The Lord told Joshua,

He told the Israelites, “When your children someday ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones represent?’ ¹ 

So King Adoni-Zedek of Jerusalem sent this message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon:

After Moses the Lord’s servant died, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant:

“Remember what Moses the Lord’s servant commanded you. ¹  The Lord your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you. ² 

explain ¹  to your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan River ²  on dry ground.’

Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them: ¹  “Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.” ²  They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there. ³ 

So the king of Jericho sent this order to Rahab: ¹  “Turn over ²  the men who came to you ³  – the ones who came to your house ⁴  – for they have come to spy on the whole land!”

That day Moses made this solemn promise: ¹  ‘Surely the land on which you walked ²  will belong to you and your descendants permanently, ³  for you remained loyal to the Lord your God.’

The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you assigned us only one tribal allotment? After all, we have many people, for until now the Lord has enabled us to increase in number.” ¹ 

The stones ¹  will be a reminder to you. ²  When your children ask someday, ‘Why are these stones important to you?’

He told ¹  them, “Look, set an ambush behind the city. Don’t go very far from the city; all of you be ready!

in Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, “The Lord told Moses to assign us cities in which to live along with the grazing areas for our cattle.”

The king of Jericho received this report: “Note well! ¹  Israelite men have come here tonight ²  to spy on the land.”

When the entire nation was on the other side, ¹  the Lord told Joshua,

Joshua was told, “The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

Instruct them, ‘Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests ¹  stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.’”

The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, “Do not abandon ¹  your subjects! ²  Rescue us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings living in the hill country are attacking us.” ³ 

When the men started out, Joshua told those going to map out the land, “Go, walk through the land, map it out, and return to me. Then I will draw lots for you before the Lord here in Shiloh.”

At that time Joshua made this solemn declaration: ¹  “The man who attempts to rebuild ²  this city of Jericho ³  will stand condemned before the Lord. ⁴  He will lose his firstborn son when he lays its foundations and his youngest son when he erects its gates!” ⁵