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The 8th Chapter
And the Lord said unto Josua:
fear not, nor dread: but take all the men of war with thee, and up
and get thee to Ai. Behold I have given into thy hand, the king of
Ai, and his people, his city and his land. And thou shalt do to Ai
and her king, as thou didst unto Jericho and her king. Nevertheless
the spoil and cattle thereof, ye shall take unto yourselves. But lay
a watch unto the town on the backside thereof.
And then Josua arose and all the men of war, to go up unto Ai.
And Josua chose out thirty thousand men of war, and sent them by
night. And he commanded them saying: See that ye lie await unto the
town on the backside thereof. Go not very far from the city, and see
that ye be all ready. And I and all the people that are with me,
will approach unto the city. And when they come out against us, as
at the first time, then will we flee before them. And they will come
out after us, until we have plucked them away from the city. For
they will say, they flee before us, as at the first time: for we
will flee before them. Then shall ye rise up from lying await and
destroy the city: For the Lord your God will deliver it into your
hands. As soon therefore as ye have taken the city, see that ye set
it on fire. According to the commandment of the Lord see that ye do,
behold, I have charged you.
And Josua sent them forth, and they went to lie await, and lay
between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. But Josua lodged that
night among the people. And he rose up early in the morning and
numbered the people and went up, both he and the elders of Israel
before the people, unto Ai. And all the men of war that were with
him, went up and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on
the north side of Ai, a valley being between them and Ai, and he
took upon a five thousand men and put them to lie await, between
Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city. And he put the people
even all the host, on the north side of the city, and the layers
await on the west. And Josua went the same night into the midst of
the valley.
And when the king of Ai saw that they hasted and rose up
early, then the people of the city went out against Israel, to
battle, both the King and all his people, at a time appointed, even
before the plain, and knew not that there were layers await on the
backside of the city.
And Josua and Israel were put to the worse before them, and
fled toward the wilderness. And all the people of the town cried to
follow after them. And they followed after Josua till they were
drawn away from the city: So that there was not a man left in Ai, or
in Bethel, that went not out after Israel. And they left the city
open and followed after Israel.
Then the Lord said unto Josua stretch out the buckler that is
in thine hand toward Ai, for I have given thee it. And Josua
stretched out the buckler that was in his hand, toward the city. And
the layers await rose quickly out of their places, and ran, as soon
as Josua had stretched out his hand, and they entered into the city,
and took it, and hasted and set it on fire. And when the men of Ai
looked back after them and saw. Behold, the smoke of the city
ascended up to heaven. And they had no place to flee either this way
or that, for the people that fled to the wilderness turned back
again upon the followers.
And when Josua and all Israel saw that the layers await had
taken the city and that the smoke of it ascended. They turned again
and laid on the men of Ai. And the other issued out of the city
against them. And so were they in the midst of Israel, these being
on the one side of them, and the rest on the other. And they laid
upon them, so that they let none either remain or escape. And the
King of Ai they took alive and brought him to Josua. And when Israel
had made an end of slaying all the inhabiters of Ai in the fields
and in the wilderness by which they chased them, and when they were
all fallen on the Edge of the sword, until they were wasted. Then
all Israel returned unto Ai and smote it with the edge of the sword.
And all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve
thousand, even all the men of Ai.
For Josua plucked not his hand back again which he stretched
out with the buckler, until they had utterly destroyed all the
inhabitants of Ai. Only the cattle and the spoil of the said city,
Israel took unto themselves, according unto the word of the Lord,
which he commanded Josua. And Josua set Ai on fire and made it an
heap for ever and a wilderness, even unto this day. And the king of
Ai he hanged on tree, until evening. And as soon as the *son was
down, Josua commanded and they took the carcass down off the tree,
and cast it in the entering of the gate of the city, and cast theron
a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
Then Josua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel, in
mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children
of Israel, according as it is written in the book of the law of
Moses: an altar of rough stone over which no tool of iron was
lifted. And they sacrificed theron burnt sacrifice, and offered
peaceofferings. And he wrote there upon the stones the second law of
Moses which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
And all Israel and the elders thereof, and their officers and
Judges stood, part on this side the ark, and part on that side,
before the priests: that were Levites which bare the ark of the
appointment of the Lord: as well the stranger, as they that were
born among them: half of them on the forefront of the Mount of
Garizim, and half of them on the forefront of mount Ebal: as Moses
the servant of the Lord commanded, first to bless the people of
Israel. And after that he read all the words of the law, both the
blessing and cursing, according to all that is written in the book
of the law: so that there was not one word of all that Moses
commanded, which Josua read not, before all the congregation of
Israel, with women and children and the strangers that were among
them.
*son exact spelling sonne, elsewhere in the text sun is spelled
sunne.
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The 9th Chapter
And when all the kings that
dwell on this side Jordan, in the hills and valleys, and along by
all the coasts of the great sea, even unto Libanon, the Hethites,
the Amorites, the Cananites, the Pheresites, the Hevites, and the
Jebusites heard: they gathered themselves together to fight against
Josua and Israel with one accord.
But when the *Enhabiters of Gabaon heard what Josua had done
unto Jericho, and Ai, they played wilely, and went and sent
ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their Asses, and wine bottles
old and rent and knit together again, and old clouted shoes upon
their feet, and old raiment upon them and all their provision of
bread was dried up and hoared. And they came unto Josua unto the
host, to Galgall and said unto him and unto the men of Israel: we be
come from a far country, now therefore make agreement with us. And
the men of Israel said unto the Hevites, peradventure you dwell
among us, and then how should we make peace with you.
And they said unto Josua, we are thy servants. And Josua said
unto them, what are ye: and whence come ye? And they answered him.
From a very far country thy servants are come in the name of the
Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did
in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites
beyond Jordan, Sehon king of Hesbon and Og king of Basan which dwelt
at Astharoth. Wherefore our elders and all the *Enhabiters of our
country spake to us saying: take victuals with you to serve by the
way, and go against them, and say unto them we are your servants.
Now therefore make a covenant of peace with us. This our provision
of bread, we took with us out of our houses, hot, the day we
departed to come unto you. And now behold it is dried up and hoared.
And these bottles of wine which we filled were new: and see, they be
rent. And these our garments and shoes are waxen old by reason of
the exceeding long *Journey.
And the men took of their victuals, and counselled not with
the mouth of the Lord. And Josua made peace with them, and made a
covenant with them, to save their lives: and the lords of the
congregation sware unto them. But three days after they had made
peace with them, they heard that they were neighbors unto them, and
that they dwelt among them. For the children of Israel took their
Journey and came unto their cities the third day: and their cities
were Gabaon, Caphira, Beeroth and kariath Jarim. And the children of
Israel slew them not, because the lords of the congregation had
sworn unto them by the Lord God of Israel. And therefore all the
multitude murmured against the Lords. But all the lords said unto
all the congregation: we have sworn unto them by the Lord God of
Israel, and therefore we may not hurt them. But this we will do to
them and let them live: and so shall no wrath be upon us because of
the oath which we sware unto them. And the Lords said unto them,
that they should live: and they were made hewers of wood and drawers
of water unto all the congregation, as the Lords said unto them.
Then Josua sent for them, and talked with them, and said: wherefore
have ye beguiled us and yet ye dwell among us? and now therefore
cursed be you, and there shall not cease to be of you, bondmen and
hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the house of my God.
And they answered Josua and said: it was told thy servants,
how that the Lord thy God had commanded his servant Moses to give
you all the land, and to destroy all the Enhabiters thereof out of
your sight, and therefore we were exceeding sore afraid of our lives
because of you, and now behold, we are in thine hand, as it seemeth
good and right in thine eyes to do unto us, so do.
And he dealt as it is said, with them, and rid them out of the
hands of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. And Josua
made them that same day hewers of wood and drawers of water unto the
congregation and unto the altar of God unto this day, in the place
which God should choose.
*Enhabiters: exact spelling, with the capital E, *Journey: exact
spelling, with the capital J.
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The 10th Chapter
And when Adonizedec King of
Jerusalem had heard how Josua had taken Ai, and had destroyed it,
and how that as he had done to Jericho and her king, even so he had
done to Ai and her king, and how the *Enhabiters of Gabaon had made
peace with Israel and did remain among them: then they feared
exceedingly, for Gabaon was a great city, as any city of the
kingdom, and thereto greater than Ai, and all her men were mighty.
Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of
Hebron, and unto Pharam king of Jerimoth, and unto Japhia king of
Lachis, and unto Dabir king of Eglon saying. Come up unto me and
help me, that we may smite Gabaon: for they have made peace with
Josua and the children of Israel. Then the five kings of the
Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of
Jerimoth, the king of Lachis, the king of Eglon gathered themselves
together, both they and all their hosts and went up and besieged
Gabaon, and made war against it.
But the men of Gabaon sent unto Josua unto the host to Galgall,
saying: withdraw not thy hands from thy servants, but come up to us:
for all the kings of the Amorites which dwell in the mountains are
gathered together against us.
And Josua ascended from Galgall, both he and all the people of
war with him, and all the men of might, and the Lord said unto Josua,
fear them not, for I have delivered them unto thine hand, there
shall not a man of them stand before thee. And Josua came unto them
suddenly, and journeyed from Galgall all night. And the Lord
turmoiled them before Israel and slew of them a great slaughter at
Gabaon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethoron and
slew them till they came to Esaka and Makeda. And as they fled from
Israel, even in the going down to Bethoron, the Lord cast down great
stones from heaven upon them, until they came unto Esaka, that they
died. And there were more that died with hailstones, than the
children of Israel slew with the sword.
Then spake Josua unto the Lord, the day when the Lord
delivered the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in
the sight of all Israel: *Son stand thou still upon Gabaon, and thou
Moon, in the valley of Aialon. And the sun abode, and the moon stood
still, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.
Is not this written in the book of the righteous, how that the *son
abode in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down by the space
of a whole day. And there was no day like that, before it, or after
it, that the Lord obeyed the voice of a man: and all because the
Lord fought for Israel.
And Josua returned and all Israel with him, unto the host to
Galgall: but the five Kings fled and hid themselves in a cave at
Makeda. And it was told Josua, saying: the five kings are found hid
in a cave at Makeda. And Josua said, roll great stones unto the
mouth of the cave and appoint men thereto, for to keep them. And
stand ye not still, but follow after your enemies and smite the
hindmost of them. And suffer them not to enter into their cities,
for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hands. And when
Josua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them
with a great slaughter till they were wasted, yet there remained a
certain of them, which entered into walled cities.
And all the people returned to the host, to Josua at Makeda in
peace, so that no man durst move his tongue against the children of
Israel. Then said Josua: open the mouth of the cave, and bring out
these five Kings unto me out of the cave. And they did so, and
brought those five Kings unto him, out of the cave: the King of
Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the King of Jerimoth the King of
Lachis, and the King of Eglon.
And when they had brought out those Kings unto Josua: Josua
called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the
men of war, which came with him, come near and a put your feet upon
the necks of these kings. And they came near and put their feet upon
the necks of them. And Josua said unto them fear not nor dread: But
be strong and pluck up your hearts, for so shall the Lord serve all
your enemies against which ye fight.
And then Josua smote them and slew them and hanged them on
five trees till evening. And at the going down of the son, Josua
gave commandment, and they took them down off the trees and cast
them into the cave, where they hid themselves, and laid great stones
on the caves mouth, which remain unto this day. And that same day
Josua took Makeda, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the
king thereof also, and utterly destroyed them and all the souls that
were therein, and let nought remain. And he did to the King of
Makeda, as he did to the king of Jericho. Then Josua went from
Makeda, and all Israel with him unto Libna, and fought against Libna.
And the Lord delivered it also into their hands, with the King also
and smote it with the edge of the sword and all the souls that were
therein, and let nought remain in it, and did unto the King thereof
as he did unto the king of Jericho.
After that Josua departed from Libna, and all Israel with him,
unto Lachis, and besieged it, and assaulted it. And the Lord
delivered into the hands of Israel Lachis, that they took it the
*Second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the
souls that were therein, according to all that he did to Libna.
Then Horam King of Geser came up to help Lachis: But Josua
smote him and his people, until he left him nought remaining.
And from Lachis Josua departed, unto Eglon, and all Israel
with him, and there besieged it, and assaulted it, and took it the
same day, and smote it with the edge of the sword and all the souls
that were therein: and utterly destroyed them the same day,
according to all that he did to Lachis.
Then Josua departed up from Eglon and all Israel with him,
unto Hebron. And they fought against it, and took it, and smote it
with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the towns
that pertained to it, and all the souls that were therein, so that
they left nought remaining: but in all things as they did to Eglon,
so they destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
Then Josua returned and all Israel with him to Dabir, and they
fought against it, and took it, and the king thereof and all the
towns that pertained thereto. And smote them with the edge of the
sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein, and
let nought remain. And as he did to Hebron, so he did to Dabir, and
the King thereof, and as he did to Libna and her King.
And Josua smote all the hill countries and the south
countries, and the valleys, and the springs of water, with all their
kings and let nought remain, but utterly destroyed all that
breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded. And Josua smote them
from Cades barne, unto Asah, and all the coasts of Gosan, even unto
Gabaon. And all those kings and their land, Josua took at one time:
because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. And then Josua
returned and all Israel with him unto the host to Galgall.
*Enhabiters: exact spelling, with the capital E. *son exact spelling
sonne, elsewhere in the text sun is spelled sunne. *S cap S as it
was written.
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The 11th Chapter
And when Jabin King of Hazer had
heard that: he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of
Someron, and to the King of Acsaph. And unto the Kings that are by
north in the mountains, and plains, on the south side of Ceneroth,
and in the low countries, and in the regions of Dor upon the sea,
and unto the Cananites both by East and west: and unto the Amorites,
Hethites, Pheresites, and Jebusites in the mountains: and unto the
Hevites under Hermon in the land of Mazphah: which came out and all
their hosts with them a multitude of folk even as the sands of the
sea in number with horses and chariots exceeding many. And all these
Kings met together, and came and pitched together upon the water of
Merom, for to fight with Israel.
And the Lord said unto Josua: be not afraid of them: for
tomorrow about this time I will deliver them all slain, before all
Israel: and thou shalt *hough their horses, and burn their chariots
with fire. And Josua came and all the men of war with him against
them, unto the water of Merom, suddenly, and fell upon them. And the
Lord delivered them into the hands of Israel: and they smote them
and chased them, into great Sidon, and unto the hot waters, and unto
the valley of Mazphah Eastward: and smote them until they had none
remaining of them. And Josua served them as the Lord bade him, *houghed
their horses and burnt their chariots with fire.
Then Josua at that time turned back and took Hazer and smote
her King with the sword. For Hazer before time was the head of all
those kingdoms. And they smote all the souls that were therein with
the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them, that no breath was
let remain. And burnt Hazer with fire and all the cities of those
Kings, with all the kings of them, Josua took and smote them with
the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them as Moses the
servant of the Lord commanded.
But Israel burnt none of the cities that stood upon hills,
save Hazer only, that Josua burnt: but all the spoil of the said
cities and the cattle, the children of Israel caught unto
themselves: But the men only they smote with the edge of the sword
until they had destroyed them, and had left no breath remaining. As
the Lord commanded Josua, and even so did Josua and minished no word
of all that the Lord commanded Moses.
And so Josua took all the land, the hills and all the south
country, and all the land of Gosan, and the low country, and the
plains, and the mountain of Israel, with the low country of the
same, even from mount Halak that goeth up to Seir, unto Baal Gad in
the valley of Libanon, under mount Hermon. And all the kings of the
same, he took and smote them, and slew them.
Josua made war long time with those kings: for there was no
city that made peace with the children of Israel, save those
Hethites that inhabited Gabaon: All other they took with battle: for
it came of the Lord to harden their hearts: that they should come
against Israel in battle: even to destroy them utterly, that they
should have no mercy, but to bring them to naught. As the Lord
commanded Moses.
And that same season, Josua went and destroyed the Enakites
out of the mountains, and out of Hebron, Dabir, and Anab, and out of
all the mountains of Juda, and out of all the mountains of Israel.
And Josua destroyed them utterly with their cities. So that there
was not one Enakite left in the land of the children of Israel: only
in Asah, Geth, and Asdod, there remained of them.
And Josua took the whole land according to all that the Lord
said unto Moses, and gave it a possession unto Israel every man his
part in their tribes: and the land rested from war.
*houghed: cut to disable the tendons hamstring.
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The 12th Chapter
These are the kings of the land
which the children of Israel smote and conquered their lands, on the
other side Jordan eastward, from the river Arnon, unto mount Hermon,
and all the plain eastward: Sehon King of the Amorites that dwelt in
Hesbon, and ruled from Aroer, which lieth on the brim of the river
of Arnon, and to the middle of the river, and half Galaad unto the
river Jabock, the border of the children of Ammon: And in the plain
unto the sea of Ceneroth eastward, and unto the sea in the plain
called the salt sea *Eastward, the way to Beth, Jesimoth and by
south under the springs of phasgah.
And the coasts of Og, king of Basan which was of the remnant
of the Raphaites and dwelt at Astharoth, and Edrai: and reigned in
mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and throughout all Basan, unto the
borders, of the Gesurites, and the Macathites and half Galaad, unto
the borders of Sehon King of Hesbon. Moses the servant of the Lord
and the children of Israel smote them, and Moses the servant of the
Lord, gave their lands a possession, unto the Rubenites, Gaddites,
and half the tribe of Manasses.
These are the Kings of the country which Josua and the
children of Israel smote on this side Jordan, westward, from Baal
Gad in the valley of Libanon, even unto mount Halak that goeth up to
Seir. And Josua gave the land unto the tribes of Israel to possess,
to every man his part: in the upper land, and nether land, in
plains, and springs of water, in the wilderness, and south country
the Hethites, the Amorites, the Cananites, the Pheresites, the
Hevites and the Jebusites.
The King of Jericho: The King of Ai beside Bethel: The King of
Jerusalem: The King of Hebron: The King of Jerimoth: the King of
Lachis: The King of Eglon: The King of Gazer: The King of Dabir: The
King of Gader: The King of Horma: The King of Ered: The King of
Libna: The King of Odolam: The King of Makeda: The King of Bethel:
The King of Thaphuah: The King of Hepher: The King of Aphek: The
King of Lasaron: The King of Madan: The King of Haser: The King
Someronmeron: The King of Acsaph: The King Thenach: The King of
Magedo: The King of Cades: The King of Jakanam in Carmel: The King
of the country of Dor: The King of the nations in Galgall: and King
Therzah: All the Kings together thirty and one.
* cap E; as written
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Chapters 1-7
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8-12 |
13-20 |
21-end |
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