001. Joshua’s Brave Soldiers Conquer the Promised Land

Joshua

Look, Caleb. It’s the Angel of the Lord!

Angel of the Lord

Be strong and courageous, Joshua!
Take the sons of Israel across this Jordan River,
and conquer the land that I promised to their fathers.

Prompter & Echoes

Lord, please go with us.

Caleb

Forty years ago, Joshua,
Moses sent twelve men to spy out Canaan,
the land that God promised to Abraham’s descendants.
Only you and I came back with courage to conquer it.
The others feared the giant sons of Anak.
I can hardly wait to face those giants in battle!

Joshua

Caleb, fear is melting the hearts of the pagan inhabitants.
Jericho’s walls are locked tight.

Caleb

Our spies report that Rahab, a harlot, hid them, Joshua,
and helped them escape from Jericho at great risk to herself.
They told her to hang a scarlet ribbon from a window,
so we could spare her family when we wipe out the city.

Joshua

Good, Caleb.
Now, Priests, carry the Ark of the Covenant across the river.
Do not hesitate because of the flooding.

Caleb

Look! When the priests’ feet touched the water,
the flood stopped and the waters are rising up in a heap!

Prompter & Echoes

They cross on dry land!

Joshua

Set up twelve large stones, one for each tribe of Israel,
as a memorial of what God did here.

Prompter & Echoes

Look! The Angel of the Lord!

Angel of the Lord

Do not fear.
March around Jericho for six days and I’ll give it to you.

Joshua

We do so. Now it’s the seventh day. Blow the trumpets.

Angel of the Lord

The city is yours, but touch no idols of gold or silver.

Prompter & Echoes

Everybody shout!

Caleb

The walls are falling down!

Joshua

Go bring Rahab and her and her family out.
Then we’ll burn the city.

Caleb

Joshua, the next city to capture is Ai.
It’s small, so only two thousand men need to attack it.

Prompter & Echoes

Careful!

Joshua

Oh no! Our soldiers are returning, defeated! Many died!
Oh Lord God, why have you punished your people this way?

Angel of the Lord

Someone took golden idols from Jericho.
Have every family pass before you,
and I’ll show you the guilty one.

Joshua

Achan of the tribe of Judah had taken idols of silver and gold.
God has us stone him to death.

Angel of the Lord

Take all the men now, and capture Ai.

Joshua

Some of you will approach it and then flee as before
to draw their soldiers out of the city.
The rest of you shall hide in ambush behind the city,
and the Lord will deliver it into your hand.

Prompter & Echoes

Victory!

Joshua

Caleb, who are these men who have come with worn-out sacks
on their donkeys, moldy bread, and worn-out sandals?

Caleb

They say they came from afar,
and want to make a covenant with us to serve us.

Joshua

I agree, but then I find that they deceived us;
they’re from Gibeon of Canaan, which we were to conquer.

Caleb

Shall I slaughter them, Joshua?

Joshua

No, Caleb. We swore not to harm them.
Let them serve us and hew our lumber.

Joshua

Now we’re fighting the Amorites.
Oh Lord, I need more time before dark.

Prompter & Echoes

The sun stands still for a day!

Caleb

Victory! I also defeat the giant sons of Anak at last.
Finally we’re at rest, Joshua.

Joshua

Not quite. The Israelites that settled east of the Jordan River
have set up a huge altar,
but Moses told us all to worship in one place of his choosing.

Caleb

We must battle our own brothers!

Prompter & Echoes

Civil war!

Joshua

I ask them why they turned against the God of Israel,
making a separate altar.
They say they did not build it to offer sacrifices,
but as a testimony of their unity before God with all the tribes.

Prompter & Echoes

We remain in peace!

Joshua

Elders of Israel, I am old and will soon die.
Choose today whom you will serve:
whether the gods that your fathers have served,
or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell,
but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.

Prompter & Echoes

We will all serve the Lord!