Joshua 10, 11
1 When Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and utterly destroyed it; and that as he had done to Jericho and its king, he did also to Ai and its king; and that the inhabitants of Gibeon by their own accord had come over to Joshua and Israel, 2 then they feared greatly for themselves, for the king knew that Gibeon was a great city, as one of the mother-cities, and that all her men were mighty.
3 So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me; and we will go to war against Gibeon, for they went over of their own accord to Joshua and the children of Israel.” 5 The five kings of the Jebusites: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, they and all their people, went up and besieged Gibeon and forced it to surrender. 6 Then the inhabitants of Gibeon sent to Joshua in the camp of Israel at Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly. Help us and rescue us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered together against us.”
7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all his men of war, everyone mighty in strength. 8 For the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. Not one of them shall remain before you.” 9 Then Joshua came upon them suddenly, for he had marched all night from Gilgal. 10 The Lord routed them from the face of the sons of Israel, and the Lord crushed them with a great destruction at Gibeon. They pursued them on the road heading to Beth Horon and slew them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 But as they fled from the face of the sons of Israel, on the descent of Beth Horon, the Lord cast down hailstones on them from heaven as far as Azekah. More died from the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword in the battle.
The Sun Stands Still
12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day God delivered the Amorites into the hands of Israel, when he crushed them in Gibeon. They were crushed before the face of the sons of Israel, for Joshua said:
“Let the sun stand still over Gibeon,
And the moon over the valley of Ajalon.”
13 So the sun and moon stood still
Until God brought vengeance against their enemies.
The sun stood still in the midst of heaven
And did not set in the west until the end of one day.
14 There was no day like that day either before or after, that God should hear a man, because the Lord joined in war with Israel.
15 Then those five kings fled, and hid in the cave at Makkedah. 16 So it was reported to Joshua, saying, “The five kings were found hiding in the cave in Makkedah.” 17 Joshua said, “Roll stones against the mouth of the cave and set men to guard them. 18 As for you, do not stay there; but pursue your enemies and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord our God will deliver them into our hands.” 19 Thus it came to pass that when Joshua and the sons of Israel ceased to strike them in an overwhelming slaughter, those who escaped took refuge in the fortified cities. 20 Then all the people returned safely to Joshua at Makkedah, and not one of the sons of Israel grumbled with his tongue.
21 Then Joshua said, “Unblock the cave and bring out these five kings from the cave.” 22 So they brought out the five kings from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 23 When they brought them to Joshua, he called together all Israel and the leaders of the army who went with him, saying, “Come forward and put your feet on their necks.” So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks. 24 Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid of them, nor be fearful. Be courageous, for the Lord will do thus to all your enemies against whom you wage war.” 25 After this, Joshua put them to death and hanged them on five trees. They hung on the trees until evening. 26 Then it came to pass that towards sunset Joshua gave orders, and they took them down from the trees and cast them into the cave where they had fled for refuge. They rolled stones over the cave which remain to this day.
27 Then they took Makkedah that day and struck it with the edge of the sword. They utterly destroyed every living thing in it. No one was spared or allowed to escape. So they did to the king of Makkedah as they had done to the king of Jericho.
Victory in the Southland
28 Then Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Makkedah to Libnah and besieged Libnah. 29 The Lord gave it into the hands of Israel. They took it and its king and destroyed it with the edge of the sword, along with every living thing in it. Nothing was spared or allowed to escape. So they did to its king as they had done to the king of Jericho.
30 After this, Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Libnah to Lachish, and encamped around it and besieged it. 31 The Lord also gave Lachish into the hands of Israel. On the second day, they took it and destroyed it with the edge of the sword. They utterly destroyed it, as they had done to Libnah. 32 Then Horam the king of Gezer marched up to help Lachish, but Joshua smote him and his people with the edge of the sword, until not one of them was spared or allowed to escape.
33 Then Joshua and all Israel with him departed from Lachish to Eglon, and encamped around it and besieged it. 34 So the Lord gave it into Israel’s hand; and they took it on that day and destroyed it with the edge of the sword. They utterly destroyed every living thing in it, as they had done to Lachish.
35 After this, Joshua and all Israel with him departed to Hebron and encamped around it. 36 He struck it with the edge of the sword, along with every living thing in it. No one was spared. They destroyed it and everything in it, as they had done to Eglon.
37 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to Debir and encamped around it. 38 They took it, its king, and its villages, and struck it with the edge of the sword. They utterly destroyed it, along with every living thing in it. They spared nothing in it, and as they had done to Hebron and its king, so they did to Debir and its king.
39 After this, Joshua smote all the land of the hill country, and the South, and the plains of the land, and Asedoth, and her kings; and not one of them was spared. They utterly destroyed every living thing, as the Lord God of Israel commanded: 40 from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, and all of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 41 Joshua smote their kings and their land once for all, because the Lord God of Israel was fighting for Israel.
Victory in the North
1 But when Jabin the king of Hazor heard this, he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph, 2 to the kings from the north in the mountains, and in the plain south of Chinneroth in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west, 3 to the Canaanites in the east and the west: the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Jebusite in the mountains, and the Hivite below Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4 They and their kings with them, as many in number as the sand of the sea, went out with a great many horses and chariots. 5 All these kings came together to meet and camp together by the waters of Merom to war against Israel.
6 Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Fear not before their presence, for tomorrow at this hour, I will deliver them to you and put them to flight in the sight of Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” 7 So Joshua and all the people of war went against them suddenly at the waters of Merom and attacked them in the hill country. 8 The Lord delivered them into the hands of Israel, and they defeated and chased them to Sidon, the Great Sidon, to Brook Misrephoth, and eastward to the Valley of Mizpah. They attacked them until there were no survivors. 9 Thus Joshua did to them as the Lord commanded him. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
10 At that time, Joshua returned and seized Hazor and its king; for Hazor ruled over all these kingdoms in previous times. 11 They put to death every living thing in it with the sword. They utterly destroyed them all, leaving no one alive, and set Hazor on fire. 12 Joshua captured all the cities of their kingdoms and their kings, and put them to death by the edge of the sword. They utterly destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord ordered them. 13 But Israel did not burn any of the fortified cities. Joshua only burned down Hazor. 14 The children of Israel took all its spoils for themselves, and they completely destroyed everyone with the edge of the sword, until there were no survivors. 15 As the Lord ordered his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and so Joshua did. He did not deviate from all that Moses commanded him.
A Summary of Conquest
16 After this, Joshua took all the hill country of the land, all the South, all the land of Goshen, the plains of the land, the land to the west, the mountain of Israel, the low country 17 toward the mountain, from Mount Halak to the ascent to Seir, even as far as Baal Gad and the plains of Lebanon below Mount Hermon. He seized all their kings, took them away, and put them to death. 18 Joshua waged war with these kings for many days, 19 and there was not a city Israel did not take. They took them all in battle. 20 For it was of the Lord to harden their heart to wage war against Israel, that they might be utterly destroyed and be shown no mercy, but that they might be utterly destroyed, as the Lord said to Moses.
21 At that time, Joshua came and utterly destroyed the Anakim from the mountains: from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the nation of Israel, and from all the mountains of Judah, including their cities. Joshua utterly destroyed them. 22 No Anakim remained in the midst of the children of Israel, but only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod. 23 So Joshua took all the land, as the Lord commanded Moses, and Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel by division, according to their tribes. Then the land rested from war.
Psalm 68:1–20
1 For the End, concerning things that shall be changed; by David.
2 Save me, O God, for the waters flood my soul.
3 I am stuck in the mire of the sea, and there is no place to stand;
I came into the depths of the sea, and the storm overwhelmed me.
4 I grow weary with crying; my throat is hoarse;
My eyes fail me from hoping in my God.
5 Those who hate me without a cause multiplied even more than the hairs of my head;
My enemies who persecute me unjustly have become strong;
Then I paid for things I did not steal.
6 O God, You know my foolishness,
And my transgressions are not hidden from You.
7 O Lord, O Lord of hosts, let not those who wait for You be put to shame because of me;
O God of Israel, let not those who seek You feel ashamed because of me.
8 For Your sake I bore disgrace;
Humiliation covered my face.
9 I am become a stranger to my brothers,
An alien to my mother’s sons;
10 For the zeal of Your house consumed me,
And the insults of those who disgraced You fell on me.
11 I bent down my soul with fasting,
And it became a disgrace for me.
12 I also made sackcloth my garment,
And I became a byword to them.
13 Those who sit at the gate were talking against me,
And those who drink wine were singing about me.
14 But I, O Lord, pray with my prayer to You;
It is the time of Your goodwill, O God, in the abundance of Your mercies;
In the truth of Your salvation, hear me.
15 Save me from the mire, that I may not be stuck therein;
Deliver me from those who hate me, and from the depths of the waters.
16 Let not a storm of water drown me;
Neither let the deep swallow me up,
Nor the well enclose its mouth upon me.
17 Hear me, O Lord, for Your mercy is good;
According to Your abundant compassion, look upon me.
18 Turn not Your face from Your child,
For I am afflicted; hear me speedily.
19 Give heed to my soul, and redeem it;
Deliver me because of my enemies.
20 For You know my disgrace
And my shame and humiliation;
All who afflict me are before You.
Proverbs 14:6–10
6 You will seek wisdom in the company of evil men, and you will not find it;
But perception is easily found with the discerning.
7 All things are contrary to a man without discernment,
But the weapons of perception are wise lips.
8 The wisdom of astute men will know their ways,
But the folly of men without discernment is in their deceit.
9 The houses of the lawless are due for purification,
But the houses of the righteous are acceptable.
10 If the heart of a man is controlled by feelings, his soul is sorrowful,
But when he rejoices, it is not mingled with arrogance.
Mark 15:1–20
1 Immediately, in the morning, the chief priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council; and they bound Jesus, led Him away, and delivered Him to Pilate.
2 Then Pilate asked Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered and said to him, “It is as you say.”
3 And the chief priests accused Him of many things, but He answered nothing.
4 Then Pilate asked Him again, saying, “Do You answer nothing? See how many things they testify against You!”
5 But Jesus still answered nothing, so that Pilate marveled.
Taking the Place of Barabbas
(Matt. 27:15–26; Luke 23:17–25; John 18:39—19:16)
6 Now at the feast he was accustomed to releasing one prisoner to them, whomever they requested.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, who was chained with his fellow rebels; they had committed murder in the rebellion.
8 Then the multitude, crying aloud, began to ask him to do just as he had always done for them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?”
10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
14 Then Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, “Crucify Him!”
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
(Matt. 27:27–31)
16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison.
17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head,
18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him.
20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.