I
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The LORD Speaks to Joshua
1Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,
1After Moses, the servant of the LORD, had died, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, who had been Moses' helper. He said,
2Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel.
2"Moses my servant is dead. So now get up and cross this Jordan River, you and all these people, into the land I am giving to them, to the people of Israel.
3Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses.
3Every place the sole of your foot steps on, I have given to you, just as I told Moses.
4From the wilderness and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.
4Your territory will reach from the wilderness and this Lebanon all the way to the great river, the Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and out to the great sea in the west where the sun goes down.
Be Strong and of Good Courage
5There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.
5No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you, and I will not leave you.
6Be strong and of a good courage: for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land, which I sware unto their fathers to give them.
6Be strong and brave, for you are the one who will divide up this land as an inheritance for these people, the land I swore to their ancestors that I would give them.
7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.
7Only be strong and very brave, so that you are careful to do everything in the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn away from it to the right or to the left, so that you will do well wherever you go.
8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
8This book of the law must never leave your lips. Think about it day and night, so that you are careful to do everything written in it. Then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will succeed.
9Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
9Haven't I commanded you? Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid, and do not lose heart, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
Three Days to Prepare
10Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people, saying,
10Then Joshua gave orders to the officers of the people:
11Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the LORD your God giveth you to possess it.
11"Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your food ready, because in three days you will cross this Jordan to go in and take the land the LORD your God is giving you to possess.'"
A Word to the Eastern Tribes
12And to the Reubenites, and to the Gadites, and to half the tribe of Manasseh, spake Joshua, saying,
12And to the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said,
13Remember the word which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, saying, The LORD your God hath given you rest, and hath given you this land.
13"Remember what Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you when he said, 'The LORD your God is giving you rest, and he has given you this land.'
14Your wives, your little ones, and your cattle, shall remain in the land which Moses gave you on this side Jordan; but ye shall pass before your brethren armed, all the mighty men of valour, and help them;
14Your wives, your children, and your livestock may stay in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. But all your strong fighting men must cross over armed, ahead of your brothers, and help them,
15Until the LORD have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the LORD your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the LORD’s servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising.
15until the LORD gives your brothers rest, just as he has given it to you, and they too have taken the land the LORD your God is giving them. Then you may come back to the land that is yours and enjoy it, the land Moses, the LORD's servant, gave you on the east side of the Jordan, toward the sunrise."
The People Pledge Their Loyalty
16And they answered Joshua, saying, All that thou commandest us we will do, and whithersoever thou sendest us, we will go.
16They answered Joshua, "Everything you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go.
17According as we hearkened unto Moses in all things, so will we hearken unto thee: only the LORD thy God be with thee, as he was with Moses.
17Just as we obeyed Moses in everything, so we will obey you. Only may the LORD your God be with you as he was with Moses.
18Whosoever he be that doth rebel against thy commandment, and will not hearken unto thy words in all that thou commandest him, he shall be put to death: only be strong and of a good courage.
18Whoever rebels against your command and does not obey your words in everything you order him to do will be put to death. Only be strong and brave."
II
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Two Spies Enter Jericho
1And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot’s house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
1Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men out from Shittim as spies, telling them, "Go and look over the land, especially Jericho." They went and came to the house of a prostitute named Rahab, and they stayed there.
2And it was told the king of Jericho, saying, Behold, there came men in hither to night of the children of Israel to search out the country.
2The king of Jericho was told, "Look, some Israelite men came here tonight to scout out the country."
3And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
3So the king of Jericho sent word to Rahab: "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to scout out the whole country."
Rahab Hides the Spies
4And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were:
4But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them, and she said, "Yes, some men did come to me, but I didn't know where they were from.
5And it came to pass about the time of shutting of the gate, when it was dark, that the men went out: whither the men went I wot not: pursue after them quickly; for ye shall overtake them.
5Around the time the gate was being shut, when it was dark, the men left. I don't know where they went. Hurry after them, and you will catch up with them."
6But she had brought them up to the roof of the house, and hid them with the stalks of flax, which she had laid in order upon the roof.
6But she had actually taken them up to the roof of the house and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had spread out there.
7And the men pursued after them the way to Jordan unto the fords: and as soon as they which pursued after them were gone out, they shut the gate.
7So the king's men chased after them along the road to the Jordan, toward the crossing places, and as soon as the pursuers had gone out, the gate was shut.
Rahab's Confession of Faith
8And before they were laid down, she came up unto them upon the roof;
8Before the spies had lain down for the night, she came up to them on the roof
9And she said unto the men, I know that the LORD hath given you the land, and that your terror is fallen upon us, and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you.
9and said to the men, "I know that the LORD has given you this land. Terror of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is losing heart because of you.
10For we have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red sea for you, when ye came out of Egypt; and what ye did unto the two kings of the Amorites, that were on the other side Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom ye utterly destroyed.
10We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea in front of you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites on the other side of the Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you completely destroyed.
11And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath.
11As soon as we heard it, our hearts melted, and no one had any courage left because of you. For the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below.
An Oath of Kindness
12Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
12So now, please swear to me by the LORD that, since I have shown kindness to you, you will also show kindness to my father's family. Give me a sure sign
13And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
13that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and everyone who belongs to them, and that you will rescue us from death."
14And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee.
14The men said to her, "Our lives for yours, if you do not tell anyone what we are doing. When the LORD gives us the land, we will treat you with kindness and faithfulness."
The Scarlet Cord in the Window
15Then she let them down by a cord through the window: for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall.
15Then she let them down by a rope through the window, because her house was built into the town wall, and she lived on the wall.
16And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way.
16She told them, "Head for the hills so the pursuers don't run into you. Hide there for three days until they return, and after that you can go on your way."
17And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.
17The men said to her, "We will be free of this oath you made us swear
18Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.
18unless, when we come into the land, you tie this cord of scarlet thread in the window you let us down through, and gather your father, your mother, your brothers, and your father's whole household into your house with you.
19And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
19If anyone goes out the door of your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head, and we will not be guilty. But if anyone is with you in the house, his blood will be on our heads if a hand is laid on him.
20And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
20And if you tell anyone what we are doing, then we will be free of the oath you made us swear."
21And she said, According unto your words, so be it. And she sent them away, and they departed: and she bound the scarlet line in the window.
21She said, "Let it be as you have said." Then she sent them away, and they left, and she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
The Spies Bring Back Their Report
22And they went, and came unto the mountain, and abode there three days, until the pursuers were returned: and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way, but found them not.
22They went off to the hills and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. The pursuers searched all along the road but did not find them.
23So the two men returned, and descended from the mountain, and passed over, and came to Joshua the son of Nun, and told him all things that befell them:
23Then the two men headed back. They came down from the hills, crossed the river, and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them.
24And they said unto Joshua, Truly the LORD hath delivered into our hands all the land; for even all the inhabitants of the country do faint because of us.
24They said to Joshua, "The LORD has surely handed the whole land over to us. Everyone who lives in the country is losing heart because of us."
III
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Following the Ark
1And Joshua rose early in the morning; and they removed from Shittim, and came to Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.
1Joshua got up early in the morning, and he and all the people of Israel set out from Shittim and came to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
2And it came to pass after three days, that the officers went through the host;
2After three days the officers went through the camp
3And they commanded the people, saying, When ye see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests the Levites bearing it, then ye shall remove from your place, and go after it.
3and gave the people their orders: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, with the priests, the Levites, carrying it, leave your places and follow it.
4Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure: come not near unto it, that ye may know the way by which ye must go: for ye have not passed this way heretofore.
4But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark. Do not come near it. That way you will know which road to take, because you have never traveled this way before."
Sanctify Yourselves
5And Joshua said unto the people, Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you.
5Joshua said to the people, "Make yourselves holy, because tomorrow the LORD is going to do wonders among you."
6And Joshua spake unto the priests, saying, Take up the ark of the covenant, and pass over before the people. And they took up the ark of the covenant, and went before the people.
6Then Joshua said to the priests, "Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over ahead of the people." So they took up the ark of the covenant and went ahead of the people.
God Will Lift Up Joshua
7And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.
7The LORD said to Joshua, "Today I will begin to make you great in the eyes of all Israel, so that they will know that as I was with Moses, I will be with you.
8And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
8Give this command to the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the water of the Jordan, stand still in the Jordan.'"
The Living God Among You
9And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, Come hither, and hear the words of the LORD your God.
9Then Joshua said to the people of Israel, "Come here and listen to the words of the LORD your God."
10And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.
10Joshua said, "This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out ahead of you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites.
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth passeth over before you into Jordan.
11Look, the ark of the covenant of the LORD of all the earth is going to cross into the Jordan ahead of you.
12Now therefore take you twelve men out of the tribes of Israel, out of every tribe a man.
12So now choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from each tribe.
13And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests that bear the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of Jordan, that the waters of Jordan shall be cut off from the waters that come down from above; and they shall stand upon an heap.
13And as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the LORD, the LORD of all the earth, rest in the waters of the Jordan, the water of the Jordan will be cut off from the water flowing down from upstream, and it will stand up in a heap."
The River Stands Still
14And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people;
14So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, with the priests carrying the ark of the covenant ahead of them,
15And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,)
15and when those carrying the ark reached the Jordan and the feet of the priests carrying it dipped into the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during harvest time),
16That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
16the water flowing down from upstream stopped and rose up in a heap a long way off, at the town of Adam near Zarethan. And the water flowing down toward the sea of the plain, the Salt Sea, ran out completely and was cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.
17And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.
17The priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan.
IV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Twelve Stones From the Riverbed
1And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
1When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,
2Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
2"Choose twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe,
3And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
3and give them this order: 'Pick up twelve stones from right here in the middle of the Jordan, from the spot where the priests' feet stood firm. Carry them over with you and set them down at the place where you camp tonight.'"
4Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
4So Joshua called the twelve men he had chosen from the people of Israel, one man from each tribe,
5And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
5and said to them, "Go on ahead of the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the tribes of the people of Israel.
Stones That Make Children Ask
6That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
6This will be a sign among you. In days to come, when your children ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean to you?'
7Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
7then you will tell them, 'The waters of the Jordan were cut off in front of the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' These stones will be a memorial for the people of Israel forever."
8And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
8The people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded. They picked up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, as the LORD had told Joshua, one for each of the tribes of the people of Israel, and carried them over to the place where they camped and set them down there.
9And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
9Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the spot where the feet of the priests carrying the ark of the covenant had stood, and they are still there to this day.
The Crossing Completed
10For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
10The priests carrying the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell the people was finished, in keeping with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. And the people hurried across.
11And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
11As soon as all the people had finished crossing, the ark of the LORD and the priests crossed over too, while the people watched.
12And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
12The men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed, ahead of the people of Israel, just as Moses had told them.
13About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
13About forty thousand men ready for war crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho, ready for battle.
14On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
14That day the LORD made Joshua great in the eyes of all Israel, and they respected him as they had respected Moses, all the days of his life.
The Waters Return
15And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
15Then the LORD said to Joshua,
16Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
16"Command the priests carrying the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan."
17Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
17So Joshua commanded the priests, "Come up out of the Jordan."
18And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
18And when the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up out of the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of their feet touched dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all their banks as before.
Camp at Gilgal
19And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
19The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal, on the eastern edge of Jericho.
20And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
20Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan.
Why the Stones Are There
21And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
21He said to the people of Israel, "In days to come, when your children ask their fathers, 'What do these stones mean?'
22Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
22then let your children know: 'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry land.'
23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan in front of you until you had crossed over, just as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up in front of us until we had crossed over.
24That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
24He did this so that all the peoples of the earth would know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you would fear the LORD your God forever."
V
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Kings of Canaan Lose Heart
1And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
1When all the kings of the Amorites west of the Jordan and all the kings of the Canaanites along the sea heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of the Jordan in front of the people of Israel until we had crossed over, their hearts melted, and they had no spirit left in them because of the people of Israel.
Circumcision at Gilgal
2At that time the LORD said unto Joshua, Make thee sharp knives, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.
2At that time the LORD said to Joshua, "Make yourself flint knives and circumcise the people of Israel again, a second time."
3And Joshua made him sharp knives, and circumcised the children of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
3So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the people of Israel at the hill of the foreskins.
4And this is the cause why Joshua did circumcise: All the people that came out of Egypt, that were males, even all the men of war, died in the wilderness by the way, after they came out of Egypt.
4This is the reason Joshua circumcised them: all the males who came out of Egypt, all the men of fighting age, had died in the wilderness along the way after leaving Egypt.
5Now all the people that came out were circumcised: but all the people that were born in the wilderness by the way as they came forth out of Egypt, them they had not circumcised.
5All the people who came out had been circumcised, but none of the people born in the wilderness along the way after leaving Egypt had been circumcised.
6For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people that were men of war, which came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they obeyed not the voice of the LORD: unto whom the LORD sware that he would not shew them the land, which the LORD sware unto their fathers that he would give us, a land that floweth with milk and honey.
6For the people of Israel had walked in the wilderness forty years, until all the men of fighting age who came out of Egypt had died, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD. The LORD had sworn to them that he would not let them see the land that he had sworn to their ancestors to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey.
7And their children, whom he raised up in their stead, them Joshua circumcised: for they were uncircumcised, because they had not circumcised them by the way.
7So it was their children, whom he raised up in their place, that Joshua circumcised. They were uncircumcised, because no one had circumcised them along the way.
The Reproach of Egypt Rolled Away
8And it came to pass, when they had done circumcising all the people, that they abode in their places in the camp, till they were whole.
8When the whole nation had been circumcised, they stayed where they were in the camp until they had healed.
9And the LORD said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal unto this day.
9Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the disgrace of Egypt from you." So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.
Passover and the End of the Manna
10And the children of Israel encamped in Gilgal, and kept the passover on the fourteenth day of the month at even in the plains of Jericho.
10The people of Israel camped at Gilgal, and they kept the Passover on the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, on the plains of Jericho.
11And they did eat of the old corn of the land on the morrow after the passover, unleavened cakes, and parched corn in the selfsame day.
11The day after the Passover, on that very day, they ate food from the land's harvest, unleavened bread and roasted grain.
12And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more; but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.
12The manna stopped the day after they ate from the land's harvest. The people of Israel had no more manna, but that year they ate what the land of Canaan produced.
The Commander of the LORD's Army
13And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
13When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went over to him and asked, "Are you for us, or for our enemies?"
14And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
14"Neither," he answered. "I have come now as commander of the army of the LORD." Joshua fell face down to the ground in worship and said to him, "What does my lord have to say to his servant?"
15And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.
15The commander of the LORD's army said to Joshua, "Take your sandal off your foot, because the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
VI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Battle Plan
1Now Jericho was straitly shut up because of the children of Israel: none went out, and none came in.
1Now Jericho was shut up tight because of the people of Israel. No one went out, and no one came in.
2And the LORD said unto Joshua, See, I have given into thine hand Jericho, and the king thereof, and the mighty men of valour.
2The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have handed Jericho over to you, along with its king and its strong fighting men.
3And ye shall compass the city, all ye men of war, and go round about the city once. Thus shalt thou do six days.
3You and all your fighting men are to march around the city, circling it once. Do this for six days.
4And seven priests shall bear before the ark seven trumpets of rams’ horns: and the seventh day ye shall compass the city seven times, and the priests shall blow with the trumpets.
4Seven priests are to carry seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark. On the seventh day, march around the city seven times, with the priests blowing the trumpets.
5And it shall come to pass, that when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, and when ye hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city shall fall down flat, and the people shall ascend up every man straight before him.
5When they sound a long blast on the ram's horn and you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people are to give a great shout. Then the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up, each one straight ahead."
The First Day's March
6And Joshua the son of Nun called the priests, and said unto them, Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD.
6So Joshua son of Nun called the priests and said to them, "Take up the ark of the covenant, and let seven priests carry seven trumpets of rams' horns in front of the ark of the LORD."
7And he said unto the people, Pass on, and compass the city, and let him that is armed pass on before the ark of the LORD.
7And he told the people, "Move out and march around the city, and let the armed men go ahead of the ark of the LORD."
8And it came to pass, when Joshua had spoken unto the people, that the seven priests bearing the seven trumpets of rams’ horns passed on before the LORD, and blew with the trumpets: and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
8When Joshua had finished speaking to the people, the seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns went forward before the LORD and blew the trumpets, and the ark of the covenant of the LORD followed them.
9And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
9The armed men went ahead of the priests who were blowing the trumpets, and the rear guard followed the ark, while the trumpets kept sounding as the priests went along.
10And Joshua had commanded the people, saying, Ye shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall ye shout.
10But Joshua had ordered the people, "Do not shout or raise your voices. Do not let a word come out of your mouths until the day I tell you to shout. Then shout."
11So the ark of the LORD compassed the city, going about it once: and they came into the camp, and lodged in the camp.
11So he had the ark of the LORD carried around the city, circling it once. Then they came back to the camp and spent the night there.
Seven Days, Seven Circuits
12And Joshua rose early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
12Joshua got up early in the morning, and the priests took up the ark of the LORD.
13And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets.
13The seven priests carrying the seven trumpets of rams' horns walked steadily on ahead of the ark of the LORD, blowing the trumpets. The armed men went ahead of them, and the rear guard followed the ark of the LORD, while the trumpets kept sounding as the priests went along.
14And the second day they compassed the city once, and returned into the camp: so they did six days.
14On the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. They did this for six days.
15And it came to pass on the seventh day, that they rose early about the dawning of the day, and compassed the city after the same manner seven times: only on that day they compassed the city seven times.
15On the seventh day they got up at dawn and marched around the city in the same way, seven times. Only on that day did they circle the city seven times.
16And it came to pass at the seventh time, when the priests blew with the trumpets, Joshua said unto the people, Shout; for the LORD hath given you the city.
16The seventh time around, when the priests blew the trumpets, Joshua said to the people, "Shout! For the LORD has given you the city.
Devoted to Destruction
17And the city shall be accursed, even it, and all that are therein, to the LORD: only Rahab the harlot shall live, she and all that are with her in the house, because she hid the messengers that we sent.
17The city and everything in it are to be devoted to the LORD for destruction. Only Rahab the prostitute is to live, she and everyone with her in her house, because she hid the messengers we sent.
18And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it.
18But keep yourselves away from the things devoted to destruction, or you will bring destruction on yourselves by taking any of them, and you will bring a curse on the camp of Israel and cause it trouble.
19But all the silver, and gold, and vessels of brass and iron, are consecrated unto the LORD: they shall come into the treasury of the LORD.
19All the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron are set apart to the LORD. They must go into the LORD's treasury."
The Wall Falls
20So the people shouted when the priests blew with the trumpets: and it came to pass, when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, and the people shouted with a great shout, that the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.
20So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. When the people heard the sound of the trumpet and raised a great shout, the wall fell down flat, and the people went up into the city, each one straight ahead, and they took the city.
21And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword.
21They completely destroyed everything in the city with the sword: men and women, young and old, cattle, sheep, and donkeys.
Rahab Is Rescued
22But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot’s house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her.
22But Joshua had told the two men who had spied out the land, "Go into the prostitute's house and bring out the woman and everyone who belongs to her, as you swore to her."
23And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel.
23So the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and everyone who belonged to her. They brought out her whole family and placed them outside the camp of Israel.
24And they burnt the city with fire, and all that was therein: only the silver, and the gold, and the vessels of brass and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
24Then they burned the city and everything in it. Only the silver and gold and the articles of bronze and iron did they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD.
25And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father’s household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
25But Joshua spared Rahab the prostitute, her father's household, and everyone who belonged to her, and she has lived among the Israelites to this day, because she hid the messengers Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
The Curse on Jericho
26And Joshua adjured them at that time, saying, Cursed be the man before the LORD, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho: he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it.
26At that time Joshua made them swear an oath: "Cursed before the LORD is the man who rises up to rebuild this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn he will lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son he will set up its gates."
27So the LORD was with Joshua; and his fame was noised throughout all the country.
27So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread through the whole country.
VII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Defeat at a Small Town
1But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the anger of the LORD was kindled against the children of Israel.
1But the people of Israel broke faith with regard to the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of the devoted things, and the anger of the LORD burned against the people of Israel.
2And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
2Now Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is near Beth-aven, east of Bethel, and told them, "Go up and scout out the country." So the men went up and scouted out Ai.
3And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few.
3They came back to Joshua and said, "Don't send all the people up. Two or three thousand men are enough to go up and strike Ai. Don't wear out all the people going there, because the people of Ai are few."
4So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they fled before the men of Ai.
4So about three thousand men from the people went up, but they ran from the men of Ai.
5And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the hearts of the people melted, and became as water.
5The men of Ai killed about thirty-six of them, chasing them from the gate as far as Shebarim and striking them down on the slope. At this the hearts of the people melted and became like water.
Joshua Face Down Before the Ark
6And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
6Joshua tore his clothes and fell face down to the ground before the ark of the LORD until evening, he and the elders of Israel, and they put dust on their heads.
7And Joshua said, Alas, O LORD God, wherefore hast thou at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
7Joshua said, "Oh, Lord GOD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan, only to hand us over to the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!
8O LORD, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
8O Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned and run from its enemies?
9For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
9The Canaanites and everyone else who lives in the land will hear about it, and they will surround us and wipe our name off the earth. Then what will you do for your own great name?"
The LORD Names the Problem
10And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
10The LORD said to Joshua, "Get up! Why are you lying there on your face?
11Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
11Israel has sinned. They have broken my covenant that I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, and they have hidden them among their own belongings.
12Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
12That is why the people of Israel cannot stand against their enemies. They turn and run from their enemies because they themselves have become devoted to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13Up, sanctify the people, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
13Get up and make the people holy. Tell them, 'Make yourselves holy for tomorrow, because this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove the devoted things from among you.
14In the morning therefore ye shall be brought according to your tribes: and it shall be, that the tribe which the LORD taketh shall come according to the families thereof; and the family which the LORD shall take shall come by households; and the household which the LORD shall take shall come man by man.
14In the morning you will come forward tribe by tribe. The tribe the LORD picks out will come forward clan by clan; the clan the LORD picks out will come forward household by household; and the household the LORD picks out will come forward man by man.
15And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
15The one who is caught with the devoted things will be burned with fire, he and everything he has, because he has broken the covenant of the LORD and has done a shameful thing in Israel.'"
The Lot Narrows to One Man
16So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken:
16So Joshua got up early in the morning and brought Israel forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was picked out.
17And he brought the family of Judah; and he took the family of the Zarhites: and he brought the family of the Zarhites man by man; and Zabdi was taken:
17He brought the clans of Judah forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was picked out. He brought the clan of the Zerahites forward man by man, and Zabdi was picked out.
18And he brought his household man by man; and Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was taken.
18He brought Zabdi's household forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, son of Zabdi, son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was picked out.
Achan Confesses
19And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
19Then Joshua said to Achan, "My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and confess to him. Tell me now what you have done. Do not hide it from me."
20And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
20Achan answered Joshua, "It is true. I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel, and this is what I did:
21When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
21I saw among the plunder a beautiful robe from Babylon, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels. I wanted them, so I took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath."
22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
22So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran to the tent, and there it was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath.
23And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.
23They took the things out of the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the people of Israel, and spread them out before the LORD.
The Valley of Achor
24And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
24Then Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan son of Zerah, along with the silver, the robe, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his cattle, donkeys, and sheep, his tent, and everything he had, and they brought them to the Valley of Achor.
25And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
25Joshua said, "Why have you brought trouble on us? The LORD will bring trouble on you today." Then all Israel stoned him, and after they had stoned them, they burned them with fire.
26And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
26They raised a great heap of stones over him, which is still there to this day. Then the LORD turned from his fierce anger. That is why the place has been called the Valley of Achor to this day.
VIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Plan to Take Ai
1And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear not, neither be thou dismayed: take all the people of war with thee, and arise, go up to Ai: see, I have given into thy hand the king of Ai, and his people, and his city, and his land:
1The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid or lose heart. Take all the fighting men with you, get up, and go up to Ai. Look, I have handed over to you the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land.
2And thou shalt do to Ai and her king as thou didst unto Jericho and her king: only the spoil thereof, and the cattle thereof, shall ye take for a prey unto yourselves: lay thee an ambush for the city behind it.
2You are to treat Ai and its king the way you treated Jericho and its king, except that this time you may keep its goods and livestock as plunder for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city."
3So Joshua arose, and all the people of war, to go up against Ai: and Joshua chose out thirty thousand mighty men of valour, and sent them away by night.
3So Joshua and all the fighting men got ready to go up against Ai. Joshua picked thirty thousand brave warriors and sent them out by night.
4And he commanded them, saying, Behold, ye shall lie in wait against the city, even behind the city: go not very far from the city, but be ye all ready:
4He gave them these orders: "Listen, you are to lie in wait against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, and all of you stay ready.
5And I, and all the people that are with me, will approach unto the city: and it shall come to pass, when they come out against us, as at the first, that we will flee before them,
5I and all the people with me will march up to the city, and when they come out to meet us as they did the first time, we will run from them.
6(For they will come out after us) till we have drawn them from the city; for they will say, They flee before us, as at the first: therefore we will flee before them.
6They will chase after us until we have drawn them away from the city, because they will say, 'They are running from us just like before.' So we will run from them.
7Then ye shall rise up from the ambush, and seize upon the city: for the LORD your God will deliver it into your hand.
7Then you are to rise from the ambush and take the city, for the LORD your God will hand it over to you.
8And it shall be, when ye have taken the city, that ye shall set the city on fire: according to the commandment of the LORD shall ye do. See, I have commanded you.
8Once you have taken the city, set it on fire. Do just as the LORD has commanded. See to it; those are my orders."
9Joshua therefore sent them forth: and they went to lie in ambush, and abode between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai: but Joshua lodged that night among the people.
9So Joshua sent them out, and they went to their ambush position and waited between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of Ai. Joshua spent that night among the people.
The Bait Is Taken
10And Joshua rose up early in the morning, and numbered the people, and went up, he and the elders of Israel, before the people to Ai.
10Early the next morning Joshua got up and mustered the people, and he and the elders of Israel went up ahead of the people toward Ai.
11And all the people, even the people of war that were with him, went up, and drew nigh, and came before the city, and pitched on the north side of Ai: now there was a valley between them and Ai.
11All the fighting men with him marched up, drew near, and arrived in front of the city. They camped on the north side of Ai, with a valley between them and the city.
12And he took about five thousand men, and set them to lie in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
12He took about five thousand men and stationed them in ambush between Bethel and Ai, on the west side of the city.
13And when they had set the people, even all the host that was on the north of the city, and their liers in wait on the west of the city, Joshua went that night into the midst of the valley.
13So the people were in position: the whole army on the north of the city and the ambush on the west of the city. That night Joshua went down into the middle of the valley.
14And it came to pass, when the king of Ai saw it, that they hasted and rose up early, and the men of the city went out against Israel to battle, he and all his people, at a time appointed, before the plain; but he wist not that there were liers in ambush against him behind the city.
14When the king of Ai saw this, he and the men of the city hurried out early to fight Israel, he and all his people, at a chosen spot facing the plain. But he did not know that an ambush was waiting for him behind the city.
15And Joshua and all Israel made as if they were beaten before them, and fled by the way of the wilderness.
15Joshua and all Israel let themselves look beaten before them and ran off toward the wilderness.
16And all the people that were in Ai were called together to pursue after them: and they pursued after Joshua, and were drawn away from the city.
16Every man in Ai was called out to chase them, and as they chased Joshua they were drawn away from the city.
17And there was not a man left in Ai or Bethel, that went not out after Israel: and they left the city open, and pursued after Israel.
17Not a man was left in Ai or Bethel who did not go out after Israel. They left the city wide open and went chasing Israel.
The Ambush Springs
18And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.
18Then the LORD said to Joshua, "Hold out the spear in your hand toward Ai, for I am going to hand it over to you." So Joshua held out the spear in his hand toward the city.
19And the ambush arose quickly out of their place, and they ran as soon as he had stretched out his hand: and they entered into the city, and took it, and hasted and set the city on fire.
19The moment he stretched out his hand, the men in ambush sprang up from their place and ran. They entered the city, captured it, and quickly set it on fire.
20And when the men of Ai looked behind them, they saw, and, behold, the smoke of the city ascended up to heaven, and they had no power to flee this way or that way: and the people that fled to the wilderness turned back upon the pursuers.
20When the men of Ai looked back, they saw the smoke of the city rising up to the sky, and they had no way to escape in any direction, because the Israelites who had been running toward the wilderness turned around on their pursuers.
21And when Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had taken the city, and that the smoke of the city ascended, then they turned again, and slew the men of Ai.
21When Joshua and all Israel saw that the ambush had captured the city and that smoke was rising from it, they turned back and struck down the men of Ai.
22And the other issued out of the city against them; so they were in the midst of Israel, some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote them, so that they let none of them remain or escape.
22The others came out of the city to meet them, so the men of Ai were caught in the middle, with Israelites on both sides. Israel struck them down until not one of them was left alive or got away.
23And the king of Ai they took alive, and brought him to Joshua.
23But they captured the king of Ai alive and brought him to Joshua.
Ai Left in Ruins
24And it came to pass, when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field, in the wilderness wherein they chased them, and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword, until they were consumed, that all the Israelites returned unto Ai, and smote it with the edge of the sword.
24When Israel had finished killing all the inhabitants of Ai in the open country and the wilderness where they had chased them, and every one of them had fallen by the sword until they were wiped out, all the Israelites went back to Ai and put it to the sword.
25And so it was, that all that fell that day, both of men and women, were twelve thousand, even all the men of Ai.
25The total who fell that day, men and women together, was twelve thousand, all the people of Ai.
26For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.
26Joshua did not lower the hand holding out the spear until he had completely destroyed everyone who lived in Ai.
27Only the cattle and the spoil of that city Israel took for a prey unto themselves, according unto the word of the LORD which he commanded Joshua.
27Israel kept only the livestock and the goods of that city as plunder for themselves, as the LORD had instructed Joshua.
28And Joshua burnt Ai, and made it an heap for ever, even a desolation unto this day.
28Joshua burned Ai and made it a permanent mound of ruins, a wasteland to this day.
29And the king of Ai he hanged on a tree until eventide: and as soon as the sun was down, Joshua commanded that they should take his carcase down from the tree, and cast it at the entering of the gate of the city, and raise thereon a great heap of stones, that remaineth unto this day.
29He hung the king of Ai on a tree until evening, and at sunset Joshua ordered his body taken down from the tree and thrown down at the entrance of the city gate. They piled a great heap of stones over it, which is still there today.
The Altar on Mount Ebal
30Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,
30Then Joshua built an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal,
31As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.
31just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the people of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses: an altar of uncut stones that no iron tool had touched. On it they offered burnt offerings to the LORD and sacrificed peace offerings.
32And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.
32There, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses.
33And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel.
33All Israel, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark, facing the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Foreigners and native-born alike were there, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded earlier for the blessing of the people of Israel.
34And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law.
34Afterward he read aloud all the words of the law, the blessings and the curses, exactly as they are written in the book of the law.
35There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
35There was not one word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read out before the whole assembly of Israel, including the women, the little children, and the foreigners who lived among them.
IX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Ambassadors in Worn-Out Shoes
1And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
1Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about this, those in the hill country, the lowlands, and all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites,
2That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
2they joined forces to fight against Joshua and Israel with one united purpose.
3And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
3But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,
4They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
4they came up with a clever trick. They went off pretending to be messengers from far away, loading their donkeys with worn-out sacks and old wineskins that were cracked and patched.
5And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
5They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and shabby clothes, and all the bread they carried was dry and moldy.
6And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.
6They went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country. Now make a treaty with us."
A Story Told Just Right
7And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
7The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Maybe you actually live near us. How could we make a treaty with you?"
8And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
8They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"
9And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,
9They answered him, "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the name of the LORD your God. We have heard reports of him, of everything he did in Egypt,
10And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
10and of everything he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, Sihon king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan, who ruled at Ashtaroth.
11Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
11So our elders and everyone in our country told us, 'Take food for the journey and go to meet them. Say to them, "We are your servants; now make a treaty with us."'
12This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
12This bread of ours was still warm when we packed it at home on the day we set out to come to you. Now look, it is dry and moldy.
13And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.
13These wineskins were new when we filled them, and look, they are cracked. Our clothes and our sandals are worn out from the very long journey."
A Treaty Without a Question
14And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
14The men of Israel sampled their food, but they did not ask the LORD for his guidance.
15And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
15So Joshua made peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.
The Truth Comes Out
16And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
16Three days after they had made the treaty, the Israelites learned that these people were their neighbors and lived right among them.
17And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
17The Israelites set out and reached their cities on the third day. Their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
18And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole community grumbled against the leaders,
19But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
19but all the leaders said to the whole community, "We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, so now we cannot touch them.
20This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
20This is what we will do with them: we will let them live, so that no wrath falls on us for breaking the oath we swore to them."
21And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
21The leaders went on, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community." So the leaders kept the promise they had made.
Servants at the Altar
22And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
22Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said to them, "Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live very far from you,' when in fact you live right among us?
23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
23Now you are under a curse. You will never be released from slavery; you will be woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."
24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
24They answered Joshua, "Your servants were told for certain that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out everyone living in it ahead of you. So we were terrified for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.
25And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
25Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you."
26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
26So that is what Joshua did for them: he rescued them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them.
27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
27That day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD, at the place the LORD would choose. And so they remain to this day.
X
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Five Kings Against Gibeon
1Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;
1Now Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and completely destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king what he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living among them.
2That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
2He and his people were very afraid, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities; it was bigger than Ai, and all its men were strong fighters.
3Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,
3So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent a message to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon:
4Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.
4"Come up and help me attack Gibeon, because it has made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel."
5Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
5So the five Amorite kings, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, joined forces and marched up with all their armies. They camped in front of Gibeon and attacked it.
6And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
6The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us. Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined together against us."
7So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.
7So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his whole army, including all his brave warriors.
Hailstones on the Road to Beth-horon
8And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.
8The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. I have handed them over to you; not one of them will be able to stand against you."
9Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.
9After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua came upon them by surprise.
10And the LORD discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
10The LORD threw them into panic before Israel, and Israel dealt them a crushing defeat at Gibeon. They chased them along the road that climbs to Beth-horon and struck them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.
11And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.
11As they fled from Israel down the slope from Beth-horon, the LORD hurled huge stones down on them from the sky all the way to Azekah, and they died. More of them were killed by the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.
Sun, Stand Still
12Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
12On the day the LORD handed the Amorites over to the people of Israel, Joshua spoke to the LORD, and in the sight of Israel he said, "Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and you, Moon, over the valley of Aijalon."
13And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
13And the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation had taken revenge on its enemies. Isn't this written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
14And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.
14There has never been a day like it, before or since, when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD was fighting for Israel.
15And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
15Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.
Five Kings in a Cave
16But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
16Meanwhile the five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
17And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.
17Joshua was told, "The five kings have been found hiding in a cave at Makkedah."
18And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:
18Joshua said, "Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave and post men there to guard it.
19And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.
19But do not stop yourselves; go after your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them get back into their cities, for the LORD your God has handed them over to you."
20And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.
20When Joshua and the Israelites had finished dealing them a crushing defeat, wiping them out almost entirely, the few survivors slipped away into their fortified cities.
21And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
21Then the whole army came back safely to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah, and no one dared say a word against any of the people of Israel.
The Kings Brought Out
22Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.
22Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me."
23And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
23So they did. They brought the five kings out of the cave to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
24When they had brought the kings out to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had gone with him, "Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came forward and put their feet on their necks.
25And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
25Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or lose heart. Be strong and brave, because this is what the LORD will do to all the enemies you fight."
26And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.
26Afterward Joshua struck the kings down and killed them, and he hung them on five trees, where they stayed hanging until evening.
27And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.
27At sunset Joshua gave the order, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. They set large stones over the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this very day.
City After City in the South
28And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
28That same day Joshua captured Makkedah and put it and its king to the sword. He completely destroyed everyone in it and left no survivors, and he did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho.
29Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:
29Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it.
30And the LORD delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
30The LORD handed that city and its king over to Israel too. Joshua put it and everyone in it to the sword, leaving no survivors, and he did to its king what he had done to the king of Jericho.
31And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:
31Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish. They camped against it and attacked it,
32And the LORD delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
32and the LORD handed Lachish over to Israel. Joshua captured it on the second day and put it and everyone in it to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah.
33Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.
33Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army until no survivor was left.
34And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:
34Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon. They camped against it and attacked it,
35And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
35and they captured it that same day and put it to the sword. He completely destroyed everyone in it that day, just as he had done to Lachish.
36And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:
36Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it.
37And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
37They captured it and put it to the sword, along with its king, all its villages, and everyone in it. He left no survivors, just as he had done to Eglon; he completely destroyed it and everyone in it.
38And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:
38Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back toward Debir and attacked it.
39And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
39He captured it, its king, and all its villages, and they put them to the sword and completely destroyed everyone in it, leaving no survivors. He did to Debir and its king what he had done to Hebron, and what he had done to Libnah and its king.
The Whole South Taken
40So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded.
40So Joshua conquered the whole region: the hill country, the south, the lowlands, and the slopes, along with all their kings. He left no survivors but completely destroyed everything that breathed, as the LORD, the God of Israel, had commanded.
41And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.
41Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea all the way to Gaza, and the whole region of Goshen as far as Gibeon.
42And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.
42Joshua captured all these kings and their lands in a single campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
43And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.
43Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.
XI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
A Coalition From the North
1And it came to pass, when Jabin king of Hazor had heard those things, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, and to the king of Shimron, and to the king of Achshaph,
1When Jabin king of Hazor heard about all this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph,
2And to the kings that were on the north of the mountains, and of the plains south of Chinneroth, and in the valley, and in the borders of Dor on the west,
2and to the kings in the northern hill country, in the plain south of Chinneroth, in the lowlands, and in the heights of Dor on the west;
3And to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and to the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the mountains, and to the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpeh.
3to the Canaanites in the east and the west, to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country, and to the Hivites below Hermon in the land of Mizpah.
4And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many.
4They marched out with all their armies, a huge force as numerous as the sand on the seashore, with a great many horses and chariots.
5And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.
5All these kings joined forces and came and camped together at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.
The Waters of Merom
6And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
6The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand them all over to Israel, slain. You are to cripple their horses and burn their chariots."
7So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.
7So Joshua and his whole army came upon them suddenly at the waters of Merom and attacked them.
8And the LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them unto great Zidon, and unto Misrephothmaim, and unto the valley of Mizpeh eastward; and they smote them, until they left them none remaining.
8The LORD handed them over to Israel, who struck them down and chased them as far as Great Sidon, Misrephoth-maim, and the valley of Mizpah to the east. They struck them down until no survivor was left.
9And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.
9Joshua did to them what the LORD had told him: he crippled their horses and burned their chariots.
Hazor Burned
10And Joshua at that time turned back, and took Hazor, and smote the king thereof with the sword: for Hazor beforetime was the head of all those kingdoms.
10At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and killed its king with the sword, for Hazor had once been the head of all those kingdoms.
11And they smote all the souls that were therein with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them: there was not any left to breathe: and he burnt Hazor with fire.
11They put everyone in it to the sword, completely destroying them; not a living soul was left. Then he burned Hazor to the ground.
12And all the cities of those kings, and all the kings of them, did Joshua take, and smote them with the edge of the sword, and he utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded.
12Joshua captured all the cities of those kings, along with their kings, and put them to the sword, completely destroying them, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded.
13But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.
13But Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua did burn.
14And all the spoil of these cities, and the cattle, the children of Israel took for a prey unto themselves; but every man they smote with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them, neither left they any to breathe.
14The Israelites kept all the goods and livestock of these cities as plunder for themselves, but they put every person to the sword until they had destroyed them, leaving no one who breathed.
15As the LORD commanded Moses his servant, so did Moses command Joshua, and so did Joshua; he left nothing undone of all that the LORD commanded Moses.
15Just as the LORD had commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He left nothing undone of all that the LORD had commanded Moses.
A Long War
16So Joshua took all that land, the hills, and all the south country, and all the land of Goshen, and the valley, and the plain, and the mountain of Israel, and the valley of the same;
16So Joshua took the whole land: the hill country, all the south, the whole region of Goshen, the lowlands, the plain, and the hill country of Israel with its lowlands,
17Even from the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon under mount Hermon: and all their kings he took, and smote them, and slew them.
17from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, all the way to Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He captured all their kings and struck them down and put them to death.
18Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.
18Joshua waged war against all those kings for a long time.
19There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, save the Hivites the inhabitants of Gibeon: all other they took in battle.
19Not one city made peace with the people of Israel except the Hivites who lived in Gibeon; all the rest they took in battle.
20For it was of the LORD to harden their hearts, that they should come against Israel in battle, that he might destroy them utterly, and that they might have no favour, but that he might destroy them, as the LORD commanded Moses.
20For it was the LORD who hardened their hearts to go to war against Israel, so that he could destroy them completely, showing them no mercy, but wiping them out as the LORD had commanded Moses.
The Land Rested From War
21And at that time came Joshua, and cut off the Anakims from the mountains, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the mountains of Judah, and from all the mountains of Israel: Joshua destroyed them utterly with their cities.
21At that time Joshua went and wiped out the Anakim from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir, and Anab, from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua completely destroyed them along with their cities.
22There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
22No Anakim were left in the land of the people of Israel; only in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod did any remain.
23So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.
23So Joshua took the entire land, just as the LORD had promised Moses, and Joshua gave it to Israel as an inheritance, divided among their tribes. And the land had rest from war.
XII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Kings East of the Jordan
1Now these are the kings of the land, which the children of Israel smote, and possessed their land on the other side Jordan toward the rising of the sun, from the river Arnon unto mount Hermon, and all the plain on the east:
1These are the kings of the land whom the people of Israel defeated, whose territory they took over east of the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the Arnon River to Mount Hermon, including the whole eastern plain:
2Sihon king of the Amorites, who dwelt in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and from the middle of the river, and from half Gilead, even unto the river Jabbok, which is the border of the children of Ammon;
2Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon. He ruled from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon River valley, from the middle of the valley, and over half of Gilead as far as the Jabbok River, the border of the Ammonites;
3And from the plain to the sea of Chinneroth on the east, and unto the sea of the plain, even the salt sea on the east, the way to Bethjeshimoth; and from the south, under Ashdothpisgah:
3and over the plain to the Sea of Chinneroth on the east, and down to the Sea of the Plain, the Salt Sea, on the east, on the road to Beth-jeshimoth; and southward below the slopes of Pisgah.
4And the coast of Og king of Bashan, which was of the remnant of the giants, that dwelt at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,
4Also the territory of Og king of Bashan, one of the last of the giants, who lived at Ashtaroth and Edrei
5And reigned in mount Hermon, and in Salcah, and in all Bashan, unto the border of the Geshurites and the Maachathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
5and ruled over Mount Hermon, Salcah, and all of Bashan up to the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and over half of Gilead to the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.
6Them did Moses the servant of the LORD and the children of Israel smite: and Moses the servant of the LORD gave it for a possession unto the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh.
6Moses the servant of the LORD and the people of Israel defeated these kings, and Moses the servant of the LORD gave their land as a possession to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.
The Kings West of the Jordan
7And these are the kings of the country which Joshua and the children of Israel smote on this side Jordan on the west, from Baalgad in the valley of Lebanon even unto the mount Halak, that goeth up to Seir; which Joshua gave unto the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;
7And these are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the people of Israel defeated west of the Jordan, from Baal-gad in the valley of Lebanon to Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir. Joshua gave their land to the tribes of Israel as a possession according to their divisions,
8In the mountains, and in the valleys, and in the plains, and in the springs, and in the wilderness, and in the south country; the Hittites, the Amorites, and the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites:
8in the hill country, the lowlands, the plain, the slopes, the wilderness, and the south: the land of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.
A Roll Call of Defeated Kings
9The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;
9The king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, near Bethel, one;
10The king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
10the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;
11The king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
11the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;
12The king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
12the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;
13The king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
13the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;
14The king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
14the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;
15The king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
15the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
16The king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
16the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;
Thirty-One Kings in All
17The king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
17the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;
18The king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
18the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lasharon, one;
19The king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
19the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;
20The king of Shimronmeron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
20the king of Shimron-meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;
21The king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
21the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;
22The king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam of Carmel, one;
22the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;
23The king of Dor in the coast of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
23the king of Dor in the heights of Dor, one; the king of the nations of Gilgal, one;
24The king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty and one.
24the king of Tirzah, one. Thirty-one kings in all.
XIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Much Land Still Remains
1Now Joshua was old and stricken in years; and the LORD said unto him, Thou art old and stricken in years, and there remaineth yet very much land to be possessed.
1Now Joshua was old and well along in years, and the LORD said to him, "You are old and well along in years, and there is still a great deal of land left to take possession of.
2This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,
2This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines and all of Geshur,
3From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
3from the Shihor east of Egypt north to the border of Ekron, which is counted as Canaanite territory; the five Philistine rulers of Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath and Ekron; and also the Avvites;
4From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:
4in the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah, which belongs to the Sidonians, as far as Aphek and the border of the Amorites;
5And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.
5and the land of the Gebalites and all of Lebanon toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad below Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath.
6All the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon unto Misrephothmaim, and all the Sidonians, them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only divide thou it by lot unto the Israelites for an inheritance, as I have commanded thee.
6As for everyone living in the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, all the Sidonians, I myself will drive them out ahead of the people of Israel. You have only to divide the land by lot among the Israelites as their inheritance, just as I have commanded you.
7Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
7So now, divide this land as an inheritance among the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh."
The Two and a Half Tribes East of the Jordan
8With whom the Reubenites and the Gadites have received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of the LORD gave them;
8The other half of Manasseh, along with the Reubenites and the Gadites, had already received the inheritance Moses gave them east of the Jordan, exactly as Moses the servant of the LORD had given it to them:
9From Aroer, that is upon the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain of Medeba unto Dibon;
9from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley, and the town in the middle of the valley, and the whole plateau of Medeba as far as Dibon;
10And all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, unto the border of the children of Ammon;
10and all the towns of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon, out to the border of the Ammonites;
11And Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maachathites, and all mount Hermon, and all Bashan unto Salcah;
11and Gilead, the territory of the Geshurites and Maacathites, all of Mount Hermon, and all of Bashan as far as Salecah;
12All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.
12the whole kingdom of Og in Bashan, who ruled in Ashtaroth and Edrei and was one of the last of the giants. Moses had defeated these peoples and driven them out.
13Nevertheless the children of Israel expelled not the Geshurites, nor the Maachathites: but the Geshurites and the Maachathites dwell among the Israelites until this day.
13But the people of Israel did not drive out the Geshurites or the Maacathites, so Geshur and Maacah still live among the Israelites to this day.
14Only unto the tribe of Levi he gave none inheritance; the sacrifices of the LORD God of Israel made by fire are their inheritance, as he said unto them.
14To the tribe of Levi alone he gave no inheritance; the offerings made by fire to the LORD, the God of Israel, are their inheritance, as he promised them.
Reuben's Inheritance
15And Moses gave unto the tribe of the children of Reuben inheritance according to their families.
15Moses gave the tribe of Reuben its inheritance, family by family.
16And their coast was from Aroer, that is on the bank of the river Arnon, and the city that is in the midst of the river, and all the plain by Medeba;
16Their territory ran from Aroer on the edge of the Arnon Valley, and the town in the middle of the valley, and the whole plateau by Medeba;
17Heshbon, and all her cities that are in the plain; Dibon, and Bamothbaal, and Bethbaalmeon,
17Heshbon and all its towns on the plateau: Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,
18And Jahaza, and Kedemoth, and Mephaath,
18Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,
19And Kirjathaim, and Sibmah, and Zarethshahar in the mount of the valley,
19Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar on the hill of the valley,
20And Bethpeor, and Ashdothpisgah, and Bethjeshimoth,
20Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, and Beth Jeshimoth,
21And all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, which reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses smote with the princes of Midian, Evi, and Rekem, and Zur, and Hur, and Reba, which were dukes of Sihon, dwelling in the country.
21all the towns of the plateau and the whole kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who ruled in Heshbon. Moses had defeated him together with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba, princes under Sihon who lived in that country.
22Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, did the children of Israel slay with the sword among them that were slain by them.
22The people of Israel also put Balaam son of Beor, the fortune-teller, to the sword along with the others they killed.
23And the border of the children of Reuben was Jordan, and the border thereof. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben after their families, the cities and the villages thereof.
23The boundary of the Reubenites was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the people of Reuben by their families, with its towns and villages.
Gad's Inheritance
24And Moses gave inheritance unto the tribe of Gad, even unto the children of Gad according to their families.
24Moses gave the tribe of Gad, the people of Gad, their inheritance, family by family.
25And their coast was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, unto Aroer that is before Rabbah;
25Their territory was Jazer, all the towns of Gilead, and half the land of the Ammonites as far as Aroer near Rabbah;
26And from Heshbon unto Ramathmizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim unto the border of Debir;
26and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpah and Betonim, and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;
27And in the valley, Betharam, and Bethnimrah, and Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, Jordan and his border, even unto the edge of the sea of Chinnereth on the other side Jordan eastward.
27and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, with the Jordan as the boundary, up to the lower end of the Sea of Chinnereth, on the east side of the Jordan.
28This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families, the cities, and their villages.
28This is the inheritance of the people of Gad by their families, with its towns and villages.
East Manasseh, and Levi's Portion
29And Moses gave inheritance unto the half tribe of Manasseh: and this was the possession of the half tribe of the children of Manasseh by their families.
29Moses gave the half tribe of Manasseh its inheritance; this was the property of the half tribe of the people of Manasseh, by their families.
30And their coast was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, threescore cities:
30Their territory ran from Mahanaim and took in all of Bashan, the whole kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the settlements of Jair in Bashan, sixty towns in all;
31And half Gilead, and Ashtaroth, and Edrei, cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were pertaining unto the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even to the one half of the children of Machir by their families.
31and half of Gilead, and Ashtaroth and Edrei, the royal cities of Og in Bashan. This went to the descendants of Machir son of Manasseh, to half of the Machirites, by their families.
32These are the countries which Moses did distribute for inheritance in the plains of Moab, on the other side Jordan, by Jericho, eastward.
32These are the lands Moses handed out as an inheritance on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan across from Jericho.
33But unto the tribe of Levi Moses gave not any inheritance: the LORD God of Israel was their inheritance, as he said unto them.
33But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance; the LORD, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he promised them.
XIV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Dividing Canaan by Lot
1And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
1These are the lands the people of Israel received as their inheritance in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel handed out to them.
2By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
2Their inheritance was assigned by lot, as the LORD had commanded through Moses, for the nine tribes and the half tribe.
3For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
3For Moses had already given two tribes and a half tribe their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan, but he gave the Levites no inheritance among them.
4For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
4The descendants of Joseph counted as two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, so the Levites were given no share of the land, only towns to live in, with their surrounding pastures for their livestock and their goods.
5As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
5The people of Israel did just as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided up the land.
Caleb Recalls the Promise
6Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
6Then the men of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God about you and me at Kadesh Barnea.
7Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
7I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to scout out the land, and I brought him back a report that was honest to my heart.
8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
8My fellow scouts who went up with me made the people's hearts melt with fear, but I followed the LORD my God with my whole heart.
9And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
9That day Moses swore an oath: 'The land your feet have walked on will surely be your inheritance and your children's forever, because you have followed the LORD my God with your whole heart.'
Give Me This Hill Country
10And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
10And now look, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the LORD spoke this word to Moses while Israel wandered in the wilderness. And here I am today, eighty-five years old.
11As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
11I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. My strength now is what it was then, for battle and for coming and going.
12Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.
12So give me this hill country the LORD spoke of that day. You heard back then that the Anakim were there and that the cities were large and walled. If the LORD is with me, I will drive them out, just as the LORD said."
Hebron Given to Caleb
13And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
13Then Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his inheritance.
14Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.
14That is why Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day: because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, with his whole heart.
15And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
15Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba, named after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.
XV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Judah's Southern Border
1This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast.
1The lot for the tribe of Judah, by their families, reached down to the border of Edom, to the wilderness of Zin in the far south.
2And their south border was from the shore of the salt sea, from the bay that looketh southward:
2Their southern boundary began at the tip of the Salt Sea, from the bay that faces south,
3And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
3ran south of the Scorpion Pass, continued on to Zin, climbed south of Kadesh Barnea, went on to Hezron, up to Addar, and curved around to Karka.
4From thence it passed toward Azmon, and went out unto the river of Egypt; and the goings out of that coast were at the sea: this shall be your south coast.
4From there it went on to Azmon, came out at the Brook of Egypt, and ended at the sea. This is your southern boundary.
The East, North, and West Borders
5And the east border was the salt sea, even unto the end of Jordan. And their border in the north quarter was from the bay of the sea at the uttermost part of Jordan:
5The eastern boundary was the Salt Sea up to the mouth of the Jordan. The northern boundary started from the bay of the sea at the mouth of the Jordan,
6And the border went up to Bethhogla, and passed along by the north of Betharabah; and the border went up to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben:
6went up to Beth Hoglah, passed north of Beth Arabah, and climbed to the Stone of Bohan son of Reuben.
7And the border went up toward Debir from the valley of Achor, and so northward, looking toward Gilgal, that is before the going up to Adummim, which is on the south side of the river: and the border passed toward the waters of Enshemesh, and the goings out thereof were at Enrogel:
7Then the boundary went up toward Debir from the Valley of Achor and turned north toward Gilgal, which faces the Pass of Adummim on the south side of the ravine; it went on to the waters of En Shemesh and came out at En Rogel.
8And the border went up by the valley of the son of Hinnom unto the south side of the Jebusite; the same is Jerusalem: and the border went up to the top of the mountain that lieth before the valley of Hinnom westward, which is at the end of the valley of the giants northward:
8Then it went up the Valley of Ben Hinnom along the southern slope of the Jebusite city, that is, Jerusalem, and climbed to the top of the hill that overlooks the Valley of Hinnom on the west, at the northern end of the Valley of the Giants.
9And the border was drawn from the top of the hill unto the fountain of the water of Nephtoah, and went out to the cities of mount Ephron; and the border was drawn to Baalah, which is Kirjathjearim:
9From the hilltop the boundary was drawn to the spring of the waters of Nephtoah, went out to the towns of Mount Ephron, and was drawn on to Baalah, that is, Kiriath Jearim.
10And the border compassed from Baalah westward unto mount Seir, and passed along unto the side of mount Jearim, which is Chesalon, on the north side, and went down to Bethshemesh, and passed on to Timnah:
10From Baalah it curved west to Mount Seir, ran along the northern slope of Mount Jearim, that is, Chesalon, went down to Beth Shemesh, and passed on to Timnah.
11And the border went out unto the side of Ekron northward: and the border was drawn to Shicron, and passed along to mount Baalah, and went out unto Jabneel; and the goings out of the border were at the sea.
11Then the boundary went out to the northern slope of Ekron, was drawn to Shikkeron, passed on to Mount Baalah, and came out at Jabneel; and the boundary ended at the sea.
12And the west border was to the great sea, and the coast thereof. This is the coast of the children of Judah round about according to their families.
12The western boundary was the coastline of the Great Sea. These are the boundaries all the way around the people of Judah, by their families.
Caleb, Othniel, and Achsah
13And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron.
13As the LORD had commanded Joshua, he gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a share among the people of Judah: Kiriath Arba, named for the father of Anak, which is Hebron.
14And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
14Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, descendants of Anak.
15And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.
15From there he marched against the people of Debir; Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher.
16And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.
16Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and captures it, I will give him my daughter Achsah as his wife."
17And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
17Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, captured it, so Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as his wife.
18And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
18When she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. As she got down from her donkey, Caleb asked her, "What do you want?"
19Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.
19She answered, "Give me a gift. Since you have given me land in the dry south, give me springs of water too." So he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
The Towns of the Negev
20This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Judah according to their families.
20This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Judah, by their families.
21And the uttermost cities of the tribe of the children of Judah toward the coast of Edom southward were Kabzeel, and Eder, and Jagur,
21The towns at the far edge of the tribe of Judah, toward the border of Edom in the south, were Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur,
22And Kinah, and Dimonah, and Adadah,
22Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah,
23And Kedesh, and Hazor, and Ithnan,
23Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan,
24Ziph, and Telem, and Bealoth,
24Ziph, Telem, Bealoth,
25And Hazor, Hadattah, and Kerioth, and Hezron, which is Hazor,
25Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor),
26Amam, and Shema, and Moladah,
26Amam, Shema, Moladah,
27And Hazargaddah, and Heshmon, and Bethpalet,
27Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet,
28And Hazarshual, and Beersheba, and Bizjothjah,
28Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah,
29Baalah, and Iim, and Azem,
29Baalah, Iim, Ezem,
30And Eltolad, and Chesil, and Hormah,
30Eltolad, Chesil, Hormah,
31And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
31Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah,
32And Lebaoth, and Shilhim, and Ain, and Rimmon: all the cities are twenty and nine, with their villages:
32Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon: twenty-nine towns in all, with their villages.
The Towns of the Lowland
33And in the valley, Eshtaol, and Zoreah, and Ashnah,
33In the lowland: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah,
34And Zanoah, and Engannim, Tappuah, and Enam,
34Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam,
35Jarmuth, and Adullam, Socoh, and Azekah,
35Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
36And Sharaim, and Adithaim, and Gederah, and Gederothaim; fourteen cities with their villages:
36Shaaraim, Adithaim, Gederah and Gederothaim: fourteen towns with their villages.
37Zenan, and Hadashah, and Migdalgad,
37Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad,
38And Dilean, and Mizpeh, and Joktheel,
38Dilean, Mizpeh, Joktheel,
39Lachish, and Bozkath, and Eglon,
39Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon,
40And Cabbon, and Lahmam, and Kithlish,
40Cabbon, Lahmam, Kithlish,
41And Gederoth, Bethdagon, and Naamah, and Makkedah; sixteen cities with their villages:
41Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah: sixteen towns with their villages.
42Libnah, and Ether, and Ashan,
42Libnah, Ether, Ashan,
43And Jiphtah, and Ashnah, and Nezib,
43Iphtah, Ashnah, Nezib,
44And Keilah, and Achzib, and Mareshah; nine cities with their villages:
44Keilah, Achzib and Mareshah: nine towns with their villages.
45Ekron, with her towns and her villages:
45Ekron, with its towns and villages;
46From Ekron even unto the sea, all that lay near Ashdod, with their villages:
46from Ekron to the sea, everything near Ashdod, with their villages;
47Ashdod with her towns and her villages, Gaza with her towns and her villages, unto the river of Egypt, and the great sea, and the border thereof:
47Ashdod with its towns and villages, and Gaza with its towns and villages, down to the Brook of Egypt and the coastline of the Great Sea.
The Towns of the Hill Country
48And in the mountains, Shamir, and Jattir, and Socoh,
48In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Socoh,
49And Dannah, and Kirjathsannah, which is Debir,
49Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir),
50And Anab, and Eshtemoh, and Anim,
50Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim,
51And Goshen, and Holon, and Giloh; eleven cities with their villages:
51Goshen, Holon and Giloh: eleven towns with their villages.
52Arab, and Dumah, and Eshean,
52Arab, Dumah, Eshan,
53And Janum, and Bethtappuah, and Aphekah,
53Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah,
54And Humtah, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, and Zior; nine cities with their villages:
54Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron) and Zior: nine towns with their villages.
55Maon, Carmel, and Ziph, and Juttah,
55Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah,
56And Jezreel, and Jokdeam, and Zanoah,
56Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah,
57Cain, Gibeah, and Timnah; ten cities with their villages:
57Kain, Gibeah and Timnah: ten towns with their villages.
58Halhul, Bethzur, and Gedor,
58Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor,
59And Maarath, and Bethanoth, and Eltekon; six cities with their villages:
59Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon: six towns with their villages.
60Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, and Rabbah; two cities with their villages:
60Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah: two towns with their villages.
The Wilderness Towns and the Jebusites
61In the wilderness, Betharabah, Middin, and Secacah,
61In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Secacah,
62And Nibshan, and the city of Salt, and Engedi; six cities with their villages.
62Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi: six towns with their villages.
63As for the Jebusites the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the children of Judah could not drive them out: but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Judah at Jerusalem unto this day.
63But the people of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem, so the Jebusites live there among the people of Judah to this day.
XVI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Lot for Joseph's Descendants
1And the lot of the children of Joseph fell from Jordan by Jericho, unto the water of Jericho on the east, to the wilderness that goeth up from Jericho throughout mount Bethel,
1The lot for the descendants of Joseph ran from the Jordan near Jericho, east of the waters of Jericho, up through the wilderness that climbs from Jericho into the hill country of Bethel.
2And goeth out from Bethel to Luz, and passeth along unto the borders of Archi to Ataroth,
2From Bethel it went out to Luz, crossed over to the territory of the Arkites at Ataroth,
3And goeth down westward to the coast of Japhleti, unto the coast of Bethhoron the nether, and to Gezer; and the goings out thereof are at the sea.
3went down westward to the territory of the Japhletites as far as the region of Lower Beth Horon and on to Gezer, and ended at the sea.
4So the children of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, took their inheritance.
4So the descendants of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, received their inheritance.
Ephraim's Eastern Border
5And the border of the children of Ephraim according to their families was thus: even the border of their inheritance on the east side was Atarothaddar, unto Bethhoron the upper;
5This was the territory of the people of Ephraim, by their families: the boundary of their inheritance on the east ran from Ataroth Addar to Upper Beth Horon,
6And the border went out toward the sea to Michmethah on the north side; and the border went about eastward unto Taanathshiloh, and passed by it on the east to Janohah;
6and the boundary went out toward the sea, with Michmethath on the north; then it turned east to Taanath Shiloh and passed by it on the east to Janoah.
7And it went down from Janohah to Ataroth, and to Naarath, and came to Jericho, and went out at Jordan.
7From Janoah it went down to Ataroth and Naarah, touched Jericho, and came out at the Jordan.
Ephraim's Western Edge and Scattered Towns
8The border went out from Tappuah westward unto the river Kanah; and the goings out thereof were at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families.
8From Tappuah the boundary went west to the Kanah Ravine and ended at the sea. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the people of Ephraim, by their families,
9And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh, all the cities with their villages.
9together with the towns set apart for the people of Ephraim inside the inheritance of Manasseh, all those towns with their villages.
The Canaanites Left in Gezer
10And they drave not out the Canaanites that dwelt in Gezer: but the Canaanites dwell among the Ephraimites unto this day, and serve under tribute.
10But they did not drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, so the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim to this day, though they were made to do forced labor.
XVII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Lot for Manasseh
1There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh; for he was the firstborn of Joseph; to wit, for Machir the firstborn of Manasseh, the father of Gilead: because he was a man of war, therefore he had Gilead and Bashan.
1There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh, since he was Joseph's firstborn. Machir, Manasseh's firstborn and the father of Gilead, was a fighting man, so he received Gilead and Bashan.
2There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.
2Lots were also drawn for the rest of the people of Manasseh by their families: for the descendants of Abiezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher and Shemida. These were the male descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, by their families.
The Daughters of Zelophehad
3But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, had no sons, but daughters: and these are the names of his daughters, Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
3But Zelophehad son of Hepher, son of Gilead, son of Machir, son of Manasseh, had no sons, only daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.
4And they came near before Eleazar the priest, and before Joshua the son of Nun, and before the princes, saying, The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brethren. Therefore according to the commandment of the LORD he gave them an inheritance among the brethren of their father.
4They came before Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, "The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives." So, following the LORD's command, Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father's relatives.
5And there fell ten portions to Manasseh, beside the land of Gilead and Bashan, which were on the other side Jordan;
5In this way Manasseh received ten portions besides the land of Gilead and Bashan on the other side of the Jordan,
6Because the daughters of Manasseh had an inheritance among his sons: and the rest of Manasseh’s sons had the land of Gilead.
6because the daughters of Manasseh received an inheritance along with his sons. The land of Gilead went to the rest of Manasseh's descendants.
Manasseh's Border
7And the coast of Manasseh was from Asher to Michmethah, that lieth before Shechem; and the border went along on the right hand unto the inhabitants of Entappuah.
7The territory of Manasseh stretched from Asher to Michmethath, which faces Shechem, and the boundary ran south to include the people of En Tappuah.
8Now Manasseh had the land of Tappuah: but Tappuah on the border of Manasseh belonged to the children of Ephraim;
8The land around Tappuah belonged to Manasseh, but the town of Tappuah itself, on Manasseh's border, belonged to the people of Ephraim.
9And the coast descended unto the river Kanah, southward of the river: these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh: the coast of Manasseh also was on the north side of the river, and the outgoings of it were at the sea:
9The boundary went down to the Kanah Ravine. The towns south of the ravine belonged to Ephraim, even though they sat among the towns of Manasseh, while Manasseh's own boundary ran along the north side of the ravine and ended at the sea.
10Southward it was Ephraim’s, and northward it was Manasseh’s, and the sea is his border; and they met together in Asher on the north, and in Issachar on the east.
10The land to the south was Ephraim's and the land to the north was Manasseh's, with the sea as its border; it touched Asher on the north and Issachar on the east.
Cities Manasseh Could Not Clear
11And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Bethshean and her towns, and Ibleam and her towns, and the inhabitants of Dor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Endor and her towns, and the inhabitants of Taanach and her towns, and the inhabitants of Megiddo and her towns, even three countries.
11Within Issachar and Asher, Manasseh held Beth Shean and its towns, Ibleam and its towns, the people of Dor and its towns, the people of En Dor and its towns, the people of Taanach and its towns, and the people of Megiddo and its towns, the three heights.
12Yet the children of Manasseh could not drive out the inhabitants of those cities; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.
12Yet the people of Manasseh could not take over those towns, because the Canaanites were determined to stay in that land.
13Yet it came to pass, when the children of Israel were waxen strong, that they put the Canaanites to tribute, but did not utterly drive them out.
13When the people of Israel grew strong, they put the Canaanites to forced labor, but they never drove them out completely.
Joseph Asks for More Land
14And the children of Joseph spake unto Joshua, saying, Why hast thou given me but one lot and one portion to inherit, seeing I am a great people, forasmuch as the LORD hath blessed me hitherto?
14The descendants of Joseph said to Joshua, "Why have you given us only one lot and one portion as our inheritance? We are a large people, because the LORD has blessed us so richly."
15And Joshua answered them, If thou be a great people, then get thee up to the wood country, and cut down for thyself there in the land of the Perizzites and of the giants, if mount Ephraim be too narrow for thee.
15Joshua answered them, "If you are such a large people, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the country of the Perizzites and the giants, since the hill country of Ephraim is too cramped for you."
16And the children of Joseph said, The hill is not enough for us: and all the Canaanites that dwell in the land of the valley have chariots of iron, both they who are of Bethshean and her towns, and they who are of the valley of Jezreel.
16The descendants of Joseph said, "The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the valley have iron chariots, both those in Beth Shean and its towns and those in the Valley of Jezreel."
17And Joshua spake unto the house of Joseph, even to Ephraim and to Manasseh, saying, Thou art a great people, and hast great power: thou shalt not have one lot only:
17Then Joshua said to the house of Joseph, to Ephraim and Manasseh, "You are a large people with great strength. You will not have just one lot.
18But the mountain shall be thine; for it is a wood, and thou shalt cut it down: and the outgoings of it shall be thine: for thou shalt drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and though they be strong.
18The hill country will be yours as well. It is forest now, but you will clear it, and everything out to its farthest edges will be yours. You will drive out the Canaanites, even though they have iron chariots and even though they are strong."
XVIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Tabernacle at Shiloh
1And the whole congregation of the children of Israel assembled together at Shiloh, and set up the tabernacle of the congregation there. And the land was subdued before them.
1The whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the tabernacle of meeting there. The land had been brought under their control.
2And there remained among the children of Israel seven tribes, which had not yet received their inheritance.
2But seven tribes among the people of Israel had still not received their inheritance.
Joshua's Charge to Survey the Land
3And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the LORD God of your fathers hath given you?
3So Joshua said to the people of Israel, "How long are you going to put off going in to take the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you?
4Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me.
4Choose three men from each tribe. I will send them out to go through the land and write up a description of it according to the inheritance each should have, and then they will come back to me.
5And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north.
5They will divide it into seven parts. Judah will stay in its territory in the south, and the house of Joseph will stay in its territory in the north.
6Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
6So write up a description of the land in seven parts and bring it here to me, and I will cast lots for you here before the LORD our God.
7But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them.
7The Levites, though, get no share among you, because the LORD's priesthood is their inheritance. And Gad, Reuben, and the half tribe of Manasseh have already received their inheritance east of the Jordan, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave them."
The Survey and the Casting of Lots
8And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the LORD in Shiloh.
8So the men got up and set out. Joshua gave orders to those going to map the land: "Go and walk through the land, write up a description of it, and come back to me, so that I can cast lots for you here before the LORD at Shiloh."
9And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh.
9The men went and traveled through the land, and they wrote it up town by town in seven parts in a book. Then they came back to Joshua at the camp in Shiloh.
10And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.
10Joshua cast lots for them at Shiloh before the LORD, and there Joshua divided the land among the people of Israel according to their portions.
Benjamin's Northern and Western Border
11And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.
11The lot for the tribe of Benjamin, by its clans, came up first, and the territory of their lot fell between the people of Judah and the people of Joseph.
12And their border on the north side was from Jordan; and the border went up to the side of Jericho on the north side, and went up through the mountains westward; and the goings out thereof were at the wilderness of Bethaven.
12Their border on the north side began at the Jordan. It went up along the slope north of Jericho, climbed westward through the hill country, and came out at the wilderness of Beth-aven.
13And the border went over from thence toward Luz, to the side of Luz, which is Bethel, southward; and the border descended to Atarothadar, near the hill that lieth on the south side of the nether Bethhoron.
13From there the border crossed over toward Luz, to the slope of Luz (that is, Bethel) on the south, and then went down to Ataroth-addar, near the hill that lies south of Lower Beth-horon.
14And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.
14Then the border turned and swung around on the west side to the south, from the hill that faces Beth-horon on the south, and it came out at Kirjath-baal (that is, Kirjath-jearim), a town belonging to the people of Judah. This was the western side.
Benjamin's Southern and Eastern Border
15And the south quarter was from the end of Kirjathjearim, and the border went out on the west, and went out to the well of waters of Nephtoah:
15The south side began at the edge of Kirjath-jearim, and the border went out westward and reached the spring of the waters of Nephtoah.
16And the border came down to the end of the mountain that lieth before the valley of the son of Hinnom, and which is in the valley of the giants on the north, and descended to the valley of Hinnom, to the side of Jebusi on the south, and descended to Enrogel,
16Then the border went down to the foot of the mountain that faces the Valley of the Son of Hinnom, at the north end of the Valley of the Giants. It went down the Valley of Hinnom to the slope of the Jebusites on the south, and on down to En-rogel.
17And was drawn from the north, and went forth to Enshemesh, and went forth toward Geliloth, which is over against the going up of Adummim, and descended to the stone of Bohan the son of Reuben,
17It bent northward and went on to En-shemesh, then out to Geliloth, which faces the Ascent of Adummim, and went down to the Stone of Bohan the son of Reuben.
18And passed along toward the side over against Arabah northward, and went down unto Arabah:
18It ran along the slope facing the Arabah on the north and went down into the Arabah.
19And the border passed along to the side of Bethhoglah northward: and the outgoings of the border were at the north bay of the salt sea at the south end of Jordan: this was the south coast.
19The border ran along the northern slope of Beth-hoglah, and it ended at the northern bay of the Salt Sea, at the southern end of the Jordan. This was the southern border.
20And Jordan was the border of it on the east side. This was the inheritance of the children of Benjamin, by the coasts thereof round about, according to their families.
20The Jordan formed its border on the east side. This was the inheritance of the people of Benjamin, by its clans, with its borders all around.
The Towns of Benjamin
21Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Benjamin according to their families were Jericho, and Bethhoglah, and the valley of Keziz,
21The towns of the tribe of Benjamin, by its clans, were Jericho, Beth-hoglah, Emek-keziz,
22And Betharabah, and Zemaraim, and Bethel,
22Beth-arabah, Zemaraim, Bethel,
23And Avim, and Parah, and Ophrah,
23Avim, Parah, Ophrah,
24And Chepharhaammonai, and Ophni, and Gaba; twelve cities with their villages:
24Chephar-haammonai, Ophni, and Gaba: twelve towns with their villages.
25Gibeon, and Ramah, and Beeroth,
25Also Gibeon, Ramah, Beeroth,
26And Mizpeh, and Chephirah, and Mozah,
26Mizpeh, Chephirah, Mozah,
27And Rekem, and Irpeel, and Taralah,
27Rekem, Irpeel, Taralah,
28And Zelah, Eleph, and Jebusi, which is Jerusalem, Gibeath, and Kirjath; fourteen cities with their villages. This is the inheritance of the children of Benjamin according to their families.
28Zelah, Eleph, Jebusi (that is, Jerusalem), Gibeath, and Kirjath: fourteen towns with their villages. This was the inheritance of the people of Benjamin, by its clans.
XIX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Simeon's Inheritance Inside Judah
1And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
1The second lot came out for Simeon, for the tribe of Simeon by its clans, and their inheritance lay inside the inheritance of the people of Judah.
2And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
2Their inheritance included Beersheba (or Sheba), Moladah,
3And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
3Hazar-shual, Balah, Azem,
4And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
4Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah,
5And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
5Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susah,
6And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
6Beth-lebaoth, and Sharuhen: thirteen towns with their villages.
7Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
7Also Ain, Remmon, Ether, and Ashan: four towns with their villages,
8And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
8together with all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath-beer, the Ramah of the south. This was the inheritance of the tribe of Simeon by its clans.
9Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
9The inheritance of the people of Simeon was taken out of Judah's portion, because Judah's share was more than they needed. So the people of Simeon received their inheritance inside Judah's.
Zebulun's Border and Twelve Towns
10And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
10The third lot came up for the people of Zebulun by their clans, and the border of their inheritance reached as far as Sarid.
11And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
11Their border went up westward to Maralah, touched Dabbasheth, and reached the ravine east of Jokneam.
12And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
12From Sarid it turned east, toward the sunrise, to the border of Chisloth-tabor, then went on to Daberath and up to Japhia.
13And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
13From there it passed on eastward to Gittah-hepher and Ittah-kazin, and came out at Remmon-methoar and Neah.
14And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
14The border went around it on the north to Hannathon and ended at the Valley of Jiphthah-el.
15And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
15It included Kattath, Nahallal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve towns with their villages.
16This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
16This was the inheritance of the people of Zebulun by their clans, these towns with their villages.
Issachar in the Jezreel Valley
17And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
17The fourth lot came out for Issachar, for the people of Issachar by their clans.
18And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
18Their territory included Jezreel, Chesulloth, Shunem,
19And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
19Haphraim, Shihon, Anaharath,
20And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
20Rabbith, Kishion, Abez,
21And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
21Remeth, En-gannim, En-haddah, and Beth-pazzez.
22And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
22The border touched Tabor, Shahazimah, and Beth-shemesh, and it ended at the Jordan: sixteen towns with their villages.
23This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
23This was the inheritance of the tribe of Issachar by its clans, the towns and their villages.
Asher on the Northern Coast
24And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
24The fifth lot came out for the tribe of Asher by its clans.
25And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
25Their territory included Helkath, Hali, Beten, Achshaph,
26And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;
26Alammelech, Amad, and Misheal. On the west it reached Carmel and Shihor-libnath.
27And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
27Then it turned east to Beth-dagon, touched Zebulun and the Valley of Jiphthah-el, and went north to Beth-emek and Neiel, coming out at Cabul on the left.
28And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
28It went on to Hebron, Rehob, Hammon, and Kanah, as far as Great Sidon.
29And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
29Then the border turned to Ramah and to the fortified city of Tyre, turned again to Hosah, and ended at the sea, in the region of Achzib.
30Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
30Also Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob: twenty-two towns with their villages.
31This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
31This was the inheritance of the tribe of Asher by its clans, these towns with their villages.
Naphtali in the North
32The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
32The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali, for the people of Naphtali by their clans.
33And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
33Their border ran from Heleph, from the oak at Zaanannim, through Adami-nekeb and Jabneel as far as Lakum, and ended at the Jordan.
34And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
34Then the border turned west to Aznoth-tabor and went on from there to Hukkok. It touched Zebulun on the south, Asher on the west, and Judah at the Jordan on the east.
35And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
35The fortified towns were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Chinnereth,
36And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
36Adamah, Ramah, Hazor,
37And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
37Kedesh, Edrei, En-hazor,
38And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
38Iron, Migdal-el, Horem, Beth-anath, and Beth-shemesh: nineteen towns with their villages.
39This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
39This was the inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali by its clans, the towns and their villages.
Dan's Small Portion and the March North
40And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
40The seventh lot came out for the tribe of Dan by its clans.
41And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
41The territory of their inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir-shemesh,
42And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
42Shaalabbin, Ajalon, Jethlah,
43And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
43Elon, Thimnathah, Ekron,
44And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
44Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath,
45And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
45Jehud, Bene-berak, Gath-rimmon,
46And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
46Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, along with the territory facing Joppa.
47And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
47But the territory of the people of Dan proved too small for them, so the people of Dan went up and fought against Leshem. They captured it, struck it down with the sword, took possession of it, and settled there. They renamed Leshem "Dan," after their ancestor Dan.
48This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
48This was the inheritance of the tribe of Dan by its clans, these towns with their villages.
Joshua's Own Town and the End of the Division
49When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
49When they had finished dividing up the land as an inheritance by its borders, the people of Israel gave Joshua the son of Nun an inheritance among them.
50According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
50As the LORD had directed, they gave him the town he asked for, Timnath-serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He built up the town and lived there.
51These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.
51These are the inheritances that Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel handed out by lot at Shiloh, before the LORD, at the entrance of the tabernacle of meeting. So they finished dividing the land.
XX
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Command to Set Apart Cities of Refuge
1The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
1The LORD also spoke to Joshua and said,
2Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
2"Tell the people of Israel: Set apart for yourselves the cities of refuge that I told you about through Moses,
3That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
3so that anyone who kills a person by accident, without meaning to, can run there. They will be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
Pleading at the City Gate
4And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
4When someone flees to one of these cities, he is to stand at the entrance of the city gate and explain his case to the elders of that city. Then they are to take him into the city and give him a place so he can live among them.
5And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbour unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
5If the avenger of blood comes after him, they must not hand the killer over to him, because he struck his neighbor by accident and had not hated him beforehand.
Until the High Priest Dies
6And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
6He is to stay in that city until he stands trial before the community, and until the death of the high priest serving at that time. Then the killer may go back to his own town and his own house, to the town he fled from."
The Six Cities Named
7And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
7So they set apart Kedesh in Galilee in the hill country of Naphtali, Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and Kirjath-arba (that is, Hebron) in the hill country of Judah.
8And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
8On the east side of the Jordan across from Jericho, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness on the plateau from the tribe of Reuben, Ramoth in Gilead from the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan from the tribe of Manasseh.
Refuge for the Stranger Too
9These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.
9These were the cities set apart for all the people of Israel and for the foreigners living among them, so that anyone who killed a person by accident could run there and not die at the hand of the avenger of blood before standing trial in front of the community.
XXI
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Levites Ask for Their Towns
1Then came near the heads of the fathers of the Levites unto Eleazar the priest, and unto Joshua the son of Nun, and unto the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel;
1Then the heads of the Levite families came to Eleazar the priest, to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel.
2And they spake unto them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan, saying, The LORD commanded by the hand of Moses to give us cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for our cattle.
2They spoke to them at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and said, "The LORD commanded through Moses that we be given towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock."
3And the children of Israel gave unto the Levites out of their inheritance, at the commandment of the LORD, these cities and their suburbs.
3So, at the LORD's command, the people of Israel gave the Levites these towns and their pasturelands out of their own inheritance.
4And the lot came out for the families of the Kohathites: and the children of Aaron the priest, which were of the Levites, had by lot out of the tribe of Judah, and out of the tribe of Simeon, and out of the tribe of Benjamin, thirteen cities.
4The lot came out for the clans of the Kohathites. The descendants of Aaron the priest, who were Levites, received by lot thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin.
5And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, and out of the tribe of Dan, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh, ten cities.
5The rest of the Kohathites received by lot ten towns from the clans of the tribe of Ephraim, from the tribe of Dan, and from the half tribe of Manasseh.
6And the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, and out of the tribe of Asher, and out of the tribe of Naphtali, and out of the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan, thirteen cities.
6The Gershonites received by lot thirteen towns from the clans of the tribe of Issachar, from the tribe of Asher, from the tribe of Naphtali, and from the half tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.
7The children of Merari by their families had out of the tribe of Reuben, and out of the tribe of Gad, and out of the tribe of Zebulun, twelve cities.
7The Merarites, by their clans, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and Zebulun.
8And the children of Israel gave by lot unto the Levites these cities with their suburbs, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses.
8So the people of Israel gave the Levites these towns with their pasturelands by lot, just as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
Thirteen Towns for Aaron's Priests
9And they gave out of the tribe of the children of Judah, and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon, these cities which are here mentioned by name,
9From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they gave the towns listed here by name,
10Which the children of Aaron, being of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had: for theirs was the first lot.
10which went to the descendants of Aaron, from the clans of the Kohathites among the Levites, because the first lot fell to them.
11And they gave them the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it.
11They gave them Kirjath-arba (Arba was the father of Anak), that is, Hebron, in the hill country of Judah, with the pasturelands around it.
12But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
12But the fields of the town and its villages they had given to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his property.
13Thus they gave to the children of Aaron the priest Hebron with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Libnah with her suburbs,
13So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron, a city of refuge for anyone who killed someone, with its pasturelands; and Libnah with its pasturelands,
14And Jattir with her suburbs, and Eshtemoa with her suburbs,
14Jattir with its pasturelands, Eshtemoa with its pasturelands,
15And Holon with her suburbs, and Debir with her suburbs,
15Holon with its pasturelands, Debir with its pasturelands,
16And Ain with her suburbs, and Juttah with her suburbs, and Bethshemesh with her suburbs; nine cities out of those two tribes.
16Ain with its pasturelands, Juttah with its pasturelands, and Beth-shemesh with its pasturelands: nine towns from those two tribes.
17And out of the tribe of Benjamin, Gibeon with her suburbs, Geba with her suburbs,
17From the tribe of Benjamin: Gibeon with its pasturelands, Geba with its pasturelands,
18Anathoth with her suburbs, and Almon with her suburbs; four cities.
18Anathoth with its pasturelands, and Almon with its pasturelands: four towns.
19All the cities of the children of Aaron, the priests, were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
19All the towns of the priests, the descendants of Aaron, came to thirteen towns with their pasturelands.
Ten Towns for the Rest of the Kohathites
20And the families of the children of Kohath, the Levites which remained of the children of Kohath, even they had the cities of their lot out of the tribe of Ephraim.
20The rest of the Kohathite clans, the Levites left over from the Kohathites, received the towns of their lot from the tribe of Ephraim.
21For they gave them Shechem with her suburbs in mount Ephraim, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Gezer with her suburbs,
21They were given Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, a city of refuge for anyone who killed someone, with its pasturelands; and Gezer with its pasturelands,
22And Kibzaim with her suburbs, and Bethhoron with her suburbs; four cities.
22Kibzaim with its pasturelands, and Beth-horon with its pasturelands: four towns.
23And out of the tribe of Dan, Eltekeh with her suburbs, Gibbethon with her suburbs,
23From the tribe of Dan: Eltekeh with its pasturelands, Gibbethon with its pasturelands,
24Aijalon with her suburbs, Gathrimmon with her suburbs; four cities.
24Aijalon with its pasturelands, and Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands: four towns.
25And out of the half tribe of Manasseh, Tanach with her suburbs, and Gathrimmon with her suburbs; two cities.
25From the half tribe of Manasseh: Tanach with its pasturelands and Gath-rimmon with its pasturelands: two towns.
26All the cities were ten with their suburbs for the families of the children of Kohath that remained.
26All the towns for the remaining Kohathite clans came to ten, with their pasturelands.
Thirteen Towns for the Gershonites
27And unto the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the other half tribe of Manasseh they gave Golan in Bashan with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Beeshterah with her suburbs; two cities.
27To the Gershonites, from the Levite clans, they gave from the other half tribe of Manasseh: Golan in Bashan, a city of refuge for anyone who killed someone, with its pasturelands; and Beeshterah with its pasturelands: two towns.
28And out of the tribe of Issachar, Kishon with her suburbs, Dabareh with her suburbs,
28From the tribe of Issachar: Kishon with its pasturelands, Dabareh with its pasturelands,
29Jarmuth with her suburbs, Engannim with her suburbs; four cities.
29Jarmuth with its pasturelands, and En-gannim with its pasturelands: four towns.
30And out of the tribe of Asher, Mishal with her suburbs, Abdon with her suburbs,
30From the tribe of Asher: Mishal with its pasturelands, Abdon with its pasturelands,
31Helkath with her suburbs, and Rehob with her suburbs; four cities.
31Helkath with its pasturelands, and Rehob with its pasturelands: four towns.
32And out of the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Hammothdor with her suburbs, and Kartan with her suburbs; three cities.
32From the tribe of Naphtali: Kedesh in Galilee, a city of refuge for anyone who killed someone, with its pasturelands; Hammoth-dor with its pasturelands; and Kartan with its pasturelands: three towns.
33All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteen cities with their suburbs.
33All the towns of the Gershonites, by their clans, came to thirteen towns with their pasturelands.
Twelve Towns for the Merarites
34And unto the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with her suburbs, and Kartah with her suburbs,
34To the clans of the Merarites, the rest of the Levites, they gave from the tribe of Zebulun: Jokneam with its pasturelands, Kartah with its pasturelands,
35Dimnah with her suburbs, Nahalal with her suburbs; four cities.
35Dimnah with its pasturelands, and Nahalal with its pasturelands: four towns.
36And out of the tribe of Reuben, Bezer with her suburbs, and Jahazah with her suburbs,
36From the tribe of Reuben: Bezer with its pasturelands, Jahazah with its pasturelands,
37Kedemoth with her suburbs, and Mephaath with her suburbs; four cities.
37Kedemoth with its pasturelands, and Mephaath with its pasturelands: four towns.
38And out of the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbs, to be a city of refuge for the slayer; and Mahanaim with her suburbs,
38From the tribe of Gad: Ramoth in Gilead, a city of refuge for anyone who killed someone, with its pasturelands; Mahanaim with its pasturelands,
39Heshbon with her suburbs, Jazer with her suburbs; four cities in all.
39Heshbon with its pasturelands, and Jazer with its pasturelands: four towns in all.
40So all the cities for the children of Merari by their families, which were remaining of the families of the Levites, were by their lot twelve cities.
40So all the towns given by lot to the Merarite clans, the rest of the Levite clans, came to twelve.
Forty-Eight Towns in All
41All the cities of the Levites within the possession of the children of Israel were forty and eight cities with their suburbs.
41All the towns of the Levites inside the territory of the people of Israel came to forty-eight towns with their pasturelands.
42These cities were every one with their suburbs round about them: thus were all these cities.
42Every one of these towns had its pasturelands around it; that was true of all of them.
Rest on Every Side
43And the LORD gave unto Israel all the land which he sware to give unto their fathers; and they possessed it, and dwelt therein.
43So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their ancestors, and they took possession of it and settled in it.
44And the LORD gave them rest round about, according to all that he sware unto their fathers: and there stood not a man of all their enemies before them; the LORD delivered all their enemies into their hand.
44The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their ancestors. Not one of all their enemies could stand against them; the LORD handed all their enemies over to them.
45There failed not ought of any good thing which the LORD had spoken unto the house of Israel; all came to pass.
45Not one of all the good promises the LORD had made to the house of Israel failed; every one of them came true.
XXII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
The Eastern Tribes Sent Home
1Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
1Then Joshua called together the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half tribe of Manasseh,
2And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you:
2and said to them, "You have done everything that Moses, the servant of the LORD, commanded you, and you have obeyed my voice in everything I commanded you.
3Ye have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God.
3All this time, right up to today, you have not abandoned your brothers, but have faithfully carried out the charge the LORD your God gave you.
4And now the LORD your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side Jordan.
4Now the LORD your God has given your brothers rest, just as he promised them. So go back now to your tents and to the land you own, which Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you on the other side of the Jordan.
5But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.
5But be very careful to carry out the commandment and the law that Moses, the servant of the LORD, gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to keep his commandments, to hold tightly to him, and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
6So Joshua blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
6So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went home to their tents.
Blessing, Spoil, and the Road to Gilead
7Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto their tents, then he blessed them,
7Moses had given land in Bashan to one half of the tribe of Manasseh, but Joshua had given the other half its land among their brothers on the west side of the Jordan. When Joshua sent them home to their tents as well, he blessed them
8And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your enemies with your brethren.
8and said to them, "Go back to your tents with great riches: with huge herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze, and iron, and with a great supply of clothing. Share the plunder taken from your enemies with your brothers."
9And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead, to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
9So the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh left the rest of the Israelites at Shiloh in the land of Canaan and set out for the country of Gilead, the land they owned, which they had received according to the word of the LORD through Moses.
The Great Altar by the Jordan
10And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to.
10When they came to the region near the Jordan that lies in the land of Canaan, the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh built an altar there beside the Jordan, a huge altar that could be seen from far away.
11And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the children of Israel.
11The Israelites heard the report: "Look, the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar facing the land of Canaan, in the region of the Jordan, on the Israelite side of the crossing."
12And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to war against them.
12When the Israelites heard this, the whole community of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.
Phinehas Brings the Charge
13And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest,
13The Israelites sent Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, to the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead,
14And with him ten princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel; and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands of Israel.
14and with him ten leaders, one leader from each family house across all the tribes of Israel; each was the head of his father's house among the clans of Israel.
15And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake with them, saying,
15They came to the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh in the land of Gilead and spoke with them, saying,
16Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?
16"This is what the whole community of the LORD says: What is this unfaithfulness you have committed against the God of Israel, turning away today from following the LORD by building yourselves an altar, so that you rebel against the LORD today?
17Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of the LORD,
17Was the sin at Peor not enough for us? We have not been cleansed from it even to this day, even though a plague struck the community of the LORD.
18But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be wroth with the whole congregation of Israel.
18And now you would turn away today from following the LORD? If you rebel against the LORD today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel.
19Notwithstanding, if the land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD’s tabernacle dwelleth, and take possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us, in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.
19But if the land you own is unclean, then cross over into the land the LORD owns, where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and take land among us. Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not rebel against us, by building yourselves an altar other than the altar of the LORD our God.
20Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man perished not alone in his iniquity.
20When Achan son of Zerah was unfaithful over the things set apart for destruction, didn't wrath fall on the whole community of Israel? And that man did not die alone for his sin."
A Witness, Not a Rival Altar
21Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
21Then the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh answered the heads of the clans of Israel:
22The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD, (save us not this day,)
22"The LORD, the God of gods! The LORD, the God of gods! He knows, and let Israel know too: if this was rebellion, or an offense against the LORD, do not spare us today.
23That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it;
23If we built ourselves an altar to turn away from following the LORD, or to offer burnt offerings or grain offerings on it, or to offer peace offerings on it, may the LORD himself call us to account.
24And if we have not rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the LORD God of Israel?
24No, we did it because we were worried that someday your children might say to our children, 'What do you have to do with the LORD, the God of Israel?
25For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
25The LORD has made the Jordan a border between us and you, you people of Reuben and people of Gad. You have no share in the LORD.' And so your children might make our children stop worshiping the LORD.
26Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
26So we said, 'Let us get ready and build ourselves an altar, not for burnt offerings and not for sacrifices,
27But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings; that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no part in the LORD.
27but to be a witness between us and you and the generations after us, that we too may worship the LORD in his presence with our burnt offerings, our sacrifices, and our peace offerings. Then your children will not be able to say to our children someday, "You have no share in the LORD."'
28Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you.
28We thought, 'If they ever say this to us or to our descendants, we will answer, "Look at the copy of the LORD's altar that our fathers made, not for burnt offerings or for sacrifices, but as a witness between us and you."'
29God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is before his tabernacle.
29Far be it from us to rebel against the LORD and turn away today from following him by building an altar for burnt offerings, grain offerings, or sacrifices other than the altar of the LORD our God that stands in front of his tabernacle."
The Altar Named Witness
30And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh spake, it pleased them.
30When Phinehas the priest and the leaders of the community, the heads of the clans of Israel who were with him, heard what the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the people of Manasseh said, they were pleased.
31And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
31Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, said to the people of Reuben, the people of Gad, and the people of Manasseh, "Today we know that the LORD is among us, because you have not committed this unfaithfulness against the LORD. Now you have rescued the Israelites from the hand of the LORD."
32And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought them word again.
32Then Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the priest, and the leaders left the people of Reuben and the people of Gad in the land of Gilead and returned to the Israelites in the land of Canaan, and brought back their report.
33And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt.
33The Israelites were pleased with the report, and they praised God. They spoke no more about going to war against them to destroy the land where the people of Reuben and Gad lived.
34And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.
34And the people of Reuben and the people of Gad named the altar Ed, saying, "It is a witness between us that the LORD is God."
XXIII
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Joshua Grown Old
1And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and stricken in age.
1A long time later, after the LORD had given Israel rest from all the enemies around them, Joshua had grown old and was well along in years.
2And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I am old and stricken in age:
2Joshua called for all Israel, with their elders, their heads, their judges, and their officers, and said to them, "I am old and well along in years.
3And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for you.
3You have seen everything the LORD your God did to all these nations for your sake, for it was the LORD your God who fought for you.
4Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even unto the great sea westward.
4Look, I have divided among your tribes by lot the land of the nations that remain, along with all the nations I have already cut off, from the Jordan all the way to the Great Sea in the west, to be your inheritance.
5And the LORD your God, he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight; and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto you.
5The LORD your God himself will push them out ahead of you and drive them out of your sight, and you will take over their land, just as the LORD your God promised you.
Hold Fast, Turn Neither Right Nor Left
6Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;
6So be very brave to keep and to do everything written in the book of the law of Moses, never turning from it to the right or to the left.
7That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:
7Do not mix with these nations that remain among you. Do not even mention the names of their gods or swear by them; do not serve them or bow down to them.
8But cleave unto the LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day.
8Instead, hold tightly to the LORD your God, as you have done to this day.
One Man Chasing a Thousand
9For the LORD hath driven out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath been able to stand before you unto this day.
9For the LORD has driven out great and powerful nations ahead of you, and as for you, no one has been able to stand against you to this day.
10One man of you shall chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as he hath promised you.
10One of you can chase a thousand, because the LORD your God is the one who fights for you, just as he promised you.
11Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God.
11So be very careful to love the LORD your God.
If You Cling to These Nations
12Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you:
12But if you ever turn back and cling to what is left of these nations still among you, and marry among them and mix with them, and they with you,
13Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
13then know for certain that the LORD your God will no longer drive out any of these nations ahead of you. Instead they will become snares and traps for you, whips on your sides and thorns in your eyes, until you are wiped out from this good land the LORD your God has given you.
Every Promise Kept, Every Warning Real
14And, behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and not one thing hath failed thereof.
14Now I am about to go the way of all the earth. You know with all your heart and all your soul that not one of all the good promises the LORD your God made to you has failed. Every one has come true for you; not one of them has failed.
15Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.
15But just as every good thing the LORD your God promised you has come to you, so the LORD will bring on you every bad thing, until he has destroyed you from this good land the LORD your God has given you.
16When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.
16If you break the covenant of the LORD your God that he commanded you, and go and serve other gods and bow down to them, then the anger of the LORD will burn against you, and you will quickly perish from the good land he has given you."
XXIV
King James Version — 1611
In Plain English
Gathered at Shechem
1And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.
1Then Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel at Shechem and called for the elders of Israel, their heads, their judges, and their officers, and they presented themselves before God.
2And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods.
2Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: Long ago your ancestors lived on the other side of the River, including Terah, the father of Abraham and of Nahor, and they served other gods.
3And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.
3But I took your father Abraham from the other side of the River and led him through the whole land of Canaan. I gave him many descendants, and I gave him Isaac.
4And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir, to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.
4To Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I gave Esau the hill country of Seir to own, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt.
Out of Egypt and Through the Sea
5I sent Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did among them: and afterward I brought you out.
5Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I struck Egypt with plagues by what I did among them, and afterward I brought you out.
6And I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
6I brought your ancestors out of Egypt, and you came to the sea, and the Egyptians chased after your ancestors with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea.
7And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long season.
7When they cried out to the LORD, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and he brought the sea over them and covered them. Your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you lived in the wilderness a long time.
A Land They Did Not Labor For
8And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before you.
8I brought you into the land of the Amorites, who lived on the other side of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I handed them over to you so that you could take their land, and I destroyed them ahead of you.
9Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
9Then Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, rose up to fight against Israel. He sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you,
10But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still: so I delivered you out of his hand.
10but I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you instead, and I rescued you from his hand.
11And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and I delivered them into your hand.
11Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The people of Jericho fought against you, and so did the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, but I handed them over to you.
12And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.
12I sent the hornet ahead of you, and it drove them out before you, including the two kings of the Amorites. It was not your sword or your bow that did it.
13And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards which ye planted not do ye eat.
13I gave you a land you did not work for and cities you did not build, and you live in them. You eat from vineyards and olive groves you did not plant.
Choose This Day
14Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD.
14So now, fear the LORD and serve him wholeheartedly and truthfully. Put away the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
15And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
15But if serving the LORD seems wrong to you, then choose today whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served on the other side of the River or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
The People Answer and Joshua Presses Them
16And the people answered and said, God forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
16The people answered, "Far be it from us to abandon the LORD to serve other gods!
17For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and among all the people through whom we passed:
17For the LORD our God is the one who brought us and our ancestors up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. He did those great signs before our eyes and protected us all along the way we traveled and among all the peoples we passed through.
18And the LORD drave out from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land: therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
18And the LORD drove out ahead of us all the peoples, including the Amorites who lived in the land. So we too will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
19And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins.
19Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD, for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God; he will not forgive your rebellion and your sins.
20If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good.
20If you abandon the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring harm on you and destroy you, after he has been so good to you."
21And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD.
21But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD."
22And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
22Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him." And they said, "We are witnesses."
23Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you, and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel.
23"Then put away the foreign gods that are among you," he said, "and turn your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel."
24And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
24The people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God, and we will obey his voice."
The Covenant and the Stone That Heard
25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.
25So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and at Shechem he set down for them a statute and a rule to live by.
26And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
26Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that stood beside the sanctuary of the LORD.
27And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
27Joshua said to all the people, "Look, this stone will be a witness against us, for it has heard every word the LORD has spoken to us. It will be a witness against you, in case you ever deny your God."
28So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance.
28Then Joshua sent the people away, each to his own inheritance.
Three Graves in the Land
29And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old.
29After these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the LORD, died at the age of one hundred and ten.
30And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash.
30They buried him within the borders of his own inheritance at Timnath-serah, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash.
31And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.
31Israel served the LORD throughout Joshua's lifetime and throughout the lifetimes of the elders who outlived him and who had known everything the LORD had done for Israel.
32And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver: and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.
32The bones of Joseph, which the Israelites had brought up out of Egypt, were buried at Shechem, in the plot of ground Jacob had bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for a hundred pieces of silver. It became the inheritance of the descendants of Joseph.
33And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.
33Eleazar son of Aaron also died, and they buried him on the hill that belonged to his son Phinehas, which had been given to him in the hill country of Ephraim.