Joshua:8-10

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* And the LORD said unto Joshua , Fear not , neither be thou dismayed : take all the people of war with thee , and arise , go up to Ai : see , I have given into thy hand the king of Ai , and his people , and his city , and his land : * And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king : only the spoil thereof , and the cattle thereof , shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves : lay thee an ambush for the city behind it . * So Joshua arose , and all the people of war , to go up against Ai : and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour , and sent them away by night . * And he commanded them , saying , Behold , ye shall lie in wait against the city , even behind the city : go not very far from the city , but be ye all ready : * And I , and all the people that are with me , will approach unto the city : and it shall come to pass , when they come out against us , as at the first , that we will flee before them , * (For they will come out after us ) till we have drawn them from the city ; for they will say , They flee before us , as at the first : therefore we will flee before them . * Then ye shall rise up from the ambush , and seize upon the city : for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand . * And it shall be , when ye have taken the city , that ye shall set the city on fire : according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do . See , I have commanded you . * Joshua therefore sent them forth : and they went to lie in ambush , and abode between Bethel and Ai , on the west side of Ai : but Joshua lodged that night among the people . * And Joshua rose up early in the morning , and numbered the people , and went up , he and the elders of Israel , before the people to Ai . * And all the people , even the people of war that were with him , went up , and drew nigh , and came before the city , and pitched on the north side of Ai : now there was a valley between them and Ai . * And he took about five thousand men , and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai , on the west side of the city . * And when they had set the people , even all the host that was on the north of the city , and their liers in wait on the west of the city , Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley . * And it came to pass , when the king of Ai saw it , that they hasted and rose up early , and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle , he and all his people , at a time appointed , before the plain ; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city . * And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them , and fled by the way of the wilderness . * And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them : and they pursued after Joshua , and were drawn away from the city . * And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel , that went not out after Israel : and they left the city open , and pursued after Israel . * And the LORD said unto Joshua , Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai ; for I will give it into thine hand . And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city . * And the ambush arose quickly out of their place , and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand : and they entered into the city , and took it , and hasted and set the city on fire . * And when the men of Ai looked behind them , they saw , and , behold , the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven , and they had no power to flee this way or that way : and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers . * And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city , and that the smoke of the city ascended , then they turned again , and slew the men of Ai . * And the other issued out of the city against them ; so they were in the midst of Israel , some on this side , and some on that side : and they smote them , so that they let none of them remain or escape . * And the king of Ai they took alive , and brought him to Joshua . * And it came to pass , when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field , in the wilderness wherein they chased them , and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword , until they were consumed , that all the Israelites returned unto Ai , and smote it with the edge of the sword . * And so it was , that all that fell that day , both of men and women , were twelve thousand , even all the men of Ai . * For Joshua drew not his hand back , wherewith he stretched out the spear , until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai . * Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves , according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua . * And Joshua burnt Ai , and made it an heap for ever , even a desolation unto this day . * And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide : and as soon as the sun was down , Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree , and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city , and raise thereon a great heap of stones , that remaineth unto this day . * Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal , * As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel , as it is written in the book of the law of Moses , an altar of whole stones , over which no man hath lift up any iron : and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD , and sacrificed peace offerings . * And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses , which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel . * And all Israel , and their elders , and officers , and their judges , stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites , which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD , as well the stranger , as he that was born among them ; half of them over against mount Gerizim , and half of them over against mount Ebal ; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before , that they should bless the people of Israel . * And afterward he read all the words of the law , the blessings and cursings , according to all that is written in the book of the law . * There was not a word of all that Moses commanded , which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel , with the women , and the little ones , and the strangers that were conversant among them . * And it came to pass , when all the kings which were on this side Jordan , in the hills , and in the valleys , and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon , the Hittite , and the Amorite , the Canaanite , the Perizzite , the Hivite , and the Jebusite , heard thereof ; * That they gathered themselves together , to fight with Joshua and with Israel , with one accord . * And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai , * They did work wilily , and went and made as if they had been ambassadors , and took old sacks upon their asses , and wine bottles , old , and rent , and bound up ; * And old shoes and clouted upon their feet , and old garments upon them ; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy . * And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal , and said unto him , and to the men of Israel , We be come from a far country : now therefore make ye a league with us . * And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites , Peradventure ye dwell among us ; and how shall we make a league with you ? * And they said unto Joshua , We are thy servants . And Joshua said unto them , Who are ye ? and from whence come ye ? * And they said unto him , From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God : for we have heard the fame of him , and all that he did in Egypt , * And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites , that were beyond Jordan , to Sihon king of Heshbon , and to Og king of Bashan , which was at Ashtaroth . * Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us , saying , Take victuals with you for the journey , and go to meet them , and say unto them , We are your servants : therefore now make ye a league with us . * This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you ; but now , behold , it is dry , and it is mouldy : * And these bottles of wine , which we filled , were new ; and , behold , they be rent : and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey . * And the men took of their victuals , and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD . * And Joshua made peace with them , and made a league with them , to let them live : and the princes of the congregation sware unto them . * And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them , that they heard that they were their neighbours , and that they dwelt among them . * And the children of Israel journeyed , and came unto their cities on the third day . Now their cities were Gibeon , and Chephirah , and Beeroth , and Kirjathjearim . * And the children of Israel smote them not , because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel . And all the congregation murmured against the princes . * But all the princes said unto all the congregation , We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel : now therefore we may not touch them . * This we will do to them ; we will even let them live , lest wrath be upon us , because of the oath which we sware unto them . * And the princes said unto them , Let them live ; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation ; as the princes had promised them . * And Joshua called for them , and he spake unto them , saying , Wherefore have ye beguiled us , saying , We are very far from you ; when ye dwell among us ? * Now therefore ye are cursed , and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen , and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God . * And they answered Joshua , and said , Because it was certainly told thy servants , how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land , and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you , therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you , and have done this thing . * And now , behold , we are in thine hand : as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us , do . * And so did he unto them , and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel , that they slew them not . * And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation , and for the altar of the LORD , even unto this day , in the place which he should choose . * Now it came to pass , when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai , and had utterly destroyed it ; as he had done to Jericho and her king , so he had done to Ai and her king ; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel , and were among them ; * That they feared greatly , because Gibeon was a great city , as one of the royal cities , and because it was greater than Ai , and all the men thereof were mighty . * Wherefore Adonizedek king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron , and unto Piram king of Jarmuth , and unto Japhia king of Lachish , and unto Debir king of Eglon , saying , * Come up unto me , and help me , that we may smite Gibeon : for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel . * Therefore the five kings of the Amorites , the king of Jerusalem , the king of Hebron , the king of Jarmuth , the king of Lachish , the king of Eglon , gathered themselves together , and went up , they and all their hosts , and encamped before Gibeon , and made war against it . * And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal , saying , Slack not thy hand from thy servants ; come up to us quickly , and save us , and help us : for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us . * So Joshua ascended from Gilgal , he , and all the people of war with him , and all the mighty men of valour . * And the LORD said unto Joshua , Fear them not : for I have delivered them into thine hand ; there shall not a man of them stand before thee . * Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly , and went up from Gilgal all night . * And the LORD discomfited them before Israel , and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon , and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron , and smote them to Azekah , and unto Makkedah . * And it came to pass , as they fled from before Israel , and were in the going down to Bethhoron , that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah , and they died : they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword . * Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel , and he said in the sight of Israel , Sun , stand thou still upon Gibeon ; and thou , Moon , in the valley of Ajalon . * And the sun stood still , and the moon stayed , until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies . Is not this written in the book of Jasher ? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven , and hasted not to go down about a whole day . * And there was no day like that before it or after it , that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man : for the LORD fought for Israel . * And Joshua returned , and all Israel with him , unto the camp to Gilgal . * But these five kings fled , and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah . * And it was told Joshua , saying , The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah . * And Joshua said , Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave , and set men by it for to keep them : * And stay ye not , but pursue after your enemies , and smite the hindmost of them ; suffer them not to enter into their cities : for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand . * And it came to pass , when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter , till they were consumed , that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities . * And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace : none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel . * Then said Joshua , Open the mouth of the cave , and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave . * And they did so , and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave , the king of Jerusalem , the king of Hebron , the king of Jarmuth , the king of Lachish , and the king of Eglon . * And it came to pass , when they brought out those kings unto Joshua , that Joshua called for all the men of Israel , and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him , Come near , put your feet upon the necks of these kings . And they came near , and put their feet upon the necks of them . * And Joshua said unto them , Fear not , nor be dismayed , be strong and of good courage : for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight . * And afterward Joshua smote them , and slew them , and hanged them on five trees : and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening . * And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun , that Joshua commanded , and they took them down off the trees , and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid , and laid great stones in the cave 's mouth , which remain until this very day . * And that day Joshua took Makkedah , and smote it with the edge of the sword , and the king thereof he utterly destroyed , them , and all the souls that were therein ; he let none remain : and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho . * Then Joshua passed from Makkedah , and all Israel with him , unto Libnah , and fought against Libnah : * And the LORD delivered it also , and the king thereof , into the hand of Israel ; and he smote it with the edge of the sword , and all the souls that were therein ; he let none remain in it ; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho . * And Joshua passed from Libnah , and all Israel with him , unto Lachish , and encamped against it , and fought against it : * And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel , which took it on the second day , and smote it with the edge of the sword , and all the souls that were therein , according to all that he had done to Libnah . * Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish ; and Joshua smote him and his people , until he had left him none remaining . * And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon , and all Israel with him ; and they encamped against it , and fought against it : * And they took it on that day , and smote it with the edge of the sword , and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day , according to all that he had done to Lachish . * And Joshua went up from Eglon , and all Israel with him , unto Hebron ; and they fought against it : * And they took it , and smote it with the edge of the sword , and the king thereof , and all the cities thereof , and all the souls that were therein ; he left none remaining , according to all that he had done to Eglon ; but destroyed it utterly , and all the souls that were therein . * And Joshua returned , and all Israel with him , to Debir ; and fought against it : * And he took it , and the king thereof , and all the cities thereof ; and they smote them with the edge of the sword , and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein ; he left none remaining : as he had done to Hebron , so he did to Debir , and to the king thereof ; as he had done also to Libnah , and to her king . * So Joshua smote all the country of the hills , and of the south , and of the vale , and of the springs , and all their kings : he left none remaining , but utterly destroyed all that breathed , as the LORD God of Israel commanded . * And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza , and all the country of Goshen , even unto Gibeon . * And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time , because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel . * And Joshua returned , and all Israel with him , unto the camp to Gilgal . * And it came to pass , when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things , that he sent to Jobab king of Madon , and to the king of Shimron , and to the king of Achshaph ,

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