Joshua

30Then Joshua built an altar on Mount Ebal for the LORD, the God of Israel.

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

NoteAn altar is a table made of stones. People burned gifts on it to give them to God. Mount Ebal is a hill in that land.

31He 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.

As 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.

NoteMoses was the leader who brought Israel out of Egypt long before this. The law is the set of rules God gave the people through Moses. The stones had to be plain, just as they were found. No one was allowed to cut or shape them with a metal tool.

32There Joshua wrote a copy of the law of Moses on the stones. He wrote it while all the people of Israel watched.

And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

NoteWriting the law on the stones kept the words where everyone could see them. There were no books to hand out back then.

33All 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.

And 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.

NoteThe ark was a special wooden box, covered in gold. Inside were the stones with God's rules written on them. Levi was one of the families of Israel. The priests, the men who helped people worship God, came from that family. Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal are two hills with a valley in between. People standing there could hear a voice from below.

34After 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.

And 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.

NoteBlessings are promises of good things for obeying God. Curses are warnings about trouble that comes from turning away.

35Joshua 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.

There 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.

1Kings 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.

And 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;

NoteThese names are groups of people already living in the land. Each city had its own king, like a mayor with an army.

2All these kings agreed to work together. They planned to fight Joshua and Israel.

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

3The people who lived in Gibeon heard the news too. They heard what Joshua did to the cities of Jericho and Ai.

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

NoteGibeon was a big town close to where Israel was camped. Jericho and Ai were two cities Israel had already won.

4So 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.

They 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;

NoteWine bags were made from animal skin sewn shut. Old ones cracked and had to be patched, like a leaky bag.

5They put old patched sandals on their feet. They wore old ragged clothes. All their bread was dry and covered with mold.

And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

NoteMold is the fuzzy gray stuff that grows on old bread. It showed the bread had been packed a long time ago.

6They 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."

And 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.

NoteGilgal was the place where all the Israelites camped together. A peace agreement was a promise never to fight each other.

7The men of Israel said to these Hivites, "Maybe you really live nearby. Then how could we make an agreement with you?"

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

8They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua asked them, "Who are you? Where did you come from?"

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

NoteSaying "we are your servants" was a polite way to talk. It meant: we will do what you say.

9They 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.

And 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,

NoteLORD in big letters is God's own special name. Egypt is where Israel had been slaves before God rescued them.

10"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.

And 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.

NoteThe Jordan was the river Israel crossed to get into this land. Sihon and Og were kings Israel had already beaten in battle.

11"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.'

Wherefore 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.

NoteLeaders here means the older men of the town. People asked them what to do, and they decided together.

12"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.

This 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:

13"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."

And 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.

14The men of Israel tasted some of their food. But they did not ask the LORD what to do.

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

NoteSharing food with someone was part of making a deal. Israel could have asked God first, but they did not.

15So Joshua made peace with them. He agreed to let them live. The leaders of Israel made a solemn promise to them.

And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

NoteA solemn promise is a promise made using God's name. People believed a promise like that could never be taken back.

16Three days after the promise, Israel learned the truth. These people were neighbors who lived close by.

And 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.

17So the Israelites traveled and reached their cities on the third day. The cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim.

And 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.

NoteThese four towns all belonged to the Gibeonites. They were only a short walk away, not far at all.

18The 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.

And 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.

NoteThe people complained because they wanted to attack these towns. But the leaders had promised in God's name not to.

19But 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.

But 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.

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

This 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.

21The leaders said, "Let them live. But they will cut wood and carry water for everyone." So the leaders kept their promise.

And 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.

NoteCutting wood and carrying water were hard, everyday jobs. Someone had to do them so people could cook and wash.

22Then 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.

And 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?

23"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."

Now 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.

NoteA curse here means a hard life given as punishment. The house of God was the special tent where Israel worshiped.

24They 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.

And 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.

NoteMoses was the leader who guided Israel before Joshua. God had spoken to Moses and given him instructions.

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

And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.

Note"We are in your hands" means you decide what happens to us. They were not going to fight back.

26So Joshua did that for them. He saved them from the Israelites, and no one killed them.

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

27That 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.

And 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.

NoteAn altar was a stone table where gifts to God were burned. Wood and water were needed there every single day. "They still do this today" means when this book was written, long ago.

1Adonizedec 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.

Now 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;

NoteJericho and Ai were two cities Israel had already fought and taken. The other kings heard the news and were frightened.

2This 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.

That 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.

NoteBack then each big city had its own king. A king ruled one city and the small towns around it.

3So 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,

Wherefore 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,

NoteThese five cities were all fairly close together, south of Jerusalem. The kings could reach each other quickly.

4"Come up here and help me. Let us attack Gibeon. Gibeon has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel."

Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.

5So 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.

Therefore 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.

NoteThe Amorites were one of the groups of people living in that land.

6The 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."

And 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.

NoteGibeon had earlier made a peace promise with Israel. Israel promised to keep them safe. Now Gibeon asked for that help. Gilgal was the place where Israel's tents were set up, down near the river.

7So Joshua went up from Gilgal. He took his whole army with him, including his bravest fighters.

So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

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."

And 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.

NoteGod speaks as if the fight is already over. He is telling Joshua the win is certain.

9Joshua and his army marched all night from Gilgal. So they came upon the enemy suddenly.

Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.

NoteGilgal was down low and Gibeon was up in the hills. The walk was about twenty miles, uphill, in the dark.

10The 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.

And 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.

11The 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.

And 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.

NoteHail is ice that falls from the sky like rain. These pieces of ice were big and heavy enough to kill.

12That 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."

Then 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.

NoteArmies stopped fighting when it got too dark to see. Joshua was asking for more daylight to finish the fight. Ajalon was a valley not far from Gibeon.

13So 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.

And 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.

NoteThe Book of Jasher was an old book of songs about brave deeds. Nobody has a copy of it today.

14There 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.

And 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.

15Then Joshua went back to the camp at Gilgal. All Israel went back with him.

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

16The five kings had run away. They hid in a cave at Makkedah.

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

17Someone told Joshua, "We have found the five kings. They are hiding in a cave at Makkedah."

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

18Joshua said, "Roll big stones over the opening of the cave. Put men there to guard it.

And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:

NoteThe mouth of a cave means its opening. Big stones piled there worked like a locked door.

19But 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."

And 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.

NoteThe ones at the back were the slowest runners. They were the easiest to catch.

20Joshua 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.

And 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.

NoteSome cities had high, thick walls all around them. People ran inside the walls to be safe.

21Then the whole army came back safely to Joshua at the camp at Makkedah. Nobody said a word against the people of Israel.

And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.

NoteThe old words say nobody "moved his tongue" against Israel. It means nobody dared to say one word.

22Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave. Bring those five kings out to me."

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

23So they did. They brought the five kings out of the cave. They were the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

And 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.

24When 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.

And 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.

NotePutting a foot on someone's neck was a sign. It showed that the fight was over and fully won.

25Joshua 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."

And 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.

26Then Joshua killed the five kings. He hung their bodies on five trees. Their bodies stayed there until evening.

And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

NoteKings who lost were sometimes hung up where people could see. It showed everyone that they had been beaten.

27When 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.

And 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.

NoteGod's law said a body must be taken down before night. That is why they hurried at sunset. "Today" means the time when this book was written, long ago.

28That 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.

And 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.

29Then Joshua left Makkedah and went to Libnah. All Israel went with him. They fought against Libnah.

Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

30The 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.

And 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.

31Then Joshua left Libnah and went to Lachish. All Israel went with him. They camped around the city and fought against it.

And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:

NoteCamping around a city meant nobody could go in or out. The army waited outside until the city gave up.

32The 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.

And 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.

33Then Horam, the king of Gezer, came to help Lachish. But Joshua struck him down along with his people. Not one of them was left.

Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.

34From Lachish, Joshua went on to Eglon. All Israel went with him. They camped around the city and fought against it.

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

35They captured it that same day. They killed everyone in it with swords. Joshua destroyed the whole city, just as he had done at Lachish.

And 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.

36Then Joshua went up from Eglon to Hebron. All Israel went with him. They fought against the city.

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

37They 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.

And 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.

38Then Joshua turned back toward Debir. All Israel went with him. They fought against the city.

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

39They 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.

And 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.

40So 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.

So 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.

NoteThis names the four parts of the land. There were hills, dry land in the south, low hills, and slopes down to the sea.

41Joshua beat them from Kadeshbarnea all the way to Gaza. He also took the whole area of Goshen, as far as Gibeon.

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

NoteKadeshbarnea and Gaza were far apart, both in the south. Naming them shows how much land Joshua took. This Goshen is a place in this land. It is not the Goshen in Egypt.

42Joshua 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.

And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel.

NoteA campaign is one long trip of fighting. It was not many separate wars years apart.

43Then Joshua went back to the camp at Gilgal. All Israel went back with him.

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

1Jabin 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.

And 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,

NoteBack then each city and its farmland had its own king. So a small country could have many kings. Hazor was a large, strong city in the north.

2He 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.

And 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,

NoteChinneroth was a big lake in the north of the land. Later people called it the Sea of Galilee.

3He 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.

And 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.

NoteCanaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Hivites were groups of people already living in that land. Mount Hermon is a tall mountain in the far north with snow on top.

4All 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.

And 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.

NoteHorses and chariots were the strongest weapons of that time. Israel had none and fought on foot.

5All these kings joined together as one army. They set up camp at the waters of Merom. They were ready to fight against Israel.

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

NoteThe waters of Merom were streams and wet, marshy ground. Armies camped near water so the men and horses could drink.

6The 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."

And 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.

NoteJoshua was the leader of Israel. When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own name. A tendon is a strong cord inside a leg. A horse with a cut tendon could not run or pull a chariot again.

7So Joshua and all his soldiers came to the waters of Merom. They came suddenly, and they attacked.

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

8The 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.

And 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.

NoteSidon was a big city by the sea, far to the north. Chasing an enemy that far means they ran a very long way.

9Joshua did just what the LORD had told him. He cut the tendons in the horses' back legs. He burned their chariots with fire.

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

10Then 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.

And 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.

NoteHazor was the leading city because the other kings listened to its king. When a leading city fell, the smaller ones lost their help.

11They killed everyone in Hazor with the sword. Not one person was left alive. Then Joshua burned the city with fire.

And 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.

12Joshua 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.

And 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.

13Many 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.

But as for the cities that stood still in their strength, Israel burned none of them, save Hazor only; that did Joshua burn.

NoteWhen a city was knocked down, people often built a new one on the ruins. After many years the ground under the city had grown into a hill.

14The 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.

And 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.

NoteThe goods were things like pots, cloth, tools, and gold. In those days soldiers who won took such things home.

15The LORD gave his commands to his servant Moses. Moses gave those same commands to Joshua. Joshua did all of them. He left nothing undone.

As 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.

NoteMoses was the leader who brought Israel out of Egypt. Joshua took his place after Moses died.

16So 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.

So 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;

NoteThe dry land in the south got very little rain. The low hills lay between the mountains and the sea.

17The 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.

Even 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.

NoteThese places were the far edges of the land. Seir was far in the south, and Mount Hermon far in the north.

18Joshua fought against all these kings for a long time.

Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

19Not one city made peace with Israel. Only the Hivites who lived in Gibeon did. Israel took every other city in battle.

There 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.

NoteEarlier the people of Gibeon had tricked Israel into promising peace. Israel kept that promise and did not attack them.

20The LORD made their hearts stubborn. So they went out to fight against Israel. He did this so that they would be completely destroyed. He did this so that they would be shown no mercy. He did it so that they would be wiped out. This is what the LORD had commanded Moses.

For 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.

NoteA stubborn heart means refusing to change your mind. These kings would not stop and ask for peace.

21At 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.

And 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.

22None of the Anakim were left in the land of Israel. Some were still living in Gaza, Gath, and Ashdod.

There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.

NoteGaza, Gath, and Ashdod were towns near the sea. They were not part of the land Israel took.

23So 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.

So 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.

NoteThe land was given to each family group to keep for always. Parents would pass their part on to their children. "The land had rest" means the fighting stopped for a time.

1Joshua was now very old. The LORD said to him, "You are old. But there is still a lot of land left to take."

Now 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.

NoteJoshua was the leader of God's people, Israel. When you see LORD in big letters, it stands for God's own name.

2This is the land that is left. It includes all the land of the Philistines and the Geshurites.

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

NoteThe Philistines were a people who lived by the sea. They often fought against Israel. The Geshurites were a smaller group living east of the Jordan River.

3It 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.

From 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:

NoteThe Shihor was a stream near Egypt. The Philistines had five big cities. Each city had its own ruler. The Avvites were another small group living near the sea.

4To 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.

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

NoteThe Canaanites were the people already living in this land. Sidon was a busy city by the sea where boats came and went.

5There 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.

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

NoteLebanon was a land of high mountains north of Israel. Mount Hermon is the tallest mountain there. Snow sits on its top most of the year.

6"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.

All 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.

NoteThe King James says to divide the land "by lot." That meant drawing marked stones, a bit like drawing names from a jar. It was how they decided which family got which piece of land.

7So now divide this land among the nine tribes and the half tribe of Manasseh."

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

NoteIsrael was made of twelve big family groups called tribes. Each tribe came from one son of a man named Jacob. Manasseh's tribe was so big it split in two. Half settled on one side of the river, half on the other.

6Then 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."

Then 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.

NoteGilgal was the camp where Israel stayed after crossing the river. Kadesh-barnea was a place in the desert near the edge of Canaan. Kenezite tells us which family Caleb came from.

7"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."

Forty 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.

NoteMoses had sent twelve men to look at Canaan quietly, without being seen. Men who do that are called spies. Caleb was one of them.

8"The other men who went with me scared the people badly. But I kept following the LORD my God with my whole heart."

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

NoteThe other spies said the people of Canaan were too big and strong to fight. That made everyone afraid to go into the land.

9"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.'"

And 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.

NoteA promise like this was a strong one. It was the kind you never take back.

10"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."

And 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.

NoteAfter the spies came back, Israel had to live in the desert for forty years. Caleb had waited that whole time for this land.

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

As 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.

Note"Come and go" meant doing a full day's work. Caleb is saying he can still do everything he used to do.

12"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."

Now 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.

NoteBack then, big cities had thick walls all around them. The walls kept enemies from getting in.

13Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh. He gave him the town of Hebron to be his own.

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

NoteTo bless someone was to ask God to be good to them.

14So Hebron belongs to Caleb's family to this day. That is because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, with his whole heart.

Hebron 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.

Note"To this day" means Caleb's family still lived there when this book was written down.

15Hebron 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.

And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

NoteKirjath-arba means "town of Arba." Towns were often named after a person who lived there.

14The 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."

And 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?

NoteJoseph had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Each of them became a whole tribe. So the family of Joseph means those two tribes together.

15Joshua 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."

And 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.

NoteThe Perizzites were another group of people living in the land. The Rephaim were people known for being very tall and strong. The King James Bible calls them "giants" here. Clearing the trees meant chopping down forest. That made open space for farms and houses.

16The 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."

And 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.

NoteA chariot was a cart pulled by horses, used in fighting. Ones with iron parts were strong and hard to break. They rolled fast on flat land, so valleys were scary places to fight.

17Joshua 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."

And 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:

18"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."

But 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.