Study Desk

Get up! Ritually consecrate the people and tell them this: ‘Ritually consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because the Lord God of Israel says, "You are contaminated, O Israel! You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove what is contaminating you."

They will attack us until we have lured them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are retreating from us like before.' We will retreat from them.

The Lord told Joshua, "Hold out toward Ai the curved sword in your hand, for I am handing the city over to you." So Joshua held out toward Ai the curved sword in his hand.

Then Joshua built an altar for the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal,

All the people, rulers, leaders, and judges were standing on either side of the ark, in front of the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord . Both resident foreigners and native Israelites were there. Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the Lord 's servant had previously instructed to them to do for the formal blessing ceremony.

They told him, "Your subjects have come from a very distant land because of the reputation of the Lord your God, for we have heard the news about all he did in Egypt

Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, ‘Take provisions for your journey and go meet them. Tell them, "We are willing to be your subjects. Make a treaty with us."'

The leaders then added, "Let them live." So they became woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided.

Now you are condemned to perpetual servitude as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."

and that day made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the Lord at the divinely chosen site. (They continue in that capacity to this very day.)

"Come to my aid so we can attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites."

The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, "Do not abandon your subjects! Rescue us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings living in the hill country are attacking us."

The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for I am handing them over to you. Not one of them can resist you."

The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day.

There has not been a day like it before or since. The Lord obeyed a man, for the Lord fought for Israel!

But don't you delay! Chase your enemies and catch them! Don't allow them to retreat to their cities, for the Lord your God is handing them over to you."

Then Joshua said to them, "Don't be afraid and don't panic! Be strong and brave, for the Lord will do the same thing to all your enemies you fight."

Joshua captured in one campaign all these kings and their lands, for the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.

The Lord told Joshua, "Don't be afraid of them, for about this time tomorrow I will cause all of them to lie dead before Israel. You must hamstring their horses and burn their chariots."

At that time Joshua turned, captured Hazor, and struck down its king with the sword, for Hazor was at that time the leader of all these kingdoms.