the descendants of Anak living there in great, walled towns. But if the Lord is with me, I will drive them out of the land, just as the Lord said."