Someone in the camp

Officers doing the rounds of the tents: sort your food out. Three days from now we cross the Jordan.

We've been told to stay well back from the ark tomorrow. Like a thousand yards back. So we can all see which way to go, because none of us has been this way before.

They cast lots this morning to find out who took things from Jericho. Tribe by tribe, clan by clan, family by family, man by man. It landed on Achan.

Envoys turned up at Gilgal today looking rough. Worn-out sandals, patched clothes, cracked wineskins, bread gone dry and mouldy. Say they've come from a very distant country and want a treaty.

Did you hear? Three days after the treaty, it turns out the Gibeonites are our neighbours. Their towns are just up the road. “A very distant country.” Right.

They inspected the bread. Did anyone think to ask the LORD?

The leaders of Israel@israel.leadersKindly note: the visitors' provisions were inspected. Joshua has made a treaty of peace with them, and the leaders have sworn an oath to it.

Replying to @caleb

Eighty-five and asking for the giants' hill. Respect.

Replying to @book.of.joshua

Wait. A war? Over an altar?

If you’re just joining: Moses is dead, the thirty days of mourning are over, and Joshua’s in charge now. We’re camped at Shittim, on the east bank of the Jordan. Jericho’s just over the river.

The Israelites@theisraelitesThe thirty days are over. We’re listening to Joshua now. Moses laid his hands on him, and he’s full of wisdom. We do what the LORD told Moses.

Right. Officers going round the tents: get your food ready. In three days we cross the Jordan.

Joshua’s sent two of the young men off somewhere. Quietly. Nobody’s saying where.

Up early. The whole camp’s packed up and moved from Shittim down to the river. We’re camped on the bank.

Officers again. When you see the priests carrying the ark, the gold chest of God’s agreement with us, follow it. But stay about a thousand yards back. We’ve never been this way before, and that way everyone can see where it’s going.

Replying to @theisraelites

People are hurrying across. Can’t say I blame them.

Joshua’s set up another twelve stones in the middle of the riverbed, right where the priests’ feet were.

Tenth day of the first month. We’re camped at Gilgal, on the Jericho side of the river. We’re in.

Passover tonight, the fourteenth. The first one in the land. On the plains of Jericho.

Flat bread and roasted grain today. Grown here. In this land.

Replying to @born.in.the.desert

We eat what this land grows now.

The LORD is with Joshua. His name’s all over the land now.