Day 83 of My 4th Bible Study Journey - 23 March 2024 reflections
Day 83, 23 March 2024
1) Joshua 5,6, 7:1, 1 Chron 2:7 , Joshua 7:2-26,8
JOSHUA 5
1 (Nu 13:29; Jos 2:9-11) When all the kings of the Amorites
west of the Jordan and of the Canaanites by the sea to the east
heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before
the children of Israel while they crossed over, their hearts melted,
and there was no longer any breath in them because of the children of Israel.
[1] And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on
the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were
by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from
before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart
melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children
of Israel.
Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal
2 (Ex 4:25) At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives
and circumcise the children of Israel a second time."
3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the children of Israel
at the Hill of the Foreskins called Gibeath Haaraloth.
4 (Nu 26:64-65; Dt 2:16) Now this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them:
All the males who came out of Egypt who were men of fighting age had died
in the wilderness along the way after leaving Egypt.
5 All of the people who had come out were circumcised, but all the people born
in the wilderness along the way after leaving Egypt were not circumcised.
6 (Dt 2:7; 2:14) The children of Israel had traveled forty years
in the wilderness until all the people, the men of fighting age
who came out of Egypt, died, because they did not obey the Lord.
The Lord had sworn not to let them see the land that He had sworn
to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 (Nu 14:31; Dt 1:39) Yet He raised up their descendants in their place.
These men Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised.
They had not been circumcised along the way.
8 (Ge 34:25) So when the entire people was completely circumcised,
they stayed where they were in the camp until they healed.
9 (Ge 34:14; Jos 4:19) The Lord said to Joshua,
"Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from upon you."
So the name of that place is called Gilgal even to this day.
10 The children of Israel camped in Gilgal and kept the Passover
on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.
11 (Lev 23:14) The day after the Passover, they ate of the produce
of the land, unleavened bread, and roasted grain.
12 (Ex 16:35) The manna stopped the day after they ate
from the produce of the land, and the children of Israel no longer had manna.
That year they ate what the land of Canaan yielded.
[2] At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and
circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
[3] And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel
at the hill of the foreskins.
[4] And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that
came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the
wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
[5] Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people
that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt,
them they had not circumcised.
[6] For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till
all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed,
because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that
he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers
that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
[7] And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua
circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised
them by the way.
[8] And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people,
that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
[9] And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach
of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto
this day.
[10] And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on
the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
[11] And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the
passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
[12] And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn
of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did
eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
The Fall of Jericho
13 (Ge 18:2; Nu 22:23) Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up
and saw a man standing in front of him. In His hand was His drawn sword.
Joshua went to Him and said, "Are You for us or for our enemies?"
14 (Ge 17:3) He said, "Neither, for I am the commander of the army
of the Lord. Now I have come." Then Joshua fell with his face to the ground
and worshipped. Then he said, "What does my Lord wish to say to His servant?"
15 (Ex 3:5) The commander of the army of the Lord said to Joshua,
"Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place
where you are standing is holy." So Joshua did this.
[13] And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his
eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his
sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art
thou for us, or for our adversaries?
[14] And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto
him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
[15] And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe
from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua
did so.
JOSHUA 6
1 Now Jericho was tightly secured before the children of Israel.
There was no one leaving or entering.
2 (Dt 7:24; Jos 2:9) The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho,
its king, and mighty men of valor into your hand.
3 All the men of fighting age shall march around the city.
Circle the city once. Do this for six days.
4 Seven priests shall carry seven ram's horn trumpets before the ark.
On the seventh day, march around the city seven times,
with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5 (Jos 6:20; 1Sa 4:5) When they blow a long blast on the ram's horn
and when you hear the trumpet sound, all the people shall shout a loud
battle cry. The walls of the city will fall down, and the people will go up,
every man straight ahead."
6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them,
"Take up the ark of the covenant. Seven priests bearing seven ram's
horn trumpets shall be in front of the ark of the Lord."
7 (Jos 4:13) He said to the people, "Advance and march around the city.
Let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord."
8 So when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing
seven ram's horn trumpets before the Lord advanced and blew their
trumpets. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went after them.
9 (Jos 6:13; Nu 10:25) The armed men went before the priests
blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard went after the ark
while the trumpets were blowing.
10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, "Do not shout a battle cry,
and do not let your voices be heard. Do not let a word
come out of your mouths until the time I say to you, 'Shout the battle cry!'
Then shout."
11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city once. Then they came
into the camp and spent the night there.
12 Then Joshua got up early in the morning,
and the priests picked up the ark of the Lord.
13 Seven priests bearing seven ram's horn trumpets before the ark of the Lord
moved on, blowing their trumpets continually. The armed men went before them,
and the rear guard went after the ark of the Lord
while the trumpets were blowing.
14 The second day they circled the city once, and they returned to the camp.
They did this for six days.
15 Then on the seventh day they got up early as dawn was breaking
and circled the city in this way seven times. Only on that day did they circle
the city seven times.
16 On the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets
and Joshua said to the people,
"Shout the battle cry, for the Lord has given you the city!
17 (Dt 20:17) The city and all that is in it are dedicated to the Lord
for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute may live,
she, and all who are with her in her house,
for she hid the messengers we sent.
18 (Jos 7:1; 7:11-12) As for you, keep yourselves from
that which is dedicated for destruction, lest you be destroyed.
If you take from that which is dedicated for destruction, you will set
the Israelite camp for destruction and bring trouble upon it.
19 (1Ch 26:20) All the silver, gold, and bronze and iron articles
are set apart for the Lord. They will go into the treasury of the Lord."
20 (Heb 11:30; Jos 6:5) So the people shouted, and they blew the trumpets.
When the people heard the trumpet sound, they shouted a loud battle cry,
and the wall fell down. So the people went up into the city,
one man after the other, and they captured it.
21 They destroyed all that was in the city: man and woman, young
and old, and oxen, sheep, and donkey with the edge of the sword.
22 (Heb 11:31) Yet to the two men who had spied out the land,
Joshua said, "Enter the prostitute's house, and bring out the woman
and everyone who belongs to her, as you swore to her."
23 So the young men who had been spies entered and brought out Rahab,
her father, her mother, her brothers, everyone who belonged to her,
and her whole extended family. They brought them out
and placed them outside of the camp of Israel.
24 They burned the city and everything in it with fire. Only the silver,
the gold, the bronze and iron articles they gave to the treasury
of the house of the Lord.
25 (Heb 11:31; Mt 1:5) Yet Rahab the prostitute, her father's family,
and everyone who belonged to her, Joshua let live. They live among
Israel to this day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent
to spy on Jericho.
26 (1Ki 16:34) At that time Joshua made them swear, "Cursed before the Lord
will be the man who arises and rebuilds this city of Jericho.
He will establish it
at the cost of his firstborn
and erect its gates
at the cost of his youngest child."
27 (Jos 1:5; 9:1) So the Lord was with Joshua, and he became famous
throughout the land.
Joshua 6
[1] Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none
went out, and none came in.
[2] And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand
Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
[3] And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the
city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
[4] And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams'
horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the
priests shall blow with the trumpets.
[5] And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the
ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall
shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and
the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
[6] And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take
up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of
rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
[7] And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him
that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
[8] And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the
seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the
LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD
followed them.
[9] And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets,
and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with
the trumpets.
[10] And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor
make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your
mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
[11] So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and
they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
[12] And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark
of the LORD.
[13] And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark
of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed
men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the
priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
[14] And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the
camp: so they did six days.
[15] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the
dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven
times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
[16] And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the
trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you
the city.
[17] And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to
the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in
the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
[18] And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye
make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the
camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
[19] But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are
consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
[20] So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it
came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people
shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people
went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the
city.
[21] And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and
woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the
sword.
[22] But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go
into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she
hath, as ye sware unto her.
[23] And the young men that were spies went in, and brought Rahab, and her
father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they
brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
[24] And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the
silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into
the treasury of the house of the LORD.
[25] And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household,
and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because
she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
[26] And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before
the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the
foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up
the gates of it.
[27] So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the
country.
[The Lord delivers]
JOSHUA 7
Achan's Sin
1 (Jos 22:20; 6:17-18) Yet the children of Israel violated their obligations
with regard to the things dedicated for destruction. Achan, son of Karmi,
son of Zimri, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah took from the things
dedicated for destruction, and the anger of the Lord burned
against the children of Israel.
[1] But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing:
for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the
tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was
kindled against the children of Israel.
1 Chron 2:7
7 (Jos 6:18) The sons of Karmi were
Achar, the troubler of Israel, who acted unfaithfully
in regard to the ban.
7 And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel,
who transgressed in the thing accursed.
Joshua 7
2 (Jos 18:12; 1Sa 13:5) Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (which is near
Beth Aven, east of Bethel) and said to them, "Go up and spy on the land."
So the men went up and spied on Ai.
3 Then they returned to Joshua and said to him,
All the people need not go up. Let about two or three thousand men go up
and strike Ai. Since they are so few, all the people need
not weary themselves."
4 (Lev 26:17; Dt 28:25) So about three thousand men went up from
among the people there, but they fled from before the men of Ai.
5 (Jos 2:11; Lev 26:36) The men of Ai struck down 36 men
and pursued them from the gate to Shebarim. They struck them down
on the mountainside, and the hearts of the people melted like water.
6 (Ge 37:29; 37:34) Then Joshua ripped his clothes. He and the Israelite
elders fell on their faces to the ground in front of the ark of the Lord
until evening and threw dirt upon their heads.
7 (2Ki 3:10) Joshua said, "O Lord God, why did You bring this people
across the Jordan to give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?
If only we had been content to dwell on the other side of the Jordan!
8 O my Lord, what should I say now that Israel has fled before its enemies?
9 (Ex 32:12; Ps 83:4) The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land may
hear, turn on us, and cut off our name from the earth.
What will You do for Your great name?"
10 Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face?
11 (Jos 6:17-19; Ac 5:1-2) Israel has sinned, and they have broken
My covenant that I commanded them. They took from the things
dedicated for destruction. They have stolen, acted deceitfully,
and put them among their own possessions.
12 (Nu 14:45; Jos 6:18) Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand
before their enemies. They turn their backs to their enemies
because they have become dedicated for destruction.
I will not be with you anymore if you do not destroy the things
dedicated for destruction in your midst.
13 (Jos 3:5) "Get up! Consecrate the people and say,
'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says the Lord,
the God of Israel: "Things dedicated for destruction are in your midst,
O Israel. You are not able to stand before your enemies
until you remove the things dedicated for destruction from your midst."
14 (Pr 16:33) " 'In the morning you will be brought forward by tribes,
and the tribe that the Lord selects by lot shall come forward by clans.
The clan that the Lord selects by lot shall come forward by households,
and the household that the Lord selects by lot shall come forward
man by man.
15 (Ge 34:7; Jdg 20:6) And he who is taken with the things dedicated
for destruction shall be burned with fire, he and all who belong to him,
for he broke the covenant of the Lord
and has done a disgraceful action in Israel.' "
16 So Joshua got up early in the morning and brought forward Israel
by their tribes. The tribe of Judah was selected.
17 (Nu 26:20) He brought forward the clans of Judah, and the clan
of the Zerahites was selected. He brought forward the clan of the Zerahites
man by man, and Zimri was selected.
18 (Nu 32:23; Ac 5:1-10) He brought forward the household of Zimri
man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, son of Zimri, son of Zerah,
from the tribe of Judah, was selected.
19 (1Sa 6:5; Jer 13:16; Jn 9:24) Then Joshua said to Achan,
"O my son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give Him praise!
Tell me what you have done! Do not hold back anything from me."
20 Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed, I sinned against the Lord,
the God of Israel. This is what I did:
21 (Dt 7:25) When I saw among the plundered goods a beautiful robe
from Babylon, two hundred shekels of silver,
[About 5 pounds, or 2.3 kilograms].
and a gold bar weighing fifty shekels, [About 1 1/4 pounds, or 575 grams.]
I coveted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground in my tent.
The silver is underneath them."
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent.
There it all was hidden in the ground with the silver underneath.
23 They took it from the tent and brought it to Joshua
and all the children of Israel. They spread it out before the Lord.
24 (Jos 15:7; 7:26) Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan
son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons, his daughters,
his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all he had,
and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.
25 (Jos 6:18; Lev 20:2) Then Joshua said, "Why have you brought trouble
on us? The Lord will trouble you today!" So all Israel stoned him.
They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
26 (Dt 13:17; Isa 65:10) Then they erected over him a large pile of stones,
which is still there today. So the Lord turned from His burning anger.
Therefore the name of the place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
[2] And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on
the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the
country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
[3] And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people
go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make
not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
[4] So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and
they fled before the men of Ai.
[5] And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they
chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the
going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
[6] And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before
the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put
dust upon their heads.
[7] And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought
this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to
destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side
Jordan!
[8] O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their
enemies!
[9] For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it,
and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what
wilt thou do unto thy great name?
[10] And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus
upon thy face?
[11] Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I
commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have
also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own
stuff.
[12] Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies,
but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed:
neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from
among you.
[13] Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to
morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in
the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies,
until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
[14] In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes:
and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according
to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come
by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by
man.
[15] And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be
burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the
covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
[16] So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their
tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
[17] And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the
Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi
was taken:
[18] And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi,
the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
[19] And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the
LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou
hast done; hide it not from me.
[20] And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the
LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
[21] When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two
hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then
I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the
midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
[22] So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it
was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
[23] And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto
Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the
LORD.
[24] And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and
the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his
daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all
that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
[25] And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee
this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire,
after they had stoned them with stones.
[26] And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the
LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that
place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
{The sin of the Community is costly}
JOSHUA 8
Ai Destroyed
1 (Jos 1:9; 6:2) Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or dismayed.
Take all the fighting men with you. Arise, and go up to Ai. See, I have given
the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your hand.
2 (Dt 20:14; Jos 6:21) Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho
and its king, except you may plunder its spoils and its livestock.
Now set an ambush for the city behind it."
3 So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. Joshua chose
30000 men, mighty men of valor, and sent them out at night.
4 (Jdg 20:29) He commanded them, "You shall ambush the city from behind.
Do not go very far from the city. All of you be ready.
5 (Jos 7:5) I and all the people who are with me will approach the city.
When they come out to engage us as before, we will flee from them.
6 They will come after us until we have lured them away from the city,
for they will think, 'They are fleeing from us as before!'
So we will flee from them.
7Then you shall rise up for the ambush and take possession of the city.
The Lord your God will give it into your hands.
8 (2Sa 13:28) When you have seized the city, set it on fire.
Act according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you."
9 So Joshua sent them out. They went to the place of ambush
and took up a position between Bethel and Ai, westward of Ai,
and Joshua spent the night among the people.
10 Joshua got up early in the morning and mustered the people.
He and the elders of Israel went up before the people to Ai.
11 All the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near to the city.
They camped north of Ai, and there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 He took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between
Bethel and Ai, westward of the city.
13 So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north
of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, and Joshua spent
that night in the midst of the valley.
14 When the king of Ai saw this, the men of the city hurriedly got up
early and went out to engage Israel in battle at the assembly point
near the Arabah. Yet he did not know that there was an ambush
for him behind the city.
15 (Jos 18:12) So Joshua and all Israel allowed themselves to be
beaten before them, and they fled in the direction of the wilderness.
16 (Jdg 20:31) All the people who were in Ai were assembled to pursue
them, so they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel.
They left the city wide open, and they pursued Israel.
18 (Jos 8:26) The Lord said to Joshua, "Point toward Ai with the sword
that is in your hand, for I will give it into your hand." So Joshua pointed
toward the city with the sword in his hand.
19 When his hand pointed, the men in ambush got up quickly from
their place and ran. They came into the city, captured it, and quickly
set the city on fire.
20 The men of Ai turned around and looked, and there from the city
came smoke rising to the sky! They could not flee in any direction,
and the people who had fled into the wilderness had turned back
toward their pursuers.
21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured
the city and that smoke rose from it,
they turned and struck down the men of Ai.
22 (Dt 7:2) Then the men in the city came out to engage them in battle,
so they were now in the middle, with Israel on each side.
Israel struck them down until neither survivors nor escapees were left.
23 (1Sa 15:8) They took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
24 When Israel completed killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open
wilderness where they had pursued them, and when all of them had
finally fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai
and struck it with the edge of the sword.
25 All who had fallen that day, men and women, numbered 12000,
all the people of Ai.
26 (Ex 17:11-12; Jos 8:18) Joshua did not draw back his hand
with the stretched-out sword until he destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 (Jos 8:2) Israel plundered only the livestock and the spoil of that city
for themselves, according to the word of the Lord
that He had commanded Joshua.
28 (Dt 13:16) Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever,
a desolation to this day.
29 (Dt 21:22-23; Jos 7:26) The king of Ai hanged on a tree until evening.
At sunset, Joshua commanded that the people take down the body
from the tree and throw it down at the city gate.
They erected a large heap of stones over it that remains to this day.
Joshua 8
[1] 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:
[2] 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.
[3] 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.
[4] 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:
[5] 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,
[6] (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.
[7] Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the
LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
[8] 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.
[9] 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.
[10] 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.
[11] 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.
[12] 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.
[13] 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.
[14] 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.
[15] And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and
fled by the way of the wilderness.
[16] 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.
[17] 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.
[18] 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.
[19] 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.
[20] 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.
[21] 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.
[22] 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.
[23] And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
[24] 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.
[25] And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were
twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
[26] For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the
spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
[27] 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.
[28] And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation
unto this day.
[29] 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.
The Covenant Renewal at Mount Ebal
30 Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal,
31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel.
As is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, it was
"an altar of uncut stones not shaped by iron tools."
They sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord on it, as well as peace offerings.
32 (Dt 27:2-3; 27:8) There in the presence of the children of Israel he wrote
a copy of the Law of Moses on the stones.
33 (Dt 11:29; 31:12) All Israel, resident alien and native alike, with
its elders, officials, and judges, were standing on either side of the ark
in front of the Levite priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord,
half in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal,
as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded from the beginning,
in order to bless the people of Israel.
34 (Ne 8:2-3; 13:1) After this, Joshua read out all the words of the law,
both blessing and curse, according to all that is written in the
Book of the Law.
35 (Dt 31:12) There was not a word from all that Moses had commanded
that Joshua did not read out before the whole assembly of Israel,
with the women, the children, and the resident aliens who were among them.
[30] Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
[31] 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.
[32] 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.
[33] 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.
[34] 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.
[35] 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.
2) Our Daily Bread for 23 March 2024 titled
Extravagant Love
1 Peter 2:11-12
Live as Servants of God
11 (Jas 4:1; Lev 25:23) Dearly beloved, I implore you as aliens and refugees,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
12 (Mt 5:16; 1Pe 3:16) Live your lives honorably among the Gentiles, so that
though they speak against you as evildoers, they shall see your good works
and thereby glorify God in the day of visitation.
[11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
[12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they
speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
My seatmate on the flight told me she was nonreligious and had immigrated
to a town that was home to numerous Christians. When she mentioned that
most of her neighbours went to church, I asked about her experience.
She said she could never repay their generosity. When she brought her disabled
father to her new country, her neighbours built a ramp to her house and
donated a hospital bed and medical supplies. She said, "If being a Christian
makes one so kind, everyone should be a Christian."
Exactly what Jesus hoped she'd say! He told His disciples,
"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Peter heard Christ's
command and passed it on: "Live such good lives among the pagans that,
though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds
and glorify God" (1 Peter 2:12).
Our neighbors who don't have faith in Jesus may not understand what we believe
and why we believe it. Don't sweat it, as long as there's one more thing they
can't understand: the extravagance of our love. My seatmate marveled that her
Christian neighbours continue to care for her even though she isn't, in her
words, "one of them." She knows she's loved, for Jesus' sake, and she gives
thanks to God. She may not yet believe in Him, but she's grateful that others
do.
By: Mike Wittmer
Reflect & Pray
Who do you know who needs Jesus? How can you love them for His sake?
Heavenly Father, let Your light shine through me.
For further study, read Pray First: The Power of Prayer in Sharing the Gospel.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and forever Day 7 - The Great Exchange
2 Cor 5:21 - God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
People were talking ; the gossip lines were busy day and night.
Andrea, a Bible study leader and pillar of the church, had been
accused of indiscretion with a married man, another member
of the congregation. The rumours were proven untrue,
but that hardly mattered anymore. The damage was done.
"It's just not far," Andrea said. " It was all so unnecessary.
And now, even though I've done nothing wrong, my relationship
with that church will never be the same again."
We all know what pain is caused by undeserved accusation,
rejection, and misunderstanding. Sometimes, when the smoke clears,
irreparable damage has been done, even when no sin has occurred.
We can understand the torment that comes when we've sinned,
but when we've done nothing wrong, the injustice seem unbearable.
Jesus knew what it was to suffer unjustly. He had never sinned at all,
yet he 'became sin' for us. He gave himself in an outrageous exchange:
he took our sin and gave us his righteousness.
Living in this exchange does not mean, of course, that we will be exempt
from pain, that we will never again suffer unjustly or be subject
to rejection. But in Christ, we are declared righteous before God,
just as Jesus himself is righteous. And as we submit
to the Holy Spirit's work in us, we become righteous ,
obeying him and growing in grace. Christ endured rejection
for us so that we might live in him.
Application
a) Have I ever suffered unjustly or been rejected by someone without cause?
b) How can this verse, coupled with my own experience give me a greater
depth of appreciation of what Christ suffered for me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,
that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Saskatchewan
Quick facts on Muslims in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1125400
est Muslim Population 17279
CNMM Networks: Saskatoon
Saskatoon has seen quick growth in its Muslim population over the past
5 years, which maybe as high as 5000 today. Islamic leaders have
focused specifically on this city , having twice already sent cohorts
of about 70 families to start mosques. There are now 7 Islamic centres
of worship and an Islamic madrassah (school) located right next to a
Christian school.
Of particular concern recently is the number of young adults who grew up
in evangelical churches and converted to Islam. Most of these are young
women who were wooed by Muslim man and became emotionally bonded.
Both prior to and after marrying, these women are known to convert to Islam.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Adding further
Pray for the Munji of Afghanistan
John 5:17
17 (Jn 9:4; 14:10) Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still,
and I am working."
[17] But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
The Munji people are Ismaili Muslims who live in the remote Northeastern
mountains of Afghanistan. For centuries they have lived in the same valley
with their own language and identity. Closely related to the Kashmiri
people (of India and Pakistan), the Munji live rugged, challenging lives.
Most Munji people are semi-nomadic people who make their living by farming
and raising animals. Decades of warfare have affected them greatly. Poverty
and lack of roads make access to medicine, education and nutrition difficult.
There is a lack of hope about the future and fear for the present.
In the summers, they take their flocks up to high mountain pastures where
they enjoy a season of plenty to eat and the beauty of the high mountain
valleys. Along with the Islamic holidays, they have several local festivals
throughout the year that bring people together to celebrate things like
the pea harvest and the traditional new year.
There are no known Jesus followers among the Munji and there are no Bible
translations in their language. But God has not forgotten the Munji people!
One Munji man had a dream where he saw Jesus shining bright, holding a book,
and controlling the rain and storms. This dream led him on a long journey
to find "the book of Jesus" and to learn the truth about Jesus.
Pray that others like him would embark on the journey
to know the Lord Jesus and His best blessings!
Pray More: Get the Afghanistan Prayer Guide at prayafghanistan.org
How to Pray
Pray for the daily needs of the Munji people in the midst of
poverty and lack of access to quality health care and education.
Pray for deliverance from addictions and for a true hope
for their future.
Pray the Word of God to be translated, heard and revered
in every home and that the good news of Jesus to bring new life.
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 23 of the Month
a) Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
b) Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.
(
John 13:34-35
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another."
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
Rom 12:10
10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love; prefer one another in honour
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another;
Heb 10:24
24 And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works.
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
1 Peter 3:8
8 Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward one another, be gracious,
and be kind.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 3:23
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name
of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He commanded us.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name
of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray for the Salvation of your country.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, let Your light shine through me."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Suffering on the Cross.
Pray to the Lord and pray to keep His Covenant.
Pray to the Lord and pray for healing from illness.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Pray for the daily needs of the Munji people in the midst of
poverty and lack of access to quality health care and education.
Pray for deliverance from addictions and for a true hope
for their future.
Pray the Word of God to be translated, heard and revered
in every home and that the good news of Jesus to bring new life.
Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across your nation.
Pray that more churches will be allowed to operate throughout Djibouti.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God
1) Joshua 5,6, 7:1, 1 Chron 2:7 , Joshua 7:2-26,8
JOSHUA 5
1 (Nu 13:29; Jos 2:9-11) When all the kings of the Amorites
west of the Jordan and of the Canaanites by the sea to the east
heard that the Lord had dried up the waters of the Jordan before
the children of Israel while they crossed over, their hearts melted,
and there was no longer any breath in them because of the children of Israel.
[1] And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on
the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were
by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from
before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart
melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children
of Israel.
Circumcision and Passover at Gilgal
2 (Ex 4:25) At that time the Lord said to Joshua, "Make flint knives
and circumcise the children of Israel a second time."
3 So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the children of Israel
at the Hill of the Foreskins called Gibeath Haaraloth.
4 (Nu 26:64-65; Dt 2:16) Now this is the reason why Joshua circumcised them:
All the males who came out of Egypt who were men of fighting age had died
in the wilderness along the way after leaving Egypt.
5 All of the people who had come out were circumcised, but all the people born
in the wilderness along the way after leaving Egypt were not circumcised.
6 (Dt 2:7; 2:14) The children of Israel had traveled forty years
in the wilderness until all the people, the men of fighting age
who came out of Egypt, died, because they did not obey the Lord.
The Lord had sworn not to let them see the land that He had sworn
to their fathers to give to us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7 (Nu 14:31; Dt 1:39) Yet He raised up their descendants in their place.
These men Joshua circumcised, for they were uncircumcised.
They had not been circumcised along the way.
8 (Ge 34:25) So when the entire people was completely circumcised,
they stayed where they were in the camp until they healed.
9 (Ge 34:14; Jos 4:19) The Lord said to Joshua,
"Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from upon you."
So the name of that place is called Gilgal even to this day.
10 The children of Israel camped in Gilgal and kept the Passover
on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening on the plains of Jericho.
11 (Lev 23:14) The day after the Passover, they ate of the produce
of the land, unleavened bread, and roasted grain.
12 (Ex 16:35) The manna stopped the day after they ate
from the produce of the land, and the children of Israel no longer had manna.
That year they ate what the land of Canaan yielded.
[2] At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and
circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
[3] And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel
at the hill of the foreskins.
[4] And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that
came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the
wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
[5] Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people
that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt,
them they had not circumcised.
[6] For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till
all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed,
because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that
he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers
that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
[7] And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua
circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised
them by the way.
[8] And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people,
that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
[9] And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach
of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto
this day.
[10] And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on
the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
[11] And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the
passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
[12] And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn
of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did
eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
The Fall of Jericho
13 (Ge 18:2; Nu 22:23) Now when Joshua was by Jericho, he looked up
and saw a man standing in front of him. In His hand was His drawn sword.
Joshua went to Him and said, "Are You for us or for our enemies?"
14 (Ge 17:3) He said, "Neither, for I am the commander of the army
of the Lord. Now I have come." Then Joshua fell with his face to the ground
and worshipped. Then he said, "What does my Lord wish to say to His servant?"
15 (Ex 3:5) The commander of the army of the Lord said to Joshua,
"Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place
where you are standing is holy." So Joshua did this.
[13] And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his
eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his
sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art
thou for us, or for our adversaries?
[14] And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come.
And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto
him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
[15] And the captain of the LORD's host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe
from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua
did so.
JOSHUA 6
1 Now Jericho was tightly secured before the children of Israel.
There was no one leaving or entering.
2 (Dt 7:24; Jos 2:9) The Lord said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho,
its king, and mighty men of valor into your hand.
3 All the men of fighting age shall march around the city.
Circle the city once. Do this for six days.
4 Seven priests shall carry seven ram's horn trumpets before the ark.
On the seventh day, march around the city seven times,
with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5 (Jos 6:20; 1Sa 4:5) When they blow a long blast on the ram's horn
and when you hear the trumpet sound, all the people shall shout a loud
battle cry. The walls of the city will fall down, and the people will go up,
every man straight ahead."
6 So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and said to them,
"Take up the ark of the covenant. Seven priests bearing seven ram's
horn trumpets shall be in front of the ark of the Lord."
7 (Jos 4:13) He said to the people, "Advance and march around the city.
Let the armed men pass on before the ark of the Lord."
8 So when Joshua had spoken to the people, the seven priests bearing
seven ram's horn trumpets before the Lord advanced and blew their
trumpets. The ark of the covenant of the Lord went after them.
9 (Jos 6:13; Nu 10:25) The armed men went before the priests
blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard went after the ark
while the trumpets were blowing.
10 Now Joshua had commanded the people, "Do not shout a battle cry,
and do not let your voices be heard. Do not let a word
come out of your mouths until the time I say to you, 'Shout the battle cry!'
Then shout."
11 So he had the ark of the Lord circle the city once. Then they came
into the camp and spent the night there.
12 Then Joshua got up early in the morning,
and the priests picked up the ark of the Lord.
13 Seven priests bearing seven ram's horn trumpets before the ark of the Lord
moved on, blowing their trumpets continually. The armed men went before them,
and the rear guard went after the ark of the Lord
while the trumpets were blowing.
14 The second day they circled the city once, and they returned to the camp.
They did this for six days.
15 Then on the seventh day they got up early as dawn was breaking
and circled the city in this way seven times. Only on that day did they circle
the city seven times.
16 On the seventh time, the priests blew the trumpets
and Joshua said to the people,
"Shout the battle cry, for the Lord has given you the city!
17 (Dt 20:17) The city and all that is in it are dedicated to the Lord
for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute may live,
she, and all who are with her in her house,
for she hid the messengers we sent.
18 (Jos 7:1; 7:11-12) As for you, keep yourselves from
that which is dedicated for destruction, lest you be destroyed.
If you take from that which is dedicated for destruction, you will set
the Israelite camp for destruction and bring trouble upon it.
19 (1Ch 26:20) All the silver, gold, and bronze and iron articles
are set apart for the Lord. They will go into the treasury of the Lord."
20 (Heb 11:30; Jos 6:5) So the people shouted, and they blew the trumpets.
When the people heard the trumpet sound, they shouted a loud battle cry,
and the wall fell down. So the people went up into the city,
one man after the other, and they captured it.
21 They destroyed all that was in the city: man and woman, young
and old, and oxen, sheep, and donkey with the edge of the sword.
22 (Heb 11:31) Yet to the two men who had spied out the land,
Joshua said, "Enter the prostitute's house, and bring out the woman
and everyone who belongs to her, as you swore to her."
23 So the young men who had been spies entered and brought out Rahab,
her father, her mother, her brothers, everyone who belonged to her,
and her whole extended family. They brought them out
and placed them outside of the camp of Israel.
24 They burned the city and everything in it with fire. Only the silver,
the gold, the bronze and iron articles they gave to the treasury
of the house of the Lord.
25 (Heb 11:31; Mt 1:5) Yet Rahab the prostitute, her father's family,
and everyone who belonged to her, Joshua let live. They live among
Israel to this day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent
to spy on Jericho.
26 (1Ki 16:34) At that time Joshua made them swear, "Cursed before the Lord
will be the man who arises and rebuilds this city of Jericho.
He will establish it
at the cost of his firstborn
and erect its gates
at the cost of his youngest child."
27 (Jos 1:5; 9:1) So the Lord was with Joshua, and he became famous
throughout the land.
Joshua 6
[1] Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none
went out, and none came in.
[2] And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand
Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
[3] And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the
city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
[4] And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams'
horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the
priests shall blow with the trumpets.
[5] And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the
ram's horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall
shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and
the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
[6] And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take
up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of
rams' horns before the ark of the LORD.
[7] And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him
that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
[8] And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the
seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams' horns passed on before the
LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD
followed them.
[9] And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets,
and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with
the trumpets.
[10] And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor
make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your
mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
[11] So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and
they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
[12] And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark
of the LORD.
[13] And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark
of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed
men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the
priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
[14] And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the
camp: so they did six days.
[15] And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the
dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven
times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
[16] And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the
trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you
the city.
[17] And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to
the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in
the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
[18] And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye
make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the
camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
[19] But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are
consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
[20] So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it
came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people
shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people
went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the
city.
[21] And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and
woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the
sword.
[22] But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go
into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she
hath, as ye sware unto her.
[23] And the young men that were spies went in, and brought Rahab, and her
father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they
brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
[24] And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the
silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into
the treasury of the house of the LORD.
[25] And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household,
and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because
she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
[26] And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before
the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the
foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up
the gates of it.
[27] So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the
country.
[The Lord delivers]
JOSHUA 7
Achan's Sin
1 (Jos 22:20; 6:17-18) Yet the children of Israel violated their obligations
with regard to the things dedicated for destruction. Achan, son of Karmi,
son of Zimri, son of Zerah, from the tribe of Judah took from the things
dedicated for destruction, and the anger of the Lord burned
against the children of Israel.
[1] But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing:
for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the
tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was
kindled against the children of Israel.
1 Chron 2:7
7 (Jos 6:18) The sons of Karmi were
Achar, the troubler of Israel, who acted unfaithfully
in regard to the ban.
7 And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel,
who transgressed in the thing accursed.
Joshua 7
2 (Jos 18:12; 1Sa 13:5) Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai (which is near
Beth Aven, east of Bethel) and said to them, "Go up and spy on the land."
So the men went up and spied on Ai.
3 Then they returned to Joshua and said to him,
All the people need not go up. Let about two or three thousand men go up
and strike Ai. Since they are so few, all the people need
not weary themselves."
4 (Lev 26:17; Dt 28:25) So about three thousand men went up from
among the people there, but they fled from before the men of Ai.
5 (Jos 2:11; Lev 26:36) The men of Ai struck down 36 men
and pursued them from the gate to Shebarim. They struck them down
on the mountainside, and the hearts of the people melted like water.
6 (Ge 37:29; 37:34) Then Joshua ripped his clothes. He and the Israelite
elders fell on their faces to the ground in front of the ark of the Lord
until evening and threw dirt upon their heads.
7 (2Ki 3:10) Joshua said, "O Lord God, why did You bring this people
across the Jordan to give us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us?
If only we had been content to dwell on the other side of the Jordan!
8 O my Lord, what should I say now that Israel has fled before its enemies?
9 (Ex 32:12; Ps 83:4) The Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land may
hear, turn on us, and cut off our name from the earth.
What will You do for Your great name?"
10 Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Stand up! Why have you fallen on your face?
11 (Jos 6:17-19; Ac 5:1-2) Israel has sinned, and they have broken
My covenant that I commanded them. They took from the things
dedicated for destruction. They have stolen, acted deceitfully,
and put them among their own possessions.
12 (Nu 14:45; Jos 6:18) Therefore the children of Israel cannot stand
before their enemies. They turn their backs to their enemies
because they have become dedicated for destruction.
I will not be with you anymore if you do not destroy the things
dedicated for destruction in your midst.
13 (Jos 3:5) "Get up! Consecrate the people and say,
'Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, for thus says the Lord,
the God of Israel: "Things dedicated for destruction are in your midst,
O Israel. You are not able to stand before your enemies
until you remove the things dedicated for destruction from your midst."
14 (Pr 16:33) " 'In the morning you will be brought forward by tribes,
and the tribe that the Lord selects by lot shall come forward by clans.
The clan that the Lord selects by lot shall come forward by households,
and the household that the Lord selects by lot shall come forward
man by man.
15 (Ge 34:7; Jdg 20:6) And he who is taken with the things dedicated
for destruction shall be burned with fire, he and all who belong to him,
for he broke the covenant of the Lord
and has done a disgraceful action in Israel.' "
16 So Joshua got up early in the morning and brought forward Israel
by their tribes. The tribe of Judah was selected.
17 (Nu 26:20) He brought forward the clans of Judah, and the clan
of the Zerahites was selected. He brought forward the clan of the Zerahites
man by man, and Zimri was selected.
18 (Nu 32:23; Ac 5:1-10) He brought forward the household of Zimri
man by man, and Achan son of Karmi, son of Zimri, son of Zerah,
from the tribe of Judah, was selected.
19 (1Sa 6:5; Jer 13:16; Jn 9:24) Then Joshua said to Achan,
"O my son, give glory to the Lord, the God of Israel, and give Him praise!
Tell me what you have done! Do not hold back anything from me."
20 Achan answered Joshua and said, "Indeed, I sinned against the Lord,
the God of Israel. This is what I did:
21 (Dt 7:25) When I saw among the plundered goods a beautiful robe
from Babylon, two hundred shekels of silver,
[About 5 pounds, or 2.3 kilograms].
and a gold bar weighing fifty shekels, [About 1 1/4 pounds, or 575 grams.]
I coveted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground in my tent.
The silver is underneath them."
22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent.
There it all was hidden in the ground with the silver underneath.
23 They took it from the tent and brought it to Joshua
and all the children of Israel. They spread it out before the Lord.
24 (Jos 15:7; 7:26) Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan
son of Zerah, the silver, the robe, the gold bar, his sons, his daughters,
his oxen, his donkeys, his sheep, his tent, and all he had,
and brought them up to the Valley of Achor.
25 (Jos 6:18; Lev 20:2) Then Joshua said, "Why have you brought trouble
on us? The Lord will trouble you today!" So all Israel stoned him.
They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones.
26 (Dt 13:17; Isa 65:10) Then they erected over him a large pile of stones,
which is still there today. So the Lord turned from His burning anger.
Therefore the name of the place is called the Valley of Achor to this day.
[2] And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Beth-aven, on
the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the
country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
[3] And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people
go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make
not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
[4] So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and
they fled before the men of Ai.
[5] And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they
chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the
going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
[6] And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before
the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put
dust upon their heads.
[7] And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, wherefore hast thou at all brought
this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to
destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side
Jordan!
[8] O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their
enemies!
[9] For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it,
and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what
wilt thou do unto thy great name?
[10] And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus
upon thy face?
[11] Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I
commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have
also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own
stuff.
[12] Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies,
but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed:
neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from
among you.
[13] Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to
morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in
the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies,
until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
[14] In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes:
and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according
to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come
by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by
man.
[15] And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be
burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the
covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
[16] So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their
tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
[17] And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the
Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi
was taken:
[18] And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi,
the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
[19] And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the
LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou
hast done; hide it not from me.
[20] And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the
LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
[21] When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two
hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then
I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the
midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
[22] So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it
was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
[23] And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto
Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the
LORD.
[24] And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and
the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his
daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all
that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
[25] And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee
this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire,
after they had stoned them with stones.
[26] And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the
LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that
place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
{The sin of the Community is costly}
JOSHUA 8
Ai Destroyed
1 (Jos 1:9; 6:2) Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or dismayed.
Take all the fighting men with you. Arise, and go up to Ai. See, I have given
the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land into your hand.
2 (Dt 20:14; Jos 6:21) Do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho
and its king, except you may plunder its spoils and its livestock.
Now set an ambush for the city behind it."
3 So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. Joshua chose
30000 men, mighty men of valor, and sent them out at night.
4 (Jdg 20:29) He commanded them, "You shall ambush the city from behind.
Do not go very far from the city. All of you be ready.
5 (Jos 7:5) I and all the people who are with me will approach the city.
When they come out to engage us as before, we will flee from them.
6 They will come after us until we have lured them away from the city,
for they will think, 'They are fleeing from us as before!'
So we will flee from them.
7Then you shall rise up for the ambush and take possession of the city.
The Lord your God will give it into your hands.
8 (2Sa 13:28) When you have seized the city, set it on fire.
Act according to the word of the Lord. See, I have commanded you."
9 So Joshua sent them out. They went to the place of ambush
and took up a position between Bethel and Ai, westward of Ai,
and Joshua spent the night among the people.
10 Joshua got up early in the morning and mustered the people.
He and the elders of Israel went up before the people to Ai.
11 All the fighting men who were with him went up and drew near to the city.
They camped north of Ai, and there was a valley between them and Ai.
12 He took about five thousand men and set them in ambush between
Bethel and Ai, westward of the city.
13 So they stationed the people, all the army that was on the north
of the city, and its rear guard on the west of the city, and Joshua spent
that night in the midst of the valley.
14 When the king of Ai saw this, the men of the city hurriedly got up
early and went out to engage Israel in battle at the assembly point
near the Arabah. Yet he did not know that there was an ambush
for him behind the city.
15 (Jos 18:12) So Joshua and all Israel allowed themselves to be
beaten before them, and they fled in the direction of the wilderness.
16 (Jdg 20:31) All the people who were in Ai were assembled to pursue
them, so they pursued Joshua and were drawn away from the city.
17 Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel.
They left the city wide open, and they pursued Israel.
18 (Jos 8:26) The Lord said to Joshua, "Point toward Ai with the sword
that is in your hand, for I will give it into your hand." So Joshua pointed
toward the city with the sword in his hand.
19 When his hand pointed, the men in ambush got up quickly from
their place and ran. They came into the city, captured it, and quickly
set the city on fire.
20 The men of Ai turned around and looked, and there from the city
came smoke rising to the sky! They could not flee in any direction,
and the people who had fled into the wilderness had turned back
toward their pursuers.
21 When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured
the city and that smoke rose from it,
they turned and struck down the men of Ai.
22 (Dt 7:2) Then the men in the city came out to engage them in battle,
so they were now in the middle, with Israel on each side.
Israel struck them down until neither survivors nor escapees were left.
23 (1Sa 15:8) They took the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
24 When Israel completed killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open
wilderness where they had pursued them, and when all of them had
finally fallen by the edge of the sword, all Israel returned to Ai
and struck it with the edge of the sword.
25 All who had fallen that day, men and women, numbered 12000,
all the people of Ai.
26 (Ex 17:11-12; Jos 8:18) Joshua did not draw back his hand
with the stretched-out sword until he destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
27 (Jos 8:2) Israel plundered only the livestock and the spoil of that city
for themselves, according to the word of the Lord
that He had commanded Joshua.
28 (Dt 13:16) Joshua burned Ai and made it a heap forever,
a desolation to this day.
29 (Dt 21:22-23; Jos 7:26) The king of Ai hanged on a tree until evening.
At sunset, Joshua commanded that the people take down the body
from the tree and throw it down at the city gate.
They erected a large heap of stones over it that remains to this day.
Joshua 8
[1] 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:
[2] 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.
[3] 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.
[4] 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:
[5] 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,
[6] (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.
[7] Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the
LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
[8] 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.
[9] 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.
[10] 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.
[11] 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.
[12] 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.
[13] 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.
[14] 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.
[15] And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and
fled by the way of the wilderness.
[16] 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.
[17] 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.
[18] 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.
[19] 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.
[20] 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.
[21] 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.
[22] 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.
[23] And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
[24] 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.
[25] And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were
twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
[26] For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the
spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
[27] 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.
[28] And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation
unto this day.
[29] 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.
The Covenant Renewal at Mount Ebal
30 Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord God of Israel on Mount Ebal,
31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the children of Israel.
As is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, it was
"an altar of uncut stones not shaped by iron tools."
They sacrificed burnt offerings to the Lord on it, as well as peace offerings.
32 (Dt 27:2-3; 27:8) There in the presence of the children of Israel he wrote
a copy of the Law of Moses on the stones.
33 (Dt 11:29; 31:12) All Israel, resident alien and native alike, with
its elders, officials, and judges, were standing on either side of the ark
in front of the Levite priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord,
half in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal,
as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded from the beginning,
in order to bless the people of Israel.
34 (Ne 8:2-3; 13:1) After this, Joshua read out all the words of the law,
both blessing and curse, according to all that is written in the
Book of the Law.
35 (Dt 31:12) There was not a word from all that Moses had commanded
that Joshua did not read out before the whole assembly of Israel,
with the women, the children, and the resident aliens who were among them.
[30] Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
[31] 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.
[32] 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.
[33] 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.
[34] 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.
[35] 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.
2) Our Daily Bread for 23 March 2024 titled
Extravagant Love
1 Peter 2:11-12
Live as Servants of God
11 (Jas 4:1; Lev 25:23) Dearly beloved, I implore you as aliens and refugees,
abstain from fleshly lusts, which wage war against the soul.
12 (Mt 5:16; 1Pe 3:16) Live your lives honorably among the Gentiles, so that
though they speak against you as evildoers, they shall see your good works
and thereby glorify God in the day of visitation.
[11] Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from
fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;
[12] Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they
speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they
shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.
My seatmate on the flight told me she was nonreligious and had immigrated
to a town that was home to numerous Christians. When she mentioned that
most of her neighbours went to church, I asked about her experience.
She said she could never repay their generosity. When she brought her disabled
father to her new country, her neighbours built a ramp to her house and
donated a hospital bed and medical supplies. She said, "If being a Christian
makes one so kind, everyone should be a Christian."
Exactly what Jesus hoped she'd say! He told His disciples,
"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds
and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). Peter heard Christ's
command and passed it on: "Live such good lives among the pagans that,
though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds
and glorify God" (1 Peter 2:12).
Our neighbors who don't have faith in Jesus may not understand what we believe
and why we believe it. Don't sweat it, as long as there's one more thing they
can't understand: the extravagance of our love. My seatmate marveled that her
Christian neighbours continue to care for her even though she isn't, in her
words, "one of them." She knows she's loved, for Jesus' sake, and she gives
thanks to God. She may not yet believe in Him, but she's grateful that others
do.
By: Mike Wittmer
Reflect & Pray
Who do you know who needs Jesus? How can you love them for His sake?
Heavenly Father, let Your light shine through me.
For further study, read Pray First: The Power of Prayer in Sharing the Gospel.
3) Daily verses taken from Billy Graham Evangelical Organisation
Words in Season Scripture Memory Tools
Week 3 - Saved Now and forever Day 7 - The Great Exchange
2 Cor 5:21 - God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin;
that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
People were talking ; the gossip lines were busy day and night.
Andrea, a Bible study leader and pillar of the church, had been
accused of indiscretion with a married man, another member
of the congregation. The rumours were proven untrue,
but that hardly mattered anymore. The damage was done.
"It's just not far," Andrea said. " It was all so unnecessary.
And now, even though I've done nothing wrong, my relationship
with that church will never be the same again."
We all know what pain is caused by undeserved accusation,
rejection, and misunderstanding. Sometimes, when the smoke clears,
irreparable damage has been done, even when no sin has occurred.
We can understand the torment that comes when we've sinned,
but when we've done nothing wrong, the injustice seem unbearable.
Jesus knew what it was to suffer unjustly. He had never sinned at all,
yet he 'became sin' for us. He gave himself in an outrageous exchange:
he took our sin and gave us his righteousness.
Living in this exchange does not mean, of course, that we will be exempt
from pain, that we will never again suffer unjustly or be subject
to rejection. But in Christ, we are declared righteous before God,
just as Jesus himself is righteous. And as we submit
to the Holy Spirit's work in us, we become righteous ,
obeying him and growing in grace. Christ endured rejection
for us so that we might live in him.
Application
a) Have I ever suffered unjustly or been rejected by someone without cause?
b) How can this verse, coupled with my own experience give me a greater
depth of appreciation of what Christ suffered for me?
4) From Prosperity Promises - Kenneth Copeland
Deut 29:9
9 (Dt 4:6; Jos 1:7)Therefore, keep the words of this covenant
and do them, so that you may prosper in all you do.
9 Keep therefore the words of this covenant, and do them,
that ye may prosper in all that ye do.
5) From a Book called God's Promises for you:
When you are ill or injured
Psalm 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 (Ps 63:1; 84:2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,
3 (Ps 79:10; 80:5) who forgives all your iniquities,
who heals all your diseases,
4 (Isa 30:29; Ps 62:8) who redeems your life from the pit,
who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5 (Ps 42:11; 43:5) who satisfies your mouth with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: And all that is within me, bless his holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all his benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;
Who healeth all thy diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction;
Who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things;
So that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.
Remember God's promises when You pray
The Lord's prayer
Matthew 6:9-13
9 "Therefore pray in this manner:
Our Father who is in heaven,
hallowed be Your name.
10 (Mt 3:2; 4:17) Your kingdom come;
Your will be done
on earth, as it is in heaven.
11 (Pr 30:8; Isa 33:16) Give us this day our daily bread.
12 (Ex 34:7; Ps 32:1) And forgive us our debts,
as we forgive our debtors.
13 (1Co 10:13; Jn 17:15) And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."
9 After this manner therefore pray ye:
Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil:
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
6) This come from Praying for Muslims in Canada 2015 (Is there a 2021 edition?)
Saskatchewan
Quick facts on Muslims in Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan 2015 population 1125400
est Muslim Population 17279
CNMM Networks: Saskatoon
Saskatoon has seen quick growth in its Muslim population over the past
5 years, which maybe as high as 5000 today. Islamic leaders have
focused specifically on this city , having twice already sent cohorts
of about 70 families to start mosques. There are now 7 Islamic centres
of worship and an Islamic madrassah (school) located right next to a
Christian school.
Of particular concern recently is the number of young adults who grew up
in evangelical churches and converted to Islam. Most of these are young
women who were wooed by Muslim man and became emotionally bonded.
Both prior to and after marrying, these women are known to convert to Islam.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Adding further
Pray for the Munji of Afghanistan
John 5:17
17 (Jn 9:4; 14:10) Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still,
and I am working."
[17] But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
The Munji people are Ismaili Muslims who live in the remote Northeastern
mountains of Afghanistan. For centuries they have lived in the same valley
with their own language and identity. Closely related to the Kashmiri
people (of India and Pakistan), the Munji live rugged, challenging lives.
Most Munji people are semi-nomadic people who make their living by farming
and raising animals. Decades of warfare have affected them greatly. Poverty
and lack of roads make access to medicine, education and nutrition difficult.
There is a lack of hope about the future and fear for the present.
In the summers, they take their flocks up to high mountain pastures where
they enjoy a season of plenty to eat and the beauty of the high mountain
valleys. Along with the Islamic holidays, they have several local festivals
throughout the year that bring people together to celebrate things like
the pea harvest and the traditional new year.
There are no known Jesus followers among the Munji and there are no Bible
translations in their language. But God has not forgotten the Munji people!
One Munji man had a dream where he saw Jesus shining bright, holding a book,
and controlling the rain and storms. This dream led him on a long journey
to find "the book of Jesus" and to learn the truth about Jesus.
Pray that others like him would embark on the journey
to know the Lord Jesus and His best blessings!
Pray More: Get the Afghanistan Prayer Guide at prayafghanistan.org
How to Pray
Pray for the daily needs of the Munji people in the midst of
poverty and lack of access to quality health care and education.
Pray for deliverance from addictions and for a true hope
for their future.
Pray the Word of God to be translated, heard and revered
in every home and that the good news of Jesus to bring new life.
My paternal side is of Muslim heritage and will offer this section to further
call for Muslim converts to Christian and any other converts to Christianity
(Hindus, Jews, aboriginals Canadian, ...) .
7) Prayers for the nation (Canada) coming from Prayer map of Canada
http://www.ehc.ca
Day 23 of the Month
a) Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
b) Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across Canada.
(
John 13:34-35
34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another,
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 By this all men will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another."
34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another;
as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples,
if ye have love one to another.
Rom 12:10
10 Be devoted to one another with brotherly love; prefer one another in honour
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love;
in honour preferring one another;
Heb 10:24
24 And let us consider how to spur one another to love and to good works.
24 and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
1 Peter 3:8
8 Finally, be all of one mind, be loving toward one another, be gracious,
and be kind.
8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another,
love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
1 John 3:23
23 And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name
of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another as He commanded us.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name
of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
)
Conclusion:
Pray to the Lord and pray for the Salvation of your country.
Pray to the Lord: "Heavenly Father, let Your light shine through me."
Pray to the Lord and pray to know His Suffering on the Cross.
Pray to the Lord and pray to keep His Covenant.
Pray to the Lord and pray for healing from illness.
Agree in prayer with us for:
- entire congregations and individual believers to catch God's heart
and passion for reaching Muslims in Saskatoon and the other growing
Muslim population centres of Saskatchewan.
- for the eyes and understanding of Canadian youth to be opened to the
spiritual reality of Islam, and not deceived nor manipulated into
converting to a religion which cannot offer assurance of salvation.
- for the few workers among Muslims now engaged there, and for many more
to be raised up into effective witness.
- for prayer and training events that are starting in Saskatoon
to spread and grow to other cities.
Pray for the daily needs of the Munji people in the midst of
poverty and lack of access to quality health care and education.
Pray for deliverance from addictions and for a true hope
for their future.
Pray the Word of God to be translated, heard and revered
in every home and that the good news of Jesus to bring new life.
Pray for the genuine conversion and successful rehabilitation of those
who have committed crimes.
Pray for spiritual and functional unity in the Body of Christ
across your nation.
Pray that more churches will be allowed to operate throughout Djibouti.
Pray to the Lord that to know the Holy Spirit.
and Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness
Remember eternity starts now -
Pray for the direction you take to the Ever lasting loving God