I am handing over to you every place you set foot, as I promised Moses.

Your territory will extend from the wilderness in the south to Lebanon in the north. It will extend all the way to the great River Euphrates in the east (including all of Syria) and all the way to the Mediterranean Sea in the west.

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.

Any man who rebels against what you say and does not obey all your commands will be executed. But be strong and brave!”

that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and rescue us from death.”

Then the two men returned – they came down from the hills, crossed the river, came to Joshua son of Nun, and reported to him all they had discovered.

When the entire nation was on the other side, the Lord told Joshua,

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.

Have all the warriors march around the city one time; do this for six days.

They annihilated with the sword everything that breathed in the city, including men and women, young and old, as well as cattle, sheep, and donkeys.

They took it all from the middle of the tent, brought it to Joshua and all the Israelites, and placed it before the Lord.

The army was in position – the main army north of the city and the rear guard west of the city. That night Joshua went into the middle of the valley.

All the reinforcements in Ai were ordered to chase them; they chased Joshua and were lured away from the city.

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

Then Joshua read aloud all the words of the law, including the blessings and the curses, just as they are written in the law scroll.

They told him, “Your subjects have come from a very distant land because of the reputation of the Lord your God, for we have heard the news about all he did in Egypt

and all he did to the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan – King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan in Ashtaroth.

The Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them in the name of the Lord God of Israel. The whole community criticized the leaders,

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

That day they captured it and put the sword to all who lived there. That day they annihilated it just as they had done to Lachish.