Do not blame your people Israel whom you redeemed, O Lord, and do not hold them accountable for the bloodshed of an innocent person.” Then atonement will be made for the bloodshed.

Cry out, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge his servants’ blood; he will take vengeance against his enemies, and make atonement for his land and people.

You will die on the mountain that you ascend and join your deceased ancestors, just as Aaron your brother died on Mount Hor and joined his deceased ancestors,

So when the people left their tents to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of 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.

Bright and early the next morning Joshua gathered the army, and he and the leaders of Israel marched at the head of it to Ai.

he took his men and divided them into three units and set an ambush in the field. When he saw the people coming out of the city, he attacked and struck them down.

The leaders of all the people from all the tribes of Israel took their places in the assembly of God’s people, which numbered four hundred thousand sword-wielding foot soldiers.

When the messengers went to Gibeah (where Saul lived) and informed the people of these matters, all the people wept loudly.

The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The Lord was pleased to make you his own people.

The men of Israel realized they had a problem because their army was hard pressed. So the army hid in caves, thickets, cliffs, strongholds, and cisterns.

When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath.

So the army rushed greedily on the plunder, confiscating sheep, cattle, and calves. They slaughtered them right on the ground, and the army ate them blood and all.

All the people noticed this and it pleased them. In fact, everything the king did pleased all the people.

You made Israel your very own people for all time. You, O Lord, became their God.

and will bring the entire army back to you. In exchange for the life of the man you are seeking, you will get back everyone. The entire army will return unharmed.”

honey, curds, flocks, and cheese. For they said, “The people are no doubt hungry, tired, and thirsty there in the desert.”

Then Joab blew the trumpet and the army turned back from chasing Israel, for Joab had called for the army to halt.

So the victory of that day was turned to mourning as far as all the people were concerned. For the people heard on that day, “The king is grieved over his son.”

That day the people stole away to go to the city the way people who are embarrassed steal away in fleeing from battle.