Joshua Recounts Their History

24 And Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem; he summoned the elders of Israel, their heads, their judges, and their officials, and they presented themselves before God. 2 And Joshua said to all the people, “Thus says Yahweh the God of Israel: ‘Long ago[fn] your ancestors[fn]—Terah the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor—lived beyond the river,[fn] and they served other gods. 3 I took your ancestor[fn] Abraham from beyond the river[fn] and led him through all the land of Canaan, and I increased his offspring; I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. To Esau I gave the hill country of Seir to possess, but Jacob and his children went down to Egypt. 5 And I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt with what I did in its midst; and afterward I brought you out. 6 When I brought out your ancestors[fn] from Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued after your ancestors[fn] with chariots[fn] and horsemen to theRed Sea.[fn] 7 They cried out to Yahweh, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and he brought the sea over them[fn] and covered them; your own eyes saw what I did in Egypt. Then you lived in the wilderness for many days. 8 And I brought you to the land of the Amorites[fn] who lived beyond the Jordan; they fought you, and I gave them into your hand; you took possession of their land, and I destroyed thembefore you.[fn] 9 Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, set out and fought against Israel, and he sent and summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you, 10 but I was not willing to listen to Balaam, and he richly blessed you. So I rescued you from his hand, 11 and you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. And the citizens of Jericho, the Amorites,[fn] the Perizzites,[fn] the Canaanites,[fn] the Hittites,[fn] the Girgashites,[fn] the Hivites,[fn] and the Jebusites,[fn] fought against you, and I gave them into your hand. 12 I sent before you the hornet and they drove out before you two kings of the Amorites;[fn]but not by your sword or bow. 13 I gave to you a land that you have not labored on, and cities that you have not built, and you live[fn] in them; you eatfrom vineyards and olive groves that you have not planted.’