Good News Translation

The Capture and Destruction of Ai

1 TheLordsaid to Joshua, “Take all the soldiers with you and go on up to Ai. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. I will give you victory over the king of Ai; his people, city, and land will be yours.

2 You are to do to Ai and its king what you did to Jericho and its king, but this time you may keep its goods and livestock for yourselves. Prepare to attack the city by surprise from the rear.”

3 So Joshua got ready to go to Ai with all his soldiers. He picked out thirty thousand of his best troops and sent them out at night

4 with these orders: “Hide on the other side of the city, but not too far away from it; be ready to attack.

5 My men and I will approach the city. When the men of Ai come out against us, we will turn and run, just as we did the first time.

6 They will pursue us until we have led them away from the city. They will think that we are running from them, as we did before.

7 Then you will come out of hiding and capture the city. TheLordyour God will give it to you.

8 After you have taken the city, set it on fire, just as theLordhas commanded. These are your orders.”

9 So Joshua sent them out, and they went to their hiding place and waited there, west of Ai, between Ai and Bethel. Joshua spent the night in camp.

10 Early in the morning Joshua got up and called the soldiers together. Then he and the leaders of Israel led them to Ai.

11 The soldiers with him went toward the main entrance to the city and set up camp on the north side, with a valley between themselves and Ai.

12 He took about five thousand men and put them in hiding west of the city, between Ai and Bethel.

13 The soldiers were arranged for battle with the main camp north of the city and the rest of the men to the west. Joshua spent the night in the valley.

14 When the king of Ai saw Joshua’s men, he acted quickly. He and all his men went out toward the Jordan Valley to fight the Israelites at the same place as before, not knowing that he was about to be attacked from the rear.

15 Joshua and his men pretended that they were retreating, and ran away toward the barren country.

16 All the men in the city had been called together to go after them, and as they pursued Joshua, they kept getting farther away from the city.

17 Every man in Aiwent after the Israelites, and the city was left wide open, with no one to defend it.

18 Then theLordsaid to Joshua, “Point your spear at Ai; I am giving it to you.” Joshua did as he was told,

19 and as soon as he lifted his hand, the men who had been hiding got up quickly, ran into the city and captured it. They immediately set the city on fire.

20 When the men of Ai looked back, they saw the smoke rising to the sky. There was no way for them to escape, because the Israelites who had run toward the barren country now turned around to attack them.

21 When Joshua and his men saw that the others had taken the city and that it was on fire, they turned around and began killing the men of Ai.

22 The Israelites in the city now came down to join the battle. So the men of Ai found themselves completely surrounded by Israelites, and they were all killed. No one got away, and no one lived through it

23 except the king of Ai. He was captured and taken to Joshua.

24 The Israelites killed every one of the enemy in the barren country where they had chased them. Then they went back to Ai and killed everyone there.

25-26 Joshua kept his spear pointed at Ai and did not put it down until every person there had been killed. The whole population of Ai was killed that day—twelve thousand men and women.

27 The Israelites kept for themselves the livestock and goods captured in the city, as theLordhad told Joshua.

28 Joshua burned Ai and left it in ruins. It is still like that today.

29 He hanged the king of Ai from a tree and left his body there until evening. At sundown Joshua gave orders for the body to be removed, and it was thrown down at the entrance to the city gate. They covered it with a huge pile of stones, which is still there today.

The Law Is Read at Mount Ebal

30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to theLord, the God of Israel.

31 He made it according to the instructions that Moses, theLord’s servant, had given the Israelites, as it says in the Law of Moses: “an altar made of stones which have not been cut with iron tools.” On it they offered burnt sacrifices to theLord, and they also presented their fellowship offerings.

32 There, with the Israelites looking on, Joshua made on the stonesa copy of the Law which Moses had written.

33 The Israelites, with their leaders, officers, and judges, as well as the foreigners among them, stood on two sides of theLord’s Covenant Box, facing the levitical priests who carried it. Half of the people stood with their backs to Mount Gerizim and the other half with their backs to Mount Ebal. TheLord’s servant Moses had commanded them to do this when the time came for them to receive the blessing.

34 Joshua then read aloud the whole Law, including the blessings and the curses, just as they are written in the book of the Law.

35 Every one of the commandments of Moses was read by Joshua to the whole gathering, which included women and children, as well as the foreigners living among them.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/8-5d3beeb8d4a32d2157cf7ef66b781b66.mp3?version_id=68—

The Gibeonites Deceive Joshua

1 The victories of Israel became known to all the kings west of the Jordan—in the hills, in the foothills, and all along the coastal plain of the Mediterranean Sea as far north as Lebanon; these were the kings of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

2 They all came together and joined forces to fight against Joshua and the Israelites.

3 But the people of Gibeon, who were Hivites, heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4 and they decided to deceive him. They went and got some food and loaded their donkeys with worn-out sacks and patched-up wineskins.

5 They put on ragged clothes and worn-out sandals that had been mended. The bread they took with them was dry and moldy.

6 Then they went to the camp at Gilgal and said to Joshua and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant land. We want you to make a treaty with us.”

7 But the Israelites said, “Why should we make a treaty with you? Maybe you live nearby.”

8 They said to Joshua, “We are at your service.”

Joshua asked them, “Who are you? Where do you come from?”

9 Then they told him this story: “We have come from a very distant land, sir, because we have heard of theLordyour God. We have heard about everything that he did in Egypt

10 and what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan: King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth.

11 Our leaders and all the people that live in our land told us to get some food ready for a trip and to go and meet you. We were told to put ourselves at your service and ask you to make a treaty with us.

12 Look at our bread. When we left home with it and started out to meet you, it was still warm. But look! Now it is dry and moldy.

13 When we filled these wineskins, they were new, but look! They are torn. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the long trip.”

14 The Israelites accepted some food from them, but did not consult theLordabout it.

15 Joshua made a treaty of friendship with the people of Gibeon and allowed them to live. The leaders of the community of Israel gave their solemn promise to keep the treaty.

16 Three days after the treaty had been made, the Israelites learned that these people did indeed live nearby.

17 So the people of Israel started out and three days later arrived at the cities where these people lived: Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

18 But the Israelites could not kill them, because their leaders had made a solemn promise to them in the name of theLord, Israel’s God. All the people complained to the leaders about this,

19 but they answered, “We have made our solemn promise to them in the name of theLordGod of Israel. Now we cannot harm them.

20 We must let them live because of our promise; if we don’t, God will punish us.

21 Let them live, but they will have to cut wood and carry water for us.” This was what the leaders suggested.

22 Joshua ordered the people of Gibeon to be brought to him, and he asked them, “Why did you deceive us and tell us that you were from far away, when you live right here?

23 Because you did this, God has condemned you. Your people will always be slaves, cutting wood and carrying water for the sanctuary of my God.”

24 They answered, “We did it, sir, because we learned that it was really true that theLordyour God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to kill the people living in it as you advanced. We did it because we were terrified of you; we were in fear of our lives.

25 Now we are in your power; do with us what you think is right.”

26 So this is what Joshua did: he protected them and did not allow the people of Israel to kill them.

27 But at the same time he made them slaves, to cut wood and carry water for the people of Israel and for theLord’s altar. To this day they have continued to do this work in the place where theLordhas chosen to be worshiped.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/9-87657340f54c61ccf0d358e4275317d7.mp3?version_id=68—

The Amorites Are Defeated

1 Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem,heard that Joshua had captured and totally destroyed Ai and had killed its king, just as he had done to Jericho and its king. He also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with the Israelites and were living among them.

2 The people of Jerusalem were greatly alarmed at this because Gibeon was as large as any of the cities that had a king; it was larger than Ai, and its men were good fighters.

3 So Adonizedek sent the following message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and to King Debir of Eglon:

4 “Come and help me attack Gibeon, because its people have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”

5 These five Amorite kings, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, joined forces, surrounded Gibeon, and attacked it.

6 The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Do not abandon us, sir! Come at once and help us! Save us! All the Amorite kings in the hill country have joined forces and have attacked us!”

7 So Joshua and his whole army, including the best troops, started out from Gilgal.

8 TheLordsaid to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. I have already given you the victory. Not one of them will be able to stand against you.”

9 All night Joshua and his army marched from Gilgal to Gibeon, and they made a surprise attack on the Amorites.

10 TheLordmade the Amorites panic at the sight of Israel’s army. The Israelites slaughtered them at Gibeon and pursued them down the mountain pass at Beth Horon, keeping up the attack as far south as Azekah and Makkedah.

11 While the Amorites were running down the pass from the Israelite army, theLordmade large hailstones fall down on them all the way to Azekah. More were killed by the hailstones than by the Israelites.

12 On the day that theLordgave the men of Israel victory over the Amorites, Joshua spoke to theLord. In the presence of the Israelites he said,

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;

Moon, stop over Aijalon Valley.”

13 The sun stood still and the moon did not move until the nation had conquered its enemies. This is written inThe Book of Jashar. The sun stood still in the middle of the sky and did not go down for a whole day.

14 Never before, and never since, has there been a day like it, when theLordobeyed a human being. TheLordfought on Israel’s side!

15 After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal.

Joshua Captures the Five Amorite Kings

16 The five Amorite kings, however, had escaped and were hiding in the cave at Makkedah.

17 Someone found them, and Joshua was told where they were hiding.

18 He said, “Roll some big stones in front of the entrance to the cave. Place some guards there,

19 but don’t stay there yourselves. Keep on after the enemy and attack them from the rear; don’t let them get to their cities! TheLordyour God has given you victory over them.”

20 Joshua and the men of Israel slaughtered them, although some managed to find safety inside their city walls and were not killed.

21 Then all of Joshua’s men came back safe to him at the camp at Makkedah.

No one in the land dared even to speak against the Israelites.

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the entrance to the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”

23 So the cave was opened, and the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were brought out

24 and taken to Joshua. Joshua then called all the men of Israel to him and ordered the officers who had gone with him to come and put their feet on the necks of the kings. They did so.

25 Then Joshua said to his officers, “Don’t be afraid or discouraged. Be determined and confident because this is what theLordis going to do to all your enemies.”

26 Then Joshua killed the kings and hanged them on five trees, where their bodies stayed until evening.

27 At sundown Joshua gave orders, and their bodies were taken down and thrown into the same cave where they had hidden earlier. Large stones were placed at the entrance to the cave, and they are still there.

Joshua Captures More Amorite Territory

28 Joshua attacked and captured Makkedah and its king that day. He put everyone in the city to death; no one was left alive. He did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 After this, Joshua and his army went on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it.

30 TheLordalso gave the Israelites victory over this city and its king. They spared no one, but killed every person in it. They did to the king what they had done to the king of Jericho.

31 After this, Joshua and his army went on from Libnah to Lachish, surrounded it and attacked it.

32 TheLordgave the Israelites victory over Lachish on the second day of the battle. Just as they had done at Libnah, they spared no one, but killed every person in the city.

33 King Horam of Gezer came to the aid of Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army and left none of them alive.

34 Next, Joshua and his army went on from Lachish to Eglon, surrounded it and attacked it.

35 They captured it the same day and put everyone there to death, just as they had done at Lachish.

36 After this, Joshua and his army went from Eglon up into the hills to Hebron, attacked it

37 and captured it. They killed the king and everyone else in the city as well as in the nearby towns. Joshua condemned the city to total destruction, just as he had done to Eglon. No one in it was left alive.

38 Then Joshua and his army turned back to Debir and attacked it.

39 He captured it, with its king and all the nearby towns. They put everyone there to death. Joshua did to Debir and its king what he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king.

40 Joshua conquered the whole land. He defeated the kings of the hill country, the eastern slopes, and the western foothills, as well as those of the dry country in the south. He spared no one; everyone was put to death. This was what theLordGod of Israel had commanded.

41 Joshua’s campaign took him from Kadesh Barnea in the south to Gaza near the coast, including all the area of Goshen, and as far north as Gibeon.

42 Joshua conquered all these kings and their territory in one campaign because theLord, Israel’s God, was fighting for Israel.

43 After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/10-97f226fea42b76e506cea8dce8a2b888.mp3?version_id=68—

Joshua Defeats Jabin and His Allies

1 When the news of Israel’s victories reached King Jabin of Hazor, he sent word to King Jobab of Madon, to the kings of Shimron and Achshaph,

2 and to the kings in the hill country in the north, in the Jordan Valley south of Lake Galilee, in the foothills, and on the coast near Dor.

3 He also sent word to the Canaanites on both sides of the Jordan, to the Amorites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, and the Jebusites in the hill country, as well as to the Hivites who lived at the foot of Mount Hermon in the land of Mizpah.

4 They came with all their soldiers—an army with as many men as there are grains of sand on the seashore. They also had many horses and chariots.

5 All of these kings joined forces and came together and set up camp at Merom Brook to fight against Israel.

6 TheLordsaid to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will have killed all of them for Israel. You are to cripple their horses and burn their chariots.”

7 So Joshua and all his men attacked them by surprise at Merom Brook.

8 TheLordgave the Israelites victory over them; the Israelites attacked and pursued them as far north as Misrephoth Maim and Sidon, and as far east as the valley of Mizpah. The fight continued until none of the enemy was left alive.

9 Joshua did to them what theLordhad commanded: he crippled their horses and burned their chariots.

10 Joshua then turned back, captured Hazor and killed its king. (At that time Hazor was the most powerful of all those kingdoms.)

11 They put everyone there to death; no one was left alive, and the city was burned.

12 Joshua captured all these cities and their kings, putting everyone to death, just as Moses, theLord’s servant, had commanded.

13 However, the Israelites did not burn any of the cities built on mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua did burn.

14 The people of Israel took all the valuables and livestock from these cities and kept them for themselves. But they put every person to death; no one was left alive.

15 TheLordhad given his commands to his servant Moses, Moses had given them to Joshua, and Joshua obeyed them. He did everything that theLordhad commanded Moses.

The Territory Taken by Joshua

16 Joshua captured all the land—the hill country and foothills, both north and south, all the area of Goshen and the dry country south of it, as well as the Jordan Valley.

17-18 The territory extended from Mount Halak in the south near Edom, as far as Baalgad in the north, in the valley of Lebanon south of Mount Hermon. Joshua was at war with the kings of this territory for a long time, but he captured them all and put them to death.

19 The only city that made peace with the people of Israel was Gibeon, where some of the Hivites lived. All the others were conquered in battle.

20 TheLordhad made them determined to fight the Israelites, so that they would be condemned to total destruction and all be killed without mercy. This was what theLordhad commanded Moses.

21 At this time Joshua went and destroyed the race of giants called the Anakim who lived in the hill country—in Hebron, Debir, Anab, and in all the hill country of Judah and Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them and their cities.

22 None of the Anakim were left in the land of Israel; a few, however, were left in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

23 Joshua captured the whole land, as theLordhad commanded Moses. Joshua gave it to the Israelites as their own and divided it into portions, one for each tribe.

So the people rested from war.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/11-8e733c77144ff7a6800f5731e6539810.mp3?version_id=68—

The Kings Defeated by Moses

1 The people of Israel had already conquered and occupied the land east of the Jordan, from the Arnon Valley up the Jordan Valley and as far north as Mount Hermon. They defeated two kings.

2 One was Sihon, the Amorite king who ruled at Heshbon. His kingdom included half of Gilead: from Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and from the city inthe middle of that valley, as far as the Jabbok River, the border of Ammon;

3 it included the Jordan Valley from Lake Galilee south to Beth Jeshimoth (east of the Dead Sea) and on toward the foot of Mount Pisgah.

4 They also defeated King Og of Bashan, who was one of the last of the Rephaim; he ruled at Ashtaroth and Edrei.

5 His kingdom included Mount Hermon, Salecah, and all of Bashan as far as the boundaries of Geshur and Maacah, as well as half of Gilead, as far as the territory of King Sihon of Heshbon.

6 These two kings were defeated by Moses and the people of Israel. Moses, theLord’s servant, gave their land to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and to half the tribe of Manasseh, to be their possession.

The Kings Defeated by Joshua

7 Joshua and the people of Israel defeated all the kings in the territory west of the Jordan, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak in the south near Edom. Joshua divided this land among the tribes and gave it to them as a permanent possession.

8 This portion included the hill country, the western foothills, the Jordan Valley and its foothills, the eastern slopes, and the dry country in the south. This land had been the home of the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

9 The people of Israel defeated the kings of the following cities: Jericho, Ai (near Bethel),

10 Jerusalem, Hebron,

11 Jarmuth, Lachish,

12 Eglon, Gezer,

13 Debir, Geder,

14 Hormah, Arad,

15 Libnah, Adullam,

16 Makkedah, Bethel,

17 Tappuah, Hepher,

18 Aphek, Lasharon,

19 Madon, Hazor,

20 Shimron Meron, Achshaph,

21 Taanach, Megiddo,

22 Kedesh, Jokneam (in Carmel),

23 Dor (on the coast), Goiim (in Galilee),

24 and Tirzah—thirty-one kings in all.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/12-97102d34fdf08ed3efe9142266926a78.mp3?version_id=68—

The Land Still to Be Taken

1 Joshua was now very old. TheLordsaid to him, “You are very old, but there is still much land to be taken:

2 all the territory of Philistia and Geshur,

3 as well as all the territory of the Avvim to the south. (The land from the stream Shihor, at the Egyptian border, as far north as the border of Ekron was considered Canaanite; the kings of the Philistines lived at Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.)

4 There is still all the Canaanite country, and Mearah (which belonged to the Sidonians), as far as Aphek, at the Amorite border;

5 the land of the Gebalites; all of Lebanon to the east, from Baalgad, which is south of Mount Hermon, to Hamath Pass.

6 This includes all the territory of the Sidonians, who live in the hill country between the Lebanon Mountains and Misrephoth Maim. I will drive all these peoples out as the people of Israel advance. You must divide the land among the Israelites, just as I have commanded you to do.

7 Now then, divide this land among the other nine tribes and half of the tribe of Manasseh, for them to possess as their own.”

The Division of the Territory East of the Jordan

8 The tribes of Reuben and Gad and the other half of the tribe of Manasseh had already received the land that Moses, theLord’s servant, had given them; it was on the east side of the Jordan River.

9 Their territory extended to Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and the city in the middle of that valley and included all of the plateau from Medeba to Dibon.

10 It went as far as the border of Ammon and included all the cities that had been ruled by the Amorite king Sihon, who had ruled at Heshbon.

11 It included Gilead, the regions of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far as Salecah.

12 It included the kingdom of Og, the last of the Rephaim, who had ruled at Ashtaroth and Edrei. Moses had defeated these people and driven them out.

13 However, the Israelites did not drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah; they still live in Israel.

14 Moses had given no land to the tribe of Levi. As theLordhad told Moses, they were to receive as their possession a share of the sacrifices burned on the altar to theLordGod of Israel.

The Territory Assigned to Reuben

15 Moses had given a part of the land to the families of the tribe of Reuben as their possession.

16 Their territory extended to Aroer (on the edge of the Arnon Valley) and the city in the middle of that valley and included all the plateau around Medeba.

17 It included Heshbon and all the cities on the plateau: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baalmeon,

18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,

19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill in the valley,

20 Bethpeor, the slopes of Mount Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth.

21 It included all the cities of the plateau and the whole kingdom of the Amorite king Sihon, who had ruled at Heshbon. Moses defeated him, as well as the rulers of Midian: Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba. All of them had ruled the land for King Sihon.

22 Among those whom the people of Israel killed was the fortune teller Balaam son of Beor.

23 The Jordan was the western border of the tribe of Reuben. These were the cities and towns given to the families of the tribe of Reuben as their possession.

The Territory Assigned to Gad

24 Moses had also given a part of the land to the families of the tribe of Gad as their possession.

25 Their territory included Jazer and all the cities of Gilead, half the land of Ammon as far as Aroer, which is east of Rabbah;

26 their land extended from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh and Betonim, from Mahanaim to the border of Lodebar.

27 In the Jordan Valley it included Beth Haram, Bethnimrah, Sukkoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of King Sihon of Heshbon. Their western border was the Jordan River as far north as Lake Galilee.

28 These were the cities and towns given to the families of the tribe of Gad as their possession.

The Territory Assigned to East Manasseh

29 Moses had given a part of the land to the families of half the tribe of Manasseh as their possession.

30 Their territory extended to Mahanaim and included all of Bashan—the whole kingdom of Og, the king of Bashan, as well as all sixty of the villages of Jair in Bashan.

31 It included half of Gilead, as well as Ashtaroth and Edrei, the capital cities of Og’s kingdom in Bashan. All this was given to half the families descended from Machir son of Manasseh.

32 This is how Moses divided the land east of Jericho and the Jordan when he was in the plains of Moab.

33 But Moses did not assign any land to the tribe of Levi. He told them that their possession was to be a share of the offerings to theLordGod of Israel.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/13-d8fec3fd1e09e8466009c704374fd857.mp3?version_id=68—

The Division of the Territory West of the Jordan

1 What follows is an account of how the land of Canaan west of the Jordan was divided among the people of Israel. Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders of the families of the Israelite tribes divided it among the population.

2 As theLordhad commanded Moses, the territories of the nine and one-half tribes west of the Jordan were determined by drawing lots.

3-4 Moses had already assigned the land east of the Jordan to the other two and one-half tribes. (The descendants of Joseph were divided into two tribes: Manasseh and Ephraim.) However, Moses gave the Levites no portion of the territory. Instead, they received cities to live in, with fields for their cattle and flocks.

5 The people of Israel divided the land as theLordhad commanded Moses.

Hebron Is Given to Caleb

6 One day some people from the tribe of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. One of them, Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, said to him, “You know what theLordsaid in Kadesh Barnea about you and me to Moses, the man of God.

7 I was forty years old when theLord’s servant Moses sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out this land. I brought an honest report back to him.

8 The men who went with me, however, made our people afraid. But I faithfully obeyed theLordmy God.

9 Because I did, Moses promised me that my children and I would certainly receive as our possession the land which I walked over.

10 But now, look. It has been forty-five years since theLordsaid that to Moses. That was when Israel was going through the desert, and theLord, as he promised, has kept me alive ever since. Look at me! I am eighty-five years old

11 and am just as strong today as I was when Moses sent me out. I am still strong enough for war or for anything else.

12 Now then, give me the hill country that theLordpromised me on that day when my men and I reported. We told you then that the race of giants called the Anakim were there in large walled cities. Maybe theLordwill be with me, and I will drive them out, just as theLordsaid.”

13 Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him the city of Hebron as his possession.

14 Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, because he faithfully obeyed theLord, the God of Israel.

15 Before this, Hebron was called the city of Arba. (Arba had been the greatest of the Anakim.)

There was now peace in the land.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/14-f83d75151aaa268138df1f040ba160d6.mp3?version_id=68—

The Territory Assigned to Judah

1 The families of the tribe of Judah received a part of the land described as follows:

The land reached south to the southernmost point of the wilderness of Zin, at the border of Edom.

2 This southern border ran from the south end of the Dead Sea,

3 went southward from the Akrabbim Pass and on to Zin. It ran south of Kadesh Barnea, past Hezron and up to Addar, turned toward Karka,

4 went on to Azmon, and followed the stream on the border of Egypt to the Mediterranean Sea, where the border ended. That was the southern border of Judah.

5 The eastern border was the Dead Sea, all the way up to the inlet where the Jordan empties into it.

The northern border began there,

6 extended up to Beth Hoglah, and went north of the ridge overlooking the Jordan Valley. Then it went up to the Stone of Bohan (Bohan was a son of Reuben),

7 from Trouble Valley up to Debir, and then turned north toward Gilgal, which faces Adummim Pass on the south side of the valley. It then went on to the springs of Enshemesh, out to Enrogel,

8 and up through Hinnom Valley on the south side of the hill where the Jebusite city of Jerusalem was located. The border then proceeded up to the top of the hill on the west side of Hinnom Valley, at the northern end of Rephaim Valley.

9 From there it went to the Springs of Nephtoah and out to the cities near Mount Ephron. There it turned toward Baalah (or Kiriath Jearim),

10 where it circled west of Baalah toward the hill country of Edom, went on the north side of Mount Jearim (or Chesalon), down to Beth Shemesh, and on past Timnah.

11 The border then went out to the hill north of Ekron, turned toward Shikkeron, past Mount Baalah, and on to Jamnia. It ended at the Mediterranean Sea,

12 which formed the western border.

Within these borders lived the people of the families of Judah.

Caleb Conquers Hebron and Debir

13 As theLordcommanded Joshua, part of the territory of Judah was given to Caleb son of Jephunneh, from the tribe of Judah. He received Hebron, the city belonging to Arba, father of Anak.

14 Caleb drove the descendants of Anak out of the city—the clans of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

15 From there he went to attack the people living in Debir. (This city used to be called Kiriath Sepher.)

16 Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Achsah in marriage to the man who succeeds in capturing Kiriath Sepher.”

17 Othniel, the son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz, captured the city, so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah in marriage.

18 On the wedding day Othniel urged herto ask her father for a field. She got down from her donkey, and Caleb asked her what she wanted.

19 She answered, “I want some water holes. The land you have given me is in the dry country.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.

The Cities of Judah

20 This is the land that the families of the tribe of Judah received as their possession.

21 The cities farthest south that belonged to them, those that were near the border of Edom, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,

22 Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,

23 Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,

24 Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,

25 Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (or Hazor),

26 Amam, Shema, Moladah,

27 Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Bethpelet,

28 Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,

29 Baalah, Iim, Ezem,

30 Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,

31 Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,

32 Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain, and Rimmon: twenty-nine cities in all, along with the towns around them.

33 The cities in the foothills were Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,

34 Zanoah, Engannim, Tappuah, Enam,

35 Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,

36 Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah, and Gederothaim: fourteen cities, along with the towns around them.

37 There were also Zenan, Hadashah, Migdalgad,

38 Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel,

39 Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,

40 Cabbon, Lahmam, Chitlish,

41 Gederoth, Bethdagon, Naamah, and Makkedah: sixteen cities, along with the towns around them.

42 There were also Libnah, Ether, Ashan,

43 Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,

44 Keilah, Achzib, and Mareshah: nine cities, along with the towns around them.

45 There was Ekron with its towns and villages,

46 and all the cities and towns near Ashdod, from Ekron to the Mediterranean Sea.

47 There were Ashdod and Gaza, with their towns and villages, reaching to the stream on the border of Egypt and the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

48 In the hill country there were Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,

49 Dannah, Kiriath Sepher (or Debir),

50 Anab, Eshtemoa, Anim,

51 Goshen, Holon, and Giloh: eleven cities, along with the towns around them.

52 There were Arab, Dumah, Eshan,

53 Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,

54 Humtah, Hebron, and Zior: nine cities, along with the towns around them.

55 There were Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,

56 Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,

57 Kain, Gibeah, and Timnah: ten cities, along with the towns around them.

58 There were Halhul, Bethzur, Gedor,

59 Maarath, Bethanoth, and Eltekon: six cities, along with the towns around them.

60 There were Kiriath Baal (or Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah: two cities, along with the towns around them.

61 In the desert there were Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,

62 Nibshan, Salt City, and Engedi: six cities, along with the towns around them.

63 But the people of Judah were not able to drive out the Jebusites, who lived in Jerusalem. The Jebusites still live there with the people of Judah.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/15-a588f001008c3114d2d7d28540ed680c.mp3?version_id=68—

The Territory Assigned to Ephraim and West Manasseh

1 The southern boundary of the land assigned to the descendants of Joseph started from the Jordan near Jericho, at a point east of the springs of Jericho, and went into the desert. It went from Jericho up into the hill country as far as Bethel.

2 From Bethel it went to Luz, passing on to Ataroth Addar, where the Archites lived.

3 It then went west to the area of the Japhletites, as far as the area of Lower Beth Horon. It went on from there to Gezer and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.

4 The descendants of Joseph, the tribes of Ephraim and West Manasseh, received this land as their possession.

Ephraim

5 This was the territory of the Ephraimite families: their border ran from Ataroth Addar eastward to Upper Beth Horon,

6 and from there to the Mediterranean Sea. Michmethath was on their north. East of there the border bent toward Taanath Shiloh and went past it on the east to Janoah.

7 Then it went down from Janoah to Ataroth and Naarah, reaching Jericho and ending at the Jordan.

8 The border went west from Tappuah to the stream Kanah and ended at the Mediterranean Sea. This was the land given to the families of the tribe of Ephraim as their possession,

9 along with some towns and villages that were within the borders of Manasseh, but given to the Ephraimites.

10 But they did not drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer, so the Canaanites have lived among the Ephraimites to this day, but they have been forced to work as slaves.

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/16-0599ee6b025214a66d95530eac8bfa8e.mp3?version_id=68—

West Manasseh

1 A part of the land west of the Jordan was assigned to some of the families descended from Joseph’s older son Manasseh. Machir, the father of Gilead, was Manasseh’s oldest son and a military hero, so Gilead and Bashan, east of the Jordan, were assigned to him.

2 Land west of the Jordan was assigned to the rest of the families of Manasseh: Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher, and Shemida. These were male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and they were heads of families.

3 Zelophehad, son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, did not have any sons, but only daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

4 They went to Eleazar the priest and to Joshua son of Nun and to the leaders, and said, “TheLordcommanded Moses to give us, as well as our male relatives, a part of the land to possess.” So, as theLordhad commanded, they were given land along with their male relatives.

5 This is why Manasseh received ten shares in addition to Gilead and Bashan on the east side of the Jordan,

6 since his female descendants as well as his male descendants were assigned land. The land of Gilead was assigned to the rest of the descendants of Manasseh.

7 The territory of Manasseh reached from Asher to Michmethath, east of Shechem. The border then went south to include the people of Entappuah.

8 The land around Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah, on the border, belonged to the descendants of Ephraim.

9 The border then went down to the stream Kanah. The cities south of the stream belonged to Ephraim, even though they were in the territory of Manasseh. The border of Manasseh proceeded along the north side of the stream and ended at the Mediterranean Sea.

10 Ephraim was to the south, and Manasseh was to the north, with the Mediterranean Sea as their western border. Asher was to the northwest, and Issachar to the northeast.

11 Within the territories of Issachar and Asher, Manasseh possessed Beth Shan and Ibleam, along with their surrounding towns, as well as Dor (the one on the coast),Endor, Taanach, Megiddo, and their surrounding towns.

12 The people of Manasseh, however, were not able to drive out the people living in those cities, so the Canaanites continued to live there.

13 Even when the Israelites became stronger, they did not drive out all the Canaanites, but they did force them to work for them.

Ephraim and West Manasseh Request More Land

14 The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one part of the land to possess as our own? There are very many of us because theLordhas blessed us.”

15 Joshua answered, “If there are so many of you and the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, then go into the forests and clear ground for yourselves in the land of the Perizzites and the Rephaim.”

16 They replied, “The hill country is not big enough for us, but the Canaanites in the plains have iron chariots, both those who live in Beth Shan and its surrounding towns and those who live in Jezreel Valley.”

17 Joshua said to the tribes of Ephraim and West Manasseh, “There are indeed many of you, and you are very powerful. You shall have more than one share.

18 The hill country will be yours. Even though it is a forest, you will clear it and take possession of it from one end to the other. As for the Canaanites, you will drive them out, even though they do have iron chariots and are a strong people.”

—https://api-cdn.youversionapi.com/audio-bible-youversionapi/363/32k/JOS/17-49f7ad8ea2afbcf85186caaa370c0360.mp3?version_id=68—