Above all things, be strong and harden thyself, to observe and to do according to all the laws which Moses my servant commanded thee. Turn there from neither to the righthand, nor to the left: that thou mayest have understanding in all thou takest in hand.

Let your wives, your children and your cattle remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan: But go ye before your brethren armed, all that be men of war, and help them

until the LORD hath given your brethren rest, as he hath you, and until they also have obtained the land which the LORD your God giveth them. And then return unto the land of your possession and enjoy it, which land Moses the LORD's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sun rising."

According as we obeyed Moses in all things, so we will obey thee; only the LORD thy God be with thee as he was with Moses.

And whosoever disobey thy mouth, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, let him die: Only be strong and of good courage."

And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, "Behold there came men in hither tonight, of the children of Israel, to spy out the country."

And about the time of the shutting of the gate, when it was dark, they went out. Whither they went, I know not: but follow after them quickly, and ye shall take them."

And she brought them up upon the roof of the house, and hid them under flax, yet in the stalks, which she had lying abroad upon the roof.

For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the reed sea before you, when you came out of Egypt, and what you did unto the two kings of the Amorites on the other side Jordan; Sihon, and Og, which ye utterly destroyed.

And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did faint. And there remained no more courage in any man for fear of your coming. For the LORD your God; he is the God in heaven above, and on the earth beneath.

And the men answered her, "Our lives for you to die, if you utter not this our business. And so when the LORD hath given us the land, we will deal mercifully and truly with thee."

And then she let them down with a cord through the window. For her house stood in the town wall. And she dwelt in the town wall.

Behold, when we come unto the land, thou shalt bind this purple threaden cord in the window, which thou lettest us down by. And thou shalt bring thy father, thy mother, thy brethren, and all thy father's household, even into the house to thee.

And then whosoever go out at the doors of thy house, into the street, his blood shall be upon his own head, and we guiltless. And whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood be upon our heads if any man's hand be upon him:

And she said, "According unto your words, so be it." And so sent them away, and they departed. And she bound the purple cord in the window.

and commanded the people, saying, "When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests that are Levites bearing it: then depart ye from your places and follow after it.

So yet that there be a space between you and it, about a two thousand cubits by measure. And come not nigh unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not gone by it in times past."

And the LORD said unto Joshua, "This day will I begin to magnify thee, in the sight of all Israel, that they may know how that as I was with Moses, so will I be with thee.

And command thou the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When ye are entered a little into the water of Jordan then stand still in it.'"

And as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of Jehovah - the Lord of all the world - tread in the water of Jordan, the water of Jordan shall divide itself and the waters that cometh from above shall stand still upon a heap."

And when the people were departed from their tents to go over Jordan - the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people -

as soon as they that bare the ark came unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water - Jordan being full over all his banks all the time of harvest -

And command you them, saying, 'Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, even out of the place where the priests stood in a readiness, twelve stones. And take ye them away with you and put them in the place where you lodge at night.'"

that this may be a sign among you. And when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, 'What mean ye with these stones?'

And thereto 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 there they be, even unto this day.

For the priests that bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until all was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to say unto the people, according to all that Moses charged Joshua. And the people hasted and went over.

When all the people were clean over, then went over the ark of the LORD, and also the priests before the people.

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.

And when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were ascended out of Jordan - as soon as the soles of the priests' feet were brought to dry land - the water of Jordan returned again to his place and went over all his banks as he did before.

And the people came up out of Jordan the tenth day of the first month and pitched in Gilgal even in the east borders of Jericho.

And the twelve stones which they took out of Jordan, Joshua pitched in Gilgal.

And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, "When your children ask you in time to come saying, 'What mean these stones?'

Show your children and say, 'Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.'

And when all the kings of the Amorites which dwelt beyond the Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Cananites which lie on the sea, heard how the LORD had dried up the water of Jordan before the children of Israel, until they were over, their hearts fainted in them. And there was no spirit in them any more, for fear of the coming of the children of Israel.

And Joshua made him knives of stone and circumcised the children of Israel in the hill of foreskins.

And this is the cause why Joshua circumcised. All the people that came out of Egypt that were males, all that were men of war, died in the wilderness by the way after they came out of Egypt.

Now all the people that came out were circumcised. But all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way after they came out of Egypt, they circumcised not.

For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people of men of war that came out of Egypt were consumed, which hearkened not unto the voice of God; so that the LORD sware, that he would not show them the land which the LORD sware unto their fathers, that he would give us even a land that floweth with milk and honey.

And their children he set up in their stead. Them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they circumcised them not by the way.

And when all the people were full circumcised, they abode still in their places in the host till they were whole.

And the children of Israel pitched their tents in Gilgal, and held the feast of Passover the fourteenth day of the month, at even, in the fields of Jericho.

And they ate of the corn of the land on the morrow after Passover, sweet cakes and parched corn in the selfsame day.

And Manna ceased on the morrow, after they had eaten of the corn of the land, neither had the children of Israel Manna any more, but did eat of the fruits of the land of Canaan that year.

And when Joshua was come to Jericho, he lift up his eyes and looked: and behold there stood a man before him with his sword drawn in his hand. And Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, "Art thou on our side or on our adversaries?"

And he answered, "Nay, but I am the captain of the host of the LORD and am now come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and did reverence, and said unto him, "What sayeth my Lord unto his servant?"

And Jericho shut in her people, and was shut for fear of the children of Israel, so that no man went out or in.

And when there is a long blast blown with the ram's horn, as soon as ye hear the sound of the horn, let all the people shout a mighty shout. And then shall the walls of the city fall down, and the people shall ascend up, every man straight before him."

And when Joshua had spoken unto the people, the seven priests that bare the seven trumpets of rams horns before the ark of the LORD went forth and blew with the horns, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed after them.

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

But the city shall be excommunicate, both it and all that is therein, unto the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, both she and all that is with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.

And in any wise beware of the excommunicate things, lest ye make yourselves excommunicate. For if you take of the excommunicate things, so shall you make the host of Israel excommunicate and shall trouble it.

And the people cried, and blew with horns: for when the people heard the sound of the horns, they shouted a great shout. And the walls fell down, and the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and took the city.

And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, ox, sheep and ass, with the edge of the sword.

And the young men that were spies went in and brought out Rahab, and her father, and mother, and all the brethren and all that she had. And they brought out all her household and put them without the host of Israel.

And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot, and her father's household and all that pertained unto her, and she dwelt in Israel - even unto this day - because she hid the messengers which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

But yet the children of Israel trespassed in the excommunicate things: for Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah of the tribe of Judah, took of the excommunicate things. And the wrath of the LORD waxed hot against the children of Israel.

Then Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, "Get you up and view the country." And the men went up and spied out Ai,

And the men of Ai smote of them upon a thirty and six men, and chased them before the gates even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down. And the hearts of the people were discouraged and melted like water.

And Joshua said, "Ah, Lord Jehovah, wherefore hast thou brought this people over Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? Would to God we had adventured and dwelt on the other side Jordan.

Oh Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies?

Israel hath sinned and also transgressed my covenant, which I commanded them, and have taken of the excommunicate things, and have stolen and hid them, and also put them unto their own stuff:

And he that is found in the excommunication shall be burnt with fire, both he and all that pertaineth unto him, because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.'"

And so Joshua rose up early in the morning and brought Israel by their tribes: and the tribe of Judah was caught.

And he brought the kindred of the Zerahites by householders, and Zabdi was caught. And he brought his household man by man, and Achan the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah in the tribe of Judah was caught.

I saw among the spoil a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundredth sicles of silver, and a tongue of gold of fifty sicles weight: and I coveted them, and I took them. And behold they lie hid in the earth in my tent and the silver thereunder."

And then Joshua sent messengers which ran unto the tent. And behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver thereunder.

And thou shalt do to Ai and her king, as thou didst unto Jericho and her king. Nevertheless the spoil and cattle thereof, ye shall take unto yourselves. But lay a watch unto the town on the backside thereof."

And he commanded them, saying, "See that ye lie await unto the town on the backside thereof. Go not very far from the city, and see that ye be all ready.

And I and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city. And when they come out against us, as at the first time, then will we flee before them.

As soon, therefore, as ye have taken the city, see that ye set it on fire. According to the commandment of the LORD see that ye do: behold, I have charged you."

And Joshua sent them forth, and they went to lie await, and lay between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Joshua lodged that night among the people.

And he rose up early in the morning and numbered the people and went up, both he and the elders of Israel before the people, unto Ai.

And all the men of war that were with him, went up and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai, a valley being between them and Ai,

and he took upon a five thousand men and put them to lie await, between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.

And he put the people, even all the host, on the north side of the city, and the lyers-await on the west. And Joshua went the same night into the midst of the valley.

And when the king of Ai saw that they hasted and rose up early, then the people of the city went out against Israel, to battle, both the king and all his people, at a time appointed, even before the plain, and wist not that there were lyers-await on the backside of the city.

So that there was not a man left in Ai, or in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city open and followed after Israel.

Then the LORD said unto Joshua, "Stretch out the spear that is in thine hand toward Ai, for I have given thee it." And Joshua stretched out the spear that was in his hand, toward the city.

And the lyers-await rose quickly out of their places, and ran, as soon as Joshua had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set it on fire.

And when the men of Ai looked back after them and saw, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven. And they had no place to flee either this way or that, for the people that fled to the wilderness turned back again upon the followers.

And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the lyers-await had taken the city and that the smoke of it ascended, they turned again and laid on the men of Ai.

And the other issued out of the city against them. And so were they in the midst of Israel, these being on the one side of them, and the rest on the other. And they laid upon them, so that they let none either remain or escape.

And when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabiters of Ai in the fields and in the wilderness by which they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were wasted, then all Israel returned unto Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword.

And Joshua set Ai on fire and made it a heap forever and a wilderness, even unto this day.

And the king of Ai he hanged on tree, until evening. And as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded and they took the carcass down off the tree, and cast it in the entering of the gate of the city, and cast thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.

Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel, in mount Ebal,

as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, according as it is written in the book of the law of Moses: an altar of rough stone over which no tool of iron was lifted. And they sacrificed thereon burnt sacrifice, and offered peace offerings.

And he wrote there, upon the stones, the second law of Moses which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

And all Israel and the elders thereof, and their officers and judges, stood part on this side the ark, and part on that side, before the priests: that were Levites which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD - as well the stranger, as they that were born among them: half of them on the forefront of the Mount of Gerizim, and half of them on the forefront of mount Ebal: as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, first to bless the people of Israel.

And after that he read all the words of the law, both the blessing and cursing, according to all that is written in the book of the law -

so that there was not one word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not - before all the congregation of Israel, with women and children and the strangers that were among them.

And when all the kings that dwell on this side Jordan, in the hills and valleys, and along by all the coasts of the great sea even unto Lebanon - the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perezites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites - heard,

they gathered themselves together to fight against Joshua and Israel with one accord.

But when the Inhabiters of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho, and Ai,

they played wilily, and went and sent ambassadors: and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles old and rent and knit together again,

And they answered him, "From a very far country thy servants are come, in the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of the exceeding long journey."

And now, behold, we are in thine hand; as it seemeth good and right in thine eyes to do unto us, so do."

And Joshua made them that same day hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the congregation and unto the altar of God unto this day, in the place which God should choose.

And when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had destroyed it, and how that as he had done to Jericho and her king, even so he had done to Ai and her king, and how the inhabiters of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and did remain among them: