Their border went up westward to Maralah and touched Dabbesheth and the valley near<n id="1" /> Jokneam.

You saw everything the <sc>Lordsc> your God did to all these nations on your behalf, for the <sc>Lordsc> your God fights for you.<n id="1" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Joshua assembled all the Israelite tribes at Shechem. He summoned Israel&#8217;s elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and they appeared before God.

Then I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought with you, but I handed them over to you; you conquered<n id="1" /> their land and I destroyed them from before you.

The <sc>Lordsc> drove out from before us all the nations, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will worship<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc>, for he is our God!&#8221;p>

<p class="bodytext">When all the Amorite kings on the west side of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the seacoast heard how the <sc>Lordsc> had dried up the water of the Jordan before the Israelites while they<n id="1" /> crossed, they lost their courage and could not even breathe for fear of the Israelites.<n id="2" />p>

They said to Joshua, &#8220;It was carefully reported to your subjects<n id="1" /> how the <sc>Lordsc> your God commanded Moses his servant to assign you the whole land and to destroy all who live in the land from before you. Because of you we were terrified<n id="2" /> we would lose our lives, so we did this thing.

Your wives, children and cattle may stay in the land that Moses assigned to you east of the Jordan River. But all you warriors must cross over armed for battle ahead of your brothers.<n id="1" /> You must help them

She said to the men, &#8220;I know the <sc>Lordsc> is handing this land over to you.<n id="1" /> We are absolutely terrified of you,<n id="2" /> and all who live in the land are cringing before<n id="3" /> you.<n id="4" />

For we heard how the <sc>Lordsc> dried up the water of the Red Sea before you when you left Egypt and how you annihilated the two Amorite kings, Sihon and Og, on the other side of the Jordan.<n id="1" />

When we heard the news we lost our courage and no one could even breathe for fear of you.<n id="1" /> For the <sc>Lordsc> your God is God in heaven above and on earth below!

Joshua continued,<n id="1" /> &#8220;This is how you will know the living God is among you and that he will truly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.

Joshua told them, &#8220;Go in front of the ark of the <sc>Lordsc> your God to the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to put a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the Israelite tribes.

tell them how the water of the Jordan stopped flowing<n id="1" /> before the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc>. When it crossed the Jordan, the water of the Jordan stopped flowing.<n id="2" /> These stones will be a lasting memorial for the Israelites.&#8221;p>

He answered,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Truly I am the commander of the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s army.<n id="2" /> Now I have arrived!&#8221;<n id="3" /> Joshua bowed down with his face to the ground<n id="4" /> and asked, &#8220;What does my master want to say to his servant?&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">So Joshua son of Nun summoned the priests and instructed them, &#8220;Pick up the ark of the covenant, and seven priests must carry seven rams&#8217; horns in front of the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>.&#8221;

<p class="bodytext">When Joshua gave the army its orders,<n id="1" /> the seven priests carrying the seven rams&#8217; horns before the <sc>Lordsc> moved ahead and blew the horns as the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc> followed behind.

At that time Joshua made this solemn declaration:<n id="1" /> &#8220;The man who attempts to rebuild<n id="2" /> this city of Jericho<n id="3" /> will stand condemned before the <sc>Lordsc>.<n id="4" /> He will lose his firstborn son when he lays its foundations and his youngest son when he erects its gates!&#8221;<n id="5" />

The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them and chased them from in front of the city gate all the way to the fissures<n id="1" /> and defeated them on the steep slope.<n id="2" /> The people&#8217;s<n id="3" /> courage melted away like water.<n id="4" />p>

Get up! Ritually consecrate the people and tell them this: &#8216;Ritually consecrate yourselves for tomorrow, because the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel says, &#8220;You are contaminated,<n id="1" /> O Israel! You will not be able to stand before your enemies until you remove what is contaminating you.&#8221;<n id="2" />