Study Desk

They chose the best land for themselves. They received a large share, like that given to an officer. When the leaders of the people gathered, the people of Gad did what the Lord said was right, and they judged Israel fairly."

The Israelites cried for Moses for thirty days, staying in the plains of Moab until the time of sadness was over.

Moses had great power, and he did great and wonderful things for all the Israelites to see.

Now the Lord has given you this land east of the Jordan River. Your wives, children, and animals may stay here, but your fighting men must dress for war and cross the Jordan River ahead of your brothers to help them.

The Lord has given you a place to rest and will do the same for your brothers. But you must help them until they take the land the Lord their God is giving them. Then you may return to your own land east of the Jordan River, the land that Moses, the servant of the Lord , gave you."

So the king's men went out looking for the spies on the road that leads to the crossings of the Jordan River. The city gate was closed just after the king's men left the city.

Before the spies went to sleep for the night, Rahab went up to the roof.

The men agreed and said, "It will be our lives for your lives if you don't tell anyone what we are doing. When the Lord gives us the land, we will be kind and true to you."

She said to them, "Go into the hills so the king's men will not find you. Hide there for three days. After the king's men return, you may go on your way."

The men said to her, "You must do as we say. If not, we cannot be responsible for keeping this oath you have made us swear.

If anyone leaves your house and is killed, it is his own fault. We cannot be responsible for him. If anyone in your house is hurt, we will be responsible.

The men left and went into the hills where they stayed for three days. The king's men looked for them all along the road, but after three days, they returned to the city without finding them.

and said to them, "Go out into the river where the Ark of the Lord your God is. Each of you bring back one rock, one for each tribe of Israel, and carry it on your shoulder.

So the Israelites obeyed Joshua and carried twelve rocks from the middle of the Jordan River, one rock for each of the twelve tribes of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded Joshua. They carried the rocks with them and put them down where they made their camp.

The men from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and East Manasseh obeyed what Moses had told them. They were dressed for war, and they crossed the river ahead of the other people.

About forty thousand soldiers prepared for war passed before the Lord as they marched across the river, going toward the plains of Jericho.

The Israelites had moved about in the desert for forty years. During that time all the fighting men who had left Egypt had died because they had not obeyed the Lord . So the Lord swore they would not see the land he had promised their ancestors to give them, a fertile land.

The man answered, "I am neither. I have come as the commander of the Lord 's army." Then Joshua bowed facedown on the ground and asked, "Does my master have a command for me, his servant?"

March around the city with your army once a day for six days.

So Joshua had the Ark of the Lord carried around the city one time. Then they went back to camp for the night.