The king of Jericho received this report: &#8220;Note well!<n id="1" /> Israelite men have come here tonight<n id="2" /> to spy on the land.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">Joshua told the Israelites, &#8220;Come here and listen to the words of the <sc>Lordsc> your God!&#8221;

Look! The ark of the covenant of the Ruler<n id="1" /> of the whole earth is ready to enter the Jordan ahead of you.

This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you,<n id="1" /> but now it is dry and hard.<n id="2" />

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 <sc>Lordsc> our God.

So now, look, the <sc>Lordsc> has preserved my life, just as he promised, these past forty-five years since the <sc>Lordsc> spoke these words to Moses, during which Israel traveled through the wilderness. Now look, I am today eighty-five years old.

When we invade the land<n id="1" />, tie this red rope<n id="2" /> in the window through which you let us down, and gather together in your house your father, mother, brothers, and all who live in your father&#8217;s house.<n id="3" />

When the men of Ai turned around, they saw<n id="1" /> the smoke from the city ascending into the sky and were so shocked they were unable to flee in any direction.<n id="2" /> In the meantime the men who were retreating to the desert turned against their pursuers.

The Israelites received this report:<n id="1" /> &#8220;Look, the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh have built an altar at the entrance to<n id="2" /> the land of Canaan, at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side.&#8221;

Joshua said to all the people, &#8220;Look, this stone will be a witness against you, for it has heard everything the <sc>Lordsc> said to us.<n id="1" /> It will be a witness against you if<n id="2" /> you deny your God.&#8221;