They will attack us until we have lured them from the city, for they will say, ‘They are retreating from us like before.’ We will retreat from them.

The Lord your God will drive them out from before you and remove them, so you can occupy their land as the Lord your God promised you.

“The Lord drove out from before you great and mighty nations; no one has been able to resist you to this very day.

I sent terror ahead of you to drive out before you the two Amorite kings. I gave you the victory; it was not by your swords or bows.

Joshua and all Israel pretended to be defeated by them and they retreated along the way to the desert.

They went before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us land among our relatives.” So Joshua assigned them land among their uncles, as the Lord had commanded.

Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you.

and when all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed as the people looked on.

About forty thousand battle-ready troops marched past the Lord to fight on the plains of Jericho.

Now Jericho was shut tightly because of the Israelites. No one was allowed to leave or enter.

And he told the army, “Move ahead and march around the city, with armed troops going ahead of the ark of the Lord.”

So about three thousand men went up, but they fled from the men of Ai.

If only we had been satisfied to live on the other side of the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say now that Israel has retreated before its enemies?

The Lord responded to Joshua, “Get up! Why are you lying there face down?

From there he attacked the people of Debir. (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.)

Joshua told the priests, “Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.

For the Lord your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you while you crossed over. It was just like when the Lord your God dried up the Red Sea before us while we crossed it.

The seven priests carrying the seven rams’ horns before the ark of the Lord marched along blowing their horns. Armed troops marched ahead of them, while the rear guard followed along behind the ark of the Lord blowing rams’ horns.

Joshua tore his clothes; he and the leaders of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the Lord until evening and threw dirt on their heads.

The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation. I will no longer be with you, unless you destroy what has contaminated you.