From: "FamilyNet Direct" 

Bible Reading for March 18

Joshua 22
[1] Then Joshua called the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half tribe
of Manasseh,
[2] And said unto them, Ye have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD
commanded you, and have obeyed my voice in all that I commanded you: [3] Ye
have not left your brethren these many days unto this day, but have kept
the charge of the commandment of the LORD your God. [4] And now the LORD
your God hath given rest unto your brethren, as he promised them: therefore
now return ye, and get you unto your tents, and unto the land of your
possession, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side
Jordan.
[5] But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses
the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk
in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and
to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. [6] So Joshua
blessed them, and sent them away: and they went unto their tents.
[7] Now to the one half of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had given possession
in Bashan: but unto the other half thereof gave Joshua among their brethren
on this side Jordan westward. And when Joshua sent them away also unto
their tents, then he blessed them,
[8] And he spake unto them, saying, Return with much riches unto your
tents, and with very much cattle, with silver, and with gold, and with
brass, and with iron, and with very much raiment: divide the spoil of your
enemies with your brethren.
[9] And the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe
of Manasseh returned, and departed from the children of Israel out of
Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan, to go unto the country of Gilead,
to the land of their possession, whereof they were possessed, according to
the word of the LORD by the hand of Moses.
[10] And when they came unto the borders of Jordan, that are in the land of
Canaan, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe
of Manasseh built there an altar by Jordan, a great altar to see to. [11]
And the children of Israel heard say, Behold, the children of Reuben and
the children of Gad and the half tribe of Manasseh have built an altar over
against the land of Canaan, in the borders of Jordan, at the passage of the
children of Israel.
[12] And when the children of Israel heard of it, the whole congregation of
the children of Israel gathered themselves together at Shiloh, to go up to
war against them.
[13] And the children of Israel sent unto the children of Reuben, and to
the children of Gad, and to the half tribe of Manasseh, into the land of
Gilead, Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, [14] And with him ten
princes, of each chief house a prince throughout all the tribes of Israel;
and each one was an head of the house of their fathers among the thousands
of Israel.
[15] And they came unto the children of Reuben, and to the children of Gad,
and to the half tribe of Manasseh, unto the land of Gilead, and they spake
with them, saying,
[16] Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this
that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day
from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye
might rebel this day against the LORD?
[17] Is the iniquity of Peor too little for us, from which we are not
cleansed until this day, although there was a plague in the congregation of
the LORD,
[18] But that ye must turn away this day from following the LORD? and it
will be, seeing ye rebel to day against the LORD, that to morrow he will be
wroth with the whole congregation of Israel. [19] Notwithstanding, if the
land of your possession be unclean, then pass ye over unto the land of the
possession of the LORD, wherein the LORD's tabernacle dwelleth, and take
possession among us: but rebel not against the LORD, nor rebel against us,
in building you an altar beside the altar of the LORD our God.
[20] Did not Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the accursed
thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? and that man
perished not alone in his iniquity.
[21] Then the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half tribe
of Manasseh answered, and said unto the heads of the thousands of Israel,
[22] The LORD God of gods, the LORD God of gods, he knoweth, and Israel he
shall know; if it be in rebellion, or if in transgression against the LORD,
(save us not this day,)
[23] That we have built us an altar to turn from following the LORD, or if
to offer thereon burnt offering or meat offering, or if to offer peace
offerings thereon, let the LORD himself require it; [24] And if we have not
rather done it for fear of this thing, saying, In time to come your
children might speak unto our children, saying, What have ye to do with the
LORD God of Israel? [25] For the LORD hath made Jordan a border between us
and you, ye children of Reuben and children of Gad; ye have no part in the
LORD: so shall your children make our children cease from fearing the LORD.
[26] Therefore we said, Let us now prepare to build us an altar, not for
burnt offering, nor for sacrifice:
[27] But that it may be a witness between us, and you, and our generations
after us, that we might do the service of the LORD before him with our
burnt offerings, and with our sacrifices, and with our peace offerings;
that your children may not say to our children in time to come, Ye have no
part in the LORD.
[28] Therefore said we, that it shall be, when they should so say to us or
to our generations in time to come, that we may say again, Behold the
pattern of the altar of the LORD, which our fathers made, not for burnt
offerings, nor for sacrifices; but it is a witness between us and you. [29]
God forbid that we should rebel against the LORD, and turn this day from
following the LORD, to build an altar for burnt offerings, for meat
offerings, or for sacrifices, beside the altar of the LORD our God that is
before his tabernacle.
[30] And when Phinehas the priest, and the princes of the congregation and
heads of the thousands of Israel which were with him, heard the words that
the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the children of Manasseh
spake, it pleased them.
[31] And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest said unto the children of
Reuben, and to the children of Gad, and to the children of Manasseh, This
day we perceive that the LORD is among us, because ye have not committed
this trespass against the LORD: now ye have delivered the children of
Israel out of the hand of the LORD.
[32] And Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, and the princes, returned
from the children of Reuben, and from the children of Gad, out of the land
of Gilead, unto the land of Canaan, to the children of Israel, and brought
them word again.
[33] And the thing pleased the children of Israel; and the children of
Israel blessed God, and did not intend to go up against them in battle, to
destroy the land wherein the children of Reuben and Gad dwelt. [34] And the
children of Reuben and the children of Gad called the altar Ed: for it
shall be a witness between us that the LORD is God.

Joshua 23
[1] And it came to pass a long time after that the LORD had given rest unto
Israel from all their enemies round about, that Joshua waxed old and
stricken in age.
[2] And Joshua called for all Israel, and for their elders, and for their
heads, and for their judges, and for their officers, and said unto them, I
am old and stricken in age:
[3] And ye have seen all that the LORD your God hath done unto all these
nations because of you; for the LORD your God is he that hath fought for
you.
[4] Behold, I have divided unto you by lot these nations that remain, to be
an inheritance for your tribes, from Jordan, with all the nations that I
have cut off, even unto the great sea westward. [5] And the LORD your God,
he shall expel them from before you, and drive them from out of your sight;
and ye shall possess their land, as the LORD your God hath promised unto
you.
[6] Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written
in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the
right hand or to the left;
[7] That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you;
neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them,
neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them: [8] But cleave unto the
LORD your God, as ye have done unto this day. [9] For the LORD hath driven
out from before you great nations and strong: but as for you, no man hath
been able to stand before you unto this day. [10] One man of you shall
chase a thousand: for the LORD your God, he it is that fighteth for you, as
he hath promised you. [11] Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that
ye love the LORD your God.
[12] Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of
these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages
with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: [13] Know for a certainty
that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from
before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in
your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good
land which the LORD your God hath given you. [14] And, behold, this day I
am going the way of all the earth: and ye know in all your hearts and in
all your souls, that not one thing hath failed of all the good things which
the LORD your God spake concerning you; all are come to pass unto you, and
not one thing hath failed thereof. [15] Therefore it shall come to pass,
that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised
you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have
destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given
you.
[16] When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he
commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to
them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall
perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you.

Joshua 24
[1] And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for
the elders of Israel, and for their heads, and for their judges, and for
their officers; and they presented themselves before God. [2] And Joshua
said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers
dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of
Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. [3] And I
took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him
throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him
Isaac.
[4] And I gave unto Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave unto Esau mount Seir,
to possess it; but Jacob and his children went down into Egypt. [5] I sent
Moses also and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did
among them: and afterward I brought you out. [6] And I brought your fathers
out of Egypt: and ye came unto the sea; and the Egyptians pursued after
your fathers with chariots and horsemen unto the Red sea.
[7] And when they cried unto the LORD, he put darkness between you and the
Egyptians, and brought the sea upon them, and covered them; and your eyes
have seen what I have done in Egypt: and ye dwelt in the wilderness a long
season.
[8] And I brought you into the land of the Amorites, which dwelt on the
other side Jordan; and they fought with you: and I gave them into your
hand, that ye might possess their land; and I destroyed them from before
you. [9] Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and warred
against Israel, and sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you:
[10] But I would not hearken unto Balaam; therefore he blessed you still:
so I delivered you out of his hand.
[11] And ye went over Jordan, and came unto Jericho: and the men of Jericho
fought against you, the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites,
and the Hittites, and the Girgashites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites; and
I delivered them into your hand.
[12] And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before
you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with
thy bow.
[13] And I have given you a land for which ye did not labour, and cities
which ye built not, and ye dwell in them; of the vineyards and oliveyards
which ye planted not do ye eat.
[14] Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth:
and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the
flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD. [15] And if it seem evil unto
you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the
gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or
the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my
house, we will serve the LORD. [16] And the people answered and said, God
forbid that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
[17] For the LORD our God, he it is that brought us up and our fathers out
of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and which did those great
signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way wherein we went, and
among all the people through whom we passed: [18] And the LORD drave out
from before us all the people, even the Amorites which dwelt in the land:
therefore will we also serve the LORD; for he is our God.
[19] And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the LORD: for he is
an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions
nor your sins.
[20] If ye forsake the LORD, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and
do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. [21] And
the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the LORD. [22] And
Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye
have chosen you the LORD, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.
[23] Now therefore put away, said he, the strange gods which are among you,
and incline your heart unto the LORD God of Israel. [24] And the people
said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we
obey.
[25] So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and set them a
statute and an ordinance in Shechem. [26] And Joshua wrote these words in
the book of the law of God, and took a great stone, and set it up there
under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD.
[27] And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this stone shall be a
witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake
unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.
[28] So Joshua let the people depart, every man unto his inheritance. [29]
And it came to pass after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the
servant of the LORD, died, being an hundred and ten years old. [30] And
they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-serah, which is
in mount Ephraim, on the north side of the hill of Gaash. [31] And Israel
served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that
overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he
had done for Israel.
[32] And the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out
of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought
of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for an hundred pieces of silver:
and it became the inheritance of the children of Joseph. [33] And Eleazar
the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to
Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.


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