Joshua {Yehoshua}
¶ Joshua 1:
(Back)
1 Now after the death of Moses the servant of YHVH it came to pass, that YHVH spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses' minister, saying:
2 Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3 Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given to you, as I said to Moses.
4 From the wilderness and this Lebanon even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
5 There shall not anyone be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.
6 Be strong and of a good courage, for you shall divide as an inheritance for this people, the land, as I swore to their fathers to give them.
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law, which Moses My servant commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
8 This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it, for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for Adonai your Elohim is with you wherever you go!
10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying:
11 Pass through the host, and command the people, saying: Prepare victuals, for within three days you shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which Adonai your Elohim gives you to possess it.
12 And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, Joshua spoke, saying:
13 Remember the word which Moses the servant of YHVH commanded you, saying: Adonai your Elohim has given you rest, and has given you this land.
14 Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan; but you shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valor, and help them,
15 until YHVH has given your brethren rest, as He has given you, and they also have possessed the land which Adonai your Elohim gives them. Then you shall return to the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the servant of Elohim, gave you on this side of the Jordan toward the sunrising.
16 They answered Joshua, saying: All that you command us we will do, and wherever you send us, we will go.
17 According as we hearkened to Moses in all things, so will we hearken to you. May Adonai your Elohim be with you, as He was with Moses.
18 Whosoever he be who rebels against your commandment, and will not hearken to your words in all that you command him, he shall be put to death; only, be strong and of a good courage.
¶ Joshua 2:
(Back)
1 Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying: Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into a harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
2 And it was told the king of Jericho, saying: Behold, there came men in here tonight of the children of Israel to search out the country!
3 So the king of Jericho sent to Rahab, saying: Bring forth the men who came to you, who are in your house, for they have come to search out all the country.
4 The woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus: There came men to me, but I knew not whence they were.
5 It came to pass, about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out; where the men went I do not know. Pursue after them quickly, for you shall overtake them.
6 But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
7 And the men pursued after them the way to the Jordan to the fords, and as soon as they who pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
8 Before they were laid down she came up to them upon the roof
9 and she said to the men: I know that YHVH has given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
10 For we have heard how YHVH dried up the water of the Red Sea for you, when you came out of Egypt; and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed.
11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain anymore courage in any man, because of you, for Adonai your Elohim, He is Elohim in Heaven above, and in earth beneath.
12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear to me by YHVH, since I have showed you kindness, that you will also show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token,
13 so that you will save alive my father and my mother, and my brethren and my sisters, and all they have, and deliver our lives from death.
14 The men answered her: Our life for yours, if you do not disclose this our business. And it shall be, when YHVH has given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.
15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window, for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
16 And she said to them: Go to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you, and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers have returned, and afterward you may go your way.
17 The men said to her: We will be blameless of this your oath which you have made us swear.
18 Behold, when we come into the land, you shall bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which you did let us down by, and you shall bring your father and your mother, and your brethren, and all your father's household, home to you.
19 And it shall be that whosoever shall go out of the doors of your house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless, and whosoever shall be with you in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20 And if you utter this our business, then we will be released from your oath which you have made us to swear.
21 And she said: According to your words so be it! Then she sent them away, and they departed, and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
22 So they went, and came to the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers had returned, and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
23 So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them.
24 And they said to Joshua: Truly YHVH has delivered into our hands all the land, for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
¶ Joshua 3:
(Back)
1 Joshua rose early in the morning, and they removed from Shittim, and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
2 And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host,
3 and they commanded the people, saying: When you see the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai your Elohim, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then you shall remove from your place and go after it.
4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure; do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.
5 Joshua said to the people: Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow YHVH will do wonders among you!
6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying: Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and pass over before the people. So they took up the Ark of the Covenant and went before the people.
7 Then YHVH said to Joshua: This day I will begin to magnify you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you.
8 And you shall command the priests who bear the Ark of the Covenant, saying: When you come to the brink of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan!
9 So Joshua said to the children of Israel: Come here, and hear the words of Adonai your Elohim.
10 Then Joshua said: Hereby you shall know that the living El is among you, and that He will without fail, drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
11 Behold, the Ark of the Covenant of Adonai, Elohim of all the earth, passes over before you into the Jordan.
12 Now therefore, take twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the Ark of Adonai, Elohim of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon a heap.
14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over the Jordan, and the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant before the people.
15 And as they who bare the Ark were come to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bare the Ark were dipped in the brim of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks all the time of harvest);
16 that the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon a heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan, and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off, and the people passed over right near Jericho.
17 The priests who bare the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH, stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed entirely over the Jordan.
¶ Joshua 4:
(Back)
1 And it came to pass, when all the people were completely over the Jordan, that YHVH spoke to Joshua, saying:
2 Take twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3 and command them, saying: Take twelve stones hence out of the midst of the Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, and you shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where you shall lodge this night!
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
5 And Joshua said to them: Pass over before the Ark of YHVH your Elohim, into the midst of the Jordan, and take everyone of you, a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,
6 so this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying: What do these stones commemorate?
7 Then you shall answer them: The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH when it passed over the Jordan; the waters of the Jordan were cut off and these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.
8 So the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, as YHVH spoke to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bare the Ark of the Covenant stood, and they are there to this day.
10 For the priests who bare the Ark stood in the midst of the Jordan, until every thing was finished that YHVH commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua, and the people hastened and passed over.
11 And it came to pass, when all the people had crossed, that the Ark of YHVH passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spoke to them:
13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before YHVH to battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14 On that day YHVH magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And YHVH spoke to Joshua, saying:
16 Command the priests who bear the Ark of the testimony, that they come up out of the Jordan.
17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying: Come up out of the Jordan.
18 And it came to pass, when the priests who bare the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH were come up out of the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up to the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place, and flowed over all its banks, as they did before.
19 And the people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
21 And he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, what do these stones mean?
22 Then you shall let your children know, saying: Israel came over this Jordan on dry land!
23 For Adonai your Elohim dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you, until you were passed over, as Adonai your Elohim did to the Red Sea, which He dried up from before us, until we were gone over;
24 that all the people of the earth might know the hand of YHVH, that it is mighty; that you might fear Adonai your Elohim forever.
¶ Joshua 5:
(Back)
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, who were on the westward side of the Jordan, and all the kings of the Canaanites, who were by the sea, heard that YHVH had dried up the waters of the Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them anymore, because of the children of Israel.
2 At that time YHVH said to Joshua: Make sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time!
3 So Joshua made sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4 And this is the cause, why Joshua did circumcise: All the people who came out of Egypt, who were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
5 Now, all the people who came out were circumcised, but all the people who were born in the wilderness by the way, as they came forth out of Egypt; them they had not circumcised.
6 For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people who were men of war, who came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of YHVH, to whom YHVH swore that He would not show them the land, which YHVH swore to their fathers that He would give us, a land that flows with milk and honey.
7 Their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
8 And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
9 YHVH said to Joshua: This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you! Therefore, the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.
10 And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
11 And they ate of the stored grain of the land on the day after the passover, unleavened cakes, and dried grain in the selfsame day.
12 Then the manna ceased, on the day after they had eaten of the old grain of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna anymore; but they ate of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, 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 Joshua went to him, and said to him: Are you for us or for our adversaries?
14 And he said: No, but as captain of the host of YHVH, am I now come! Then Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said to him: What says my Adon to His servant?
15 The captain of Elohim's host said to Joshua: Loose your shoe from off your foot, for the place whereon you stand is holy! And Joshua did so.
¶ Joshua 6:
(Back)
1 Now, Jericho was securely closed up because of the children of Israel; none went out and none came in.
2 Then YHVH said to Joshua: See, I have given into your hand Jericho, and its king, and the mighty men of valor.
3 You shall compass the city, all you men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shall you do six days.
4 Seven priests shall bear before the Ark seven trumpets of rams' horns, and the seventh day you shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
5 It shall come to pass that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him!
6 Joshua the son of Nun, called the priests and said to them: Take up the Ark of the Covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the Ark of YHVH!
7 Then he said to the people: Pass on, and compass the city, and let him who is armed pass on before the Ark of YHVH.
8 And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken to the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before YHVH, and blew with the trumpets, and the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH followed them.
9 And the armed men went before the priests who blew with the trumpets, and the rearward came after the Ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
10 And Joshua had commanded the people, saying: You shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall you shout.
11 So the Ark of YHVH compassed the city, going about it once, and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
12 So Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the Ark of YHVH.
13 The seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns, before the Ark of YHVH, went on continually, and blew with the trumpets, and the armed men went before them; but the rearward came after the Ark of YHVH, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
14 And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp; so they did for six days.
15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times, only on that day, they compassed the city seven times.
16 It came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said to the people: Shout! For YHVH has given you the city!
17 The city shall be accursed, even it, and all who are in it, unto YHVH! Only Rahab the harlot shall live; she and all who are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
18 And you, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest you make yourselves accursed, when you take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto YHVH. They shall come into the treasury of YHVH.
20 So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets, and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
21 They utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox and sheep and donkey, all with the edge of the sword.
22 But Joshua had said to the two men who had spied out the country: Go into the harlot's house and bring out there the woman, and all that she has, as you swore to her.
23 So the young men who were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them outside the camp of Israel.
24 Then they burnt the city with fire, and all that was in it. Only the silver and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, did they put into the treasury of the House of YHVH.
25 Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwells in Israel even to this day, because she hid the messengers, whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
26 And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying: Cursed be the man before YHVH, who rises up and builds this city Jericho; he shall lay its foundation in his firstborn and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
27 Elohim was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.
¶ Joshua 7:
(Back)
1 But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing, for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing, and the anger of YHVH was kindled against the children of Israel.
2 So Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spoke to them, saying: Go up and view the country! So the men went up and viewed Ai.
3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him: Let not all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai, and make not all the people to labor there; for they are but few.
4 So there went up of the people about three thousand men, and they fled before the men of Ai.
5 And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty six men, for they chased them from before the gate even to Shebarim, and smote them in the going down. Therefore, the hearts of the people melted and became as water.
6 Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the Ark of YHVH, until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
7 And Joshua said: Alas, O Adonai Elohim, wherefore have You at all brought this people over the Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would unto Elohim, we had been content, and dwelt on the other side of the Jordan!
8 O Adonai, what shall I say, when Israel turns their backs before their enemies!
9 For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall encompass us around, and cut off our name from the earth, and what will You do to Your great Name?
10 And YHVH said to Joshua: Get up! Why do you lie thus upon your face?
11 Israel has sinned, and they have also transgressed My covenant which I commanded them, for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
12 Therefore, the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed; neither will I be with you anymore, unless you destroy the accursed from among you.
13 Get up! Sanctify the people, and say: Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow! For thus said Adonai Elohim of Israel that there is an accursed thing in the midst of you. O Israel, you cannot stand before your enemies until you take away the accursed thing from among you.
14 In the morning therefore, you shall be brought according to your tribes, and it shall be that the tribe which YHVH takes, shall come according to its families; and the family which YHVH shall take, shall come by households; and the household which YHVH shall take, shall come man by man.
15 And it shall be that he who is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he has, because he has transgressed the covenant of YHVH, and because he has wrought folly in Israel!
16 So Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken.
17 And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites, and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken.
18 And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
19 Then Joshua said to Achan: My son, give, I pray you, glory unto YHVH, Elohim of Israel, and make confession unto Him, and tell me now what you have done; hide it not from me!
20 Achan answered Joshua, and said: Indeed I have sinned against Adonai, Elohim of Israel, and thus and thus have I done.
21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight; then I coveted them and took them. And, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
23 They took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them to Joshua, and to all the children of Israel, and laid them out before YHVH.
24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had, and they brought them to the valley of Achor.
25 There Joshua said: Why have you troubled us? YHVH shall trouble you this day! Then all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones to this day. So YHVH turned from the fierceness of His anger. Therefore, the name of that place was called, to this day: The Valley of Achor!
¶ Joshua 8:
(Back)
1 YHVH said to Joshua: Fear not, neither be dismayed. Take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land.
2 And you shall do to Ai and her king as you did to Jericho and her king, only the spoil, and the cattle, shall you take for a prey to yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it!
3 So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai, and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valor, and sent them away by night.
4 And he commanded them, saying: Behold, you shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city; go not very far from the city, but be you all ready.
5 And I, and all the people who are with me, will approach to the city, and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
6 for they will come out after us, until we have drawn them from the city, for they will say: They flee before us, as at the first; therefore we will flee before them!
7 Then you shall rise up from the ambush and seize upon the city, for Adonai your Elohim will deliver it into your hand.
8 And it shall be, when you have taken the city, that you shall set the city on fire; you shall do according to the commandment of YHVH. See, I have commanded you!
9 Joshua therefore sent them forth, and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people.
10 And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
11 And all the people, even the people of war who were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai. Now, there was a valley between them and Ai,
12 and so he took about five thousand men and set them to lie in ambush, between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13 And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
14 And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hastened and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he knew not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
15 Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
16 So all the people who were in Ai were called together to pursue after them, and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
17 There was not a man left in Ai, or Bethel, who did not go out after Israel, and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
18 Then YHVH said to Joshua: Stretch out the spear that is in your hand toward Ai, for I will give it into your hand! And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
19 And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city and took it, and hastened and set the city on fire.
20 When the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way, and the people who fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
22 And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side, and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
23 And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
24 And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned to Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
25 And so it was, that all who fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
26 For Joshua did not draw his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey to themselves, according to the word of YHVH which He commanded Joshua.
28 And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it a heap forever, even a desolation to this day.
29 And the king of Ai, he hanged on a tree until eventide, and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his body down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remains to this day.
30 Then Joshua built an altar to Adonai, Elohim of Israel, in mount Ebal,
31 as Moses the servant of YHVH commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man has lift up any iron, and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto YHVH, and sacrificed peace offerings.
32 And he wrote upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the Ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, who bare the Ark of the Covenant of YHVH, as well the stranger, as he who was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of YHVH had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers who were conversant among them.
¶ Joshua 9:
(Back)
1 And it came to pass, when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it,
2 they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3 When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
4 they worked deceitfully, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up,
5 and patched worn-out sandals upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6 Then they went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel: We have come from a far country. Now therefore, make a treaty with us!
7 So the men of Israel said to the Hivites: Peradventure you dwell among us; and how shall we make a treaty with you?
8 And they said to Joshua: We are your servants! And Joshua said to them: Who are you and from whence come you?
9 And they said to him: From a very far country your servants are come because of the name of Adonai your Elohim. For we have heard the fame of Him and all that He did in Egypt,
10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites, who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.
11 Therefore, our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying: Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them thatwe are your servants. Therefore, now make a treaty with us.
12 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 it is mouldy.
13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent; and these our garments and our shoes have become old by reason of the very long journey.
14 So the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of YHVH.
15 Joshua made peace with them, and made a treaty with them, to let them live, and the princes of the congregation swore to them.
16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a treaty with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them.
17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Now, their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
18 And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Adonai, Elohim of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19 But all the princes said to all the congregation: We have sworn to them by Adonai, Elohim of Israel! Now therefore, we may not touch them.
20 This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we swore to them.
21 And the princes said to them: Let them live, but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22 So Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying: Why have you beguiled us, saying that we are very far from you, when you dwell among us?
23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my Elohim.
24 They answered Joshua and said: Because it was certainly told your servants, how Adonai your Elohim commanded His servant Moses, to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore, we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, behold, we are in your hand; as it seems good and right to you to do to us, do!
26 And so did he to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27 Joshua made them that day, hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of YHVH, even to this day, in the place which he should choose.
¶ Joshua 10:
(Back)
1 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
2 that they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.
3 Wherefore, Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying:
4 Come up to me and help me, that we may smite Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
5 Therefore, the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying: Slack not your hand from your servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal; he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.
8 YHVH said to Joshua: Fear them not, for I have delivered them into your hand; there shall not a man of them stand before you!
9 Joshua therefore came to them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
10 And YHVH discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goes up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and to Makkedah.
11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that YHVH cast down great stones from heaven upon them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
12 Then Joshua spoke to YHVH in the day when YHVH delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel: Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; and you, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hastened not to go down about a whole day.
14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that YHVH hearkened to the voice of a man, for YHVH fought for Israel.
15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.
16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
17 And it was told Joshua, saying: The five kings are found hiding in a cave at Makkedah.
18 And Joshua said: Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave and set men by it to keep them inside,
19 and stay not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities, for YHVH your Elohim has delivered them into your hand!
20 So it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest who remained of them entered into walled cities.
21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace; none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said: Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me out of the cave.
23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings to him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24 And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him: Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon their necks.
25 And Joshua said to them: Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage, for thus shall YHVH do to all your enemies against whom you fight.
26 Afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees, and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.
28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were there; he let none remain, and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did to the king of Jericho.
29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.
30 And YHVH delivered it also, and its king, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it; he let none remain in it; but did to its king as he did to the king of Jericho.
31 Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it.
32 And YHVH delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, who took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
34 And from Lachish Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it.
35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
36 Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it.
37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and its king, and all its cities, and all the souls that were there; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls there.
38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it.
39 And he took it, and its king, and all the cities; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls there; he left none remaining, as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to its king; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all who breathed, as Adonai Elohim of Israel commanded.
41 Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.
42 Joshua took all these kings and their land in one campaign, because Adonai Elohim of Israel fought for Israel.
43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.
¶ Joshua 11:
(Back)
1 And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
2 and to the kings who were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
3 and to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
4 They went out; they and all their hosts with them, many people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots.
5 And when all these kings met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
6 Then YHVH said to Joshua: Do not be afraid of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hock their horses and burn their chariots with fire!
7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
8 And YHVH delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them to great Zidon, and to Misrephothmaim, and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
9 Joshua did to them as YHVH told him; he hocked their horses and burnt their chariots with fire.
10 And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote its king with the sword, for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
11 And they smote all the souls that were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them; there was none left to breathe, and he burnt Hazor with fire.
12 Then Joshua took all the cities of those kings, and all their kings, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of YHVH commanded.
13 But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
14 All the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey to themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
15 As YHVH commanded Moses His servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that YHVH commanded Moses.
16 So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
17 even from the mount Halak, that goes up to Seir; even to Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon, and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon; all others they took in battle.
20 For it was of YHVH to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as YHVH commanded Moses.
21 And at that time Joshua came, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that YHVH said to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
¶ Joshua 12:
(Back)
1 Now, these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side of the Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon to mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:
2 Sihon, king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon.
3 And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and to the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth, and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah;
4 and the coast of Og king of Bashan, who was of the remnant of the giants, who dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
5 and reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
6 Them did Moses, the servant of YHVH and the children of Israel smite; and Moses the servant of YHVH, gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
7 These are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side of the Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon even to the mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, which Joshua gave to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions
8 in the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;
10 the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
12 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
13 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
14 the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
18 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
20 the king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
22 the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
23 the king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
24 the king of Tirzah, one. All the kings thirty one.
¶ Joshua 13:
(Back)
1 Now, Joshua was old and stricken in years, and YHVH said to him:
You are old and stricken in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.
2 This is the land that yet remains; all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
3 from Sihor, which is before Egypt, even to the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite. Five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites.
4 From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians to Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites.
5 And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon to the entering into Hamath.
6 All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians; I will drive them out from before the children of Israel. Only, divide it by lot to the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.
7 Now therefore, divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
8 with whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of YHVH gave them.
9 From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon,
10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon,
11 and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salcah.
12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants, for these did Moses smite and cast them out.
13 Nevertheless the children of Israel did not expel the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites, but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.
14 Only to the tribe of Levi he gave no inheritance; the sacrifices of Adonai, Elohim of Israel, made by fire are their inheritance, as He said to them.
15 And Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
16 And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;
17 Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
18 and Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
19 and Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,
20 and
Beth-peor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
21 and all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, who were vassals of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
22 Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, was slain by the children of Israel with the sword among those who were slain by them.
23 And the border of the children of Reuben was the Jordan, and its border. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages.
24 Moses gave inheritance to the tribe of Gad, even to the children of Gad according to their families.
25 And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah;
26 and from Heshbon to Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;
27 and in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and its border, even to the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side of the Jordan eastward.
28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
29 Moses gave inheritance to the half tribe of Manasseh, and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.
30 And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities;
31 and half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining to the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
32 These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side of the Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance. Adonai, Elohim of Israel, was their inheritance, as He said to them.
¶ Joshua 14:
(Back)
1 And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
2 By lot was their inheritance, as YHVH commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half tribe on the other side of the Jordan, but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. Therefore, they gave no part to the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
5 As YHVH commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
6 Then the children of Judah came to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said to him: You know the thing that YHVH said to Moses the man of Elohim concerning me and you in Kadeshbarnea.
7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of YHVH, sent me from Kadeshbarnea to spy out the land, and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
8 Nevertheless, my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt, but I wholly followed Adonai my Elohim.
9 And Moses swore on that day, saying: Surely the land whereon your feet have trodden shall be your inheritance, and your children's forever, because you have wholly followed Adonai my Elohim.
10 And now, behold, YHVH has kept me alive, as He said. These forty five years, even since YHVH spoke this word to Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness, and now, lo, I am this day eighty five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
12 Now therefore, give me this mountain, whereof YHVH spoke in that day, for you heard in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and walled; if so be YHVH will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as YHVH said.
13 So Joshua blessed him, and gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
14 Hebron therefore, became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, to this day, because he wholly followed Adonai, Elohim of Israel.
15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
¶ Joshua 15:
(Back)
1 This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.
2 And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looks southward.
3 And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side to Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa.
4 From there it passed toward Azmon, and went out to the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea; this shall be your south coast.
5 And the east border was the salt sea, even to the mouth of the Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of the Jordan.
6 And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben;
7 and the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river, and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out at Enrogel.
8 The border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom to the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem, and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lies before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward.
9 The border was drawn from the top of the hill to the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim.
10 The border compassed from Baalah westward to mount Seir, and passed along to the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah.
11 And the border went out to the side of Ekron northward, and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out to Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
12 The west border was to the great sea, and its coast. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.
13 To Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of YHVH to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
14 And Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
15 And he went up from there to the inhabitants of Debir, and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.
16 And Caleb said: He who smites Kirjathsepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter for a wife!
17 So Othniel, the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it, and he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife.
18 And it came to pass, as she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field, and she lighted off her donkey. Caleb said to her: What would you desire?
19 She answered: Give me a blessing, for you have given me a south land; give me also springs of water. So he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
20 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
21 And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
22 and Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
23 and Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
24 Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
25 and Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,
26 Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
27 and Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,
28 and Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
29 Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
30 and Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
31 and Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
32 And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon; all the cities are twenty nine, with their villages.
33 In the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
34 and Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
35 Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
36 and Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages;
37 Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,
38 and Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
39 Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
40 and Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
41 and Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages;
42 Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
43 and Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
44 and Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
45 Ekron, with its towns and villages:
46 From Ekron even to the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
47 Ashdod with its towns and villages, Gaza with its towns and villages, to the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and its border:
48 And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
49 And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,
50 And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
51 And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages;
52 Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
53 and Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,
54 and Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages;
55 Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
56 and Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
57 Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages;
58 Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,
59 and Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:
60 Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages;
61 In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,
62 and Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.
63 As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem to this day.
¶ Joshua 16:
(Back)
1 The lot of the children of Joseph, fell from the Jordan by Jericho, to the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goes up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,
2 and goes out from Bethel to Luz, and passes along to the borders of Archi to Ataroth,
3 and goes down westward to the coast of Japhleti, to the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer, and the goings out at the sea.
4 So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
5 The border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus; even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, to Bethhoron the upper;
6 and the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward to Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;
7 and it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at the Jordan.
8 The border went out from Tappuah westward to the river Kanah; and the goings out were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
9 The separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
10 And they did not drive out the Canaanites who dwelt in Gezer, but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites to this day, and serve under tribute.
¶ Joshua 17:
(Back)
1 There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; namely, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead, because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
2 There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida. These were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.
3 But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters, and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
4 And they came before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying: YHVH commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore, according to the commandment of YHVH, he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
5 And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan,
6 because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons, and the rest of Manasseh's sons had the land of Gilead.
7 And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lies before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand to the inhabitants of Entappuah.
8 Now, Manasseh had the land of Tappuah, but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim.
9 The coast descended to the river Kanah, southward of the river; these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh; the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea.
10 Southward it was Ephraim's, and northward it was Manasseh's, and the sea is the border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.
11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
13 Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute; but did not utterly drive them out.
14 And the children of Joseph spoke to Joshua, saying: Why have you given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as YHVH has blessed me hereto?
15 And Joshua answered them: If you be a great people then go up to the wood country, and cut down for yourself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for you!
16 The children of Joseph said: The hill is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel!
17 So Joshua spoke to the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying: You are a great people, and have great power: you shall not have one lot only.
18 But the mountain shall be yours, for it is woods, and you shall cut it down, and the outgoings of it shall be yours, for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.
¶ Joshua 18:
(Back)
1 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
2 There remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, who had not yet received their inheritance.
3 Joshua said to the children of Israel: How long are you slack to go to possess the land, which Adonai, the Elohim of your fathers, has given you?
4 Give out from among you three men for each tribe, and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to their inheritance; and they shall come again to me.
5 And they shall divide it into seven parts. Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
6 You shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description here to me, that I may cast lots for you here before Adonai our Elohim.
7 But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of YHVH is their inheritance, and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of YHVH gave them.
8 And the men arose, and went away, and Joshua charged those who went to describe the land, saying: Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before YHVH in Shiloh.
9 So the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
10 Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before YHVH, and there Joshua divided the land to the children of Israel according to their divisions.
11 And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families, and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
12 Their border on the north side was from the Jordan, and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and its goings out were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
13 The border went over from there toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lies on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
14 And the border was drawn there, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lies before Bethhoron southward; and its goings out were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah; this was the west quarter.
15 The south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah,
16 and the border came down to the end of the mountain that lies before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,
17 and was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
18 It passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down to Arabah,
19 and the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward, and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast;
20 Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts round about, according to their families.
21 Now, the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin, according to their families, were Jericho and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz.
22 And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
23 and Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
24 and Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages;
25 Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
26 and Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
27 and Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
28 and Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
¶ Joshua 19:
(Back)
1 The second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families, and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2 And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
3 and Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
4 and Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5 and Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
6 and Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages;
7 Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages;
8 and all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9 Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon, for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them. Therefore, the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance.
10 And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families, and the border of their inheritance was to Sarid.
11 Their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam,
12 and turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising to the border of Chislothtabor, and then goes out to Daberath, and goes up to Japhia.
13 And from there passes on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goes out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
14 the border compasses it on the north side to Hannathon, and its outgoings are in the valley of Jiphthahel.
15 And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem; twelve cities with their villages.
16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17 The fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18 And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19 and Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
20 and Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21 and Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
22 and the coast reaches to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan; sixteen cities with their villages.
23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24 The fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25 And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26 and Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reaches to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath,
27 and turns toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reaches to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goes out to Cabul on the left hand,
28 and Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even to great Zidon;
29 and then the coast turns to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turns to Hosah; and its outgoings are at the sea from the coast to Achzib.
30 Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty two cities with their villages.
31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32 The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33 And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, to Lakum; and its outgoings were at Jordan.
34 And then the coast turns westward to Aznothtabor, and goes out from there to Hukkok, and reaches to Zebulun on the south side, and reaches to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
35 And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36 and Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37 and Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
38 and Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40 The seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
42 and Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43 and Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44 and Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45 and Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
46 and Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47 The coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them. Therefore, the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt in it, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49 When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them,
50 according to the word of YHVH they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim, and he built the city, and dwelt in it.
51 These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before YHVH, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.
¶ Joshua 20:
(Back)
1 YHVH also spoke to Joshua, saying:
2 Speak to the children of Israel, saying: Appoint out for yourselves cities of refuge, whereof I spoke to you by the hand of Moses
3 that the slayer who kills any person unawares and unwittingly may flee there, and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4 When he who flees to one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city to them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5 If the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand, because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and had not hated him beforetime.
6 And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest who shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come to his own city, and to his own house, to the city from whence he fled!
7 So they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8 On the other side of the Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger who sojourns among them, that whosoever kills any person unawares might flee there, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
¶ Joshua 21:
(Back)
1 Then the heads of the fathers of the Levites came to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel.
2 And they spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying: YHVH commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs for our cattle.
3 So the children of Israel gave to the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of YHVH, these cities and their suburbs.
4 And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites, and the children of Aaron the priest, who were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
5 The rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
6 And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
7 The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
8 And the children of Israel gave by lot to the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as YHVH commanded by the hand of Moses.
9 They gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,
10 which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had, for theirs was the first lot.
11 And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs round about it.
12 But the fields of the city, and the villages, they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
13 Thus, they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with its suburbs,
14 and Jattir with its suburbs, and Eshtemoa with its suburbs,
15 and Holon with its suburbs, and Debir with its suburbs,
16 and Ain with its suburbs, and Juttah with its suburbs, and Bethshemesh with its suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
17 And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with its suburbs, Geba with its suburbs,
18 Anathoth with its suburbs, and Almon with its suburbs; four cities.
19 All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
20 And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites who remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
21 For they gave them Shechem with its suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with its suburbs,
22 and Kibzaim with its suburbs, and Bethhoron with its suburbs; four cities.
23 Out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with its suburbs, Gibbethon with its suburbs,
24 Aijalon with its suburbs, Gathrimmon with its suburbs; four cities.
25 And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with its suburbs, and Gathrimmon with its suburbs; two cities.
26 All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
27 And to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with its suburbs; two cities.
28 And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with its suburbs, Dabareh with its suburbs,
29 Jarmuth with its suburbs, Engannim with its suburbs; four cities.
30 And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with its suburbs, Abdon with its suburbs,
31 Helkath with its suburbs, and Rehob with its suburbs; four cities.
32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with its suburbs, and Kartan with its suburbs; three cities.
33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
34 And to the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its suburbs, and Kartah with its suburbs,
35 Dimnah with its suburbs, Nahalal with its suburbs; four cities.
36 And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with its suburbs, and Jahazah with its suburbs,
37 Kedemoth with its suburbs, and Mephaath with its suburbs; four cities.
38 And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with its suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with its suburbs,
39 Heshbon with its suburbs, Jazer with its suburbs; four cities in all.
40 So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, who were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
41 All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty eight cities with their suburbs.
42 These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them; thus were all these cities.
43 And YHVH gave to Israel all the land which He swore to give to their fathers, and they possessed it, and dwelt in it.
44 YHVH gave them rest round about, according to all that He swore to their fathers, and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; YHVH delivered all their enemies into their hand.
45 There failed not any good thing which YHVH had spoken to the house of Israel; all came to pass.
¶ Joshua 22:
(Back)
1 Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
2 and said to them: You have kept all that Moses the servant of YHVH commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you.
3 You have not left your brethren these many days to this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of Adonai your Elohim.
4 And now, Adonai your Elohim has given rest to your brethren, as He promised them. Therefore now, return, and go to your tents, and to the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of YHVH gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of YHVH charged you, to Love Adonai your Elohim, and to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments, and to cleave to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.
6 So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away, and they went to their tents.
7 Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan, but to the other half Joshua gave possession among their brethren on this west side of the Jordan. And when Joshua sent them away also to their tents, then he blessed them,
8 and he spoke to them, saying: Return with much riches to your tents, and with very many cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much clothing; divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
9 So the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go to the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of YHVH by the hand of Moses.
10 And when they came to the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
11 And the children of Israel heard say: Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel!
12 And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
13 So the children of Israel sent to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
14 and with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was a head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
15 Then they came to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, to the land of Gilead, and they spoke with them, saying:
16 Thus said the whole congregation of YHVH, what trespass is this that you have committed against the Elohim of Israel, to turn away this day from following YHVH, in that you have built yourselves an altar that you might rebel this day against YHVH?
17 Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of YHVH,
18 that you must turn away this day from following YHVH? And it will be, seeing you rebel today against YHVH, that tomorrow He will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
19 Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass over to the land of the possession of YHVH, wherein Elohim's tabernacle dwells, and take possession among us; but rebel not against YHVH, nor rebel against us, in building yourselves an altar beside the altar of Adonai our Elohim.
20 Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man did not perish alone in his iniquity!
21 Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said to the heads of the thousands of Israel:
22 YHVH, the El of gods! YHVH, the El of gods! He knows, and Israel shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against YHVH, (save us not this day),
23 that we have built us an altar to turn from following YHVH, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let YHVH Himself require it.
24 And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying: In time to come your children might speak to our children, saying: What have you to do with Adonai, Elohim of Israel?
25 For YHVH has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you children of Reuben and children of Gad; you have no part in YHVH! So shall your children make our children cease from fearing YHVH.
26 Therefore we said: Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice,
27 but that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of YHVH before Him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings, that your children may not say to our children in time to come: You have no part in YHVH!
28 Therefore we said that it shall be, when they should so say to us, or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again: Behold the pattern of the altar of YHVH, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you!
29 Elohim forbid that we should rebel against YHVH, and turn this day from following YHVH, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for gift offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of Adonai our Elohim that is before His tabernacle.
30 And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel who were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spoke, it pleased them.
31 And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said to the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh: This day we perceive that YHVH is among us, because you have not committed this trespass against YHVH. Now you have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of YHVH.
32 Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, to the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
33 And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed Elohim, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
34 The children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed, for it shall be a witness between us that YHVH is Elohim.
¶ Joshua 23:
(Back)
1 And it came to pass a long time after that YHVH had given rest to Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua grew old and stricken in age.
2 And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said to them, I am old and stricken in age.
3 You have seen all that Adonai your Elohim has done to all these nations because of you; for Adonai your Elohim is He who has fought for you.
4 Behold, I have divided to you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea westward.
5 And Adonai your Elohim, He shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and you shall possess their land, as YHVH your Elohim has promised to you.
6 Be therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
7 that you come not among these nations, these who remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves to them.
8 But cleave to Adonai your Elohim, as you have done to this day.
9 For YHVH has driven out from before you great nations and strong. But as for you, no man has been able to stand before you to this day.
10 One man of you shall chase a thousand, for Adonai your Elohim, He it is who fights for you, as He has promised you.
11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Adonai your Elohim.
12 Else if you do in any wise go back, and cleave to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you.
13 Know for a certainty that Adonai your Elohim will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps to you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Adonai your Elohim has given you.
14 And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth, and you know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Adonai your Elohim spoke concerning you; all are come to pass to you, and not one thing has failed.
15 Therefore, it shall come to pass that as all good things are come upon you, which Adonai your Elohim promised you; so shall YHVH bring upon you all evil things, until He have destroyed you from off this good land which Adonai your Elohim has given you.
16 When you have transgressed the covenant of Adonai your Elohim, which He commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of YHVH be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land which He has given to you.
¶ Joshua 24:
(Back)
1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before Elohim.
2 And Joshua said to all the people: Thus says Adonai, Elohim of Israel:
Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the river in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor, and they served other gods.
3 I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
4 I gave Jacob and Esau to Isaac, and I gave to Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
5 I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them, and afterwards I brought you out.
6 I brought your fathers out of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea.
7 When they cried unto YHVH, darkness came between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt, and you dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
8 I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who dwelt on the other side of the Jordan; and they fought with you, but I gave them into your hand, that you might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you.
10 But I would not hearken to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still, so I delivered you out of his hand.
11 And you went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho, and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with your sword, nor with your bow.
13 And I have given you a land for which you did not labor, and cities which you built not, and you dwell in them; you eat of vineyards and oliveyards which you did not plant.
14 Now therefore, fear YHVH, and serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt, and serve YHVH.
15 And if it seem evil to you to serve YHVH, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve YHVH.
16 And the people answered and said: Elohim forbid that we should forsake YHVH, to serve other gods,
17 for Adonai our Elohim, He it is who brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed.
18 YHVH drove out from before us all the people, even the Amorites who dwelt in the land. Therefore, we will also serve YHVH, for He is our Elohim!
19 Joshua said to the people: You cannot serve YHVH, for He is a holy El; He is a jealous El; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
20 If you forsake YHVH, and serve strange gods, then He will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after He has done you good.
21 So the people said to Joshua: No! But we will serve YHVH!
22 So Joshua said to the people: You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen YHVH, to serve Him! And they said: We are witnesses!
23 Joshua said: Now therefore, put away the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Adonai, Elohim of Israel!
24 And the people said to Joshua: Adonai our Elohim, will we serve, and His voice we will obey.
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of Elohim, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak that was by the sanctuary of YHVH.
27 Then Joshua said to all the people: Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of YHVH which He spoke to us! It shall be therefore a witness to you, lest you deny your Elohim.
28 So Joshua let the people depart, every man to his inheritance.
29 And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of YHVH, died, being a hundred and ten years old.
30 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
31 And Israel served YHVH all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and who had known all the works of YHVH; what He had done for Israel.
32 And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, were buried in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of silver, and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
33 And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given to him in mount Ephraim.
(
Back)