Joshua 1-3 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)

Joshua 1

Encouragement of Joshua

 1 After the death of Moses ^(A) the LORD's servant, the LORD spoke to Joshua ^[a] son of Nun, ^(B) who had served Moses: 2 "Moses My servant is dead. ^(C) Now you and all the people prepare to cross over the Jordan ^(D) to the land I am giving the Israelites. 3 I have given you every place where the sole of your foot treads, ^(E) just as I promised Moses. 4 Your territory will be from the wilderness and Lebanon ^(F) to the great Euphrates River—all the land of the Hittites ^(G) —and west to the Mediterranean Sea. ^{(H) [b]} 5 No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. ^(I) I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you. ^(J)

    6 "Be strong and courageous, ^(K) for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance. ^(L) 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. ^(M) Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go. 8 This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; ^(N) you are to recite it day and night, so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do. ^(O) 9 Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? ^(P) Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

   

Joshua Prepares the People

 10 Then Joshua commanded the officers of the people: 11 "Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get provisions ready for yourselves, for within three days you will be crossing the Jordan to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you to inherit. ^(Q) ' "

    12 Joshua said to the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh: ^(R) 13 "Remember what Moses the LORD's servant commanded you when he said, 'The LORD your God will give you rest, and He will give you this land. ^(S) ' 14 Your wives, young children, and livestock may remain in the land Moses gave you on this side of the Jordan. ^[c] But your fighting men must cross over in battle formation ^[d] ahead of your brothers ^[e] and help them 15 until the LORD gives our brothers rest, as [He has given] you, and they too possess the land the LORD your God is giving them. You may then return to the land of your inheritance ^(T) and take possession of what Moses the LORD's servant ^(U) gave you on the east side of the Jordan."

    16 They answered Joshua, "Everything you have commanded us we will do, and everywhere you send us we will go. 17 We will obey you, just as we obeyed Moses in everything. And may the LORD your God be with you, as He was with Moses. ^(V) 18 Anyone who rebels against your order and does not obey your words in all that you command him, will be put to death. Above all, be strong and courageous!" ^(W)

Joshua 2

Spies Sent to Jericho

 1 Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two men as spies ^(X) from Acacia Grove, ^[f] saying, "Go and scout the land, especially Jericho." So they left, and they came to the house of a woman, a prostitute named Rahab, ^(Y) and stayed there.

    2 The king of Jericho was told, "Look, some of the Israelite men have come here tonight to investigate the land." 3 Then the king of Jericho sent [word] to Rahab and said, "Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, for they came to investigate the entire land."

    4 But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. ^(Z) So she said, "Yes, the men did come to me, but I didn't know where they were from. 5 At nightfall, when the gate was about to close, the men went out, and I don't know where they were going. Chase after them quickly, and you can catch up with them!" 6 But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them ^(AA) among the stalks of flax that she had arranged on the roof. 7 The men pursued them along the road to the fords of the Jordan, and as soon as they left to pursue them, the gate was shut.

   

The Promise to Rahab

 8 Before the men fell asleep, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, "I know that the LORD has given you this land ^(AB) and that dread of you has fallen on us, and everyone who lives in the land is panicking because of you. ^[g] 10 For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, ^(AC) and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two Amorite kings you completely destroyed ^(AD) across the Jordan. 11 When we heard this, we lost heart, and everyone's courage failed ^[h] because of you, ^(AE) for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on earth below. 12 Now please swear to me by the LORD that you will also show kindness to my family, because I showed kindness to you. ^[i] Give me a sure sign ^[j] 13 that you will spare the lives of my father, mother, brothers, sisters, and all who belong to them, and save us from death."

    14 The men answered her, "[We will give] our lives for yours. If you don't report our mission, we will show kindness and faithfulness to you when the LORD gives us the land."

    15 Then she let them down by a rope through the window, since she lived in a house that was [built] into the wall of the city. 16 "Go to the hill country so that the men pursuing you won't find you," she said to them. "Hide yourselves there for three days until they return; afterwards, go on your way."

    17 The men said to her, "We will be free from this oath you made us swear, 18 unless, when we enter the land, you tie this scarlet cord to the window through which you let us down. Bring your father, mother, brothers, and all your father's family into your house. 19 If anyone goes out the doors of your house, his blood will be on his own head, ^(AF) and we will be innocent. But if anyone with you in the house should be harmed, ^[k] his blood will be on our heads. 20 And if you report our mission, we are free from the oath you made us swear."

    21 "Let it be as you say," she replied, and she sent them away. After they had gone, she tied the scarlet cord to the window.

    22 So the two men went into the hill country and stayed there three days until the pursuers had returned. They searched all along the way, but did not find them. 23 Then the men returned, came down from the hill country, and crossed [the Jordan]. They went to Joshua son of Nun and reported everything that had happened to them. 24 They told Joshua, "The LORD has handed over the entire land to us. Everyone who lives in the land is also panicking because of us." ^[l]

Joshua 3

Crossing the Jordan

 1 Joshua started early the next morning and left Acacia Grove ^[m] with all the Israelites. They went as far as the Jordan and stayed there before crossing. 2 After three days the officers went through the camp ^(AG) 3 and commanded the people: "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God carried by the Levitical priests, ^(AH) you must break camp and follow it. 4 But keep a distance of about 1,000 yards ^[n] between yourselves and the ark. Don't go near it, so that you can see the way to go, for you haven't traveled this way before." ^[o]

    5 Joshua told the people, "Consecrate yourselves, ^(AI) because the LORD will do wonders among you tomorrow." 6 Then he said to the priests, "Take the ark of the covenant and go on ahead of the people." So they carried the ark of the covenant and went ahead of them.

    7 The LORD spoke to Joshua: "Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, ^(AJ) so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses. 8 Command the priests carrying the ark of the covenant: 'When you reach the edge of the waters, ^[p] stand in the Jordan.' "

    9 Then Joshua told the Israelites, "Come closer and listen to the words of the LORD your God." 10 He said, "You will know that the living God is among you ^(AK) and that He will certainly dispossess before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites, and Jebusites ^(AL) 11 when the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth ^(AM) goes ahead of you into the Jordan. 12 Now choose 12 men from the tribes of Israel, one man for each tribe. ^(AN) 13 When the feet ^[q] of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, come to rest in the Jordan's waters, its waters will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up [in] a mass." ^(AO)

    14 When the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carried the ark of the covenant ^(AP) ahead of the people. 15 Now the Jordan overflows its banks throughout the harvest season. ^(AQ) But as soon as the priests carrying the ark reached the Jordan, their feet touched the water at its edge 16 and the water flowing downstream stood still, rising up [in] a mass that extended as far as ^[r] Adam, a city next to Zarethan. The water flowing downstream into the Sea of the Arabah ^(AR) (the Dead Sea) was completely cut off, and the people crossed opposite Jericho. 17 The priests carrying the ark of the LORD's covenant stood firmly on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, ^(AS) while all Israel crossed on dry ground until the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan.

Footnotes:

1. Joshua 1:1 = The LORD Will Save, or The LORD Is Salvation; Joshua is related to the name Jesus.
2. Joshua 1:4 Lit and to the Great Sea, the going down of the sun
3. Joshua 1:14 East of the Jordan River
4. Joshua 1:14 Or over armed
5. Joshua 1:14 Fellow Israelites
6. Joshua 2:1 Or from Shittim
7. Joshua 2:9 Or land panics at your approach
8. Joshua 2:11 Lit and spirit no longer remained in anyone
9. Joshua 2:12 Lit to your father's house
10. Joshua 2:12 Or a sign of truth
11. Joshua 2:19 Lit if a hand should be on him
12. Joshua 2:24 Or also panics at our approach
13. Joshua 3:1 Or left Shittim
14. Joshua 3:4 Lit 2,000 cubits
15. Joshua 3:4 Lit yesterday and the day before
16. Joshua 3:8 Lit waters of the Jordan
17. Joshua 3:13 Lit soles of the feet
18. Joshua 3:16 Alt Hb tradition reads mass at

Cross references:

1. Joshua 1:1 : Dt 34:5;
2. Joshua 1:1 : Ex 17:8-13; 33:11; Num 13:8; 16; 14:6-9; 27:18-23; Dt 31:2-8; 1Ch 7:20;, 27;
3. Joshua 1:2 : Dt 34:5-8;
4. Joshua 1:2 : Jos 1:11;
5. Joshua 1:3 : Dt 11:24-25;
6. Joshua 1:4 : Gn 15:18; Num 34:3;
7. Joshua 1:4 : Gn 10:15; 15:19-21;
8. Joshua 1:4 : Dt 11:24; 1Kg 4:21;, 24-25; 8:65;
9. Joshua 1:5 : Dt 7:24;
10. Joshua 1:5 : Dt 31:6-8; Heb 13:5;
11. Joshua 1:6 : Jos 1:18; 10:25; 1Kg 2:2-3; 1Ch 22:13; 28:20; Ps 27:14; 31:24;
12. Joshua 1:6 : Gn 15:18; Ex 32:13; Dt 15:4;
13. Joshua 1:7 : Dt 5:32; 20:1-2; 21:1-3;
14. Joshua 1:8 : Dt 31:24; Jos 8:34;
15. Joshua 1:8 : Dt 29:9; Ps 1:1-3;
16. Joshua 1:9 : Dt 31:7-8; Jos 10:25;
17. Joshua 1:11 : Jos 3:2;
18. Joshua 1:12 : Num 32:20-22;
19. Joshua 1:13 : Dt 3:18-20;
20. Joshua 1:15 : Jos 22:4;
21. Joshua 1:15 : Jos 1:1;
22. Joshua 1:17 : Jos 1:5;, 9;
23. Joshua 1:18 : Dt 31:7; Jos 1:6-7;, 9; 10:25;
24. Joshua 2:1 : Gn 42:9; Num 13:2;, 16-17; Jos 7:2; Jdg 18:2;
25. Joshua 2:1 : Heb 11:31; Jms 2:25;
26. Joshua 2:4 : 2Sm 17:19;
27. Joshua 2:6 : Jms 2:25;
28. Joshua 2:9 : Num 20:24; Jos 9:24;
29. Joshua 2:10 : Ex 14:21-30;
30. Joshua 2:10 : Num 21:23-30;, 33-35; Dt 2:32-34; 3:1-3; Jos 6:21;
31. Joshua 2:11 : Jos 5:1; 7:5; Ps 22:14; Is 13:7; 19:1;
32. Joshua 2:19 : Mt 27:25;
33. Joshua 3:2 : Jos 1:11;
34. Joshua 3:3 : Dt 31:9;
35. Joshua 3:5 : Ex 19:10; Jos 7:13;
36. Joshua 3:7 : Jos 4:14;
37. Joshua 3:10 : Dt 5:26;
38. Joshua 3:10 : Ex 33:2; Dt 7:1;
39. Joshua 3:11 : Zch 6:5;
40. Joshua 3:12 : Jos 4:2;
41. Joshua 3:13 : Ex 15:8;
42. Joshua 3:14 : Ac 7:44-45;
43. Joshua 3:15 : 1Ch 12:15; Jr 12:5; 49:19;
44. Joshua 3:16 : Dt 1:1;
45. Joshua 3:17 : Ex 14:29;

Psalm 67

All Will Praise God

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A psalm. A song.

 1 May God be gracious to us and bless us;
    look on us with favor ^(A)

          Selah

    2 so that Your way may be known on earth,
    Your salvation among all nations. ^(B)

    3 Let the peoples praise You, God;
    let all the peoples praise You. ^(C)

    4 Let the nations rejoice and shout for joy,
    for You judge the peoples with fairness
    and lead the nations on earth. ^(D)

         Selah

    5 Let the peoples praise You, God,
    let all the peoples praise You. ^(E)

    6 The earth has produced its harvest;
    God, our God, blesses us. ^(F)

    7 God will bless us,
    and all the ends of the earth will fear Him. ^(G)

Psalm 68

God's Majestic Power

For the choir director. A Davidic psalm. A song.

 1 God arises. His enemies scatter,
    and those who hate Him flee from His presence. ^(H)

    2 As smoke is blown away,
    so You blow [them] away.
    As wax melts before the fire,
    so the wicked are destroyed before God. ^(I)

    3 But the righteous are glad;
    they rejoice before God and celebrate with joy. ^(J)

    4 Sing to God! Sing praises to His name.
    Exalt Him who rides on the clouds ^[a] —
    His name is Yahweh ^[b] —and rejoice before Him. ^(K)

    5 A father of the fatherless
    and a champion of widows
    is God in His holy dwelling. ^(L)

    6 God provides homes for those who are deserted.
    He leads out the prisoners to prosperity, ^[c]
    but the rebellious live in a scorched land. ^(M)

    7 God, when You went out before Your people,
    when You marched through the desert,

          Selah

    8 the earth trembled, and the skies poured down [rain]
    before God, the God of Sinai, ^[d]
    before God, the God of Israel. ^(N)

    9 You, God, showered abundant rain;
    You revived Your inheritance when it languished. ^(O)

    10 Your people settled in it;
    by Your goodness You provided for the poor, God. ^(P)

    11 The Lord gave the command;
    a great company of women brought the good news: ^(Q)

    12 "The kings of the armies flee—they flee!"
    She who stays at home divides the spoil. ^(R)

    13 While ^[e] you lie among the sheepfolds, ^[f]
    the wings of a dove are covered with silver,
    and its feathers with glistening gold. ^(S)

    14 When the Almighty scattered kings in the land,
    it snowed on Zalmon. ^{(T) [g]}

    15 Mount Bashan is God's towering mountain;
    Mount Bashan is a mountain of many peaks. ^(U)

    16 Why gaze with envy, you mountain peaks,
    at the mountain ^[h] God desired for His dwelling?
    The LORD will live [there] forever! ^(V)

    17 God's chariots are tens of thousands,
    thousands and thousands; ^(W)
    the Lord is among them in the sanctuary ^[i]
    as He was at Sinai. ^(X)

    18 You ascended to the heights, taking away captives;
    You received gifts from ^[j] people,
    even from the rebellious,
    so that the LORD God might live [there]. ^{(Y) [k]}

    19 May the Lord be praised!
    Day after day He bears our burdens;
    God is our salvation. ^(Z)

         Selah

    20 Our God is a God of salvation,
    and escape from death belongs to the Lord GOD . ^(AA)

    21 Surely God crushes the heads of His enemies,
    the hairy head of one who goes on in his guilty acts. ^(AB)

    22 The Lord said, "I will bring [them] back from Bashan;
    I will bring [them] back from the depths of the sea ^(AC)

    23 so that your foot may wade ^[l] in blood
    and your dogs' tongues may have their share
    from the enemies." ^(AD)

    24 People have seen Your procession, God,
    the procession of my God,
    my King, in the sanctuary. ^{(AE) [m]}

    25 Singers ^[n] lead the way,
    with musicians following;
    among them are young women
    playing tambourines. ^(AF)

    26 Praise God in the assemblies;
    [praise] the LORD from the fountain of Israel. ^(AG)

    27 There is Benjamin, the youngest, leading them,
    the rulers of Judah in their assembly, ^[o]
    the rulers of Zebulun, the rulers of Naphtali. ^(AH)

    28 Your God has decreed your strength.
    Show Your strength, God,
    You who have acted on our behalf. ^(AI)

    29 Because of Your temple at Jerusalem,
    kings will bring tribute to You. ^(AJ)

    30 Rebuke the beast ^[p] in the reeds,
    the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. ^(AK)
    Trample underfoot those with bars of silver. ^[q]
    Scatter the peoples who take pleasure in war. ^(AL)

    31 Ambassadors will come ^[r] from Egypt;
    Cush ^[s] will stretch out its hands ^[t] to God. ^(AM)

    32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth;
    sing praise to the Lord, ^(AN)

         Selah

    33 to Him who rides in the ancient, highest heavens. ^(AO)
    Look, He thunders with His powerful voice! ^(AP)

    34 Ascribe power to God.
    His majesty is over Israel,
    His power among the clouds. ^(AQ)

    35 God, You are awe-inspiring in Your sanctuaries.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people.
    May God be praised! ^(AR)

Psalm 69

A Plea for Rescue

For the choir director: according to "The Lilies." ^[u] Davidic.

 1 Save me, God,
    for the water has risen to my neck. ^(AS)

    2 I have sunk in deep mud, and there is no footing;
    I have come into deep waters,
    and a flood sweeps over me. ^(AT)

    3 I am weary from my crying;
    my throat is parched.
    My eyes fail, looking for my God. ^(AU)

    4 Those who hate me without cause
    are more numerous than the hairs of my head;
    my deceitful enemies, who would destroy me,
    are powerful. ^(AV)
    Though I did not steal, I must repay. ^(AW)

    5 God, You know my foolishness,
    and my guilty acts are not hidden from You. ^(AX)

    6 Do not let those who put their hope in You
    be disgraced because of me,
    Lord GOD of Hosts;
    do not let those who seek You
    be humiliated because of me,
    God of Israel. ^(AY)

    7 For I have endured insults because of You,
    and shame has covered my face. ^(AZ)

    8 I have become a stranger to my brothers
    and a foreigner to my mother's sons ^(BA)

    9 because zeal for Your house has consumed me, ^(BB)
    and the insults of those who insult You
    have fallen on me. ^(BC)

    10 I mourned and fasted,
    but it brought me insults. ^(BD)

    11 I wore sackcloth as my clothing,
    and I was a joke to them.

    12 Those who sit at the city gate talk about me,
    and drunkards make up songs about me. ^(BE)

    13 But as for me, LORD,
    my prayer to You is for a time of favor.
    In Your abundant, faithful love, God,
    answer me with Your sure salvation. ^(BF)

    14 Rescue me from the miry mud; don't let me sink.
    Let me be rescued from those who hate me,
    and from the deep waters. ^(BG)

    15 Don't let the floodwaters sweep over me
    or the deep swallow me up;
    don't let the Pit close its mouth over me. ^(BH)

    16 Answer me, LORD,
    for Your faithful love is good;
    in keeping with Your great compassion,
    turn to me. ^(BI)

    17 Don't hide Your face from Your servant,
    for I am in distress.
    Answer me quickly! ^(BJ)

    18 Draw near to me and redeem me;
    ransom me because of my enemies. ⁽

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