Joshua 1 - God guided and prepared Joshua for the work he was groomed to perform for the children of Israel. Moses was gone now, and God told Joshua that the LORD had given the land of Canaan to the children of Israel. They only had to go take it with courage and strength. Scene 1 Narrator (Jenelle) : After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: Lord (John) : “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. Be strong and courageous because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Scene 2 Narrator (Jenelle): So Joshua ordered the officers of the people: Joshua (Jarren): “Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.’” Narrator (Jenelle): Then they answered Joshua, Groups of people (ALL) : Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses. Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey it, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!” Joshua 2 - Two Israelite spies sent by Joshua The successor of Moses, Joshua led the Israelites into Canaan More enter the city of Jericho and stay with Rahab, a prostitute. She hides them from the king of Jericho in return for their promise of protection for her and her afamily during the Israelite invasion. Scene 1 Narrator (Jenelle): Then Joshua son of Nun secretly sent two spies from Shittim. Joshua (Jarren): “Go, look over the land,” he said, “especially Jericho.” Narrator (Jenelle): So they went and entered the house of a prostitute named Rahab and stayed there. Scene 2 Narrator (Jenelle): The king of Jericho was told, “Look, some of the Israelites have come here tonight to spy out the land.” So the king of Jericho sent this message to Rahab: King of Jericho (Sam): “Bring out the men who came to you and entered your house, because they have come to spy out the whole land.” Narrator: But the woman had taken the two men and hidden them. Rahab (Angela): “Yes, the men came to me, but I did not know where they had come from. At dusk, when it was time to close the city gate, they left. I don’t know which way they went. Go after them quickly. You may catch up with them.” (So the men set out in pursuit of the spies on the road that leads to the fords of the Jordan) Narrator (Jenelle): But she had taken them up to the roof and hidden them under the stalks of flax she had laid out on the roof. Scene 3 Narrator (Jenelle): Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof and said to them Rahab (Angela): I know that the Lord has given you this land and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 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.” Spies (Sophi and Christina): “Our lives for your lives!” “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the Lord gives us the land.” Joshua 3 - Joshua and the Israelites pack up their gear and head toward the Jordan River as they prepare for their big water crossing. They set up camp for the night and Joshua tells Israel that they must sanctify themselves. Also, heads up Israelites—you are to follow the Ark of the Covenant at a distance of two thousand cubits. Narrator (Jenelle): Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over. After three days the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people: Officers (John): When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, and the Levitical priests carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it. 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.” Joshua (Jarren) (to the people): “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” Joshua 4 - God instructed Joshua to inform the elders of each tribe. They were commanded to take a stone out of the dried up Jordan and keep as a memorial. These leaders were supposed to take these stones as a memorial to their children as a sign. Scene 1 Narrator (Jenelle): When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua Lord (John): “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” Scene 2 Narrator (Jenelle): So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, Joshua (John): “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Narrator (Jenelle): So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. Joshua 5 - as the people of Israel finally entered the promised land "flowing with milk and honey" (verse 6), the male population having circumcision, then the timely and correct celebration of the Passover Scene 1 Narrator (Jenelle): At that time the Lord said to Joshua Lord (John): “Make flint knives and circumcise the Israelites again.” Narrator (Jenelle): So Joshua made flint knives and circumcised the Israelites at Gibeath Haaraloth. Scene 2 Narrator (Jenelle): Then the Lord said to Joshua, Lord (John): “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” So the place has been called Gilgal to this day. Narrator (Jenelle): On the evening of the fourteenth day of the month, while camped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. The day after the Passover, that very day, they ate some of the produce of the land: unleavened bread and roasted grain. The manna stopped the day after they ate this food from the land; there was no longer any manna for the Israelites, but that year they ate the produce of Canaan. Joshua 6 - Gideon, chosen by God to save the Israelites from the Midianites, faces doubts, seek signs, forms and army (later reduced by God), paving the way for his role as their deliverer. Narrator (Jenelle): In the land of Israel, where oppression cast its shadow, a man named Gideon toiled in secret, threshing wheat in fear of the Midianites. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared before him. Angel (Allyza): “Gideon, the Lord is with you, mighty warrior!” Narrator (Jenelle): Doubt crept into Gideon's heart as he questioned his calling. Gideon (Sam): ”Give me a sign if this is real” Narrator: God responds with a miraculous fleece. Encouraged, Gideon rallies the Israelites, forming an army to face the Midianites. Yet, God has other plans. He trims the army, demonstrating that victory lies not in numbers but in divine power. Gideon, with a smaller but determined force, is set to fulfill his destiny. Joshua 7 - Achan's disobedience, taking forbidden items, causes Israel's defeat at Ai. Joshua discovers the sin, leading to Achan's confession and execution, emphasizing the significance of obedience in their journey to the Promised Narrator (Jenelle): In the aftermath of Jericho's triumph, Israel's joy turns to despair as they face unexpected defeat . Joshua, puzzled, seeks answers from God, who reveals that disobedience lurks within the camp. Joshua (Jarren): We must remain obedient to God's commands as we move forward. I will conduct an investigation to find who brought calamity upon Israel. Narrator (Jenelle): Through a process of elimination, someone stood up and admitted to their wrong doings. Achan (Sophi): I confess that I was the one who took the forbidden spoils. Narrator (Jenelle): Confronted with the consequences of his actions, Achan faces execution, emphasizing the cost of disobedience. Joshua (Jarren): Let this be a lesson that disobedience brings consequences, but repentance and obedience restore God's favor. Joshua 8 - The Israelites, having dealt with the consequences of Achan's disobedience, follow God's strategic plan to successfully conquer Ai, highlighting the significance of obedience and divine guidance in their journey. Narrator (Jenelle): In the wake of Achan's disobedience, Joshua seeks God's guidance for a new strategy to conquer Ai. Joshua (Jarren): We shall follow the Lord's instructions to reclaim Ai. Narrator (Jenelle): The Israelites prepare for a strategic assault, guided by divine wisdom. They execute a surprise attack, luring the men of Ai away from their city. Joshua (Jarren): Attack!! Narrator (Jenelle): The surprise attack proves successful as the Israelites seize control of Ai. They defeated the enemies and they claim victory. Joshua (Jarren): It is the Lord who leads us to triumph. Our obedience and His guidance are our strength. Joshua 9 - The Gibeonites deceive the Israelites into making a covenant, emphasizing the theme of honoring commitments even when faced with unexpected deception. Narrator (Jenelle): In the aftermath of victorious battles, the Israelites faced an unexpected challenge. Gibeonites was approaching the Israelite camp. Gibeonite Leader (Sophi): We come from a distant land seeking peace. Make a covenant with us! Narrator (Jenelle): Unaware of the deception, the Israelites weigh the request for a treaty. Joshua, without consulting God, seals the covenant with an oath. Joshua (Jarren): Let us have peace between us. Narrator (Jenelle): Soon after, it becomes clear that the Gibeonites are neighbors, not distant travelers. Which now resulted to Joshua facing the dilemma of breaking an oath. Joshua (Jarren): We have made an oath before the Lord; we must keep it. Narrator (Jenelle): The Gibeonites, spared from destruction, become servants in the service of the Israelites. Joshua 10 - The Israelites achieve a miraculous victory with God's intervention as they conquer the Amorite kings and witness the sun standing still, demonstrating divine support for their conquest of the Promised Land. Narrator (Jenelle): As the Israelites continue their conquest of the Promised Land, a formidable challenge lies ahead. Word reaches Joshua of a powerful alliance forming against the Israelites. Joshua (Jarren): Prepare for battle. We shall not be afraid. Narrator (Jenelle): Joshua then prayed for divine intervention. Joshua (Jarren): O Lord, aid us in this battle. Show your strength. Narrator (Jenelle): In response to Joshua's prayer, God sends a hailstorm, aiding the Israelites in the battle. As the day wears on, Joshua makes a bold request. Joshua (Jarren): Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and moon, over the Valley of Aijalon! Narrator (Jenelle): In a moment of divine intervention, the sun stands still, extending the day for the Israelites. Empowered by God's miraculous sign, the Israelites achieve a resounding victory over the Amorite kings. Joshua acknowledges God's unwavering support, a testament to the power of faith and divine intervention. Joshua 11- A throng of rulers. They banded together to battle against Joshua and the children of Israel. The assault was coordinated by Jabin, King of Hazor, who summoned a slew of monarchs to battle against Israel. Narrator (Jenelle): Jabin king of Hazor sent a message to Jobab king of Madon, Shimron and Akshaph kings, northern kings, Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, and Hivites, who formed a massive army with troops, horses, and chariots. They gathered at the Waters of Merom to fight against Israel, forming a vast army as numerous as the sand on the seashore. Lord (John): “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots.” Narrator (Jenelle): Joshua and his army defeated the Israelites at the Waters of Merom, leading them to Greater Sidon, Misrephoth Maim, and the Valley of Mizpah. They destroyed all royal cities and kings, taking the entire land, including Gibeon, Negev, Goshen, and Arabah. Only the Hivites made peace, and Joshua took the land as an inheritance, giving it to Israel according to their tribal divisions. Joshua 12 - Israel had tremendous victory over every enemy who stood against her. Specific enemies were targeted and defeated. The victory was very precise according to the leading of God. But no victory was easy. Narrator (Jenelle): The Israelites defeated the kings of the land east of the Jordan, including Sihon, king of the Amorites and Og king of Bashan. Moses and the Israelites conquered these kings, giving their land to the Reubenites, Gadites, and half-tribe of Manasseh. Joshua and the Israelites conquered the kings on the west side of the Jordan, including the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Joshua gave their lands as inheritance to the tribes of Israel according to their tribal divisions, including the hill country, western foothills, Arabah, mountain slopes, wilderness, and Negev. Judges 6- God brought Israel into bondage through the oppression of the Midianites. This was an example of God's grace and mercy to Israel because the oppression would make them turn back to God. Narrator (Jenelle): The Israelites, who committed evil, were given to the Midianites for seven years. The oppressive power of Midian led to the Israelites constructing shelters in caves and mountains. The Midianites invaded, destroying crops and livestock. The Israelites, impoverished, sought help from the Lord. Lord (John): I brought you up out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. I rescued you from the hand of the Egyptians. And I delivered you from the hand of all your oppressors; I drove them out before you and gave you their land. I said to you, ‘I am the LORD your God; do not worship the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you live.’ But you have not listened to me.” Narrator (Jenelle): The angel of the Lord appeared and sat down beneath Joash the Abiezrite's oak at Ophrah, where his son Gideon was threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it safe from the Midianites. When the Lord's angel appeared to Gideon, he said: Angel (Allyza): “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Gideon (Sam): Pardon me, my lord, but if the LORD is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring us up out of Egypt?’ But now the LORD has abandoned us and given us into the hand of Midian.” LORD (John): “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” Gideon (Sam): “Pardon me, my lord, but how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” Lord (John): “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites, leaving none alive.” Gideon (Sam): “If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.” Lord (John): “I will wait until you return.” Narrator (Jenelle): Gideon went inside, prepared a young goat, and from an ephah[a] of flour he made bread without yeast. Putting the meat in a basket and its broth in a pot, he brought them out and offered them to him under the oak. Angel (Allyza): Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth.” Narrator (Jenelle): Then the angel of the Lord touched the meat and the unleavened bread with the tip of the staff that was in his hand. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed; Gideon (Sam): “Alas, Sovereign LORD ! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!” Lord (John): “Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die.” Narrator (Jenelle): So Gideon built an altar to the Lord there and called it The LORD Is Peace. To this day it stands in Ophrah of the Abiezrites. Lord (John): “Take the second bull from your father’s herd, the one seven years old.Tear down your father’s altar to Baal and cut down the Asherah pole beside it. Then build a proper kind of altar to the LORD your God on the top of this height. Using the wood of the Asherah pole that you cut down, offer the second bull as a burnt offering.`` Narrator (Jenelle): Gideon, fearing his family and townspeople, took ten servants to follow the Lord's instructions at night. The next morning, the town's people saw Baal's altar demolished, the Asherah pole cut down, and the second bull sacrificed on a newly built altar. People(ALL): “Who did this?” Narrator (Jenelle): When they carefully investigated, they were told, “Gideon son of Joash did it.” People (ALL): “Bring out your son. He must die, because he has broken down Baal’s altar and cut down the Asherah pole beside it.” Joash (Angela): “Are you going to plead Baal’s cause? Are you trying to save him? Whoever fights for him shall be put to death by morning! If Baal really is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his altar.” So because Gideon broke down Baal’s altar, they gave him the name Jerub-Baal] that day, saying, “Let Baal contend with him.” Narrator (Jenelle): Now all the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples joined forces and crossed over the Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel. Then the Spirit of the Lord came on Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them. Lord (John): “If you will save Israel by my hand as you have promised— look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you said.” Lord (John): “Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece, but this time make the fleece dry and let the ground be covered with dew.” Judge 7- Early in the morning, Jerub-Baal (that is, Gideon) and all his men camped at the spring of Harod. The camp of Midian was north of them in the valley near the hill of Moreh. Lord (John): “You have too many men. I cannot deliver Midian into their hands, or Israel would boast against me, ‘My own strength has saved me.’ 3 Now announce to the army, "Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.” Lord (John): “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” Gideon (Sam): “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues as a dog laps from those who kneel down to drink.” Lord (John): “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the others go home.” Narrator (Jenelle): So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites home but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. Lord (John): “Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” Narrator (Jenelle):So he and Purah, his servant, went down to the outposts of the camp. 12 The Midianites, the Amalekites and all the other eastern peoples had settled in the valley, thick as locusts. Their camels could no more be counted than the sand on the seashore. Man (Sophi): “I had a dream,” “A round loaf of barley bread came tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent with such force that the tent overturned and collapsed.” The man’s friend (Jarren) : “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.” Narrator (Jenelle): When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he bowed down and worshiped. He returned to the camp of Israel and called out. Gideon (Sam): Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands. Narrator (Jenelle): Gideon divided the three hundred men into three companies and instructed them to blow trumpets and empty jars at the edge of the camp. Men (ALL): "A sword for the Lord and for Gideon" Narrator (Jenelle): The Lord caused the men to turn on each other with their swords, leading the army to Beth Shittah toward Zererah. Israelites from Naphtali, Asher, and Manasseh pursued the Midianites. Gideon sent messengers to Ephraim, urging them to seize Jordan and capture two Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb and Zeeb and brought their heads to Gideon. Judge 8 - Gideon Ushers In A Golden Age. Gideon's army continues to pursue the fleeing Midianites, led by their kings Zebah and Zalmunna. They pass through the towns of Succoth and Penuel, and both refuse to give food to Gideon's army. This is rude, and Gideon promises he'll make them pay when he's done with Zebah and Zalmunna. Ephraimites (Allyza): “Why have you treated us like this? Why didn’t you call us when you went to fight Midian?” Gideon (Sam): What have I accomplished compared to you? Aren’t the gleanings of Ephraim’s grapes better than the full grape harvest of Abiezer? 3 God gave Oreb and Zeeb, the Midianite leaders, into your hands. What was I able to do compared to you?” Narrator (Jenelle): Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. Gideon (Sam): “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” Officials of Sukkoth (Sophi): “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?” Gideon (Sam): “Just for that, when the LORD has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers.” Narrator (Jenelle): Gideon, son of Joash, attacked Zebah and Zalmunna's army in Karkor, capturing them and routing their entire army. He captured the elders of Sukkoth and taught them a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers. Gideon then pulled down the tower of Peniel and killed the town's men. He later captured a young man from Sukkoth and taught them a lesson by revealing their possession of Zebah and Zalmunna. Gideon (Sam): “What kind of men did you kill at Tabor?” Zebah and Zalmunna (Jarren and John): “Men like you, each one with the bearing of a prince.” Gideon (Sam): “Those were my brothers, the sons of my own mother. As surely as the LORD lives,if you had spared their lives, I would not kill you.Turning to Jether, his oldest son, he said, “Kill them!” Zebah and Zalmunna (Jarren and John): “Come, do it yourself. ‘As is the man, so is his strength.’” Narrator (Jenelle): So Gideon stepped forward and killed them, and took the ornaments off their camels’ necks. Narrator (Jenelle): Gideon, the Israelites' leader, was asked to rule over them after saving them from Midian's hand. Gideon refused, stating that the Lord would rule. He requested that each person give him an earring from their share of plunder, which he received. The gold was weighed at hundred shekels, and Gideon made it into an ephod, which became a snare for his family. Narrator (Jenelle): Midian was subdued by the Israelites and remained peaceful for forty years. Gideon, son of Joash, returned home and had seventy sons. After Gideon's death, the Israelites prostituted themselves to the Baals, setting up Baal-Berith as their god and failing to show loyalty to Jerub-Baal, despite his good deeds.