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When we heard of it, our hearts melted in fear and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the class="small-caps" >Lord your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below.
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“Now then, please swear to me by the class="small-caps" >Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign
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that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them—and that you will save us from death.”
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So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall.
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Now the men had said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us
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unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house.
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If any of them go outside your house into the street, their blood will be on their own heads; we will not be responsible. As for those who are in the house with you, their blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on them.
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But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.”
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“Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away, and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
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Then the two men started back. They went down out of the hills, forded the river and came to Joshua son of Nun and told him everything that had happened to them.
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They said to Joshua, “The class="small-caps" >Lord has surely given the whole land into our hands; all the people are melting in fear because of us.”
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Crossing the Jordan
Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.
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After three days the officers went throughout the camp,
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giving orders to the people: “When you see the ark of the covenant of the class="small-caps" >Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it.
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Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about two thousand cubits between you and the ark; do not go near it.”
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Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the class="small-caps" >Lord will do amazing things among you.”
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Joshua said to the priests, “Take up the ark of the covenant and pass on ahead of the people.” So they took it up and went ahead of them.
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And the class="small-caps" >Lord said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.
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Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”
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Joshua said to the Israelites, “Come here and listen to the words of the class="small-caps" >Lord your God.
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This is how you will know that the living God is among you and that he will certainly drive out before you the Canaanites, Hittites, Hivites, Perizzites, Girgashites, Amorites and Jebusites.
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See, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth will go into the Jordan ahead of you.
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Now then, choose twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one from each tribe.
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And as soon as the priests who carry the ark of the class="small-caps" >Lord—the Lord of all the earth—set foot in the Jordan, its waters flowing downstream will be cut off and stand up in a heap.”
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So when the people broke camp to cross the Jordan, the priests carrying the ark of the covenant went ahead of them.
