No one will be able to resist you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not abandon you or leave you alone.

The men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the Lord’s advice.

I gave you a land in which you had not worked hard; you took up residence in cities you did not build and you are eating the produce of vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.’

No Anakites were left in Israelite territory, though some remained in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

Whenever the Israelites were strong militarily, they forced the Canaanites to do hard labor, but they never totally conquered them.

seven Israelite tribes had not been assigned their allotted land.

So we decided to build this altar, not for burnt offerings and sacrifices,

The people said to Joshua, “No! We really will worship the Lord!”

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.

Joshua read aloud every commandment Moses had given before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, children, and resident foreigners who lived among them.

Joshua warned the people, “You will not keep worshiping the Lord, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God who will not forgive your rebellion or your sins.

When it was time to shut the city gate for the night, the men left. I don’t know where they were heading. Chase after them quickly, for you have time to catch them!”

Now all the men who left were circumcised, but all the sons born on the journey through the desert after they left Egypt were uncircumcised.

He replaced them with their sons, whom Joshua circumcised. They were uncircumcised; their fathers had not circumcised them along the way.

No men were left in Ai or Bethel; they all went out after Israel. They left the city wide open and chased Israel.

Joshua kept holding out his curved sword until Israel had annihilated all who lived in Ai.

but all the leaders told the whole community, “We swore an oath to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel. So now we can’t hurt them!

The Lord told Joshua, “Don’t be afraid of them, for I am handing them over to you. Not one of them can resist you.”

Then the whole army safely returned to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah. No one dared threaten the Israelites.

They annihilated everyone who lived there with the sword – no one who breathed remained – and burned Hazor.