(1451 B.C.?) God now speaks to Joshua. Orders to cross Jordan. Promise of His presence. Encourages Joshua. Joshua encourages the people. Reminds Reubenites, Gadites, and Manasseh of their promise to Moses. They agree and encourage Joshua.

Two spies sent over Jordan seek shelter in Rahab's (harlot) house. Hidden by her from king of Jericho. Covenant with her for entire family to be spared. Sign for safety: scarlet thread over her window (form of Gentile passover). Spies report back to Joshua. Canaanites terrified of Israelite invasion.

Depart Acacia for River Jordan. Instructions for crossing, with Ark to advance in front. God's promise to Joshua of His Presence. Joshua addresses the people. Cross Jordan. Water parted and all pass on dry ground, as earlier through the Red Sea.

Joshua's instructions. One man from each tribe to collect twelve stones stepped upon by the Levites crossing Jordan River and erect as a Memorial. 40,000 warriors of Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh cross with Joshua. Waters return. Jordan crossed on tenth day, first month. Stone Memorial erected at Gilgal.

Canaanites' spirit melts from report of invasion and miracle of waters. Circumcision of all males born in wilderness. (Others circumcised previously died out.) Reproach of Egypt removed from Israel by God. New beginnings. Passover observed. Richness of land tasted. Manna ceased. Joshua encounters Captain of the Hosts with sword (The Lord). Holy encounter similar to Moses at the burning bush.

Jericho walled and sealed for imminent siege. Israelite instructions for trumpets and advance. (Encircle the city 1 time per day x 6 days; 7 times 7th day, shout from the people in concert with trumpets' sound. All, eager for victory, excited. Joshua warns everyone of the covenant with Rahab's family. Jericho taken, walls fall. Rahab and family spared, brought outside camp. Jericho burned, razed. Curse to whomever rebuilds Jericho. Jericho's fate spreads abroad.

Achan's (of Judah) trespass. Spies sent and report on Ai. Self-confident, only 2 - 3,000 needed. Disastrous results. Israelites defeated, fled. People much afraid. Joshua's despondent intercession. Achan's (Israel's) sin revealed. Joshua deals with the guilty. Achan confesses, forbidden spoils hidden in his tent. Achan, family, and possessions taken to the valley later called Achor, stoned, burned, and covered with stones. God's anger abated.

All now engage Ai. Classic ambush strategy. Ai defeated. (12,000 men and women slain.) King taken alive, hanged. Joshua builds altar in Mt. Ebal. Fulfills God's earlier instructions for inscription of laws (Deu.27). Reads entirety of Mosaic law before congregation.

Kings unite for battle. Gibeonites deceive Joshua at Gilgal. Forbidden covenant given by Israelite princes failing to ask counsel of God. Gibeonite fraud discovered. Congregation angered sorely at princes. Joshua confronts Gibeonites. Condemns them to bondage. ("Hewers of wood" and "drawers of water" for all Israel.)

(Southern Campaign) Five Amorite kings unite against Gibeon. (Jerusalem first mentioned.) Gibeonites petition Joshua for help. Joshua responds. God fights, killing more with hailstones than Israel with sword. Miracle of prolonged day in valley of Ajalon at Joshua's command (Sun and Moon stand still). Joshua returns to Gilgal camp. The five kings hidden in cave; sealed in by Joshua. Amorites slain. Five kings extracted; heels of Israelite captains placed upon their necks as a demonstration, then hanged. Long day finally ends. Battles of Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Gezer, Eglon, Hebron, and Debir. (From Kadesh-barnea to Gaza; from Goshen to Gibeon.) Return to Gilgal.

(1450 B.C.? - Northern Campaign) Coalition of northern kings camp at waters of Merom. All men utterly destroyed. Only Herzer burned. All destroyed except cattle. Campaign of some duration. Gibeonites only spared; remainder utterly destroyed. Anakims destroyed in the south. Land all taken. Wars ceased.

(1452 B.C.?) Countries and kings defeated renumerated. (31 total) Moses' battles. Joshua's battles.

(1445 B.C.?) God speaks to Joshua, old but strong, still fit for command. Land listed still unpossessed. Inheritance of 2 1/2 tribes east of Jordan. (Total) Reuben, Gad, and Manasseh (1/2 tribe of Joseph). Levites received none east of Jordan. (God to be their inheritance.)

(1444 B.C.?) Inheritances west of Jordan. (Canaan, 9 1/2 remaining tribes.) Divided by lot. Caleb's petition. (Now age 85. 40 when entered into wilderness.) Hebron given as Moses promised. Peace at last.

Judah's inheritance, boundaries, cities, towns, and villages. Judah fails to drive Jebusites from Jerusalem.

Joseph's inheritance (Ephraim), borders, and cities. Fails to drive Canaanites from Gezer. Tribute exacted.

Lot of Manasseh, daughter of Machir's lot. (Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah) Borders and cities. Manasseh fails to drive Canaanites from certain cities. Tribute exacted. Ephraim sues for additional land. Joshua settles dispute with Manasseh and Ephraim. Mountains given to both for greater inheritance.

Assembly at Shiloh. Tabernacle erected. Seven tribes hesitant to claim inheritance. Rebuked by Joshua. Three from each sent to survey borders. Lots cast for final division of remaining land. Benjamin's lot.

Simeon's inheritance. Zebulun's. Issachar's. Naphtali's. Dan's (2 sections, vs.47). Joshua's city in Mt. Ephraim, Timnath-serah. End divisions.

West Jordan = Kadesh, Shechem, and Kirjatharba;
East Jordan = Bezer, Ramoth, and Golan.

Levitical cities. End all divisions and inheritances. Rest given by God. All previously promised, now fulfilled.

Reubenites, Gadites, and Manasseh return to homes and families east of Jordan. (Promise to Moses now fulfilled.) Joshua's charge to them. Altar erected at Jordan as they cross. Israel sends Phinehas with ten princes to inquire the reason. Israel gathers for war at Shiloh. Ambassadors arrive and informed: a memorial, a witness to posterity on both sides Jordan, lest they forget they are one people. No violation of God's commands found. Phinehas pleased. Reports home. War avoided. Altar named Ed, a witness that the Lord is God!

(1427 B.C.?) Time passes. Joshua stricken in age. Summons Israel, elders, heads, judges, and officers. Charges them. Warns them of future apostasy.

Joshua gathers all tribes of Israel to Shechem. History recounted. Day of decision. People's answer: acceptance of Jehovah forever as the One True God. Covenant made. Stone as witness. People depart. Joshua dies, age 110; buried in border of his city. Israel serves God all the days of Joshua, through the time of his living elders who had seen God's wonders. Joseph's bones buried in Shechem, site earlier purchased by father, Jacob. Eleazar, high priest, son of Aaron, dies; buried on Phinehas' hill, Mt. Ephraim.