“But you are profaning it by saying that the table of the Lord is common and its offerings despicable.

“Since, I, the Lord, do not go back on my promises, you, sons of Jacob, have not perished.

If you are honest men, leave one of your brothers confined here in prison while the rest of you go and take grain back for your hungry families.

He replied, “You have suggested your own punishment! The one who has it will become my slave, but the rest of you will go free.”

As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.

and you will be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you will speak to the Israelites.”

“You must not oppress a foreigner, since you know the life of a foreigner, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.

“‘Then the land will make up for its Sabbaths all the days it lies desolate while you are in the land of your enemies; then the land will rest and make up its Sabbaths.

So I must die here in this land; I will not cross the Jordan. But you are going over and will possess that good land.

Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, “Why did you trick us by saying, ‘We live far away from you,’ when you really live nearby?

But don’t you delay! Chase your enemies and catch them! Don’t allow them to retreat to their cities, for the Lord your God is handing them over to you.”

But as for you, map out the land into seven regions and bring it to me. I will draw lots for you here before the Lord our God.

Now today you dare to turn back from following the Lord! You are rebelling today against the Lord; tomorrow he may break out in anger against the entire community of Israel.

You saw everything the Lord your God did to all these nations on your behalf, for the Lord your God fights for you.

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

but you must not make an agreement with the people who live in this land. You should tear down the altars where they worship.’ But you have disobeyed me. Why would you do such a thing?

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite spoke up: “I am young, but you are elderly; that is why I was fearful, and afraid to explain to you what I know.

The Lord comes to pronounce judgment on the leaders of his people and their officials. He says, “It is you who have ruined the vineyard! You have stashed in your houses what you have stolen from the poor.

At that time the Lord will shake the tree, from the Euphrates River to the Stream of Egypt. Then you will be gathered up one by one, O Israelites.

I decreed and delivered and proclaimed, and there was no other god among you. You are my witnesses,” says the Lord, “that I am God.