
I WILL BE WITH YOU{/}

{1}1{/}

{I}1_{/}After the 
death of Moses, Yahweh 
spoke to Joshua, the son 
of Nun and the minister 
of Moses, and said to 
him: {I}2_{/}"My servant 
Moses is dead; therefore, 
the hour has come for you 
to cross the Jordan 
River, and all the people 
shall go with you to the 
land which I give to the 
sons of Israel. {I}3_{/}I 
give you all the places 
where you set your feet, 
as I promised Moses. 
{I}4_{/}Your frontiers 
will extend from the 
mountain of Lebanon in 
the north, to the desert 
in the south, as far as 
the great Euphrates in 
the east and the Great 
Sea in the west.
{I}5_{/}As long as you 
live, no one will be able 
to stand against you. I 
will be with you as I was 
with Moses. I will not 
leave you or abandon you. 
{I}6_{/}Be valiant and 
have courage for I will 
give this people the land 
I swore to their fathers 
I would give them. 
{I}7_{/}Therefore, be 
brave and faithfully 
fulfill the whole Law 
which Moses, my servant, 
gave you. Do not turn 
aside from it either to 
the right or to the left, 
and you shall succeed 
wherever you go.
{I}8_{/}Constantly read 
the book of this Law and 
meditate on it day and 
night that you may truly 
do what it says. So shall 
your plans be fulfilled 
and you shall succeed in 
everything. {I}9_{/}It is 
I who command you; be 
strong, then, and be 
valiant. Do not tremble 
or be afraid, because 
Yahweh, your God, is with 
you wherever you go."
{I}10_{/}Joshua ordered 
the secretaries of the 
people: {I}11_{/}"Pass 
through the camp and give 
this command: 'Store up 
enough food for, in three 
days' time, you shall 
cross the Jordan and 
enter the land which 
Yahweh, your God, will 
give you'."
{I}12_{/}To the people of 
the tribes of Reuben and 
Gad and to half of the 
tribe of Manasseh, Joshua 
said, {I}13_{/}"Remember 
the command of Moses, the 
servant of Yahweh; Yahweh 
has provided you with a 
place of rest and has 
given you all this 
region. {I}14_{/}The 
women and children, as 
well as the livestock, 
shall remain on this side 
of the Jordan, in the 
region which Moses gave 
you; but you who are 
valiant shall cross over, 
armed, ahead of your 
brothers and shall help 
them {I}15_{/}until 
Yahweh gives them rest, 
as he has given you, that 
they may also conquer the 
land which Yahweh, our 
God, gives them. So you 
shall return to the 
region which Moses gave 
us and take possession of 
that land at the east of 
the Jordan."
{I}16_{/}They answered 
Joshua: "We will do all 
you have commanded us and 
go wherever you send us. 
Just as we have obeyed 
Moses, so shall we obey 
you in the same way. 
{I}17_{/}May Yahweh, your 
God, be with you as he 
was with Moses. 
{I}18_{/}He who 
contradicts your words 
and disobeys your orders 
shall die. But be valiant 
and courageous."
THE HISTORY OF RAHAB{/}

{1}2{/}

{I}1_{/}Joshua sent two 
spies secretly from 
Shittim with the 
following order "Go and 
look over the land well, 
especially the city of 
Jericho."
The spies went and as 
soon as they came to 
Jericho, they went to the 
house of the prostitute 
named Rahab. {I}2_{/}But 
someone told the king of 
Jericho: "Some Israelites 
have entered here tonight 
to spy on us." {I}3_{/}So 
the king of Jericho sent 
word to Rahab: "Send 
those men out of your 
house because they came 
to spy on the land." 
{I}4_{/}But the woman had 
hidden them, so she said: 
"It is true; they came to 
my house but I did not 
know where they came 
from. {I}5_{/}And at 
nightfall, shortly before 
the city gates were to be 
closed, they went out. I 
do not know where they 
went, but hurry and you 
will surely overtake 
them." {I}6_{/}The woman 
had hidden them on the 
roof of the house, under 
the stalks of flax which 
she kept there.
{I}7_{/}The pursuers went 
to search for them by the 
road leading to the 
valley of the Jordan, and 
as they went out, the 
city gates were closed.
{I}8_{/}Then the woman 
went up to where she had 
hidden the spies of 
Joshua, {I}9_{/}and she 
said to them: "I know 
that Yahweh, your God, 
has given this land to 
you; we are frightened 
and the inhabitants of 
the land tremble before 
you. {I}10_{/}We know how 
Yahweh dried up the 
waters of the Red Sea to 
let you cross when you 
came out of Egypt. We 
know what you did to the 
two kings of the Amorites 
who lived at the other 
side of the Jordan, to 
Sihon and Og, whom you 
destroyed by anathema. 
{I}11_{/}The news has 
frightened us, and 
everyone has lost courage 
because of you, for 
Yahweh, your God, is God 
in heaven above as he is 
on earth below.
{I}12_{/}Now then, swear 
to me by Yahweh that just 
as I have been faithful 
to you, so shall you be 
towards my family, 
{I}13_{/}and respect the 
life of my father, 
mother, brothers and 
sisters, and all that 
belong to them."
{I}14_{/}The men 
answered: "Provided that 
you do not reveal our 
talk, then we will pay 
back life for life when 
Yahweh hands over to us 
this land, and we will 
deal generously and 
faithfully with you."
{I}15_{/}Then she let 
them down by a rope 
through the window, since 
her house was built into 
the city wall. 
{I}16_{/}But she said to 
them: "Go through the 
mountains so that you do 
not meet those who pursue 
you. Remain in hiding for 
three days, until they 
return, and then you may 
go your way." 
{I}17_{/}They answered: 
"See how we shall fulfill 
our oath. {I}18_{/}When 
we enter this land, tie 
this scarlet cord as a 
sign on the window 
through which we have 
escaped. Bring into your 
house your father, 
mother, brothers and 
sisters, and all your 
relatives. {I}19_{/}If 
any of them leaves the 
house, he shall be the 
one responsible for his 
death, and the guilt will 
not be ours. But if 
anyone who is with you is 
killed, then may the 
punishment for his death 
come upon us. 
{I}20_{/}However, be 
careful not to reveal our 
plan. If you do, then we 
are freed from the oath 
we have sworn." 
{I}21_{/}Rahab said to 
them: "So be it." And 
after she had sent them 
off, she tied the scarlet 
cord to the window.
{I}22_{/}The men went 
into the mountains and 
hid there for three days, 
until their pursuers had 
returned. These men had 
searched in vain for them 
everywhere. {I}23_{/}Then 
the two spies came down 
again from the mountains 
and, crossing the Jordan 
River, came to Joshua, 
son of Nun, and gave him 
an account of their 
mission and everything 
that had happened. 
{I}24_{/}They said to 
Joshua: "Yahweh has given 
all this land into our 
hands; their inhabitants 
already tremble before 
us."
CROSSING THE JORDAN{/}

{1}3{/}

{I}1_{/}Early in the 
morning, Joshua rose and 
set out from Shittim with 
all the people of Israel 
and came to the Jordan 
River. There they 
encamped while waiting to 
cross the river.
{I}2_{/}After three days, 
the officers went around 
the camp {I}3_{/}and 
ordered the Israelites: 
"When you see the Ark of 
the Covenant of Yahweh go 
by, carried by the 
priests from the tribe of 
Levi, then you shall set 
out from your camp and 
follow it, {I}4_{/}that 
you may know the way you 
shall go. Because you 
have never been that way 
before. But you shall 
follow it at a distance 
of a thousand meters. Do 
not go near it."
{I}5_{/}Joshua said to 
the Israelites: "Purify 
yourselves, for tomorrow 
Yahweh will be in your 
midst doing wonders." 
{I}6_{/}And Joshua 
ordered the priests: 
"Take the Ark of the 
Covenant and cross the 
river at the head of the 
people."
{I}7_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Joshua: "Today I will 
begin to make you great 
in the eyes of Israel and 
they shall know that I am 
with you as I was with 
Moses. {I}8_{/}Give this 
order to the priests who 
carry the Ark of the 
Covenant: As soon as you 
come to the banks of the 
Jordan, stand still in 
the river." {I}9_{/}And 
Joshua said to the 
Israelites: "Come nearer 
and listen to the words 
of Yahweh, our God. 
{I}10_{/}Do you want a 
sign that Yahweh, the 
living God, is in your 
midst, he who drives away 
before you the 
Canaanites, Hittites, 
Hivites, Perizzites, as 
well as the Girgashites, 
Jebusites and Amorites? 
{I}11_{/}See, the Ark of 
the Covenant of the Lord 
of all the earth is going 
to cross the Jordan 
before you. {I}12_{/}Now, 
choose twelve men from 
the twelve tribes of 
Israel, one from each 
tribe. {I}13_{/}When the 
priests who carry the Ark 
of the Lord of all the 
earth put their feet into 
the water of the Jordan, 
the water coming from 
upstream shall stop 
flowing and stand in one 
single mass."
{I}14_{/}When the people 
set out from their camp 
to cross the Jordan, the 
priests who carried the 
Ark of the Covenant went 
before them. 
{I}15_{/}There was much 
water in the Jordan, for 
it was overflowing its 
banks at this time of the 
barley harvest. 
Nevertheless, when those 
who carried the Ark went 
down to the river and 
their feet touched the 
edge of the water, the 
water from upstream 
stopped flowing.
{I}16_{/}The water stood 
still, forming something 
like a dam very far from 
that place, near Adam, 
the neighboring city of 
Zarethan. The water 
flowing down to the Dead 
Sea was completely cut 
off, and so the people 
could cross opposite 
Jericho. {I}17_{/}The 
priests who carried the 
Ark of the Covenant 
remained in the middle of 
the river which dried up, 
until all the Israelites 
had crossed the Jordan.
{1}4{/}

{I}1_{/}Once the whole 
nation had crossed, 
{I}2_{/}Yahweh said to 
Joshua: "Choose twelve 
men, one from each tribe, 
{I}3_{/}and give them the 
following order: Take 
twelve stones from the 
riverbed of the Jordan, 
from the very place where 
the priests stood still. 
Bring them with you and 
put them where you will 
encamp tonight."
{I}4_{/}Joshua then 
called the twelve men he 
had chosen from the 
twelve tribes of Israel 
{I}5_{/}and ordered them: 
"Walk to the Ark, up to 
the middle of the Jordan 
and take from there a 
stone for each tribe and 
carry it upon your 
shoulder. {I}6_{/}They 
will remain with you as a 
sign of what happened, so 
that when your children 
ask you in the future: 
What do these stones mean 
for you? {I}7_{/}you may 
answer: When the Ark of 
Yahweh crossed the 
Jordan, the water parted 
before it. So these 
stones shall serve as a 
memorial to the 
Israelites forever."
{I}8_{/}The Israelites 
carried out Joshua's 
order and picked up 
twelve stones from the 
riverbed of the Jordan, 
one for each tribe, just 
as Yahweh had ordered 
Joshua. They brought 
these to the place where 
they encamped and placed 
them there.
{I}9_{/}Joshua piled up 
twelve stones on the 
riverbed of the Jordan, 
at the spot where the 
priests who carried the 
Ark of the Covenant 
stood. They are still 
there to this day. 
{I}10_{/}The priests who 
carried the Ark stood in 
the middle of the Jordan 
until Joshua finished 
saying everything that 
Yahweh had ordered him. 
{I}11_{/}Then when all 
the people had finished 
crossing the river, the 
Ark also crossed, and the 
priests walked at the 
head of the people again.
{I}12_{/}The men from the 
tribes of Reuben, Gad and 
half of the tribe of 
Manasseh went ahead 
armed, as Moses had 
ordered them to do. 
{I}13_{/}They were about 
forty thousand, well-
armed, and they marched 
before Yahweh, ready for 
battle, to the plains of 
Jericho.
{I}14_{/}On that day, 
Yahweh exalted Joshua 
before all Israel, and 
henceforth they respected 
him all the days of his 
life as they had done 
with Moses.
{I}15_{/}Yahweh said to 
Joshua: {I}16_{/}"Command 
the priests who carry the 
Ark of the Divine Words 
to come up from the 
Jordan." {I}17_{/}Joshua, 
therefore, ordered them 
to come up from the 
river. {I}18_{/}And when 
these priests who carried 
the Ark of the Covenant 
of Yahweh came up from 
the middle of the Jordan, 
when their feet touched 
the banks, the waters of 
the Jordan returned as 
abundantly as on previous 
days and overflowed its 
banks.
{I}19_{/}It was on the 
tenth day of the first 
month when the people 
came up out of the Jordan 
and encamped in Gilgal, 
on the eastern border of 
Jericho. {I}20_{/}There 
in Gilgal, Joshua set up 
the twelve stones taken 
from the riverbed of the 
Jordan.
{I}21_{/}Then Joshua said 
to the Israelites: "When 
your children ask you in 
the future what these 
stones mean, 
{I}22_{/}then you shall 
tell them that the people 
of Israel crossed the 
Jordan without getting 
their feet wet, 
{I}23_{/}for Yahweh, our 
God, dried up the waters 
of the Jordan before us 
just as he did to the Red 
Sea which he also dried 
up before us to let us 
cross. {I}24_{/}He did 
this so that the people 
of this land may know the 
power of Yahweh, our God, 
and that you yourselves 
may fear him forever."
THE ISRAELITES ARE 
CIRCUMCISED AT GILGAL{/}

{1}5{/}

{I}1_{/}The kings of the 
Amorites on the west of 
the Jordan and all the 
kings of the Canaanites 
who lived in the 
neighboring lands of the 
Mediterranean Sea came to 
know how Yahweh dried up 
the bed of the Jordan for 
the Israelites to cross. 
So they lost their 
courage and spirit to 
face the Israelites.
{I}2_{/}At that time, 
Yahweh said to Joshua: 
"Make flint knives and 
celebrate a new 
circumcision for the sons 
of Israel." 
{I}3_{/}Joshua obeyed the 
order of Yahweh and 
circumcised the 
Israelites at a place 
called the Hill of the 
Foreskins.
{I}4_{/}This is the 
reason why Joshua did 
this second circumcision: 
all the men of Israel who 
left Egypt were 
circumcised, but they 
died during their journey 
in the desert. 
{I}5_{/}But all those 
born in the desert were 
not circumcised. 
{I}6_{/}For the 
Israelites walked in the 
desert for forty years 
until the whole nation 
died - the whole 
generation who did not 
obey Yahweh. For Yahweh 
had sworn that they would 
not enter the land 
flowing with milk and 
honey which he promised 
to their fathers. 
{I}7_{/}But it was their 
children, whom Joshua 
circumcised.
{I}8_{/}After 
circumcising all, they 
rested in the camp until 
they were healed. 
{I}9_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Joshua: "Today I have 
removed from you the 
shame of Egypt." So the 
place is called Gilgal up 
to this day.
{I}10_{/}The Israelites 
encamped in Gilgal where 
they celebrated the 
Passover on the evening 
of the fourteenth day of 
the month in the plains 
of Jericho. {I}11_{/}On 
the following day, they 
ate of the produce of the 
land: unleavened bread 
and roasted grain on that 
very day. {I}12_{/}And 
from that day on when 
they ate of the produce 
of the land, the manna 
ceased.
There was no more manna 
for the Israelites, and 
that year they ate of the 
fruit of the land of 
Canaan.
{I}13_{/}When Joshua was 
near Jericho, he lifted 
up his eyes and saw 
before him a man with a 
drawn sword in his hand. 
Joshua approached him and 
said: "Are you for us or 
for our enemies?" 
{I}14_{/}And he answered: 
"No, I have come as the 
commander of the army of 
Yahweh." Joshua lay 
prostrate on the ground, 
worshiped him and said: 
"What does my Lord ask of 
his servant?" 
{I}15_{/}The commander of 
the army of Yahweh said 
to him: "Take off your 
sandals from your feet; 
the place where you stand 
is holy." And Joshua did 
so.
THE CONQUEST OF 
JERICHO{/}

{1}6{/}

{I}1_{/}The inhabitants 
of Jericho had closed the 
city and had fastened 
their bolts so that the 
Israelites could not 
enter. No one came in and 
no one went out. 
{I}2_{/}But Yahweh said 
to Joshua: "I will give 
you the city, its king 
and all its men of war. 
{I}3_{/}For this, you 
shall have to go around 
the city once every day 
for six days. 
{I}4_{/}Seven priests 
shall go before the Ark 
bearing the seven 
trumpets used in the time 
of the Jubilee. On the 
seventh day, they shall 
march around the city 
seven times, {I}5_{/}and 
when they blow the horn, 
all the people shall come 
up to attack, shouting 
their battle cry. At that 
moment, the walls of the 
city will fall and 
everyone shall enter 
straight ahead of him."
{I}6_{/}Joshua, son of 
Nun, called the priests 
and said to them: "You 
shall carry the Ark of 
the Covenant; seven 
priests shall go ahead 
with the trumpets they 
use for the Jubilee." 
{I}7_{/}Then Joshua said 
to the people: "You shall 
march around the city and 
the vanguard of the army 
shall go before the Ark 
of Yahweh."
{I}8_{/}When Joshua 
finished speaking, the 
priests began to blow the 
seven trumpets they used 
to blow on the Feast of 
the Jubilee, and they 
went before the Ark of 
Yahweh. {I}9_{/}The 
vanguard of the people 
went before the priests, 
and the rest of the 
people came after the 
Ark. {I}10_{/}The 
trumpets blew 
continually. Joshua had 
given this order: "Do not 
shout or utter anything, 
nor let even a single 
word be heard, until the 
day comes when I say: 
Shout and cry out!"
{I}11_{/}That day he had 
the Ark of Yahweh carried 
around the city once, 
then all returned to the 
camp where they spent the 
night. {I}12_{/}On the 
following day, Joshua 
rose early in the morning 
{I}13_{/}and the priests 
took the Ark and those 
who blew the seven 
trumpets again went 
before the Ark. The 
vanguard went before them 
and the rest followed the 
Ark while the trumpets 
blew.
{I}14_{/}So they did the 
next day, and for six 
days they marched once a 
day around the city and 
then returned to the 
camp. {I}15_{/}On the 
seventh day, the 
Israelites rose early at 
dawn and marched around 
Jericho in the same way 
as on the previous days. 
But on that day, they did 
it seven times. 
{I}16_{/}At the seventh 
time, as the priests blew 
the trumpets, Joshua 
ordered the people: 
"Shout your battle cry 
for Yahweh has given you 
the city!
{I}17_{/}The city and all 
that is in it shall be 
given in anathema to 
Yahweh. Only Rahab the 
prostitute with all who 
may be with her in her 
house shall live, since 
she hid the spies we 
sent. {I}18_{/}But for 
your part, be careful not 
to touch anything, big or 
small since everything 
shall be consecrated in 
anathema; do not take 
anything for yourself 
lest the curse be upon 
the camp of Israel and 
bring trouble upon it. 
{I}19_{/}All the gold, 
silver, copper and iron 
are to be consecrated to 
Yahweh and shall go into 
the treasury of Yahweh."
{I}20_{/}The people 
shouted and the trumpets 
blew. At this precise 
moment, the walls of the 
city fell. Then everyone 
went straight into the 
city to the place before 
him.
{I}21_{/}They seized 
Jericho. And with sword 
in hand, they killed all 
the men and women, both 
young and old, as well as 
the oxen, sheep and 
asses, and they gave 
these as anathema or, 
rather, sacrificed them 
to God.
{I}22_{/}Two men had been 
sent to explore Jericho, 
(and upon entering the 
city, were hidden by a 
prostitute). Then Joshua 
said to them: "Go into 
the house of the 
prostitute and bring her 
out with all her family 
as you had sworn to her."
{I}23_{/}These young men 
then brought out the 
woman named Rahab, her 
father, her mother, her 
brothers and sisters with 
all her relatives to 
safety outside the camp 
of Israel. 
{I}24_{/}Afterwards, they 
burned the city and all 
that was in it. They 
saved only the silver, 
gold and the vessels of 
bronze and iron which 
they put with the 
precious things in the 
Sanctuary of Yahweh. 
{I}25_{/}Joshua saved the 
prostitute and all her 
family, and she lived in 
Israel, because she had 
kept the spies sent by 
Joshua.
{I}26_{/}Joshua asked the 
people to pronounce this 
curse: "May Yahweh curse 
the man who rebuilds 
Jericho. May its 
foundation rise on the 
body of his eldest son, 
and the gates on that of 
his youngest son."
{I}27_{/}So Yahweh was 
with Joshua and made him 
famous in all the land.
THE SACRILEGE OF ACHAN IS 
PUNISHED{/}

{1}7{/}

{I}1_{/}The Israelites 
did not keep the 
anathema. It happened 
that Achan, son of Carmi, 
son of Zabdi, son of 
Zerah, of the tribe of 
Judah, appropriated for 
himself some of the 
things consecrated by 
anathema, and because of 
this, the anger of Yahweh 
burned against Israel.
{I}2_{/}Joshua sent men 
from Jericho to Ai, which 
was near Bethaven, east 
of the city of Bethel. 
And he said to them: "Go 
up and explore the land." 
{I}3_{/}The spies said to 
Joshua on their return: 
"It would not be 
necessary to mobilize the 
whole army: some two or 
three thousand men will 
be enough to conquer the 
land. It would be useless 
to tire the people for 
that nation is but few in 
number."
{I}4_{/}So about three 
thousand men attacked Ai 
but were repulsed by the 
city's defenders. 
{I}5_{/}The people of Ai 
killed thirty-six men and 
pursued them outside the 
gate as far as Shebarim, 
defeating them on the 
slopes. Upon seeing this, 
all the people were 
disheartened.
{I}6_{/}Then Joshua and 
all the leaders of Israel 
rent their garments, put 
ashes on their heads and 
remained prostrate before 
the Ark of Yahweh until 
evening. Joshua lamented: 
{I}7_{/}"Alas, Yahweh, 
why have you made this 
people cross the river 
Jordan just to give us 
into the hands of the 
Amorites who will destroy 
us?
It would have been better 
for us to remain on the 
other side of the Jordan. 
{I}8_{/}Yahweh, my God, 
what can I say when I see 
Israel fleeing from their 
enemies? {I}9_{/}The 
Canaanites and all the 
inhabitants of this land 
will know of this. They 
will unite to surround us 
and drive us out. And 
you, what are you going 
to do for the honor of 
your Name?"
{I}10_{/}Yahweh answered: 
"Stand up! Why are you 
prostrate on the ground? 
{I}11_{/}Israel sinned 
and has violated my 
covenant; Israelites have 
taken from what was set 
apart by anathema and 
have hidden stolen 
objects with their 
belongings. {I}12_{/}So 
Israel cannot face its 
enemies, but shall flee 
from them, since it has 
come to be an anathema. I 
will not be with you 
anymore unless you remove 
the curse from your 
midst. {I}13_{/}Go then, 
and sanctify the people. 
Say to them: 'Cleanse 
yourselves for tomorrow. 
Yahweh, the God of 
Israel, says to you: Oh, 
Israel, the anathema is 
in your midst and you 
shall not face your 
enemies until you have 
removed the anathema from 
you. {I}14_{/}Therefore 
in the morning you shall 
come near, grouped 
according to tribes. The 
tribe that Yahweh 
designates by lot shall 
present itself by 
families. And the family 
that Yahweh designates 
shall present itself by 
households, and the 
household by individuals. 
{I}15_{/}He who turns out 
to be responsible for 
this offense shall be 
burned, together with all 
his household goods, for 
having violated the 
covenant of Yahweh and 
having done a detestable 
crime in Israel."
{I}16_{/}Joshua rose 
early in the morning and 
ordered the tribes of 
Israel to present 
themselves. {I}17_{/}The 
lot fell on the tribe of 
Judah. Lots were drawn 
among the families, and 
the family of Zerah was 
left. Lots were drawn 
among the households of 
this family and the 
household of Zabdi was 
left. {I}18_{/}And then 
lots were drawn among the 
members of this household 
which revealed that the 
guilty one was Achan, son 
of Carmi, son of Zabdi, 
son of Zoreh, of the 
tribe of Judah.
{I}19_{/}Joshua then said 
to him: "My son, confess 
the truth before Yahweh, 
the God of Israel, and 
render him praise. Tell 
me what you have done 
without hiding anything." 
{I}20_{/}Achan answered: 
"It is true that I have 
sinned against Yahweh. 
This is what I have done: 
{I}21_{/}I saw among the 
plunder a beautiful 
mantle from Shinar, two 
hundred shekels of silver 
and a bar of gold 
weighing fifty shekels. I 
was tempted so I took 
them. Then I hid them in 
the ground inside my tent 
with the silver 
underneath."
{I}22_{/}Joshua then sent 
some messengers who ran 
to the tent of Achan and 
found the booty inside 
the tent with the silver 
underneath. {I}23_{/}They 
took all these and 
presented them to Joshua 
and to the people; 
everything was put before 
Yahweh.
{I}24_{/}Then Joshua took 
Achan together with the 
silver, the mantle and 
the gold, his sons as 
well as his daughters, 
his oxen, asses and 
sheep, his tent and all 
that he had. All Israel 
accompanied him and they 
brought them to the 
Valley of Achor. 
{I}25_{/}There Joshua 
said to him: "Since you 
brought us misfortune, 
may Yahweh bring this 
misfortune upon you 
today." Then all the 
people stoned him. 
{I}26_{/}And of those 
that were his, some were 
crushed and others were 
burned. They piled on him 
a great heap of stones 
that remains to this day. 
Then the Lord turned from 
his anger.
Henceforth the place was 
called the Valley of 
Achor.
JOSHUA CONQUERS AI{/}

{1}8{/}

{I}1_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Joshua: "Do not fear 
or be discouraged. March 
with all your warriors 
against the city of Ai. I 
will give into your hands 
its king and its people, 
the city and its 
territory. {I}2_{/}You 
shall deal with Ai as you 
have dealt with Jericho 
and its king. But you may 
take possession of the 
plunder and all the 
animals. So now, prepare 
an ambush behind the 
city."
{I}3_{/}So Joshua left 
with all his warriors and 
went up to Ai. Then he 
chose thirty thousand 
valiant warriors, and 
sent them out by night. 
{I}4_{/}And he commanded 
them: "Lie in ambush 
behind the city. Do not 
go very far and be ready.
{I}5_{/}I and all the 
people who are with me 
shall close in on the 
city. But when they come 
out against us, as they 
did before, we shall flee 
from them. {I}6_{/}Then 
they shall pursue us and 
go out far from the city, 
thinking that we are 
fleeing from them as 
before. {I}7_{/}But then 
you shall rise from where 
you are hiding and occupy 
the city. Yahweh, our 
God, will give it to us. 
{I}8_{/}After taking the 
city,you shall burn it 
according to what Yahweh 
has commanded. These are 
my orders."
{I}9_{/}So Joshua sent 
them out and they went to 
the place of ambush, 
between Bethel and Ai, to 
the west of the city, 
while Joshua slept that 
night in the midst of his 
people.
{I}10_{/}Very early in 
the morning, Joshua rose 
and mustered his army, 
and then marched at the 
head of the people, 
accompanied by the 
leaders. {I}11_{/}All the 
warriors who were with 
him went up and marched 
until they reached the 
front of the city. Then 
they encamped opposite 
the northern side of the 
city. The valley 
separated them from the 
city. 
{I}12_{/}(Then he took 
five thousand men whom he 
set in ambush between 
Bethel and Ai, to the 
west of the city.)
{I}13_{/}The people then 
set up their camp to the 
north of the city and 
their rearguard to the 
west. That night Joshua 
was in the valley.
BATTLE OF AI{/}

{I}14_{/}When the king of 
Ai saw the situation, he 
made haste with all his 
people to attack Israel 
on the slope opposite the 
valley of Jordan, without 
knowing that the 
Israelites had prepared 
an ambush behind the 
city. {I}15_{/}Joshua and 
the Israelites pretended 
that they were being 
defeated, and so fled to 
the road leading to the 
wilderness. {I}16_{/}Then 
all the people of the 
city began to shout and 
left to pursue them. 
{I}17_{/}No one remained 
to defend the city, and 
they left the city open.
{I}18_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Joshua: "Stretch out 
toward Ai the javelin you 
have in your hand because 
I have given you this 
city." {I}19_{/}So Joshua 
did this, and at this 
sign the warriors rose 
out of their places in 
the ambush and ran to the 
city. They entered and 
seized the city, and set 
it on fire.
{I}20_{/}The men of Ai 
looked back and saw the 
smoke of the city rising 
up to heaven, and at the 
same time, the Israelites 
who were fleeing turned 
back upon them. 
{I}21_{/}They lost their 
courage as they were 
trapped by the 
Israelites: {I}22_{/}for 
on one side were Joshua 
and all the people of 
Israel, and on the other, 
those who had just set 
the city on fire.
The Israelites killed 
them until none were left 
to survive or to escape. 
{I}23_{/}Only the king of 
Ai was taken alive and 
they brought him to 
Joshua.
{I}24_{/}The Israelites 
killed the inhabitants of 
Ai who went into the 
fields or who fled to the 
wilderness; they killed 
them all. Then they 
returned to the city and 
killed all by the sword. 
{I}25_{/}The total of 
those who fell that day 
was twelve thousand. 
{I}26_{/}Joshua did not 
give the order to stop 
the war until all the 
inhabitants of Ai had 
been killed in accordance 
with anathema. 
{I}27_{/}But the 
Israelites took for 
themselves the livestock 
and plunder as Yahweh had 
commanded.
{I}28_{/}Joshua burned 
the city and left it in 
ruins. That place has 
remained as it was to 
this day. {I}29_{/}As for 
the king of Ai, Joshua 
had him hanged on a tree 
until the sun set. Then 
he had his body taken 
down; they cast it at the 
entrance of the city and 
raised over it a great 
heap of stones which can 
be seen to this day.
JOSHUA RENEWS THE 
COVENANT IN SHECHEM{/}

{I}30_{/}Joshua then 
built an altar to Yahweh, 
the God of Israel, on 
Mount Ebal. {I}31_{/}He 
fulfilled what Moses had 
commanded the children of 
Israel. And according to 
what is written in the 
book of the Law of Moses, 
the altar was made of 
uncut stones and was 
built without the use of 
an iron tool. On this 
altar, he offered burnt 
offerings and peace 
offerings to Yahweh. 
{I}32_{/}There in the 
presence of the 
Israelites he wrote upon 
the stones a copy of the 
Law which Moses had 
written.
{I}33_{/}All the people 
stood on both sides of 
the Ark, with their 
leaders, secretaries and 
judges. Opposite it were 
the priests and the 
Levites who carried the 
Ark of Yahweh. Israelites 
by birth and aliens were 
together. Half the people 
were in front of Mount 
Gerizim and the other 
half were near Mount Ebal 
according to Moses' 
commandment for the 
blessing of Israel.
{I}34_{/}Joshua proceeded 
to read the words of 
blessing and curse, and 
all that is written in 
the book of the Law. 
{I}35_{/}He did not omit 
any word from all that 
was written by Moses. He 
read it with a loud voice 
before the assembly of 
all Israel, including 
women, children and 
foreigners who lived 
among them.
THE RUSE OF THE 
GIBEONITES{/}

{1}9{/}

{I}1_{/}The kings who 
lived west of the Jordan, 
on the mountain, on the 
plain and on the seacoast 
heard of these events. 
The Hittites, Amorites, 
Canaanites, Perizzites, 
Hivites and Jebusites 
{I}2_{/}made a pact and 
came to an agreement to 
fight as one against 
Joshua and Israel.
{I}3_{/}The inhabitants 
of Gibeon came to know 
what Joshua had done to 
Jericho and Ai, 
{I}4_{/}and decided to 
deceive the Israelites. 
They prepared provisions 
for themselves, loaded 
some worn-out, torn and 
mended sacks and 
wineskins on their asses, 
{I}5_{/}put on worn-out 
and patched sandals and 
clothes. For their 
journey, they brought 
some dry bread, broken 
into pieces. {I}6_{/}Then 
they went to Joshua, to 
the camp at Gilgal, and 
said to him: "We come 
from a far land to make a 
pact with you."
{I}7_{/}The Israelites 
answered: "Do you live 
near us? If so, then we 
cannot make a pact with 
you." {I}8_{/}They 
answered Joshua: "We are 
your servants." And 
Joshua asked them: "Who 
are you? Where do you 
come from?" {I}9_{/}They 
answered: "Your servants 
come from a very far 
country and through the 
greatness of Yahweh, your 
God, we came to know of 
his power and all that he 
did in Egypt {I}10_{/}and 
with the two kings of the 
Amorites who reigned in 
the eastern part of the 
Jordan - Sihon, the king 
of Heshbon, and Og, the 
king of Bashan, who lived 
in Ashtaroth. 
{I}11_{/}The leaders and 
the rest of the 
inhabitants of our 
country told us: 'Take 
provisions for a long 
journey, go out to meet 
them and say to them: We 
are your servants; may 
you make a covenant with 
us.' {I}12_{/}Look at our 
bread which was warm when 
we took it from our 
houses to come and meet 
you, but see how dry it 
has become and how it has 
broken into pieces. 
{I}13_{/}These wineskins 
that we filled up with 
wine were new, now they 
are ripped and worn-out. 
The clothes and sandals 
that we use have worn out 
because of the very long 
journey." {I}14_{/}The 
Israelites shared their 
food with them without 
having asked Yahweh what 
must be done. 
{I}15_{/}Joshua made a 
covenant with them 
without waiting for any 
answer from Yahweh. So he 
as well as the leaders of 
the community promised to 
let them live.
{I}16_{/}Three days 
later, the Israelites 
learned that these people 
lived near their own 
territory. {I}17_{/}On 
hearing this, the 
Israelites set out and 
entered their cities: 
Gibeon, Chephirah, 
Beeroth and Kiriath-
jearim. {I}18_{/}They 
spared their lives 
because of what the 
leaders of the people had 
sworn to them by the name 
of Yahweh. {I}19_{/}But 
all the people criticized 
their leaders. Then all 
the leaders said to them: 
"We have sworn by the 
name of Yahweh, 
therefore, we cannot kill 
them. {I}20_{/}But this 
we can do: we shall let 
them live so that the 
anger of Yahweh may not 
be upon us, {I}21_{/}but 
they shall serve by 
cutting firewood and 
fetching water for the 
community of Israel."
{I}22_{/}Then Joshua 
summoned the Gibeonites 
and told them about the 
decision of the leaders: 
"Why did you deceive us 
and say to us that you 
come from very far when 
in fact, you live right 
in our midst? 
{I}23_{/}Henceforth, you 
are cursed and shall 
always cut wood and fetch 
water for the House of my 
God." {I}24_{/}The 
Gibeonites answered: "We 
came to know that Yahweh 
had commanded Moses to 
destroy all the 
inhabitants of the land 
he gave you. We were 
afraid so we opted for 
this measure. 
{I}25_{/}And now, we are 
in your hands: do with us 
whatever seems good and 
just to you."
{I}26_{/}Joshua fulfilled 
his promise and did not 
let the Israelites kill 
them. {I}27_{/}But from 
that day on, they cut 
firewood and fetched 
water for the whole 
community and for the 
altar of Yahweh in the 
place he would choose.
"THE SUN STOOD STILL"{/}

{1}10{/}

{I}1_{/}Adonizedek king 
of Jerusalem came to know 
how Joshua had conquered 
and leveled Ai, doing to 
it and its king what he 
had done to Jericho and 
its king. He also knew 
how the Gibeonites had 
made peace with the 
Israelites and were 
living in their midst. 
{I}2_{/}He feared 
greatly, for Gibeon was a 
very important city, a 
royal city greater than 
Ai and its men were very 
brave.
{I}3_{/}In view of this, 
Adonizedek sent for Hoham 
king of Hebron, for Aram 
king of Jarmuth, for 
Japhia king of Lachish 
and for Debir king of 
Eglon saying: 
{I}4_{/}"Come and help me 
conquer Gibeon for it has 
made a pact with Joshua 
and the Israelites."
{I}5_{/}So the five kings 
of the Amorites - the 
kings of Jerusalem, 
Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish 
and Eglon - joined forces 
and set out, each one 
with troops. They 
encamped opposite Gibeon 
and surrounded it.
{I}6_{/}The Gibeonites 
sent word to Joshua at 
the camp in Gilgal: "Do 
not leave us alone, but 
come and help us, for all 
the Amorite kings who 
live on the mountains 
have united against us."
{I}7_{/}So Joshua left 
Gilgal that day with all 
his valiant warriors. 
{I}8_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Joshua: "Do not be 
afraid because I have 
placed them in your hands 
and no one among them 
will be able to stand up 
against you." 
{I}9_{/}Joshua marched 
from Gilgal, journeying 
throughout the night and 
came upon the Amorites by 
surprise.
{I}10_{/}Yahweh defeated 
them. The Israelites 
gained a great victory in 
Gibeon and pursued the 
Amorites by the slope of 
Beth-horon up to Azekah 
and Makkedah.
{I}11_{/}As they were 
fleeing, Yahweh rained 
huge hailstones on them 
and pursued them up to 
Azekah, and they were 
killed. There were more 
who died because of the 
hailstones than by the 
sword of the Israelites.
{I}12_{/}On that day when 
Yahweh gave the Amorites 
over to them, Joshua 
addressed Yahweh and said 
in the sight of all 
Israel:
"Sun, stand still at 
Gibeon, and you, moon, in 
the valley of Aijalon."
{I}13_{/}And the sun 
stood still and the moon 
stopped until the people 
had taken revenge on 
their enemies: so it is 
written in the Book of 
the Just, "The sun stood 
still in mid-heaven and 
did not hasten to set for 
almost a whole day. 
{I}14_{/}There has not 
been a day like this 
before or after in which 
Yahweh obeyed the order 
of a man. It was Yahweh 
who fought for Israel."
{I}15_{/}Then Joshua and 
all Israel returned to 
the camp at Gilgal.
{I}16_{/}But the five 
kings fled and hid 
themselves in a cave at 
Makkedah. {I}17_{/}And so 
it was told to Joshua: 
"We have found the five 
kings. They are hiding in 
a cave at Makkedah."
{I}18_{/}So Joshua 
ordered: "Roll great 
stones against the 
entrance of the cave and 
set men to guard it. 
{I}19_{/}But do not stay 
there. Pursue your 
enemies and fall upon 
their rear. Do not let 
them return to their 
cities for Yahweh, our 
God, has placed them in 
our hands."
{I}20_{/}Joshua and the 
Israelites destroyed and 
finished them off. Only a 
few survivors were left 
who took refuge in the 
fortified cities 
{I}21_{/}while all Israel 
returned unscathed to the 
camp with Joshua. 
Henceforth, no one dared 
challenge them.
{I}22_{/}Then Joshua 
ordered: "Open the 
entrance of the cave, 
take the five kings out 
and bring them to me." 
{I}23_{/}They did this 
and brought the five 
kings before Joshua: the 
kings of Jerusalem, 
Hebron, Lachish, Jarmuth 
and Eglon. 
{I}24_{/}Joshua assembled 
all Israel and said to 
the captains of the 
troops: "Come here and 
step on the necks of 
these kings."
So they came near and put 
their feet on the necks 
of the kings.
{I}25_{/}Then Joshua said 
to them: "Do not be 
afraid or lose courage, 
be valiant and firm, for 
Yahweh will do so to all 
your enemies against whom 
you will fight."
{I}26_{/}Joshua 
immediately put them to 
death by hanging them on 
five trees until evening. 
{I}27_{/}At nightfall, 
they took down the bodies 
of the kings and threw 
them into the same cave 
where they had hidden and 
closed it with great 
stones which remain there 
to this day.
JOSHUA CONQUERS THE 
SOUTHERN PART OF 
CANAAN{/}

{I}28_{/}On that same day 
Joshua seized Makkedah. 
He slew its king and its 
inhabitants. And he 
consecrated it and all 
that was in it in 
anathema to Yahweh, 
without sparing anyone. 
The king suffered the 
same fate as did the king 
of Jericho.
{I}29_{/}Then Joshua and 
all Israel went to attack 
Libnah. {I}30_{/}Yahweh 
gave the city and its 
king to the Israelites, 
and they put to the sword 
all its inhabitants 
without sparing anyone. 
The king met the same 
fate as the king of 
Jericho. {I}31_{/}From 
Libnah Joshua went to 
Lachish, laid siege to it 
and attacked it. 
{I}32_{/}Yahweh also gave 
them this city and its 
king and inhabitants 
suffered the same fate as 
Libnah. {I}33_{/}Then 
Horam king of Gezer came 
to help Lachish but 
Joshua destroyed him 
together with all his 
people without leaving 
anyone alive.
{I}34_{/}From Lachish he 
then went to Eglon; he 
besieged it and conquered 
it on the same day. 
{I}35_{/}The king and the 
inhabitants of Eglon were 
also put to death by the 
sword. They consecrated 
the city in anathema as 
they had done to Lachish.
{I}36_{/}From Eglon they 
went to Hebron. Joshua 
conquered it together 
with {I}37_{/}all the 
towns which were subject 
to it, put to the sword 
its king and all its 
inhabitants, without 
letting anyone survive. 
He consecrated it in 
anathema as he had dealt 
with Eglon.
{I}38_{/}Joshua and all 
Israel with him turned 
back to Debir and 
attacked it. He took it 
as well as the towns 
subject to it. 
{I}39_{/}He put to the 
sword its king and 
inhabitants, consecrating 
them in anathema, without 
sparing anyone. Debir and 
its king received the 
same punishment as Hebron 
and Libnah.
{I}40_{/}In this way, 
Joshua struck the whole 
region of the Mountains, 
the Negeb Desert, the 
Plains and the mountain 
slopes with their kings.
He did not let anyone 
survive but consecrated 
all living beings in 
anathema according to 
what Yahweh had 
commanded. 
{I}41_{/}Joshua destroyed 
them all from Kadesh-
barnea to Gaza and from 
Goshen to Gibeon. 
{I}42_{/}Joshua defeated 
all these kings and 
seized all these lands in 
one single campaign 
because Yahweh fought for 
Israel.
{I}43_{/}Then he and all 
Israel returned to their 
camp at Gilgal.
CONQUEST OF THE NORTH{/}

{1}11{/}

{I}1_{/}When Jabin king 
of Hazor came to know all 
this, he sent ambassadors 
to Jobab king of Madon, 
to the king of Shimron, 
to the king of Achshaph, 
{I}2_{/}to the kings in 
the northern mountains, 
on the steppes to the 
south of Chineroth in the 
plains, and in the 
heights of Dor on the 
west, {I}3_{/}to the 
Canaanites in the east 
and the west, to the 
Amorites, Hittites, 
Perizzites and Jebusites 
in the mountains, and the 
Hivites at the foot of 
Mount Hermon in the 
region of Mizpah. 
{I}4_{/}And they set out 
with their troops, a 
multitude as numerous as 
the sand of the sea, 
accompanied by a great 
number of horses and 
chariots ready for 
combat. {I}5_{/}All these 
kings joined forces and 
encamped together at the 
spring of Merom to attack 
Israel.
{I}6_{/}Then Yahweh said 
to Joshua: "Do not be 
afraid, for tomorrow at 
this hour I will give 
them to you that you may 
sacrifice them to me. Cut 
the hocks of their horses 
and burn their chariots 
of war."
{I}7_{/}So Joshua and all 
the armed men with him 
went to Merom and 
attacked them by 
surprise. {I}8_{/}Yahweh 
gave them into the hand 
of Israel; the Israelites 
destroyed and pursued 
them as far as Great 
Sidon and Misrephoth-maim 
and as far as Mizpah to 
the east, without leaving 
anyone alive. 
{I}9_{/}Joshua also 
carried out what Yahweh 
had commanded - cutting 
the hocks of the horses 
and burning the chariots.
{I}10_{/}At once Joshua 
turned back and conquered 
Hazor, and killed its 
king. At that time, Hazor 
was the capital of all 
those kingdoms. 
{I}11_{/}He put to the 
sword all the inhabitants 
of that city, 
consecrating it in 
anathema. No one was left 
alive, and they 
immediately set the city 
on fire.
{I}12_{/}Joshua took all 
the cities of these kings 
and all their kings, and 
consecrated them in 
anathema according to 
what Moses, the servant 
of Yahweh, had commanded.
{I}13_{/}Israel set on 
fire all the cities 
except those lying on the 
slopes and on the 
heights; of these only 
Hazor was burned by 
Joshua.
{I}14_{/}The Israelites 
divided among themselves 
the plunder and the 
livestock of these 
cities, but they put to 
the sword the whole 
population without 
sparing anyone. 
{I}15_{/}So what Yahweh 
had commanded Moses, and 
what Moses had entrusted 
to Joshua was completely 
fulfilled: Joshua did not 
neglect anything that 
Yahweh had commanded 
Moses.
{I}16_{/}So Joshua 
conquered all this land: 
the mountains, the Negeb, 
Goshen, the plains, the 
steppes, and the 
mountains of Israel with 
its plains. {I}17_{/}From 
the region of the 
mountain range that rises 
up to Seir, as far as 
Baalgad in the valley of 
Lebanon, to the foot of 
Mount Hermon, he 
destroyed all their kings 
- vanquishing and killing 
them.
{I}18_{/}The war Joshua 
waged against these kings 
lasted a long time; 
{I}19_{/}there was no 
city that made peace with 
the Israelites except the 
Hivites of Gibeon; all 
were conquered.
{I}20_{/}Yahweh gave all 
of them courage to fight 
against Israel, so that 
at the end, they could be 
consecrated in anathema 
and destroyed without 
pity as Yahweh had 
commanded Moses.
{I}21_{/}At that time, 
Joshua came back and 
wiped out the Anakim from 
the mountains, from 
Hebron, from Debir, from 
Anab and from all the 
mountains of Judah and 
Israel. They and their 
cities were given in 
anathema.
{I}22_{/}No Anakim was 
left in the land of 
Israel except in Gaza, 
Gath and Ashdod. 
{I}23_{/}Joshua seized 
the whole land as Yahweh 
had directed Moses and 
gave it as an inheritance 
to the Israelites to be 
distributed among their 
tribes. With this, the 
land rested from war.
{1}12{/}

{I}1_{/}These are the 
kings of the country whom 
the Israelites defeated, 
taking their land beyond 
the Jordan eastward, from 
the valley of Arnon to 
Mount Hermon, including 
all the lowland.
{I}2_{/}Sihon, king of 
the Amorites, who lived 
at Heshbon, and ruled 
from Aroer, which is on 
the edge of the Arnon 
(the border was at the 
middle of the valley), as 
far as the Jabbok river, 
that was the boundary 
with the Ammonites. 
{I}3_{/}To him belonged 
half of Gilead and the 
lowland from the east 
side of the Lake of 
Chinneroth to the Beth-
jeshimot road, on the 
east side of the sea of 
the lowland, that is the 
Salt Sea, at the foot of 
the slopes of Pisgah.
{I}4_{/}Og, king of 
Bashan, one of the 
survivors of the Rephaim, 
who lived at Ashtaroth 
and Edrei, {I}5_{/}ruled 
over Mount Hermon, 
Salecah and all Bashan to 
the boundary of the 
Geshurites and 
Macathites, and over half 
of Gilead beyond the land 
of Sihon, king of 
Heshbon. {I}6_{/}Moses, 
the servant of Yahweh, 
with the Israelites, 
defeated them and Moses 
gave their land to the 
Reubenites, the Gadites 
and half the tribe of 
Mannaseh as their 
inheritance.
{I}7_{/}Now these are the 
kings of the country whom 
Joshua and the Israelites 
defeated on the west side 
of the Jordan, from 
Baalgad, in the valley of 
Lebanon, to Mount Halak 
rising toward Seir. This 
is the land that Joshua 
divided among the tribes 
of Israel: {I}8_{/}the 
hill country and the 
lowlands, the Arabah, the 
hillsides, the wilderness 
and the Negeb. This land 
had belonged to the 
Hittites, Amorites, 
Canaanites, Perizzites, 
Hivites and Jebusites. 
And these were the 
defeated kings:
{I}9_{/}king of Jericho, 
king of Ai near Bethel.
{I}10_{/}king of 
Jerusalem, king of 
Hebron.
{I}11_{/}king of Jarmuth, 
king of Lachish.
{I}12_{/}king of Eglon, 
king of Gezer.
{I}13_{/}king of Debir, 
king of Geder.
{I}14_{/}king of Hormah, 
king of Arad.
{I}15_{/}king of Libnah, 
king of Adullam.
{I}16_{/}king of 
Makkedah, king of Bethel.
{I}17_{/}king of Tappuah, 
king of Hepher.
{I}18_{/}king of Aphek, 
king of Sharon.
{I}19_{/}king of Madon, 
king of Hazor.
{I}20_{/}king of Symoon, 
king of Achshaph.
{I}21_{/}king of Taanach, 
king of Megiddo.
{I}22_{/}king of Kedesh, 
king of Jokneam in 
Carmel.
{I}23_{/}king of Dor on 
the hillsides of Dor.
king of Goiim in Galilee, 
{I}24_{/}and king of 
Tirzah.
Total number of all these 
kings: thirty-one.
II. DIVISION OF THE LAND 
AMONG THE TRIBES{/}

JOSHUA DIVIDES THE 
COUNTRY OF CANAAN{/}

{1}13{/}

{I}1_{/}Now Joshua had 
grown old and advanced in 
years. Yahweh said to 
him, "You are old now, 
yet much of the land is 
still unconquered, 
including:
{I}2_{/}All the territory 
of the Philistines and 
the Geshurites. 
{I}3_{/}All the land from 
the river east of Egypt, 
to the boundary of Ekron 
in the north that is 
considered Canaanite 
territory. (The five 
chief towns of the 
Philistines: Gaza, 
Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath 
and Ekron; the Avvites 
also in the south.)
{I}4_{/}The whole country 
of the Canaanites from 
Arah, which the Sidonians 
hold, to Aphekah at the 
Amorite border, 
{I}5_{/}and then the 
country of the Gebalites 
with all Lebanon eastward 
from Baagad at the foot 
of Mount Hermon to the 
Pass of Hamath. 
{I}6_{/}All the land of 
the Sidonians who live in 
the highlands from 
Lebanon to Misrephoth-
maim westward.
I myself will drive them 
all out before the 
Israelites. In the 
meantime, share out the 
land among the Israelites 
by drawing lots as I have 
commanded you. 
{I}7_{/}The time has come 
to divide this land among 
the nine tribes and half 
the tribe of Mannaseh: 
from the Jordan River to 
the Mediterranean Sea 
westward you shall give 
it to them; the 
Mediterranean will mark 
their boundary."
{I}8_{/}As for the other 
half tribe of Mannaseh, 
they and the tribes of 
Reuben and Gad had 
already received the land 
given them by Moses on 
the east side of the 
Jordan River. Moses the 
servant of Yahweh had 
given them {I}9_{/}the 
land as far as Aroer, 
which lies on the edge of 
the Arnon valley, with 
the city in the middle of 
that valley and all the 
high, flat land from 
Medeba to Dibon. 
{I}10_{/}All the towns of 
Sihon the king of the 
Amorites, who had reigned 
in Heshbon, were 
included, as far as the 
boundary of the 
Ammonites. 
{I}11_{/}Gilead and the 
territory of the 
Geshurites and 
Maacathites with all the 
highlands of Hermon and 
with the whole of Bashan 
as far as Salecah. 
{I}12_{/}In Bashan the 
whole kingdom of Og, who 
reigned in Ashtaroth and 
Edrei and was the last 
survivor of the Rephaim. 
Moses had conquered these 
people and driven them 
out. {I}13_{/}But the 
Israelites did not drive 
out the Geshurites or the 
Maacathites, and 
therefore Geshur and 
Maacah still live in the 
midst of Israel to this 
day.
{I}14_{/}To the tribe of 
Levi alone no land was 
given; Yahweh the God of 
Israel was their 
inheritance, as he had 
told them.
LAND GIVEN TO REUBEN, GAD 
AND MANASSEH{/}

{I}15_{/}Moses had given 
the tribe of Reuben a 
part of the land 
according to their clans. 
{I}16_{/}The land they 
received stretched from 
Aroer, on the edge of the 
Arnon Valley, including 
the town within the 
valley itself, and all 
the high, flat land up to 
Medeba, {I}17_{/}and 
Heshbon and all the towns 
on the high, flat land: 
Dibon, Bamoth-baal, Beth-
baal-
meon,{I}_18_{/}Jahaz, 
Kedemoth Mephaath, 
{I}19_{/}Kiriathaim, 
Sibmah and Zereth-shahar 
in the highlands of Gor; 
{I}20_{/}Beth-peor, the 
slopes of Pisgah, Beth-
jeshimoth, {I}21_{/}all 
these towns and the whole 
kingdom of Sihon the king 
of the Amorites, who 
reigned in Heshbon; he 
had been defeated by 
Moses, and with him the 
princes of Midian, Evi, 
Rekem, Zur, Hur, and 
Reba, who had ruled the 
land for King Sihon who 
used to live in this 
country. {I}22_{/}As for 
Balaam son of Beor, the 
seer, the Israelites had 
put him to the sword with 
others they had killed. 
{I}23_{/}Thus the land of 
the Reubenites stretched 
to the Jordan River. This 
was the inheritance of 
the tribe of Reuben 
according to their clans, 
with the towns and their 
outlying villages.
{I}24_{/}Moses had given 
the tribe of Gad, a part 
of the land according to 
their clans: 
{I}25_{/}Jazer, all the 
towns of Gilead, half the 
country of the Ammonites 
as far as Aroer facing 
Rabbah, {I}26_{/}and from 
Heshbon to Ramathmizpeh 
and Betonim, and from 
Mahanaim as far as the 
territory of Lodebar, 
{I}27_{/}and lastly, in 
the Jordan valley: Beth-
haram, Bethnimrah, 
Succoth, and Zaphon, the 
rest of the kingdom of 
Sihon the king of 
Heshbon. The Jordan River 
was their western border 
as far north as the Sea 
of Galilee, on the 
eastern side of the 
Jordan. {I}28_{/}This was 
the inheritance of the 
tribe of Gad according to 
their clans, with the 
towns and their outlying 
villages.
{I}29_{/}Moses had given 
half the tribe of 
Manasseh a part of the 
land according to their 
clans: {I}30_{/}from 
Mahanaim right through 
Bashan, including the 
whole kingdom of Og the 
king of Bashan and all 
sixty villages of Jair in 
Bashan. {I}31_{/}Half of 
Gilead as well as 
Ashtaroth and Edrei, the 
royal cities of Og in 
Bashan, were given to 
half the families from 
Machir, son of Manasseh.
{I}32_{/}This was how 
Moses divided the land 
when he was in the plains 
of Moab, beyond the 
Jordan east of Jericho. 
{I}33_{/}But to the tribe 
of Levi, Moses had given 
no land; Yahweh the God 
of Israel is their 
inheritance, as he has 
told them.
{1}14{/}

{I}1_{/}The land of 
Canaan was divided among 
the Israelites by Eleazar 
the priest and by Joshua 
son of Nun and by the 
heads of the families of 
the tribes of Israel. 
{I}2_{/}They divided the 
land by drawing lots as 
Yahweh had commanded 
through Moses for the 
nine. {I}3_{/}(Remember 
that Moses had given the 
two and a half tribes 
beyond the Jordan their 
own property; to the 
Levites, he had given no 
land, {I}4_{/}but the 
sons of Joseph were two 
tribes, Manasseh and 
Ephraim.) The Levites 
were given no share of 
the land except certain 
towns to live in, with 
pasture lands nearby for 
their cattle and 
property. {I}5_{/}In 
dividing the land, the 
Israelites did as Yahweh 
had commanded Moses to 
do.
LAND GIVEN TO CALEB{/}

{I}6_{/}When the sons of 
Judah came to Joshua at 
Gilgal, Caleb son of 
Jephunneh the Kenizzite, 
said to him, "You know 
what Yahweh said to 
Moses, the man of God, at 
Kadesh-barnea concerning 
you and me. {I}7_{/}I was 
forty years old when 
Moses, the servant of 
Yahweh, sent me from 
Kadesh-barnea to spy on 
this land, and I made an 
honest report about it to 
him. {I}8_{/}But the men 
who had gone with me 
discouraged the people, 
whereas I myself 
faithfully obeyed Yahweh 
my God. {I}9_{/}That day 
Moses made this promise 
to me, 'Because you have 
obeyed Yahweh my God, the 
land your foot may walk 
upon shall be the land 
which you and your 
children will own 
forever.' {I}10_{/}From 
then till now, Yahweh has 
kept me alive in 
accordance with his 
promise. It is forty-five 
years since Yahweh made 
this promise to Moses 
(Israel was then 
journeying through the 
wilderness), and now I am 
eighty-five years old. 
{I}11_{/}Today I am still 
as strong as the day when 
Moses sent me out on the 
raid; for fighting, for 
going and coming, I am as 
strong now as then. 
{I}12_{/}Give me then the 
highlands that Yahweh 
promised me. You know 
that there are a race of 
giants called the Anakim 
and their towns are great 
and strong. But if Yahweh 
is with me, I shall drive 
them out as Yahweh said."
{I}13_{/}Joshua blessed 
Caleb, son of Jephunneh, 
and gave him the city of 
Hebron as an inheritance. 
{I}14_{/}And hence Hebron 
down to the present day 
belongs to the 
descendants of Caleb son 
of Jephunneh, the 
Kenizzite, because he 
obeyed Yahweh the God of 
Israel. {I}15_{/}The name 
of Hebron in earlier 
times was Kiriath-arba. 
Arba had been the 
greatest man of the 
Anakim.
And the country had rest 
from war.
BOUNDARIES OF THE TRIBE 
OF JUDAH{/}

{1}15{/}

{I}1_{/}The land given to 
the tribe of Judah 
according to their clans 
was near the border of 
Edom from the wilderness 
of Zin to Kadesh 
southwestward. 
{I}2_{/}Their southern 
border began at the end 
of the Dead Sea; 
{I}3_{/}went south from 
the Ascent of Akrabbim 
and crossed through Zin. 
It went south of Kadesh-
barnea, passed Hezron, 
went up to Addar and from 
there turned toward 
Karka, {I}4_{/}skirted 
Azmon, came out at the 
stream on the border of 
Egypt and ended at the 
Mediterranean.
{I}5_{/}On the east, the 
border was formed by the 
Dead Sea as far as the 
mouth of the Jordan.
{I}6_{/}On the north the 
border began at the Sea 
Tongue at the mouth of 
the Jordan. This border 
went up to Beth-hoglah, 
passed through the north 
of Beth-arabah and 
reached the Stone of 
Bohan of Reuben. 
{I}7_{/}The border then 
went up to Debir from 
Acor Valley and turned 
toward the circle of 
stones opposite the 
Ascent of Adummim, south 
of the valley; the border 
went on to the waters of 
En-shemesh and ended at 
Enrogel. {I}8_{/}Then it 
went on up the Benhinnom 
Valley on the south side 
of the hill where the 
Jebusite city, that is to 
say, Jerusalem, was 
located. The border then 
climbed to the top of the 
mountain on the west side 
of Hinnom Valley and at 
the northern end of the 
plain of Rephaim. 
{I}9_{/}From the mountain 
the border bent toward 
the source of the waters 
of Nephtoah, passed from 
there toward Mount Ephron 
and then turned toward 
Baalah, that is to say, 
Kiriath-jearim. 
{I}10_{/}From Baalah the 
border bent westward to 
the mountain country of 
Seir, went on the 
northern slope of Mount 
Jearim, that is to say, 
Chesalon, went down to 
Beth-shemesh and through 
Timnah, {I}11_{/}reached 
the north side of Ekron, 
turned toward Shikkeron, 
passed by the Hill of 
Baalah, then on to 
Jabneel, and ended at the 
Big Sea, that is, the 
Mediterranean.
{I}12_{/}The western 
border was the Big Sea 
itself. This was the 
border that enclosed the 
lands given to the clans 
of the tribe of Judah.
{I}13_{/}Caleb son of 
Jephunneh was given part 
of the territory of 
Judah, as Yahweh had 
commanded Joshua to do. 
Joshua gave him Kiriath-
arba, the chief city of 
the Anakim, which is now 
Hebron. {I}14_{/}Caleb 
drove the descendants of 
Anak out of it: the clans 
of Sheshai, Ahiman and 
Talmai. {I}15_{/}From 
there he marched up to 
attack the people living 
in Debir, the name of 
which was once Kiriath-
sepher. {I}16_{/}Then 
Caleb said, "To the man 
who conquers and captures 
Kiriath-sepher, I will 
give my daughter Achsah 
as wife." 
{I}17_{/}Othniel, son of 
Kenaz, Caleb's brother 
conquered the city; Caleb 
gave him his daughter 
Achsah in marriage. 
{I}18_{/}When she came to 
her husband, he urged her 
to ask her father for a 
field. When she jumped 
down from her donkey, 
Caleb asked her, "What do 
you want?" {I}19_{/}She 
answered, "Grant me a 
favor; since you have 
sent me away to the 
wilderness of the Negeb, 
at least grant me some 
springs of water." So he 
gave her the upper 
springs and the lower 
springs.
LIST OF THE CITIES OF 
JUDAH{/}

{I}20_{/}This was the 
land given to the tribe 
of Judah according to 
their clans.
{I}21_{/}These are the 
furthermost towns of the 
tribe of Judah, toward 
the boundary of Edom in 
the Negeb: Kabzeel, Eder, 
Jagur, {I}22_{/}Kinah, 
Dimon, Adadah, 
{I}23{/}Kedesh, Hazor, 
Ithnan, {I}24_{/}Ziph, 
Telem, Bealoth, 
{I}25_{/}Hazor-hadattah, 
Kerioth-hezron (that is 
to say, Hazor), 
{I}26_{/}Amam, Shema, 
Moladah, {I}27_{/}Hazar-
gaddah, Heshmon, Beth-
pelet, {I}28_{/}Hazar-
shual, Beer-sheba, 
Biziothiah, 
{I}29_{/}Baalah, Iim, 
Ezem, {I}30_{/}Eltolad, 
Chesil, Hormah, 
{I}31_{/}Ziklag, 
Madmannah, Sansannah, 
{I}32_{/}Lebaoth, 
Shilhim, En-rimmon. In 
all, twenty-nine towns, 
with their outlying 
villages. {I}33_{/}In the 
lowlands there were 
fourteen towns with their 
villages: Eshtaol, Zorah, 
Ashnah, {I}34_{/}Zanoah, 
En-gannim, Tappuah, Enam, 
{I}35_{/}Jarmuth, 
Adullam, Socoh, Azekah, 
{I}36_{/}Shaaraim, 
Adithaim, Gederah.
{I}37_{/}Zenan, Hadashah, 
Migdalgad, 
{I}38_{/}Dilean, Mizpah, 
Joktheel, 
{I}39_{/}Lachish, 
Bozkath, Eglon, 
{I}40_{/}Cabbon, Lahmas, 
Chitlish, 
{I}41_{/}Gederoth, Beth-
dagon, Naamah, Makkedah, 
altogether sixteen towns 
with their villages.
{I}42_{/}Libnah, Ether, 
Ashan, {I}43_{/}Iphtah, 
Ashnah, Nezib, 
{I}44_{/}Keilah, Achzib, 
Mareshah, altogether nine 
towns with their 
villages.
{I}45_{/}Ekron with its 
towns and villages near 
Ashdod.
{I}46_{/}From Ekron to 
the sea, {I}47_{/}Ashdod 
and Gaza with their towns 
and villages as far as 
the stream on the border 
of Egypt and the 
Mediterranean Sea.
{I}48_{/}In the 
highlands: Shamir, 
Jattir, Socoh, 
{I}49_{/}Dannah, Kiriath-
sannah, which is now 
Debir, {I}50_{/}Anab, 
Eshtemoh, Anim, 
{I}51_{/}Goshen, Holon, 
Giloh - eleven towns with 
their villages.
{I}52_{/}Arab, Dumah, 
Eshan, {I}53_{/}Janum, 
Beth-tappuah, Aphekah, 
{I}54_{/}Humtah, Kiriath-
arba, which is now 
Hebron, Zior - nine towns 
with their villages.
{I}55_{/}Maon, Carmel, 
Ziph, Juttah, 
{I}56_{/}Jezreel, 
Jokdeam, Zanoah, 
{I}57_{/}Kain, Gibeah, 
Timnah - ten towns with 
their villages.
{I}58_{/}Halhul, Beth-
zur, Gedor, 
{I}59_{/}Maarath, Beth-
anoth, Eltekon - six 
towns with their 
villages.
Tekoa, Ephrathah, which 
is now Bethlehem, Peor, 
Etam, Kulon, Tatam, 
Sores, Carem, Gallim, 
Bether, Manach - eleven 
towns with their 
villages.
{I}60_{/}Kiriath-baal, 
which is now Kiriath-
jearim, and Rabbah - two 
towns with their 
villages.
{I}61_{/}In the 
wilderness: Beth-arabah, 
Middin, Secacah, 
{I}62_{/}Nibshan, the 
City of Salt and Engedi - 
six towns with their 
villages.
{I}63_{/}But the people 
of Judah could not drive 
out the Jebusites who 
lived in Jerusalem; the 
Jebusites lived there 
side by side with the 
sons of Judah, as they 
still do today.
THE TRIBE OF EPHRAIM{/}

{1}16{/}

{I}1_{/}The land given by 
lot to the descendants of 
Joseph stretched from the 
Jordan opposite Jericho 
eastward. From Jericho 
onward the southern 
border climbed the 
highlands into the hill 
country as far as Bethel; 
{I}2_{/}it left Bethel 
and Luz and went on 
toward the border of the 
Archites of Ataroth; 
{I}3_{/}then it went 
westward to the area of 
the Japhletites as far as 
the area of Lower Beth-
horon. From there it went 
to Gezer, and reached the 
Mediterranean Sea. 
{I}4_{/}The tribes of 
Manasseh and Ephraim, 
descendants of Joseph, 
divided this inheritance 
among themselves.
{I}5_{/}The border of the 
tribe of Ephraim ran from 
Ataroth-addar as far as 
Upper Beth-horon, 
{I}6_{/}and it ended at 
the Mediterranan Sea. 
Michmethath was to the 
north. From there the 
border turned east 
towards Tanaath-shiloh 
and ran beyond it on the 
east to Janoah. 
{I}7_{/}Then it went down 
from Janaoah to Ataroth 
and Naarah, touched 
Jericho and ended at the 
Jordan. {I}8_{/}From 
Tappuah the border went 
westward to the stream 
Kanah and ended at the 
Mediterranean Sea. This 
was the land given to the 
tribe of Ephraim 
according to their clans, 
{I}9_{/}as well as the 
towns set apart for the 
Ephraimites inside the 
territory of the 
descendants of Manasseh, 
all those towns and their 
villages. {I}10_{/}The 
Canaanites living in 
Gezer were not driven 
out; they have lived 
among the Ephraimites to 
the present day, but are 
submitted to obligatory 
works.
THE TRIBE OF MANASSEH{/}

{1}17{/}

{I}1_{/}A part of the 
land awarded to Manasseh, 
who was Joseph's 
firstborn son, was given 
to Machir, Manasseh's 
eldest son and father of 
Gilead. To him was given, 
as was fitting for a 
military hero, the 
country of Gilead and 
Bashan. {I}2_{/}Land was 
also given to other 
families descended from 
Manasseh according to 
their clans: the families 
of Abiezer, Helek, 
Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, 
Shemida. These were the 
clans of the male 
descendants of Manasseh 
son of Joseph.
{I}3_{/}Zelophehad son of 
Hepher, son of Gilead, 
son of Machir, son of 
Manasseh, had no sons, 
only daughters, whose 
names are: Mahlah, Noah, 
Hoglah, Milcah and 
Tirzah. {I}4_{/}These 
daughters went to the 
priest Eleazar and to 
Joshua the son of Nun and 
to the leaders, and said, 
"Yahweh commanded Moses 
to give us some of the 
land among our brothers 
as our own." According to 
Yahweh's command, 
therefore, they were 
given land along with 
their male relatives.
{I}5_{/}In this way 
Manasseh received ten 
shares besides the 
country of Gilead and 
Bashan which lies across 
the Jordan, {I}6_{/}since 
Manasseh's female 
descendants received a 
share in the land as well 
as his male descendants. 
The country of Gilead 
itself belonged to the 
rest of the descendants 
of Manasseh.
{I}7_{/}The border of 
Manasseh stretched from 
Asher to Michmethath, 
which is opposite 
Shechem. From there the 
border went south to the 
spring of Tappuah. 
{I}8_{/}The land 
surrounding Tappuah 
belonged to Manasseh, but 
the town of Tappuah on 
Manasseh's border 
belonged to the 
descendants of Ephraim. 
{I}9_{/}The border passed 
down to the stream, south 
of the river, where the 
towns set apart for 
Ephraim from among the 
towns of Manasseh were 
situated. The border of 
Manasseh passed north of 
the stream and ended at 
the sea. {I}10_{/}Ephraim 
was to the south and 
Manasseh to the north, 
and both were bounded on 
the west by the 
Mediterranan Sea. They 
touched Asher to the 
north and Issachar to the 
east. {I}11_{/}Within the 
territories of Issachar 
and Asher, Manasseh had 
Beth-shean and Ibleam 
with their surrounding 
towns, as well as Dor and 
Endor, Taanach and 
Megiddo and their 
surrounding towns, and a 
third of the Nepheth. 
{I}12_{/}But the people 
of Manasseh could not 
conquer these towns, and 
the Canaanites continued 
to live there. 
{I}13_{/}However, when 
the Israelites became 
stronger, they forced the 
Canaanites to work for 
them, but they never 
drove them out.
{I}14_{/}The descendants 
of Joseph spoke to 
Joshua, "Why have you 
given us only one share 
of the land when there 
are so many of us because 
Yahweh blessed us?" 
{I}15_{/}Joshua answered, 
"If your people are so 
many, go up to the forest 
and clear out a place for 
yourselves in the land of 
the Perizzites and the 
Rephaim, since the 
highlands of Ephraim are 
too small for 
you."{I}16_{/}The 
descendants of Joseph 
answered, "The highlands 
are not enough for us, 
and, in the plain, the 
Canaanites have iron 
chariots, and so have 
those in Beth-shean and 
its surrounding towns, 
and those in the plain of 
Jezreel." {I}17_{/}Joshua 
said to the tribes of 
Ephraim and Manasseh, 
"You are a numerous 
people and very powerful; 
you will not be left with 
only this share 
{I}18_{/}for you will go 
up to the forest and 
clear it. All the land 
shall be yours, and you 
will drive out the 
Canaanites despite their 
iron chariots and great 
strength."
JOSHUA DIVIDES THE REST 
OF THE LAND{/}

{1}18{/}

{I}1_{/}After they had 
conquered the land, the 
whole community of Israel 
gathered at Shiloh, and 
the Tent of Meeting was 
set up there.
{I}2_{/}Among the 
Israelites were seven 
tribes which had not yet 
been given their share of 
the land. {I}3_{/}Then 
Joshua said to them, "How 
much longer will you wait 
before going in and 
taking possession of the 
land which Yahweh, the 
God of your fathers has 
given you? {I}4_{/}Choose 
three men from each 
tribe. I will send them 
out to make a survey of 
the whole territory so 
that it can be divided. 
{I}5_{/}They must divide 
the land into seven 
parts, because those of 
the tribe of Judah have 
already their territory 
to the south, and those 
of the tribe of Joseph 
have their territory to 
the north. {I}6_{/}You 
are to survey the land in 
seven divisions and bring 
your findings to me here, 
so that I can cast lots 
for you before Yahweh our 
God. {I}7_{/}The Levites 
have no share in the land 
with the rest of you; 
their share is to serve 
as priests of Yahweh, and 
the tribes of Gad and 
Reuben and half the tribe 
of Manasseh have received 
their land beyond the 
Jordan eastward, as 
Moses, Yahweh's servant, 
gave it to them."
{I}8_{/}To those who were 
to survey the country, 
Joshua gave this command 
before they started on 
their way: "Go, survey 
and map the whole 
country, and then come 
back to me. Here in 
Shiloh I will consult 
Yahweh for you by drawing 
lots." {I}9_{/}So the men 
left and went all over 
the country, making a 
list of all the towns and 
how they were to be 
divided into seven parts. 
When they brought it back 
to Joshua in the camp at 
Shiloh, {I}10_{/}he drew 
lots to consult Yahweh 
for them and divided the 
land among the Israelites 
according to their clans.
THE TRIBE OF BENJAMIN{/}

{I}11_{/}The first share 
of land went to the tribe 
of Benjamin according to 
their clans: their 
territory lay between 
that of the tribes of 
Judah and Joseph.
{I}12_{/}The northern 
border began at the 
Jordan, climbed to the 
northern side of Jericho, 
rose through the hill 
country westward and 
ended at the wilderness 
of Beth-aven. 
{I}13_{/}From there it 
continued toward the 
south side of Luz which 
is now called Bethel; 
then downward to Ata-
roth-addar, on the 
mountain south of Lower 
Beth-horon. {I}14_{/}The 
border then curved, and 
on the western side of 
this mountain turned 
southward and ended at 
Kiriath-baal, which is 
now called Kiriath-
jearim, a city of the 
tribe of Judah. This was 
the western border.
{I}15_{/}The southern 
border ran from the edge 
of Kiriath-jearim toward 
Gasin, and to the spring 
of Nephtoah. {I}16_{/}It 
continued to the foot of 
the mountain facing the 
Valley of Ben-hinnom, at 
the north end of Rephaim 
Valley. It then went 
south through the Valley 
of Hinnom, south of the 
mountainside of the 
Jebusites and reached En-
rogel. {I}17_{/}It then 
curved northward to En-
shemesh coming out at the 
circles of stones facing 
the Ascent of Adummim, 
{I}18_{/}then on to 
Cheteph in sight of the 
Arabah and down to the 
Arabah and {I}19_{/}the 
stone of Bohan (Bohan was 
a son of Reuben) and from 
there passed north of the 
mountainside overlooking 
the Jordan Valley. The 
border ended at the bay 
of the Dead Sea, at the 
mouth of the Jordan. This 
was the southern border. 
{I}20_{/}The Jordan 
itself was the eastern 
border. Such was the land 
given to the tribe of 
Benjamin, with the 
borders defining it.
{I}21_{/}The towns of the 
tribe of Benjamin, 
according to their clans, 
were Jericho, Beth-
hoglah, Emek-keziz; 
{I}22_{/}Beth-arabah, 
Zemaraim, Bethel; 
{I}23_{/}Avvim, Parah, 
Ophrah, {I}24_{/}Chephar-
ammoni, Ophni, Geba: 
twelve towns and their 
surrounding villages. 
{I}25_{/}Gibeon, Ramah, 
Beeroth; {I}26_{/}Mizpeh, 
Chephirah, Mozah; 
{I}27_{/}Rekem, Irpeel, 
Taralah; {I}28_{/}Zela, 
Haeleph, Jerusalem, 
Gibeah and Kiriath: 
fourteen towns with their 
surrounding villages. 
This was the land given 
to the tribe of Benjamin, 
according to their clans.
THE SHARE OF THE OTHER 
TRIBES{/}

{1}19{/}

{I}1_{/}The second share 
of land went to the tribe 
of Simeon, according to 
their clans; their land 
was encircled by the land 
of the tribe of Judah. 
{I}2_{/}For they had 
Beer-sheba, Shema, 
Moladah; 
{I}3_{/}Hazarshual, 
Balah, Ezem; 
{I}4_{/}Eltolad, Bethul, 
Hormah; {I}5_{/}Ziglag, 
Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-
susah; {I}6_{/}Beth-
lebaoth and Sharuhen - 
thirteen towns and their 
surrounding villages: 
{I}7_{/}Ain, Rimmon, 
Ether and Ashan - four 
towns and their 
surrounding villages. 
{I}8_{/}Moreover, they 
were given all the 
villages lying outside 
these towns as far as 
Baalath-beer, Ramah of 
the Negeb. This was the 
land given to the tribe 
of Simeon according to 
their clans.
{I}9_{/}This land was 
taken from the territory 
of Judah, because their 
share of these was too 
large for them; this is 
why the tribe of Simeon 
was given land within the 
territory of the tribe of 
Judah.
{I}10_{/}The third share 
of land went to the tribe 
of Zebulun according to 
their clans; their border 
reached as far as Sarid. 
{I}11_{/}From there the 
border climbed westward 
to Maraalah, touching 
Dabbesheth first and then 
the stream east of 
Jokneam. {I}12_{/}From 
Sarid it went eastward 
toward the sunrise to the 
border of Chisloth-tabor, 
then to Dobrath and to 
Japhia. {I}13_{/}From 
there it continued 
eastward to Gathhepher 
and Ittah-kazin; it came 
out at Rimmon and turned 
toward Neah. {I}14_{/}On 
the north the border bent 
toward Hannathon and 
ended at the valley of 
Iphtahel. {I}15_{/}It 
included Kattath, 
Nahalal, Shimron, Iralah 
and Bethlehem - twelve 
towns with their 
surrounding villages. 
{I}16_{/}This was the 
land received by the 
tribe of Zebulun 
according to their clans: 
these towns and their 
surrounding villages.
{I}17_{/}The fourth share 
of land went to the tribe 
of Issachar, according to 
their clans. 
{I}18_{/}Their border 
reached to Jezreel and 
included Chesulloth and 
Shunem; 
{I}19_{/}Hapharaim, 
Shion, Anaharath; 
{I}20_{/}Dobrath, 
Kishion, Ebez; 
{I}21_{/}Remeth and En-
gannim, En-haddah and 
Beth-pazzez. 
{I}22_{/}Their border 
touched Tabor and 
Shahazimah and Beth-
shemesh, and ended at the 
Jordan: sixteen towns 
with their surrounding 
villages. {I}23_{/}This 
was the land given to the 
tribe of Issachar, 
according to their clans: 
the towns with their 
surrounding villages.
{I}24_{/}The fifth share 
of land went to the tribe 
of Asher, according to 
their clans. 
{I}25_{/}Within their 
territory were Helkath, 
Hali, Beten, Achshaph, 
{I}26_{/}Allammelech, 
Amad and Mishal; on the 
west their border touched 
Carmel and the stream of 
the Libnath; {I}27_{/}on 
the other side it went 
eastward to Beth-dagon, 
touching Zebulun and the 
Valley of Iphtahel on the 
way north to Beth-emek 
and Neiel. It continued 
north to Cabul, 
{I}28_{/}Abdon, Rehob, 
Hammon and Kanah as far 
as Sidon the Great. 
{I}29_{/}The border then 
turned back toward Ramah 
reaching the fortress 
city of Tyre. From there 
it turned to Hosah and 
ended at the 
Mediterranean Sea. It 
included Mahalab, Achzib, 
{I}30_{/}Acco, Aphek, 
Rehob: twenty-two towns 
with their surrounding 
villages. {I}31_{/}This 
was the land given to the 
tribe of Asher, according 
to their clans; these 
towns with their 
surrounding villages.
{I}32_{/}The sixth share 
of land went to the tribe 
of Naphtali according to 
their clans. 
{I}33_{/}Their border 
went from Heleph and the 
Oak of Zanaannim to 
Adami-negeb, to Jabneel 
as far as Lakkum, and 
ended at the Jordan. 
{I}34_{/}From there the 
border ran west to 
Aznoth-tabor and went on 
to Hukkok, touching 
Zebulun on the south, 
Asher on the west and the 
Jordan on the east. 
{I}35_{/}The fortified 
towns were Ziddim, Zer, 
Hammath, Rakkath, 
Chinnereth; 
{I}36_{/}Adamah, Ramah, 
Hazor; {I}37_{/}Kedesh, 
Edrei, En-hazor; 
{I}38_{/}Yiron, Migdalel, 
Horem, Beth-anath, Beth-
shemesh: nineteen towns 
with their surrounding 
villages. {I}39_{/}This 
was the land given to the 
tribe of Naphtali 
according to their clans.
{I}40_{/}The seventh 
share of the land went to 
the tribe of Dan 
according to their clans, 
{I}41_{/}Within their 
territory were Zorah, 
Eshtaol, Irshemesh; 
{I}42_{/}Sha-alabbin, 
Aijalon, Ithlah; 
{I}43{/}Elon, Timnah, 
Ekron, {I}44_{/}Eltekeh, 
Gibbethon, 
{I}45_{/}Baalath; Jehud, 
Bene-berak, Gathrimmon; 
{I}46_{/}Mejarkon and 
Rakkon with the land 
around Joppa.
{I}47_{/}But the 
territory of the tribe of 
Dan was too small for 
them; and therefore they 
went up and attacked 
Leshem and captured it 
and killed its people. 
Having seized the town 
they settled in it, and 
changed the name of 
Leshem to Dan after Dan 
their ancestor. 
{I}48_{/}This was the 
land of the tribe of Dan, 
according to their clans: 
these towns with their 
surrounding villages.
{I}49_{/}When the 
Israelites finished 
distributing the land by 
drawing lots, they gave 
Joshua son of Nun a part 
of the land as his own; 
{I}50_{/}at the command 
of Yahweh, they gave him 
the town he had asked 
for, Timnath-serah in the 
hill country of Ephraim; 
he rebuilt the city and 
settled there.
{I}51_{/}These are the 
shares of land which 
Eleazar the priest, 
Joshua son of Nun, and 
the heads of each family 
divided among the tribes 
of Israel by drawing lots 
at Shiloh, in Yahweh's 
presence, at the door of 
the Tent of Meeting; and 
thus they finished 
dividing the land.
THE CITIES OF REFUGE{/}

{1}20{/}

{I}1_{/}Yahweh said to 
Joshua, {I}2_{/}"Speak to 
the Israelites and say to 
them: Choose the cities 
of refuge about which I 
told you through Moses, 
{I}3_{/}towns where a 
person who kills someone 
accidentally may find 
safety; they are to be 
your refuge from the dead 
person's relative who is 
looking for revenge.
{I}4_{/}The man who has 
killed may run away to 
one of these towns; he 
shall appear at the 
entrance to the town and 
explain his case to the 
elders of the place. They 
shall welcome him and 
assign him. place to live 
among them. {I}5_{/}If 
the person who wants 
revenge follows him 
there, they are not to 
hand him over, since he 
has killed his neighbor 
accidentally and not out 
of hatred.
{I}6_{/}The man who has 
killed must remain in 
that town until he has 
received a public trial 
and until the death of 
the high priest then in 
office. Only then may the 
man who has killed go 
back to his own town and 
his own house, to the 
town from which he has 
escaped."
{I}7_{/}For this purpose 
they set aside Kedesh in 
Galilee, in the hill 
country of Naphtali, 
Shechem in the highlands 
of Ephraim, and Kiriath-
arba, which is now 
Hebron, in the hill 
country of Judah.
{I}8_{/}East of the 
Jordan, in the desert 
east of Jericho, they 
chose Bezer in the 
territory of Reuben, 
Ramoth-gilead in the 
territory of Gad, and 
Golan in Bashan in the 
territory of Manasseh. 
{I}9_{/}These were the 
towns set aside for all 
the Israelites and for 
any foreigner living 
among them, where anyone 
who had killed a person 
accidentally could find 
safety from the dead 
person's relative looking 
for revenge, until he had 
been given a public 
trial.
THE LEVITICAL TOWNS{/}

{1}21{/}

{I}1_{/}The heads of 
families among the 
Levites came to Eleazar 
the priest and to Joshua 
son of Nun and to the 
heads of families of all 
the tribes of Israel. 
{I}2_{/}At Shiloh in the 
land of Canaan, they said 
to them, "Yahweh 
commanded through Moses 
that we should be given 
towns to live in, with 
the pasture land around 
them for our cattle."
{I}3_{/}In accordance 
with Yahweh's command, 
the Israelites gave the 
Levites certain cities 
and pasture lands out of 
their own territories.
{I}4_{/}First among the 
Levite clan of Kohath, 
the families descended 
from Aaron the priest, 
were given thirteen towns 
from the territories of 
Judah, Simeon and 
Benjamin; {I}5_{/}the 
other Kohath families 
received, clan by clan, 
ten towns from the 
territories of Ephraim, 
Dan and half the tribe of 
Manasseh. {I}6_{/}The 
clan of Gershon was given 
thirteen towns from the 
territories of Issachar, 
Asher, Naphtali and half 
the tribe of Manasseh in 
Bashan. {I}7_{/}The 
families of the clan of 
Merari were given twelve 
towns from the 
territories of Reuben, 
Gad and Zebulun.
{I}8_{/}These towns and 
the pasture lands near 
them the Israelites gave 
to the Levites by drawing 
lots, as Yahweh had 
commanded through Moses.
{I}9_{/}These are the 
towns of Judah and Simeon 
that Joshua gave 
{I}10_{/}to the 
descendants of Aaron who 
were of the Kohathite 
clan of the Levites, the 
first to be given some 
cities.
{I}11_{/}They gave them 
Kiriath-arba, the chief 
city of the Anakim, which 
is now Hebron, in the 
hill country of Judah, 
with the pasture lands 
around it. {I}12_{/}But 
the fields and 
surrounding villages of 
this town had already 
been given to Caleb son 
of Jephunneh as his 
property. {I}13_{/}To the 
descendants of Aaron the 
priest, they gave Hebron, 
a city of refuge, and the 
pasture lands near it; 
also Libnah with its 
pasture lands, 
{I}14_{/}and Jattir, 
Eshtemoa, {I}15_{/}Holon, 
Debir, {I}16_{/}Ashan, 
Juttah and Bethshemesh, 
each with its pasture 
lands: nine towns taken 
from these two tribes. 
{I}17_{/}From the 
territory of Benjamin 
four towns: Gibeon and 
Geba with their pasture 
lands, {I}18_{/}Anathoth 
and Almon with theirs. 
{I}19_{/}The towns of the 
priests, the descendants 
of Aaron, were thirteen 
towns in all, with their 
pasture lands.
{I}20_{/}Some towns from 
the territory of Ephraim 
were given to the other 
families of the Levite 
clan of Kohath: 
{I}21_{/}the city of 
refuge, Shechem, with its 
pasture lands, in the 
hill country of Ephraim, 
together with Gezer, 
{I}22_{/}Kibzaim and 
Beth-horon, each with its 
pasture lands: four 
towns. {I}23_{/}From the 
territory of Dan, Elteke, 
Gibbethon, 
{I}24_{/}Aijalon and 
Gathrimmon with their 
pasture lands: four 
towns. {I}25_{/}From the 
territory of half the 
tribe of Manasseh they 
were given two towns: 
Taanach and Jibleam with 
their pasture lands. 
{I}26_{/}In all, ten 
towns with their pasture 
lands were given to the 
families of the clan of 
Kohath.
{I}27_{/}To the Levite 
clan of Gershon were 
given the city of refuge 
Golan in Bashan and also 
Ashtaroth, each with its 
pasture lands: two towns, 
both from the territory 
of the half tribe of 
Manasseh. {I}28_{/}From 
the territory of Issachar 
four towns: Kishion, 
Dobrath, {I}29_{/}Jarmuth 
and En-gannim, each with 
its pasture lands. 
{I}30_{/}From the 
territory of Asher four 
towns: Mishal, Abdon, 
{I}31_{/}Helkath and 
Rehob, each with its 
pasture lands. 
{I}32_{/}From the 
territoy of Naphtali 
three towns: Kedesh, the 
city of refuge in 
Galilee, Hammoth-dor and 
Rakkath, each with its 
pasture lands. 
{I}33_{/}The Gershonites 
according to their clans 
were given thirteen towns 
in all with their pasture 
lands.
{I}34_{/}To the clans of 
Merari, the rest of the 
Levites, were given four 
towns with their pasture 
lands from the territory 
of Zebulun: 
{I}35_{/}Jokneam, Kartah, 
Rimmon and Nahalal. 
{I}36_{/}From the 
territory of Reuben, 
beyond the Jordan four 
towns: the city of refuge 
Bezer, Jahaz, 
{I}37_{/}Kedemoth and 
Mephaath, each with its 
pasture lands. 
{I}38_{/}From the tribeof 
Gad four towns: the city 
of refuge Ramoth-gilead, 
Mahanaim, 
{I}39_{/}Heshbon and 
Jazer, each with pasture 
lands. {I}40_{/}A total 
of twelve towns were 
given to the clan of 
Merari.
{I}41_{/}The towns thus 
given to the Levites from 
the Israelite inheritance 
were {I}42_{/}forty-
eight, with their pasture 
lands. All these towns, 
as well as the pasture 
lands around them, were 
given to the Levites.
{I}43_{/}So it was that 
Yahweh gave the 
Israelites all the land 
he had solemnly promised 
to give their ancestors. 
They took possession of 
it and began to live 
there. {I}44_{/}Yahweh 
gave them peace 
throughout their land 
just as he had promised 
their ancestors. Not one 
of their enemies was able 
to stand against them; 
Yahweh gave them victory 
over all their enemies 
{I}45_{/}and kept all the 
promises he had made to 
the people of Israel.
THE QUESTION OF THE ALTAR 
ACROSS THE JORDAN{/}

{1}22{/}

{I}1_{/}Then Joshua 
summoned the Reubenites, 
the Gadites and the 
halftribe of Manasseh 
{I}2_{/}and said to them, 
{I}3_{/}"You have 
observed all that Moses, 
the servant of Yahweh 
ordered you, and you have 
obeyed me constantly. You 
have never deserted your 
brothers over this long 
period of time; at every 
point you have obeyed the 
orders of Yahweh your 
God. {I}4_{/}Now that 
Yahweh your God has 
granted your brothers the 
rest he promised them, go 
back to your tents, to 
the land given into your 
possession by Moses the 
servant of Yahweh, beyond 
the Jordan.
{I}5_{/}But take care 
above all to keep the 
commandments of the Law 
which Moses the servant 
of Yahweh gave you: love 
Yahweh your God, follow 
his paths always, keep 
his commandments, be 
faithful to him and serve 
him with all your heart 
and all your soul." 
{I}6_{/}So Joshua blessed 
them and sent them away; 
they went home to their 
tents.
{I}7_{/}Moses had given 
territory in Bashan to 
one half of the tribe of 
Manasseh; because of this 
Joshua gave land to the 
other half of Manasseh 
among their brothers on 
the west bank of the 
Jordan. As Joshua sent 
them home to their tents 
he blessed them 
{I}8_{/}and said to them, 
"You are going back to 
your tents with great 
wealth, with cattle in 
plenty, with silver and 
gold, bronze and iron and 
great quantities of 
clothing; these are the 
spoils of your enemies 
that you shared with your 
brothers."
{I}9_{/}The Reubenites, 
the Gadites and the half-
tribe of Manasseh went 
home again; they left the 
Israelites at Shiloh in 
the land of Canaan, and 
made their way back to 
the land of Gilead, the 
territory which belonged 
to them and where they 
had settled in accordance 
with the order of Yahweh 
given through Moses. 
{I}10_{/}When they came 
to the circles of stones 
at the Jordan which are 
in Canaanite territory, 
the Reubenites, the 
Gadites and the half-
tribe of Manasseh built 
there beside the Jordan, 
an imposing altar of 
great size. {I}11_{/}The 
Israelites were told, 
"The Reubenites, the 
Gadites and the half-
tribe of Manasseh have 
built this altar facing 
the land of Canaan near 
the circles of stones at 
the Jordan, beyond the 
territory of the 
Israelites."
{I}12_{/}At this news the 
children of Israel 
summoned the whole 
community at Shiloh, 
ready to make war on 
them.
{I}13_{/}The Israelites 
sent the priest Phinehas 
son of Eleazar to the 
Reubenites, the Gadites 
and the half-tribe of 
Manasseh, in the land of 
Gilead, {I}14_{/}and with 
him ten leading men, one 
leader from each tribe in 
Israel; every one of them 
was head of his family 
among the clans of 
Israel. {I}15_{/}When 
they came to the 
Reubenites, the Gadites 
and the half-tribe of 
Manasseh in the land of 
Gilead, they said to 
them:
{I}16_{/}"The whole 
community of Yahweh asks 
you: What do you mean by 
this treachery committed 
against the God of 
Israel? Why turn aside 
from Yahweh today, 
building yourselves an 
altar? You are sinning 
against Yahweh himself.
{I}17_{/}Was the sin at 
Peor not enough, the sin 
from which we are not 
cleansed even now, in 
spite of the plague that 
ravaged the whole 
community of Yahweh? 
{I}18_{/}You have stopped 
following Yahweh today, 
and you have set 
yourselves in revolt 
against him today. 
Tomorrow his anger will 
be roused against the 
whole community of 
Israel.
{I}19_{/}Do you think 
your land is unclean? 
Then cross over into the 
territory of Yahweh, 
where his Holy Tent is 
and come to live among 
us. But do not rebel 
against Yahweh or set 
yourselves apart by 
building an altar to vie 
with the altar of Yahweh 
our God. {I}20_{/}When 
Achan, son of Zerah 
betrayed his trust in the 
matter of the anathema, 
did not Yahweh vent his 
anger on the whole 
community of Israel, 
although he was only one 
man? Did he not have to 
die for his sin?"
{I}21_{/}The Reubenites, 
the Gadites and the half-
tribe of Manasseh 
answered the heads of the 
clans of Israel:
{I}22_{/}"Yahweh is the 
God of gods! Yahweh well 
knows, and let Israel 
know it too: Let Yahweh 
punish us immediately if 
there has been defiance 
or treachery on our part 
against Yahweh. 
{I}23_{/}Let Yahweh 
punish us if we have 
built an altar to turn 
away from Yahweh and 
offer holocaust and 
oblation and communion 
sacrifice on it. 
{I}24_{/}We made it to 
prevent what might happen 
one day when your 
children say to ours: 
'What link have you with 
Yahweh the God of Israel? 
{I}25_{/}Has not Yahweh 
set the boundary of the 
Jordan between us and 
you, you sons of Reuben 
and sons of Gad? You have 
no share in Yahweh.' Thus 
your children might make 
us turn aside from 
Yahweh.
{I}26_{/}So we said to 
each other, 'Let us build 
this altar, not for 
holocausts or other 
sacrifices {I}27_{/}but 
as a witness between us 
and you and among our 
descendants after us. It 
will prove that we, too, 
worship Yahweh with our 
holocausts, our victims 
and our communion 
sacrifices in his 
presence. So that your 
children will never be 
able to say to ours: You 
have no share in Yahweh. 
{I}28_{/}For, in this 
case, we should say to 
them: Look at this 
structure, Yahweh's altar 
made by our ancestors not 
for holocausts or other 
sacrifices but as a 
witness between us and 
you.' {I}29_{/}We have no 
intention of defying 
Yahweh or turning away 
from him today. We are 
not building an altar for 
holocaust or oblations or 
sacrifices to compete 
with the altar of Yahweh 
our God that stands 
before his tabernacle!"
{I}30_{/}When Phinehas 
the priest, and the 
leaders of the community 
who were with him, heard 
the answer of the sons of 
Gad and of Reuben and of 
Manasseh, they approved 
of them. {I}31_{/}Then 
the priest Phinehas son 
of Eleazar said to the 
sons of Reuben and sons 
of Gad and sons of 
Manasseh, "Now we clearly 
see that Yahweh is among 
us, because you have not 
sinned against him; you 
have saved the children 
of Israel from the 
punishment of Yahweh."
{I}32_{/}The priest 
Phinehas son of Eleazar 
and the leaders left the 
Reubenites and the 
Gadites and returned from 
the land of Gilead to the 
land of Canaan, and they 
brought back this answer 
to the Israelites. 
{I}33_{/}The Israelites 
were pleased to hear 
this; they gave thanks to 
God and spoke no more of 
making war and ravaging 
the country where the 
sons of Reuben and of Gad 
had settled. {I}34_{/}The 
Reubenites and the 
Gadites named the altar: 
'Witness', "Because," 
they said, "it will be a 
witness between us that 
Yahweh is God."
JOSHUA'S LAST 
DISCOURSE{/}

{1}23{/}

{I}1_{/}A long time after 
Yahweh gave peace to 
Israel in all its 
borders, {I}2_{/}Joshua, 
who was now very old and 
burdened with age, 
summoned all Israel - 
their elders, leaders, 
secretaries and judges -  
and he said to them: "I 
am now very old. 
{I}3_{/}You have seen all 
that Yahweh has done to 
all these nations for 
your sake and how he 
himself has fought for 
you. {I}4_{/}See, I have 
distributed to you the 
territory of all these 
nations that we destroyed 
from the Jordan to the 
Great Sea, as well as 
those nations that still 
remain. {I}5_{/}Yahweh, 
our God, will continue 
driving them back before 
you and will deprive them 
of their lands that you 
may take them as Yahweh 
has promised you.
{I}6_{/}Therefore be very 
valiant and have the 
determination to do all 
that is written in the 
book of the Law of Moses, 
without turning aside 
from it either to the 
right or to the left. 
{I}7_{/}Do not 
intermingle with these 
nations that are left 
among you. Do not call 
upon their gods or swear 
by their name. Do not 
serve them or bow before 
them, {I}8_{/}but remain 
united to Yahweh, our 
God, as you have done to 
this day. {I}9_{/}For 
that reason, Yahweh has 
driven away before you 
many powerful nations: no 
one was able to stand 
before your presence. 
{I}10_{/}One of you 
pursued a thousand since 
Yahweh, our God, fought 
for you as he had 
promised. {I}11_{/}So 
then, be very careful to 
love Yahweh, your God.
{I}12_{/}But if you 
separate yourselves from 
him and become one with 
the rest of these nations 
that still remain among 
you, if they come to be 
your relatives and you 
intermarry with them, 
{I}13_{/}know very well 
that Yahweh shall no 
longer drive out these 
nations before you, but 
they shall be a snare and 
a trap for you, a scourge 
on your sides, and thorns 
in your eyes, until you 
perish from this 
beautiful land Yahweh, 
our God, has given you.
{I}14_{/}I am now about 
to go the way of all 
creatures, so I say to 
you: know in your soul 
and in your conscience 
that all the promises of 
Yahweh, our God, have 
been fulfilled; not one 
of them has failed. 
{I}15_{/}But just as all 
these promises of Yahweh 
in your favor have been 
fulfilled, so shall 
Yahweh bring all the evil 
he has threatened against 
you until you have been 
wiped out from this 
magnificent land he has 
given you, {I}16_{/}if 
you break the covenant 
that Yahweh, our God, has 
given us. If you follow 
and serve other gods and 
bow before them, the 
wrath of Yahweh shall 
rise against you, and you 
shall suddenly perish 
from this fertile land he 
has given you."
THE COVENANT RENEWED AT 
SHECHEM{/}

{1}24{/}

{I}1_{/}Joshua summoned 
all the tribes of Israel 
in Shechem, and assembled 
the elders, leaders, 
judges and secretaries. 
And together they 
presented themselves 
before God. 
{I}2_{/}Addressing the 
people, Joshua said to 
them: "Yahweh, the God of 
Israel, commands me to 
say to you: Your 
ancestors lived beyond 
the Euphrates River - 
Terah the father of 
Abraham and Nahor - 
serving other gods. 
{I}3_{/}But I brought 
Abraham your father from 
beyond the Euphrates and 
led him through the whole 
land of Canaan. Then I 
gave him a son Isaac, 
that he might have 
numerous descendants. 
{I}4_{/}And to Isaac, I 
gave two sons: Esau and 
Jacob. Esau received the 
mountains of Seir as his 
inheritance, while Jacob 
and his sons went down to 
Egypt.
{I}5_{/}Then I sent Moses 
and Aaron to punish Egypt 
in the way that you know, 
that you might leave. 
{I}6_{/}Then I brought 
your fathers out of Egypt 
and you came to the sea. 
The Egyptians pursued you 
with chariots and horses 
as far as the Red Sea. 
{I}7_{/}Then you cried to 
Yahweh, and he put 
immense darkness between 
you and the Egyptians. He 
made the sea go back on 
them and they were 
drowned. You have 
witnessed all the things 
he did in Egypt, and then 
you lived in the desert 
for a long time. 
{I}8_{/}Then I brought 
you to the land of the 
Amorites who were on the 
east of the Jordan. You 
fought them but it was I 
who gave them into your 
hand; you destroyed them 
and you seized their 
lands.
{I}9_{/}Balak, the son of 
Zippor, king of Moab, 
declared war on Israel 
and commanded Balaam son 
of Beor to curse you. 
{I}10_{/}But I would not 
listen to him, so Balaam 
blessed you and I saved 
you from the hands of 
Balak.
{I}11_{/}Then you crossed 
the Jordan and came to 
Jericho. And the 
landlords of Jericho 
fought against you: the 
Amorites, Perizzites, 
Canaanites, Hittites, 
Girgashites, Hivites and 
Jebusites declared war on 
you, but I gave them to 
you. {I}12_{/}The two 
Amorite kings fled from 
you because of the swarm 
of hornets that attacked 
them and not because of 
your sword and bow. 
{I}13_{/}I gave you lands 
which you have not 
tilled, cities which you 
did not build but in 
which you now live. I 
gave you vineyards and 
olive groves which you 
did not plant but from 
which you now eat.
{I}14_{/}So fear Yahweh, 
and be sincere and 
faithful in serving him. 
Set aside those gods your 
fathers worshiped in 
Mesopotamia and Egypt. 
Serve only Yahweh. 
{I}15_{/}But if you do 
not want to serve Yahweh, 
make known this very day 
whom you shall serve - 
whether they be the gods 
your fathers served in 
Mesopotamia or the gods 
of the Amorites who 
formerly occupied the 
land in which you now 
live. As for me, I and my 
household will serve 
Yahweh."
{I}16_{/}The people 
answered: "May God not 
permit that we ever 
abandon Yahweh to serve 
other gods! {I}17_{/}For 
it was he who brought us 
and our fathers out of 
Egypt, the house of 
slavery. It was he who 
did those great wonders 
that we have seen; he 
protected us on the way 
and through all the land 
where we passed, 
{I}18_{/}driving away 
before us all the nations 
especially the Amorites 
who lived in this land. 
So we shall also serve 
Yahweh: he is our God!"
{I}19_{/}Joshua asked the 
people: "Will you be able 
to serve Yahweh? He is a 
Holy God, a Jealous God 
who does not tolerate 
wickedness or faults. 
{I}20_{/}If you abandon 
Yahweh to serve other 
gods, he will turn 
against you and just as 
he has done you so much 
good, so shall he punish 
you and destroy you." 
{I}21_{/}The people 
replied: "No, may it not 
be as you say. We will 
serve Yahweh." 
{I}22_{/}Joshua said: 
"You yourselves are 
witnesses that you have 
chosen Yahweh to serve 
him." They answered: "We 
are witnesses."
{I}23_{/}Joshua then 
said, "Remove now from 
your midst any other gods 
and serve Yahweh, the God 
of Israel, with all your 
heart." {I}24_{/}The 
people answered: "We will 
serve Yahweh, our God, 
and obey his commands."
{I}25_{/}On that day at 
Shechem, Joshua made a 
covenant with the people 
and fixed laws and 
ordinances. {I}26_{/}He 
also wrote down 
everything expressed in 
the book of the Law of 
God; he chose a great 
stone and put it under 
the oak tree in the 
sacred place of Yahweh. 
{I}27_{/}Then Joshua said 
to the people: "This 
stone shall be a witness 
to all that Yahweh said 
to us, for it heard all 
these words. It shall be 
a witness against you, 
lest you deal falsely 
with Yahweh."
{I}28_{/}Joshua 
immediately sent the 
people away and everyone 
returned to his land.
{I}29_{/}After all these 
deeds, Joshua, son of Nun 
and servant of Yahweh, 
died at the age of a 
hundred and ten. 
{I}30_{/}They buried him 
in his land at Timnath-
serah, in the hill 
country of Ephraim, to 
the north of Mount Gaash. 
{I}31_{/}Israel served 
Yahweh throughout the 
whole life of Joshua and 
of the elders who 
outlived Joshua and who 
had witnessed all the 
wonders Yahweh did for 
Israel. {I}32_{/}The 
Israelites brought from 
Egypt the bones of 
Joseph. They buried them 
at Shechem in a place in 
the field which Jacob 
bought from the children 
of Hamor, the father of 
Shechem, for a hundred 
pieces of money. This 
became the possession of 
the children of Joseph. 
{I}33_{/}Eleazar the son 
of Aaron also died and 
they buried him on the 
hill given to his son 
Phinehas on the mountains 
of Ephraim.

