Study Desk

For the children of Yisra'el walked forty years in the wilderness, until all the nation, even the men of war who came forth out of Mitzrayim, were consumed, because they didn't listen to the voice of the LORD: to whom the LORD swore that he wouldn't let them see the land which the LORD swore to their fathers that he would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Their children, whom he raised up in their place, them did Yehoshua circumcise: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.

It happened, when Yehoshua was by Yericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Yehoshua went to him, and said to him, Are you for us, or for our adversaries?

The prince of the LORD's host said to Yehoshua, Put off your shoe from off your foot; for the place whereon you stand is holy. Yehoshua did so.

It happened at the seventh time, when the Kohanim blew the trumpets, Yehoshua said to the people, Shout; for the LORD has given you the city.

But as for you, only keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so would you make the camp of Yisra'el accursed, and trouble it.

But the children of Yisra'el committed a trespass in the devoted thing; for `Akhan, the son of Karmi, the son of Zavdi, the son of Zerach, of the tribe of Yehudah, took of the devoted thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Yisra'el.

They returned to Yehoshua, and said to him, Don't let all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and strike `Ai; don't make all the people to toil there; for they are but few.

For the Kana`anim and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and will compass us round, and cut off our name from the eretz: and what will you do for your great name?

Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow: for thus says the LORD, the God of Yisra'el, There is a devoted thing in the midst of you, Yisra'el; you can not stand before your enemies, until you take away the devoted thing from among you.

You shall do to `Ai and her king as you did to Yericho and her king: only the spoil of it, and the cattle of it, shall you take for a prey to yourselves: set you an ambush for the city behind it.

and they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: so we will flee before them;

and you shall rise up from the ambush, and take possession of the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.

The LORD said to Yehoshua, Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward `Ai; for I will give it into your hand. Yehoshua stretched out the javelin that was in his hand toward the city.

For Yehoshua didn't draw back his hand, with which he stretched out the javelin, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of `Ai.

Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Yisra'el took for prey to themselves, according to the word of the LORD which he commanded Yehoshua.

They said to him, From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of the LORD your God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Mitzrayim,

Our Zakenim and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and tell them, We are your servants: and now make you a covenant with us.

This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and is become moldy:

Yehoshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, Why have you deceived us, saying, We are very far from you; when you dwell among us?