What is going to happen to us? Our brothers have drained away our courage<n id="1" /> by describing people who are more numerous<n id="2" /> and taller than we are, and great cities whose defenses appear to be as high as heaven<n id="3" /> itself! Moreover, they said they saw<n id="4" /> Anakites<n id="5" /> there.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">At that time I instructed you as follows: &#8220;The <sc>Lordsc> your God has given you this land for your possession. You warriors are to cross over before your fellow Israelites<n id="1" /> equipped for battle.

I also commanded Joshua at the same time, &#8220;You have seen everything the <sc>Lordsc> your God did to these two kings; he<n id="1" /> will do the same to all the kingdoms where you are going.<n id="2" />

(I was standing between the <sc>Lordsc> and you at that time to reveal to you the message<n id="1" /> of the <sc>Lordsc>, because you were afraid of the fire and would not go up the mountain.) He said:p>

Do not think to yourself after the <sc>Lordsc> your God has driven them out before you, &#8220;Because of my own righteousness the <sc>Lordsc> has brought me here to possess this land.&#8221; It is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out ahead of you.

And when he<n id="1" /> sent you from Kadesh-Barnea and told you, &#8220;Go up and possess the land I have given you,&#8221; you rebelled against the <sc>Lordsc> your God<n id="2" /> and would neither believe nor obey him.

After they have been destroyed from your presence, be careful not to be ensnared like they are; do not pursue their gods and say, &#8220;How do these nations serve their gods? I will do the same.&#8221;

<t /><p class="bodytext">Suppose your own full brother,<n id="1" /> your son, your daughter, your beloved wife, or your closest friend should seduce you secretly and encourage you to go and serve other gods<n id="2" /> that neither you nor your ancestors<n id="3" /> have previously known,<n id="4" />

Be careful lest you entertain the wicked thought that the seventh year, the year of cancellation of debts, has almost arrived, and your attitude<n id="1" /> be wrong toward your impoverished fellow Israelite<n id="2" /> and you do not lend<n id="3" /> him anything; he will cry out to the <sc>Lordsc> against you and you will be regarded as having sinned.<n id="4" />

There will never cease to be some poor people in the land; therefore, I am commanding you to make sure you open<n id="1" /> your hand to your fellow Israelites<n id="2" /> who are needy and poor in your land.p>

This accords with what happened at Horeb in the day of the assembly. You asked the <sc>Lordsc> your God: &#8220;Please do not make us hear the voice of the <sc>Lordsc> our<n id="1" /> God any more or see this great fire any more lest we die.&#8221;

Moreover, the officers are to say to the troops,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Who among you<n id="2" /> has built a new house and not dedicated<n id="3" /> it? He may go home, lest he die in battle and someone else<n id="4" /> dedicate it.

When such a person<n id="1" /> hears the words of this oath he secretly<n id="2" /> blesses himself<n id="3" /> and says, &#8220;I will have peace though I continue to walk with a stubborn spirit.&#8221;<n id="4" /> This will destroy<n id="5" /> the watered ground with the parched.<n id="6" />

&#8220;Go through the camp and command the people, &#8216;Prepare your supplies, for within three days you will cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the land the <sc>Lordsc> your God is ready to hand over to you.&#8217;&#8221;<n id="1" />p>

&#8220;Remember what Moses the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s servant commanded you.<n id="1" /> The <sc>Lordsc> your God is giving you a place to settle and is handing this land over to you.<n id="2" />

<t /><p class="bodytext">Joshua son of Nun sent two spies out from Shittim secretly and instructed them:<n id="1" /> &#8220;Find out what you can about the land, especially Jericho.&#8221;<n id="2" /> They stopped at the house of a prostitute named Rahab and spent the night there.<n id="3" />

So the king of Jericho sent this order to Rahab:<n id="1" /> &#8220;Turn over<n id="2" /> the men who came to you<n id="3" /> &#8211; the ones who came to your house<n id="4" /> &#8211; for they have come to spy on the whole land!&#8221;

and commanded the people: &#8220;When you see the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc> your God<n id="1" /> being carried by the Levitical priests, you must leave here<n id="2" /> and walk<n id="3" /> behind it.

Joshua told the priests, &#8220;Pick up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.&#8221; So they picked up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.p>

Instruct them, &#8216;Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests<n id="1" /> stand firmly, and carry them over with you and put them in the place where you camp tonight.&#8217;&#8221;p>