Joshua
The book of Joshua begins with God instructing Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River into the land that would be given to them. Joshua is instructed to be strong and steadfast, to observe and accomplish the entire law given by Moses, and to meditate on the book of the law day and night. The Israelites then cross the Jordan River, and the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stand in the river, causing the waters to stop flowing and allowing the people to cross on dry ground. The Israelites then conquer the city of Jericho, and Joshua makes a pact with the Gibeonites, who pretend to be from a faraway land. The Israelites go on to conquer several other cities, including Ai, Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. The book then describes the division of the land among the nine and a half tribes, with the Levites receiving cities but no land. The Israelites also designate cities of refuge where those who had unintentionally killed someone could flee to escape the wrath of the victim's relatives. The book concludes with Joshua dismissing the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, and gathering the leaders of Israel to remind them of the Lord's victories and to encourage them to be strengthened and careful to observe the law of Moses.
Chapter 1
The Lord spoke to Joshua after Moses' death, instructing him to lead the people across the Jordan River into the land that would be given to the Israelites. God promised to be with Joshua, just as He was with Moses, and to deliver all the land from the desert to the Euphrates River to the Israelites. Joshua was instructed to be strong and steadfast, to observe and accomplish the entire law given by Moses, and to meditate on the book of the law day and night. Joshua then instructed the leaders of the people to prepare to cross the Jordan River and possess the land, and the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh agreed to fight on behalf of their brothers until they also possessed the land.
Chapter 2
Joshua sent two men to secretly explore Jericho, and they stayed with a harlot named Rahab. The king of Jericho discovered their presence and ordered Rahab to bring them out, but she hid them and sent the king's men on a wild goose chase. Rahab revealed to the men that she knew the Lord had given the land to the Israelites and asked them to spare her family in return for her mercy. The men agreed, and Rahab let them down from her window with a rope, instructing them to hide in the mountains for three days and promising to tie a scarlet cord in her window as a sign of her household's protection.
Chapter 3
Joshua led the Israelites to the Jordan River, where they camped for three days before crossing. The priests carrying the ark of the covenant were instructed to stand in the river, and when they did, the waters stopped flowing and the people were able to cross on dry ground. The priests remained standing in the river until all the people had crossed, and then they followed. This miraculous event was a demonstration of God's power and a sign that He was with Joshua, just as He had been with Moses.
Chapter 4
The Lord instructed Joshua to choose 12 men, one from each tribe, to take 12 stones from the Jordan River where the priests stood, and station them in the camp as a sign of the miracle that occurred when the waters of the Jordan failed before the ark of the covenant. Joshua obeyed, and the stones were placed as a monument for the sons of Israel. The priests carrying the ark stood in the Jordan until the people crossed over, then the ark and priests followed, and the waters returned to their channel once they stepped on dry soil. The people ascended from the Jordan and encamped at Gilgal, where Joshua stationed the 12 stones as a reminder of the miracle.
Chapter 5
The kings of the Amorites and Canaan heard about the Lord drying up the Jordan River for the Israelites and were filled with fear. The Lord instructed Joshua to circumcise the Israelites a second time, as those born in the desert during the 40-year journey were uncircumcised. After the circumcision, the Israelites kept the Passover and ate unleavened bread from the grain of the land, and the manna ceased. Joshua encountered a prince of the Lord's host in the field of Jericho, who instructed him to remove his shoes as the place was holy.
Chapter 6
The Lord instructed Joshua to have the warriors circle the city of Jericho once a day for six days, then on the seventh day, the priests were to sound the trumpets and the people were to shout, causing the walls to fall. Joshua followed the Lord's instructions, and on the seventh day, the walls of Jericho fell, allowing the Israelites to enter and capture the city. The Israelites then destroyed the city, killing everyone except Rahab the harlot and her family, who had helped the Israelite spies. The city was then burned, and the gold, silver, and other precious items were consecrated to the Lord.
Chapter 7
The Israelites disobeyed God's command by taking items from the city of Jericho that were meant to be destroyed, and as a result, they were defeated by the men of Ai. Joshua and the elders mourned and prayed to God, who revealed that the Israelites' sin was the cause of their defeat. Achan, a member of the tribe of Judah, was found to be the one who had taken the forbidden items, and he confessed to Joshua. Achan and his family were stoned to death, and their possessions were burned, after which the Lord's anger was averted from the Israelites.
Chapter 8
The Lord instructed Joshua to take the entire army to the town of Ai, promising to deliver the city and its king into their hands. Joshua sent 30,000 men to set an ambush behind the city, while he and the rest of the army approached from the opposite side, pretending to flee to lure the enemy out. The plan worked, and the men in ambush rose up and seized the city, setting it on fire. The Israelites then turned back and struck down the men of Ai, killing 12,000 people, including the king, and dividing the plunder among themselves. Afterward, Joshua built an altar to the Lord on Mount Ebal and offered sacrifices, and he wrote the Deuteronomy of the law of Moses on stones, reading all the words of the blessing and the cursing to the people of Israel.
Chapter 9
The kings across the Jordan gathered to fight against Joshua and Israel, but the people of Gibeon, hearing of Joshua's victories, devised a plan to make peace with Israel by pretending to be from a faraway land. They presented themselves to Joshua with old provisions and worn clothing, claiming to have traveled a long distance, and Joshua, without consulting God, made a pact with them, promising not to harm them. However, when the Israelites discovered that the Gibeonites were actually their neighbors, they were angry, but the leaders of the multitude were bound by their oath and instead made the Gibeonites servants, tasked with cutting wood and carrying water for the Israelites.
Chapter 10
Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem, formed an alliance with four other Amorite kings to attack Gibeon, which had allied itself with Israel. The Gibeonites appealed to Joshua for help, and he led his army to Gibeon, where the Lord gave them a great victory, even causing the sun to stand still in the sky. The five Amorite kings fled and hid in a cave, where they were later found and executed by Joshua. The Israelites then conquered several other cities, including Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir, killing their kings and inhabitants, and Joshua returned to the Israelite camp at Gilgal.
Chapter 11
Jabin, the king of Hazor, gathered a large coalition of kings to fight against Israel, but the Lord told Joshua not to fear them, promising to deliver them into Israel's hands. Joshua and the Israelites launched a surprise attack at the waters of Merom, defeating the coalition and pursuing them as far as Sidon and Misrephoth. Joshua then seized Hazor, killing its king and destroying the city, and went on to conquer the surrounding cities and their kings. The Israelites divided the plunder and killed all the inhabitants, fulfilling the Lord's commandments as instructed by Moses.
Chapter 12
The Israelites conquered the eastern region beyond the Jordan, defeating Sihon, the king of the Amorites, and Og, the king of Bashan, and took possession of their lands. Moses delivered the conquered lands to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half of the tribe of Manasseh. Joshua and the Israelites also defeated 31 kings in the western region, from Baalgad to Seir, and delivered the land to the tribes of Israel as a possession.
Chapter 13
The Lord told Joshua that a large portion of the land remained to be divided among the Israelites, specifically the regions of Galilee, Philistia, and Geshur. Joshua was instructed to divide the land among the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh, with the exception of the tribe of Levi, who would receive the Lord as their inheritance. The chapter then describes the territories given to the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, which included the lands east of the Jordan River that had been conquered by Moses.
Chapter 14
The Israelites divided the land of Canaan among the nine and a half tribes, as instructed by the Lord through Moses, with the Levites receiving cities but no land. The sons of Joseph were divided into two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. Caleb, now 85 years old, reminded Joshua of Moses' promise that the land he had explored would be his possession, and requested the mountain where the Anakim lived, which Joshua granted to him as Hebron. Caleb successfully took Hebron and the surrounding area, and the land ceased from battles.
Chapter 15
The tribe of Judah's territory was defined, stretching from the Dead Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, and from the border of Edom to the north. The border passed through various cities and landmarks, including Kadesh-barnea, Hezron, and Jerusalem. Caleb, a leader of the tribe, was given a portion of the land, including the city of Hebron, and he defeated the three sons of Anak who lived there. Caleb also gave his daughter Achsah to Othniel, who had captured the city of Debir, and she asked her father for a watered land to complement her dry inheritance. The chapter lists the cities and villages within Judah's territory, but notes that the Jebusites were not driven out of Jerusalem and continued to live there alongside the Judahites.
Chapter 16
The territory of the sons of Joseph, including Manasseh and Ephraim, was allocated from the Jordan River east of Jericho to the Mediterranean Sea. The border of Ephraim was specifically defined, extending from Ataroth-addar to the sea, and including cities such as Taanath-shiloh and Janoah. The tribe of Ephraim was also given cities within the territory of Manasseh. However, the Ephraimites failed to drive out the Canaanites from Gezer, who continued to live among them and pay tribute.
Chapter 17
The tribe of Manasseh, as the firstborn of Joseph, received a large portion of land, including Gilead and Bashan, with the rest of the tribe receiving land according to their families. Zelophehad's daughters, who had no brothers, were given a possession in the midst of their father's brothers as instructed by the Lord through Moses. The tribe of Manasseh was unable to drive out the Canaanites from their land, but later subdued them and made them tributaries. The sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, complained about the small size of their inheritance, but Joshua instructed them to clear out space for themselves in the mountains and destroy the Canaanites to gain more land.
Chapter 18
The Israelites gathered at Shiloh, and Joshua instructed the remaining seven tribes to send three men each to survey the land and divide it into seven parts. The men completed the task, and Joshua cast lots before the Lord to divide the land among the tribes. The first lot went to the sons of Benjamin, who received a region between Judah and Joseph, with borders that included the Jordan River, the mountains, and the wilderness. The chapter also lists the cities and villages within the possession of the sons of Benjamin.
Chapter 19
The tribes of Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, and Dan each received their inheritance of land, with specific cities and villages designated for each tribe. The tribe of Simeon's inheritance was within the territory of Judah, while the other tribes received their own distinct territories. The tribe of Dan initially received a smaller territory but later seized the city of Leshem and renamed it Leshem-Dan. After dividing the land among the tribes, the Israelites gave Joshua the city of Timnath-Serah, which he had requested, and he built it up and lived there.
Chapter 20
The Lord instructed Joshua to designate cities of refuge where those who had unintentionally killed someone could flee to escape the wrath of the victim's relatives. The person would stand before the city elders, explain their innocence, and be given a place to live until they could stand trial. If the avenger of blood pursued them, the city would not deliver them into their hands, and they would remain there until the high priest's death, after which they could return home. Six cities of refuge were designated, three on each side of the Jordan River, for the protection of both Israelites and foreigners who had unintentionally killed someone.
Chapter 21
The leaders of the Levite families approached Eleazar and Joshua, requesting cities and suburbs as instructed by Moses. The Israelites gave the Levites cities and suburbs from their possessions, distributing them by lot among the tribes. The Levites received a total of 48 cities, including cities of refuge, with their suburbs, as instructed by the Lord through Moses. The Israelites possessed the land, lived in it, and had peace with the surrounding nations, with all of God's promises fulfilled.
Chapter 22
Joshua dismissed the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh, commending them for their obedience and faithfulness, and instructing them to continue following God's laws. They returned to their lands, but built a large altar beside the Jordan, which the other Israelites misinterpreted as a sacrilegious act. Phinehas, the priest, and other leaders were sent to investigate, and the Reubenites, Gadites, and Manasseh explained that the altar was a witness to their faith and a reminder to future generations, not a rival to the altar in the tabernacle. The explanation was accepted, and the Israelites were pleased, praising God and abandoning their plans to attack.
Chapter 23
Joshua, now old and advanced in age, gathered the leaders of Israel and reminded them of the Lord's victories over the surrounding nations. He encouraged them to be strengthened and careful to observe the law of Moses, warning them not to turn aside or serve other gods. Joshua also cautioned that if they chose to cling to the errors of the nations living among them, those nations would become a snare and stumbling block to them. He concluded by stating that the Lord would fulfill all His promises, both good and evil, and that Israel's transgressions would bring about the Lord's fury and their removal from the land.
Chapter 24
Joshua gathered the tribes of Israel at Shechem and recounted the history of God's deliverance, from Abraham to the conquest of Canaan. He reminded them of God's blessings and their obligation to serve Him. Joshua presented the people with a choice: to serve the Lord or the gods of their ancestors. The people chose to serve the Lord, and Joshua warned them of the consequences of turning away from God. He then made a covenant with the people, writing down the laws and setting up a stone as a witness to their commitment.
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