<p class="bodytext">The Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh answered the leaders<n id="1" /> of the Israelite clans:

We swear we have done this because we were worried that<n id="1" /> in the future your descendants would say to our descendants, &#8216;What relationship do you have with the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel?<n id="2" />

So Joshua summoned all Israel, including the elders, rulers, judges, and leaders, and told them: &#8220;I am very old.

Joshua said,<n id="1" /> &#8220;Now put aside the foreign gods that are among you and submit to<n id="2" /> the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel.&#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>

All the people,<n id="1" /> rulers,<n id="2" /> leaders, and judges were standing on either side of the ark, in front of the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc>. Both resident foreigners and native Israelites were there.<n id="3" /> Half the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and the other half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s servant had previously instructed to them to do for the formal blessing ceremony.<n id="4" />

&#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" />

<p class="bodytext">The <sc>Lordsc> told Joshua, &#8220;This very day I will begin to honor you before all Israel<n id="1" /> so they will know that I am with you just as I was with Moses.

The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the <sc>Lordsc> stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan. All Israel crossed over on dry ground until the entire nation was on the other side.<n id="1" />p>

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>

So the young spies went and brought out Rahab, her father, mother, brothers, and all who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and took them to a place outside<n id="1" /> the Israelite camp.

Yet Joshua spared<n id="1" /> Rahab the prostitute, her father&#8217;s family,<n id="2" /> and all who belonged to her. She lives in Israel<n id="3" /> to this very day because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy on Jericho.<n id="4" />

<p class="bodytext">Joshua tore his clothes;<n id="1" /> he and the leaders<n id="2" /> of Israel lay face down on the ground before the ark of the <sc>Lordsc> until evening<n id="3" /> and threw dirt on their heads.<n id="4" />

Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenantal commandment!<n id="1" /> They have taken some of the riches;<n id="2" /> they have stolen them and deceitfully put them among their own possessions.<n id="3" />

The Israelites are unable to stand before their enemies; they retreat because they have become subject to annihilation.<n id="1" /> I will no longer be with you,<n id="2" /> unless you destroy what has contaminated you.<n id="3" />

So Joshua said to Achan, &#8220;My son, honor<n id="1" /> the <sc>Lordsc> God of Israel and give him praise! Tell me what you did; don&#8217;t hide anything from me!&#8221;

Joshua said, &#8220;Why have you brought disaster<n id="1" /> on us? The <sc>Lordsc> will bring disaster on you today!&#8221; All Israel stoned him to death. (They also stoned and burned the others.)<n id="2" />

<p class="bodytext">When the king of Ai saw Israel, he and his whole army quickly got up the next day and went out to fight Israel at the meeting place near the Arabah.<n id="1" /> But he did not realize<n id="2" /> men were hiding behind the city.<n id="3" />

just as Moses the <sc>Lordsc>&#8217;s servant had commanded the Israelites. As described in the law scroll of Moses, it was made with uncut stones untouched by an iron tool.<n id="1" /> They offered burnt sacrifices on it and sacrificed tokens of peace.<n id="2" />