So Israel made a vow ¹  to the Lord and said, “If you will indeed deliver ²  this people into our ³  hand, then we will utterly destroy ⁴  their cities.”

But now, why should we die, because this intense fire will consume us! If we keep hearing the voice of the Lord our God we will die!

If you think, “These nations are more numerous than I – how can I dispossess them?”

Just as we obeyed ¹  Moses, so we will obey you. But ²  may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses!

I and all the troops ¹  who are with me will approach the city. When they come out to fight us like before, we will retreat from them.

But they said to Joshua, “We are willing to be your subjects.” ¹  So Joshua said to them, “Who are you and where do you come from?”

The leaders then added, ¹  “Let them live.” So they became ²  woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community, as the leaders had decided. ³ 

the spies spotted ¹  a man leaving the city. They said to him, “If you show us a secret entrance into the city, we will reward you.”

They said, “We are happy to give you earrings.” ¹  So they ²  spread out a garment, and each one threw an earring from his plunder onto it.

The leaders ¹  of Gilead said to one another, “Who is willing to lead the charge ²  against the Ammonites? He will become the leader of all who live in Gilead!”

The leaders of Gilead said to Jephthah, “The Lord will judge any grievance you have against us, ¹  if we do not do as you say.” ² 

You have the right to take what Chemosh your god gives you, but we will take the land of all whom the Lord our God has driven out before us. ¹ 

Manoah said to the Lord’s messenger, “Please stay here awhile, ¹  so we can prepare a young goat for you to eat.” ² 

But his master said to him, “We should not stop at a foreign city where non-Israelites live. ¹  We will travel on to Gibeah.”

He said to his servant, ¹  “Come on, we will go into one of the other towns ²  and spend the night in Gibeah or Ramah.”

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us ¹  and fight our battles.”

¹ Nahash ²  the Ammonite marched ³  against Jabesh Gilead. All the men of Jabesh Gilead said to Nahash, “Make a treaty with us and we will serve you.”

The men of Jabesh said, “Tomorrow we will come out to you ¹  and you can do with us whatever you wish.” ² 

Then the people said to Samuel, “Who were the ones asking, ‘Will Saul reign over us?’ Hand over those men so we may execute them!”

I will go out and stand beside my father in the field where you are. I will speak about you to my father. When I find out what the problem is, ¹  I will let you know.”