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First Reading: Joshua Chapter 9 and 10Joshua 9
9:1 The Treaty with the Gibeonites
And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan,
in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward
Lebanon the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite,
and the Jebusite heard about it, 2 that they gathered together to fight
with Joshua and Israel with one accord.
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and
Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they
took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched
sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of
their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at
Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a
far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us."
7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among
us; so how can we make a covenant with you?"
8 But they said to Joshua,"We are your servants."
And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"
9 So they said to him:"From a very far country your servants have come,
because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and
all that He did in Egypt, 10 and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites
who were beyond the Jordan to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan,
who was at Ashtaroth. 11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our
country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provisions with you for the journey, and
go to meet them, and say to them, "We are your servants; now therefore,
make a covenant with us."' 12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision
from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry
and moldy. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are
torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the
very long journey."
14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask
counsel of the LORD. 15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant
with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant
with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.
17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third
day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. 18
But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation
had sworn to them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation complained
against the rulers.
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to
them by the LORD God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. 20 This
we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of
the oath which we swore to them." 21 And the rulers said to them, "Let
them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation,
as the rulers had promised them."
22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, "Why have
you deceived us, saying,'We are very far from you,' when you dwell near us?
23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being
slaves woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."
24 So they answered Joshua and said, "Because your servants were clearly
told that the LORD your 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 very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25 And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right
to do to us." 26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand
of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. 27 And that day Joshua
made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar
of the LORD, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.
Joshua 10
10:1 The Sun Stands Still
Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had
taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it as he had done to Jericho and its
king, so he had done to Ai and its king and how the inhabitants of Gibeon
had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 that they feared greatly,
because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it
was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. 3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king
of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king
of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 "Come up to me and help
me, that we may attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the
children of Israel." 5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king
of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish,
and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their armies,
and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, "Do
not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all
the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together
against us."
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and
all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the LORD said to Joshua,"Do not fear
them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand
before you." 9 Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched
all night from Gilgal. 10 So the LORD routed them before Israel, killed them
with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes to Beth
Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And it happened,
as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, that the LORD
cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died.
There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed
with the sword.
12 Then Joshua spoke 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 still over Gibeon;And Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."
13 So the sun stood still,And the moon stopped,Till the people had revenge Upon
their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst
of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there
has been no day like that, before it or after it, that the LORD heeded the voice
of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.
15 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
16 The Amorite Kings Executed
But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah.
17 And it was told Joshua, saying, "The five kings have been found hidden
in the cave at Makkedah."
18 So Joshua said, "Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and
set men by it to guard them. 19 And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue
your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their
cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand." 20 Then
it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying
them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped
entered fortified cities. 21 And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua
at Makkedah, in peace.
No one moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five
kings to me from the cave." 23 And they did so, and brought out those five
kings to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king
of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24 So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called
for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went
with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings."
And they drew near and put their feet on their necks. 25 Then Joshua said to
them,"Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage,
for thus the LORD will do to all your enemies against whom you fight."
26 And afterward Joshua struck them and killed them, and hanged them on five
trees; and they were hanging on the trees until evening. 27 So it was at the
time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they took them
down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and
laid large stones against the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.
28 Conquest of the Southland
On that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it and its king with the edge
of the sword. He utterly destroyed them all the people who were in it.
He let none remain. He also did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the
king of Jericho.
29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah; and
they fought against Libnah. 30 And the LORD also delivered it and its king into
the hand of Israel; he struck it and all the people who were in it with the
edge of the sword. He let none remain in it, but did to its king as he had done
to the king of Jericho.
31 Then Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish; and
they encamped against it and fought against it. 32 And the LORD delivered Lachish
into the hand of Israel, who took it on the second day, and struck it and all
the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that
he had done to Libnah. 33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish;
and Joshua struck him and his people, until he left him none remaining.
34 From Lachish Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped
against it and fought against it. 35 They took it on that day and struck it
with the edge of the sword; all the people who were in it he utterly destroyed
that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
36 So Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they
fought against it. 37 And they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword
its king, all its cities, and all the people who were in it; he left
none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but utterly destroyed
it and all the people who were in it.
38 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and they fought
against it. 39 And he took it and its king and all its cities; they struck them
with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the people who were in
it. He left none remaining; as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and
its king, as he had done also to Libnah and its king.
40 So Joshua conquered all the land: the mountain country and the South and
the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and all their kings; he left none remaining,
but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded.
41 And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh Barnea as far as Gaza, and all the
country of Goshen, even as far as Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their land
Joshua took at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43
Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
1 Corinthians 3
3:1 Sectarianism Is Carnal
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal,
as to babes in Christ. 2 I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until
now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; 3
for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among
you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 4 For when one says, "I
am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal?
5 Watering, Working, Warning
Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed,
as the Lord gave to each one? 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the
increase. 7 So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but
God who gives the increase. 8 Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and
each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.
9 For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, you are God's building.
10 According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder
I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take
heed how he builds on it. 11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that
which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on this foundation
with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each one's work will
become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire;
and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone's work
which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work
is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through
fire.
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God
dwells in you? 17 If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him.
For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
18 Avoid Worldly Wisdom
Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you seems to be wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their own craftiness"; 20 and again, "The LORD knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." 21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours: 22 whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come all are yours. 23 And you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.
Bible BackgroundMAPS OF THE BIBLE
THE CONQUEST OF THE PROMISED LAND
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