1
Then Joshua assembled1 all the tribes of Israel at Shechem.2 He summoned3 the elders,4 leaders, judges and officials of Israel,5 and they presented themselves before God.
2
Joshua said to all the people, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor,6 lived beyond the Rivera and worshiped other gods.73
But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the River and led him throughout Canaan8 and gave him many descendants.9 I gave him Isaac,104
and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau.11 I assigned the hill country of Seir12 to Esau, but Jacob and his sons went down to Egypt.135
" 'Then I sent Moses and Aaron,14 and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out.156
When I brought your fathers out of Egypt, you came to the sea,16 and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemenb17 as far as the Red Sea.c187
But they cried19 to the LORD for help, and he put darkness20 between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them.21 You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians.22 Then you lived in the desert for a long time.238
" 'I brought you to the land of the Amorites24 who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land.259
When Balak son of Zippor,26 the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor27 to put a curse on you.2810
But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you29 again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.
11
" 'Then you crossed the Jordan30 and came to Jericho.31 The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites,32 Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites,33 but I gave them into your hands.3412
I sent the hornet35 ahead of you, which drove them out36 before you--also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow.3713
So I gave you a land38 on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.'3914
"Now fear the LORD40 and serve him with all faithfulness.41 Throw away the gods42 your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt,43 and serve the LORD.
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