When you cross the Jordan River<n id="1" /> to the land the <sc>Lordsc> your God is giving you, you must erect great stones and cover<n id="2" /> them with plaster.

Then you must inscribe on them all the words of this law when you cross over, so that you may enter the land the <sc>Lordsc> your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey just as the <sc>Lordsc>, the God of your ancestors,<n id="1" /> said to you.

<t /><p class="bodytext">&#8220;If you indeed<n id="1" /> obey the <sc>Lordsc> your God and are careful to observe all his commandments I am giving<n id="2" /> you today, the <sc>Lordsc> your God will elevate you above all the nations of the earth.

Likewise, the most<n id="1" /> tender and delicate of your women, who would never think of putting even the sole of her foot on the ground because of her daintiness,<n id="2" /> will turn against her beloved husband, her sons and daughters,

The generation to come &#8211; your descendants who will rise up after you, as well as the foreigner who will come from distant places &#8211; will see<n id="1" /> the afflictions of that land and the illnesses that the <sc>Lordsc> has brought on it.

Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

Then Moses called out to Joshua<n id="1" /> in the presence of all Israel, &#8220;Be strong and courageous, for you will accompany these people to the land that the <sc>Lordsc> promised to give their ancestors,<n id="2" /> and you will enable them to inherit it.

Then the <sc>Lordsc> said to Moses, &#8220;You are about to die,<n id="1" /> and then these people will begin to prostitute themselves with the foreign gods of the land into which they<n id="2" /> are going. They<n id="3" /> will reject<n id="4" /> me and break my covenant that I have made with them.<n id="5" />

and the <sc>Lordsc><n id="1" /> commissioned Joshua son of Nun, &#8220;Be strong and courageous, for you will take the Israelites to the land I have promised them, and I will be with you.&#8221;<n id="2" />p>

<t /><p class="bodytext">Then Moses ascended from the deserts of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the summit of Pisgah, which is opposite Jericho.<n id="1" /> The <sc>Lordsc> showed him the whole land &#8211; Gilead to Dan,

&#8220;Moses my servant is dead. Get ready!<n id="1" /> Cross the Jordan River!<n id="2" /> Lead these people into the land which I am ready to hand over to them.<n id="3" />

&#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;

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!

The men said to her, &#8220;If you<n id="1" /> die, may we die too!<n id="2" /> If you do not report what we&#8217;ve been up to,<n id="3" /> then, when the <sc>Lordsc> hands the land over to us, we will show unswerving allegiance<n id="4" /> to you.&#8221;<n id="5" />p>

When the feet<n id="1" /> of the priests carrying the ark of the <sc>Lordsc>, the Ruler<n id="2" /> of the whole earth, touch<n id="3" /> the water of the Jordan, the water coming downstream toward you will stop flowing and pile up.&#8221;<n id="4" />p>

Joshua told the two men who had spied on the land, &#8220;Enter the prostitute&#8217;s house<n id="1" /> and bring out the woman and all who belong to her as you promised her.&#8221;<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">Joshua sent men from Jericho<n id="1" /> to Ai (which is located near Beth Aven, east of Bethel<n id="2" />) and instructed them, &#8220;Go up and spy on the land.&#8221; So the men went up and spied on Ai.