father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from 14 death. And the men 'said unto her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business; and it shall be, when the LORD giveth us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with 15 thee. Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and 16 she dwelt upon the wall. And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers light upon you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. 17 And the men said unto her, We will be guiltless of this thine oath which 18) thou hast made us to swear. Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt 'gather' unto thee into the house' thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and 19 all thy father's household. And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, 20 if any hand be upon him. But if thou utter this our business, then we will be guiltless of thine oath which 21 thou hast made us to swear. And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound 22 the scarlet line in the window.

And

they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not. (23 Then the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun; and they told him all 24 that had befallen them. And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; and moreover all the inhabitants of the land' do melt away before us.

lodged there before they passed over. 2 °And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the 3 midst of the camp; and they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye 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: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go; for ye have not passed 5 this way heretofore. And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to-morrow the LORD will 6 do wonders among you. And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and 7 went before the people. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with 8 thee. And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the waters' of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.

9

And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the 10 words of the LORD your God. And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the 'Canaanite', and the Hittite, and the 'Hivitel, and the 'Perizzite, and the Girgashite', and the Amorite', and the 'Jebusite'. 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth passeth over 12 before you into Jordan. Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, for every tribe a 13 man. And it shall come to pass, when the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off, even the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand in one heap. 14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, the priests that barel the ark of the covenant being before 15 the people; and when they that

bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the 'brink of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all its banks all the time of harvest,) 16) that the waters which came down from above stood, and rose up in one' heap, 'a great way 1off, at1 Adam, the city that is beside 'Zarethan': and those that went down toward the sea of the Arabah', even the Salt Sea, were 'wholly cut off and the people passed over right against Jericho. 17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all Israel' passed over on dry ground, until all the nation' were passed clean over Jordan.

41

:

over

And it came to pass, when all the Ination! were clean passed Jordan, that the LORD spake unto 2 Joshua, saying, "Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a (3 man, and command 'yel them, saying,

Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and carry them over with you, and "lay them down in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. °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 unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the (6 children of Israel: that this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean yel by these stones? 7 then ye shall say unto them, 'Because the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for 8 ever. And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; and they carried them over with them unto the place where they

1 Another reading is, off from.

lodged, and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood : and they are there, unto this day. 10 °For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until every thing was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the 11 people hasted and passed over. And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people. 12) And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake 13 unto them about forty thousand

ready armed for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the 14 plains of Jericho. On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.

15 And the LORD spake unto Joshua, 16 saying, Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that 17 they come up out of Jordan. Joshua

therefore commanded the priests, say18 ing, Come ye up out of Jordan. And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry 'ground', that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and went over all its banks, as laforetime". 19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, on the east 20 border of Jericho. And those twelve

stones, which they took out of Jordan, 21 did Joshua Iset up in Gilgal. And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 22 What mean these stones? then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry 23 land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea,

2 See Deut. i. 1.

which he dried up from before us, 24 until we were passed' over: that all the 'peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty; that they may fear the LORD your God for ever.

51

And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were beyond Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard how that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.

2 At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee knives of flint', and circumcise again the children of 3 Israel the second time. And Joshua made him knives of flint', and circumcised the children of Israel at the 4 hill of the foreskins. And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: all the people that came forth out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came forth out of (5 Egypt. For all the people that came

out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, they had not circum6 cised. For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the nation, even the men of war which came forth out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not let them see the land which the LORD Sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land 7 flowing with milk and honey. And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them 'did' Joshua circumcise for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised 8 them by the way. And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the nation', that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were 9 whole. And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of that place 'was called "Gilgal, unto this day.

1 So with a change of vowel-points. The pointing of the text is ir regular.

2 Another reading is, they.

10

And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal; and they kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at 11 even in the plains of Jericho. And

they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes and parched corn, 12 in the selfsame day. And the manna ceased on the morrow, after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat 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 unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 °And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his 15 servant? And the captain of the LORD'S host said unto Joshua, Put off thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is 61 holy. And Joshua did so. (Now

Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went 2 out, and none came in.) And the ' LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of 3 valour. And ye shall compass the city, all the men of war, going about the city once. Thus shalt thou 4) do six days. And seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the 5 trumpets. And it shall be, that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when ye 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 go up 6 every man straight before him.” And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.

Heb, shut the gates and was shut in. 8 Or, jubile trumpets Heb. in its place.

V. 1 on the side of; 2 sharp;

7 °And they said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let 'the' armed men pass on before the ark (8) of the LORD. And it was sol, that when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the LORD passed on, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them. (9 And the armed men went before the priests that blew the trumpets, and the rearward went after the ark, the priests blowing with the trumpets las (10 they went. And Joshua commanded

the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor let your voice be heard', neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; 11 then shall ye shout. So he caused the ark of the LORD to compass the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.

12

And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark 13 of the LORD. And the seven priests

:

bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; and the rearward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests blowing with the trumpets 'as 14 they went. And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days. 15 And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early at the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times only on that day they com16 passed the city seven times. And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you 17 the city. And the city shall be idevoted, even it and all that is therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the 18) messengers that we sent. And yel, in any wise keep yourselves from the devoted thing, lest when ye have devoted it, ye take of the devoted thing; so should ye make the camp of Israel accursed, and trouble it.

1 Another reading is, he.

2 See Lev. xxvii. 28, Deut. xx. 17.

19 But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are 'holy unto the LORD they shall come into the 20) treasury of the LORD. "So the people shouted, and the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, that the people shouted with a great shout, and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took 21 the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, 'both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with (22 the edge of the sword. And' Joshua said unto the two men that had spied out the land', Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye 23) sware unto her. And the young men 'the' spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had, all her kindred 'also they brought out; and 'they set' them with24 out the camp of Israel. And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the (25) house of the LORD. But Rahab the harlot, and her father's household, and all that she had, 'did' Joshua 'savel alive; and she dwelt' in 'the midst of Israel, unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which 26) Joshua sent to spy out Jericho. And Joshua 'charged them with an oath at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: Iwith the loss of his firstborn shall he lay the foundation thereof, and 'with the loss of his youngest son shall he set 27 up the gates of it. So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was 'in' all the 'land'.

the east side of Beth-el, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and 'spy out the land. And the men went (3 up and 'spied out Ai. °And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; make not all the people to toil thither; for they are 4 but few. So there went up thither

of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of 5 Ai. And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: 'and' they chased them from before the gate even unto 1Shebarim, and smote them at the going down: and the hearts of the people melted, and be6 came as water. And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the evening', he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust upon 1 their heads. And Joshua said, Alas,

O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to cause us to perish? would 'that we had been content and 8 dwelt beyond! Jordan! Oh Lord, what shall I say, after that Israel Thath turned' their backs before their 9 enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall compass us round, and cut off our name from the earth and what wilt thou do for thy 10 great name? And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore art thou thus fallen upon thy face? 11) Israel hath sinned; yea', they have leven' transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: yea, they have even taken of the devoted thing; and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have even put it among 12) their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel 'cannot stand before their enemies, they turn their backs before their enemies, because they lare become accursed: I will not! be with you any more, except ye destroy the devoted thing' from 'among! 13 you. Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow for thus saith the LORD, 'the God of Israel, There is a de

1 Or, the quarries! 2 See ch. vi, 18. 3 According to some ancient authorities, families.

voted thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the 14 devoted thing from among you.

In

the morning therefore ye shall be brought near by your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come near by families; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come near by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come near 15 man by man. And it shall be, that he that is taken with the devoted: thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.

16

So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel near by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah 17 was taken: and he brought near the family of Judah; and he took the family of the 'Zerahites: and he brought near the family of the 'Zerahites man by man; and Zabdi was 18 taken and he brought near his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, 19 was taken. And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; 20 hide it not from me. And Achan answered Joshua, and said, "Of a truth I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and thus 21 and thus have I done: when I saw among the spoil a goodly "Babylonish mantle, 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 unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it. 23 And they took them 'from the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel; and they laid them down' 24 before the LORD. And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the