Joshua

30Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal,

Then Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal for the LORD, the God of Israel. An altar is a stone table for giving gifts to God.

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.

He did just what Moses, the servant of the LORD, had told the people to do. The book of the law of Moses says the altar must be made of whole stones, cut by no iron tool. On it they burned animal gifts to the LORD. They also gave peace offerings, gifts that were shared as a meal.

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.

There Joshua wrote a copy of the law of Moses on the stones. He wrote it while all the people of Israel watched.

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.

All Israel stood on both sides of the ark, the special box that held God's agreement. The priests from the family of Levi carried it. Leaders, officers, and judges were there. So were people born in Israel and people from other lands who lived with them. Half the people stood facing Mount Gerizim and half facing Mount Ebal. Moses, the servant of the LORD, had told them long before to bless the people this way.

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.

After that, Joshua read out loud all the words of the law. He read the blessings and the curses, just 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.

Joshua read every single word that Moses had commanded. He left nothing out. All Israel listened, including the women, the little children, and the people from other lands who lived among them.

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;

Kings all over the land heard what had happened. They lived in the hills, the low valleys, and by the sea. They were Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites.

2That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

All these kings agreed to work together. They planned to fight Joshua and Israel.

3And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

The people who lived in Gibeon heard the news too. They heard what Joshua did to the cities of 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;

So they made a clever plan to trick Israel. They pretended to be messengers from far away. They loaded old worn-out sacks on their donkeys. They took old wine bags 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.

They put old patched sandals on their feet. They wore old ragged clothes. All their bread was dry and covered with mold.

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.

They came to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal. They said to Joshua and the men of Israel, "We came from a country far away. Please make a peace agreement with us."

7And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

The men of Israel said to these Hivites, "Maybe you really live nearby. Then how could we make an agreement with you?"

8And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? Where did 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,

They said, "Your servants came from a land very far away. We came because of the name of the LORD your God. We heard reports about him and all 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.

"We heard what he did to the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan River. Those kings were Sihon of Heshbon and Og 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.

"So our leaders and all our people told us this. They said, 'Take food for the trip. Go and meet them. Tell them we are their servants. Ask them to make an agreement 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:

"Look at our bread. It was still warm when we packed it at home. That was the day we left to come to you. Now 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.

"These wine bags were new when we filled them. Now look, they are cracked. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the long trip."

14And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

The men of Israel tasted some of their food. But they did not ask the LORD what to do.

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.

So Joshua made peace with them. He agreed to let them live. The leaders of Israel made a solemn promise to them.

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.

Three days after the promise, Israel learned the truth. These people were neighbors who lived close by.

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.

So the Israelites traveled and reached their cities on the third day. The cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath-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.

The Israelites did not attack them. Their leaders had made a promise in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. All the people complained about their 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.

But the leaders said to everyone, "We made a promise to them. We used the name of the LORD, the God of Israel. So we cannot harm them now.

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.

"Here is what we will do. We will let them live. If we break our promise, God's anger will come on us."

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.

The leaders said, "Let them live. But they will cut wood and carry water for everyone." So the leaders kept their promise.

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?

Then Joshua called the Gibeonites in. He said, "Why did you trick us? You said you lived far away. But you live right here 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.

"So now you are under a curse. From now on you will always be servants. You will cut wood and carry water 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.

They answered Joshua, "We were clearly told something. The LORD your God told his servant Moses to give you this whole land. He told Moses to destroy everyone living here. So we were very afraid you would kill us. 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.

"Now we are in your hands. Do to us whatever you think is right."

26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.

So Joshua did that for them. He saved them from the Israelites, and no one killed 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.

That day Joshua made them wood cutters and water carriers. They worked for the people and for the altar of the LORD. They still do this today, at the place God would choose.

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;

Adonizedec was the king of Jerusalem. He heard what Joshua had done. Joshua had captured the city of Ai and destroyed it completely. He had done the same thing to Jericho and its king. Adonizedec also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel. They were now living close to Israel.

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.

This news made the king and his people very afraid. Gibeon was a big city, like a city where a king lives. It was bigger than Ai. 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,

So Adonizedec, king of Jerusalem, sent a message to four other kings. They were Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon. He said to them,

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.

"Come up here and help me. Let us attack Gibeon. Gibeon has made peace with Joshua and with 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.

So the five kings of the Amorites joined together. They were the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. They came with all their armies. They set up camp near Gibeon and started fighting the city.

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.

The men of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal. They said, "Do not leave us alone. We are your servants. Come quickly and save us. Help us! All the Amorite kings from the hills 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.

So Joshua went up from Gilgal. He took his whole army with him, including his bravest fighters.

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.

The 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.

Joshua and his army marched all night from Gilgal. So they came upon the enemy suddenly.

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.

The LORD made the enemy soldiers panic when Israel came. Israel beat them badly at Gibeon. Israel chased them up the road toward Bethhoron. They kept fighting them 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.

The enemy ran away down the hill from Bethhoron. As they ran, the LORD threw big hailstones down on them from the sky. This went on all the way to Azekah, and many of them died. More of them died from the hailstones than from Israel's swords.

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.

That was the day the LORD handed the Amorites over to Israel. Joshua spoke to the LORD while all Israel listened. He said, "Sun, stand still over Gibeon. Moon, stand still over the valley of Ajalon."

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.

So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped too. They stayed until the people had paid their enemies back. This is written in a book called the Book of Jasher. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky. It did not go down 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.

There has never been another day like that one, before or since. On that day the LORD did what a man asked. The LORD was fighting for Israel.

15And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

Then Joshua went back to the camp at Gilgal. All Israel went back with him.

16But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

The five kings had run away. They hid in a cave at Makkedah.

17And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.

Someone told Joshua, "We have found the five kings. They are 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:

Joshua said, "Roll big stones over the opening of the cave. Put 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.

But do not stop there yourselves. Chase your enemies and attack the ones at the back. Do not let them get back to their cities. 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.

Joshua and the people of Israel kept fighting until almost all the enemies were dead. A few of them got away. They reached cities with strong walls.

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.

Then the whole army came back safely to Joshua at the camp at Makkedah. Nobody said a word against the people of Israel.

22Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.

Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave. 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.

So they did. They brought the five kings out of the cave. They were the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and 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.

When the kings were brought to Joshua, he called all the men of Israel together. He said to the leaders of his army, "Come here. Put your feet on the necks of these kings." So they came 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.

Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid. Do not lose hope. Be strong and brave. The LORD will do this to every enemy 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.

Then Joshua killed the five kings. He hung their bodies on five trees. Their bodies stayed there 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.

When the sun went down, Joshua gave an order. His men took the bodies off the trees. They threw them into the cave where the kings had hidden. They piled big stones over the mouth of the cave. Those stones are still there today.

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.

That same day Joshua captured Makkedah. He and his men killed the king and everyone in the city with swords. He left nobody alive. 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:

Then Joshua left Makkedah and went to Libnah. All Israel went with him. They fought against Libnah.

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.

The LORD handed that city and its king over to Israel too. Joshua and his men killed everyone in it with swords. He left nobody alive. 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:

Then Joshua left Libnah and went to Lachish. All Israel went with him. They camped around the city and fought against 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.

The LORD handed Lachish over to Israel. They captured it on the second day. They killed everyone in it with swords, just as they had done at 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.

Then Horam, the king of Gezer, came to help Lachish. But Joshua struck him down along with his people. Not one of them was left.

34And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:

From Lachish, Joshua went on to Eglon. All Israel went with him. They camped around the city and fought against 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.

They captured it that same day. They killed everyone in it with swords. Joshua destroyed the whole city, just as he had done at Lachish.

36And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:

Then Joshua went up from Eglon to Hebron. All Israel went with him. They fought against the city.

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.

They captured it. They killed the king, the people of its towns, and everyone in it with swords. Joshua left nobody alive, just as he had done at Eglon. He destroyed the city and everyone in it.

38And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:

Then Joshua turned back toward Debir. All Israel went with him. They fought against the city.

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.

They captured Debir, its king, and all its towns. They killed everyone there with swords. Joshua left nobody alive. He did to Debir and its king what he had done to Hebron, and to Libnah and its king.

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.

So Joshua took the whole land. He took the hills, the dry land in the south, the low hills, and the slopes. He beat all their kings. He left nobody alive. He destroyed every living person, just as the LORD, the God of Israel, had told him to do.

41And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.

Joshua beat them from Kadeshbarnea all the way to Gaza. He also took the whole area 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.

Joshua took all these kings and their land in one campaign. He could do it because the LORD, the God of Israel, was fighting for Israel.

43And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

Then Joshua went back to the camp at Gilgal. All Israel went back with him.

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,

Jabin was the king of Hazor. He heard what Israel had been doing. So he sent word to Jobab, the king of Madon. He also sent word to the kings of Shimron and 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,

He also sent word to the kings in the northern hills. He sent to the kings in the flat land south of Chinneroth. He sent to kings in the low hills and in Dor by the sea.

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.

He sent word to the Canaanites in the east and the west. He sent to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country. He sent to the Hivites who lived near Mount Hermon, in the land of Mizpeh.

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.

All these kings came out with their armies. There were as many soldiers as there are grains of sand on a beach. They had many horses and many chariots. A chariot is a cart pulled by horses that soldiers fight from.

5And when all these kings were met together, they came and pitched together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Israel.

All these kings joined together as one army. They set up camp at the waters of Merom. They were ready to fight against Israel.

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.

The LORD said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them. By this time tomorrow I will hand them all over to Israel, killed. Cut the tendons in their horses' back legs. Burn their chariots with fire."

7So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly; and they fell upon them.

So Joshua and all his soldiers came to the waters of Merom. They came suddenly, and they attacked.

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.

The LORD handed the enemy over to Israel. Israel struck them down. They chased them all the way to Greater Sidon and Misrephoth-maim. They chased them east to the Valley of Mizpeh. No one was left alive.

9And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

Joshua did just what the LORD had told him. He cut the tendons in the horses' back legs. He burned their chariots with fire.

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.

Then Joshua turned back and captured the city of Hazor. He killed its king with the sword. Hazor had been the leading city 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.

They killed everyone in Hazor with the sword. Not one person was left alive. Then Joshua burned the city with fire.

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.

Joshua captured all those kings and all their cities. He killed them with the sword. He destroyed them completely. This is what Moses, the LORD's servant, 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.

Many cities stood on top of raised mounds of earth. Israel did not burn any of those cities. Only Hazor was burned, and Joshua burned it.

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.

The people of Israel kept the goods and the animals from these cities for themselves. But they killed all the people with the sword. They left no one alive.

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.

The LORD gave his commands to his servant Moses. Moses gave those same commands to Joshua. Joshua did all of them. He left nothing undone.

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;

So Joshua took that whole land. He took the hills and the dry land in the south. He took the land of Goshen, the low hills, and the flat valley. He took the mountains of Israel and the hills below them.

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.

The land went from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir, all the way to Baal-gad. Baal-gad is in the valley of Lebanon, below Mount Hermon. Joshua captured all their kings and put them to death.

18Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

Joshua fought against all these 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.

Not one city made peace with Israel. Only the Hivites who lived in Gibeon did. Israel took every other city 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.

The LORD made their hearts stubborn. So they went out to fight against Israel. They were completely destroyed and shown no mercy. This is what the LORD had told Moses would happen.

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.

At that time Joshua went and wiped out the Anakim. The Anakim were a people known for being very tall. He removed them from the hills of Hebron, Debir, and Anab. He removed them from all the hills of Judah and Israel. He destroyed them and 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.

None of the Anakim were left in the land of Israel. Some were still living in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

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.

So Joshua took the whole land, just as the LORD had told Moses. He gave the land to Israel to keep. He shared it out among the family groups called tribes. And the land had rest from war.

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.

Joshua was now very old. The LORD said to him, "You are old. But there is still a lot of land left to take."

2This is the land that yet remaineth: all the borders of the Philistines, and all Geshuri,

This is the land that is left. It includes all the land of the Philistines and the Geshurites.

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:

It runs from the Shihor stream near Egypt north to Ekron. That land counts as Canaanite land. Five Philistine rulers live there. They rule Gaza, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron. The Avvites live there too.

4From the south, all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that is beside the Sidonians unto Aphek, to the borders of the Amorites:

To the south lies all the land of the Canaanites. It goes from Mearah, near the city of Sidon, up to Aphek. That is where the land of the Amorites begins.

5And the land of the Giblites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrising, from Baalgad under mount Hermon unto the entering into Hamath.

There is also the land of the Gebalites. And there is all of Lebanon to the east. It starts at Baal-gad below Mount Hermon and runs to Lebo-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.

"I myself will drive out everyone in the hill country. That means from Lebanon to Misrephoth-maim, and all the people of Sidon. You just divide the land among the people of Israel. Do it the way I told you.

7Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance unto the nine tribes, and the half tribe of Manasseh,

So now divide this land among the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh."

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.

Then men from the tribe of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said, "You know what the LORD said to Moses 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.

"I was forty years old when Moses sent me out from Kadesh-barnea. He sent me to look the land over. I came back and told him the truth."

8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

"The other men who went with me scared the people badly. But I kept following 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.

"That day Moses made me a promise. He said, 'The land you walked on will belong to you and your children forever. This is because you followed the LORD my God with your whole heart.'"

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.

"The LORD has kept me alive for forty-five years, just as he said. That was while Israel wandered in the desert. Today I am 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.

"I am still as strong today as I was when Moses sent me. I can still fight, and I can still come and go."

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.

"So give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You heard that the Anakim lived there, a very tall and strong people. Their cities were big, with high walls. If the LORD is with me, I will drive them out, as he said."

13And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh. He gave him the town of Hebron to be his own.

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.

So Hebron belongs to Caleb's family to this day. That is 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.

Hebron used to be called Kirjath-arba. Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. After this, the fighting stopped and the land was at rest.

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?

The family of Joseph spoke to Joshua. They said, "Why did you give us only one share of land? We are many people, because the LORD has blessed us."

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.

Joshua answered them. "If you are so many, go up to the forest land. Clear out the trees there for yourselves. That land belongs to the Perizzites and the Rephaim. Do this if the hills of Ephraim are too small 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.

The family of Joseph said, "The hills are not enough for us. And the Canaanites down in the valley have iron chariots. That is true in Bethshean and its towns, and 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:

Joshua spoke to the family of Joseph, that is, to Ephraim and Manasseh. He said, "You are many people, and you are strong. You will not have just one share of land."

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.

"The hill country will be yours too. It is a forest, so clear the trees. Then it will be yours all the way to the far edge. You will push the Canaanites out. They have iron chariots and they are strong, but you will still do it."