太阳停止

10 耶路撒冷王亚多尼·洗德听说约书亚夺取并毁灭了艾城,像对付耶利哥和耶利哥王一样对付艾城和艾城的王,又听说基遍人已经跟以色列人立了盟约,住在他们中间, 便大为恐惧。因为基遍是一座大城,宏伟得像座都城,比艾城更大,城中的人都骁勇善战。 耶路撒冷王亚多尼·洗德便派遣使者去见希伯仑王何咸、耶末王毗兰、拉吉王雅非亚和伊矶伦王底璧,说: “求你们上来帮助我攻打基遍,因为这城已经与约书亚和以色列人立了和约。” 这五位亚摩利王便联合起来,率领他们所有的军队在基遍附近扎营,攻打基遍。

基遍人派人去吉甲告诉约书亚说:“住在山区的亚摩利众王正联合起来攻打我们,求你赶快来救我们!不要不顾你的仆人。” 于是,约书亚便率领他的全军,包括所有的精兵,从吉甲上去。 耶和华对约书亚说:“不要害怕,我已经把他们交在你手中,他们没有一人能抵挡你。” 约书亚从吉甲出发,连夜赶路,突袭敌人。 10 耶和华使亚摩利联军阵脚大乱,以色列人就在基遍大败敌军,在去伯·和仑的上坡路上追杀他们,一直追到亚西加和玛基大。 11 敌人在从伯·和仑到亚西加的下坡路上逃窜的时候,耶和华降下大冰雹,被冰雹砸死的人比以色列人用刀杀死的还要多。

12 耶和华将亚摩利人交在以色列人手中,那天约书亚当众向耶和华祷告:

“太阳啊,停在基遍!
月亮啊,停在亚雅仑谷!”
13 果然太阳停住了,
月亮也不动了,
直到以色列人杀败敌人。

《雅煞珥书》记载了这事。约有一天的时间,太阳停留在天空,没有西沉。 14 耶和华这样垂听一个人的祈求是空前绝后的,这是因为耶和华要为以色列争战。

15 后来,约书亚率领以色列军返回了吉甲的营地。

亚摩利五王被杀

16 那五王逃进玛基大的山洞里,躲藏起来。 17 有人告诉约书亚那五个王藏在玛基大的山洞里, 18 约书亚便下令说:“滚几块大石头堵住洞口,派人看守。 19 你们不可停下来,要继续追杀敌人,不要让他们逃回城,你们的上帝耶和华已经把他们交在你们手中了。” 20 约书亚和以色列人把敌人杀得大败,几乎全军覆没,一些残余都逃进了坚固的城垒。 21 以色列人都安然无恙地回到约书亚驻扎的玛基大营。再也没有人敢威胁以色列人了。

22 约书亚说:“打开洞口,把里面的五个王押出来见我。” 23 众人便把耶路撒冷王、希伯仑王、耶末王、拉吉王、伊矶伦王从洞里押出来,带到约书亚面前。 24 约书亚召来全体以色列人,然后对那些跟他一起出征的将领说:“你们上前来,用脚踏在这些王的颈上。”各将领便照着约书亚的吩咐做了。 25 约书亚对他们说:“你们不要害怕,也不要惊慌,应该刚强勇敢,因为耶和华要使你们所有的仇敌都落此下场。” 26 随后约书亚将这五个王杀死,把尸体分别挂在五棵树上,直到傍晚。 27 日落时,约书亚才下令把尸体放下,丢在他们先前躲藏的山洞里,用大石头堵住洞口,石头至今还在那里。

28 约书亚在当天占领了玛基大,把玛基大王和所有的居民都杀了,一个没留。他对待玛基大王跟以前对待耶利哥王一样。

29 约书亚和以色列军又从玛基大出发,去攻打立拿。 30 耶和华将立拿城和立拿王交在以色列人手中,他们杀了全城的人,一个没留。他们对待立拿王跟以前对待耶利哥王一样。

31 约书亚和以色列军从立拿前往拉吉,他们在城外扎营,攻打拉吉。 32 耶和华将拉吉交在以色列人手中,第二天约书亚便攻占了拉吉,杀了全城的人,就像在立拿所行的一样。 33 基色王何兰前来支持拉吉,结果也被约书亚杀得一个不剩。

34 约书亚又率领以色列全军从拉吉前往伊矶伦,在城外扎营,攻打伊矶伦。 35 他们当天就攻陷该城,杀了城内所有的人,就像在拉吉所行的一样。

36 约书亚和全体以色列人又从伊矶伦去攻打希伯仑。 37 他们攻陷该城及其附属城邑,杀了希伯仑王和城邑中的居民,一个没留,就像在伊矶伦所行的一样。

38 然后,约书亚和全体以色列人再回兵攻打底璧, 39 攻取了该城及其附属城邑,擒获底璧王,杀了城中所有的人,一个没留,就像对待希伯仑、立拿和立拿王一样。

40 这样,约书亚征服了整个地区,包括山区、南地、丘陵和山坡,按照以色列的上帝耶和华的吩咐杀了当地的诸王和所有的居民,一个没留。 41 约书亚征服了各地,从加低斯·巴尼亚到加萨,歌珊全境,直到基遍。 42 约书亚能一鼓作气杀败诸王,征服他们的土地,都是因为有以色列的上帝耶和华为以色列人争战。 43 之后,约书亚率领以色列人回到吉甲的营地。

The Sun Stands Still

10 Now Adoni-Zedek(A) king of Jerusalem(B) heard that Joshua had taken Ai(C) and totally destroyed[a](D) it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon(E) had made a treaty of peace(F) with Israel and had become their allies. He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron,(G) Piram king of Jarmuth,(H) Japhia king of Lachish(I) and Debir(J) king of Eglon.(K) “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace(L) with Joshua and the Israelites.”

Then the five kings(M) of the Amorites(N)—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal:(O) “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army,(P) including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid(Q) of them; I have given them into your hand.(R) Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”(S)

After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The Lord threw them into confusion(T) before Israel,(U) so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon.(V) Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon(W) and cut them down all the way to Azekah(X) and Makkedah.(Y) 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones(Z) down on them,(AA) and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

12 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites(AB) over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.(AC)
13 So the sun stood still,(AD)
    and the moon stopped,
    till the nation avenged itself on[b] its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.(AE)

The sun stopped(AF) in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting(AG) for Israel!

15 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.(AH)

Five Amorite Kings Killed

16 Now the five kings had fled(AI) and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely,(AJ) but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.(AK) 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings(AL) to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet(AM) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet(AN) on their necks.

25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.(AO) This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” 26 Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.

27 At sunset(AP) Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.(AQ)

Southern Cities Conquered

28 That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.(AR) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.(AS)

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah(AT) and attacked it. 30 The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish;(AU) he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer(AV) had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon;(AW) they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron(AX) and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone(AY) in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir.(AZ) 39 They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.(BA)

40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev,(BB) the western foothills and the mountain slopes,(BC) together with all their kings.(BD) He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.(BE) 41 Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea(BF) to Gaza(BG) and from the whole region of Goshen(BH) to Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought(BI) for Israel.

43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.(BJ)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:1 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 28, 35, 37, 39 and 40.
  2. Joshua 10:13 Or nation triumphed over

The Day the Sun Stood Still

10 King Adoni Zedek of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and claimed it for the Lord the same way he had destroyed Jericho and its king. He also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with the people of Israel and were living with them. He and his people were terribly afraid because Gibeon was a large city. It was like one of the royal cities, larger than Ai. All its men were warriors. So King Adoni Zedek of Jerusalem sent this message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon: “Come, help me destroy Gibeon because it has made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.” So the five Amorite kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon combined their armies. They marched to Gibeon, camped there, and attacked it.

The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Don’t abandon us! Come quickly, and save us. Help us because all the Amorite kings who live in the mountains have united against us.”

So Joshua, with all his soldiers and best warriors, set out from Gilgal. Yahweh told Joshua, “Don’t be afraid of them. I have handed them over to you. None of them can stand up to you.” So Joshua marched all night from Gilgal and took them by surprise. 10 The Lord threw the enemy into disorder in front of Israel and defeated them decisively at Gibeon. He chased them along the road that goes to the slope of Beth Horon and continued to defeat them all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.

11 As they fled from the Israelites down the slope of Beth Horon toward Azekah, Yahweh threw huge hailstones on them. More died from the hailstones than from Israelite swords.

12 The day Yahweh handed the Amorites over to the people of Israel, Joshua spoke to Yahweh while Israel was watching,

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and moon, stand still over the valley of Aijalon!”
13 The sun stood still,
    and the moon stopped
        until a nation got revenge on its enemies.

Isn’t this recorded in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and for nearly a day the sun was in no hurry to set. 14 Never before or after this day was there anything like it. Yahweh did what a man told him to do, because Yahweh fought for Israel.

15 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.

16 The five kings ran away and hid in the cave at Makkedah. 17 Someone told Joshua, “The five kings have been found. They are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

18 Joshua replied, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post a guard there. 19 But don’t stop. Chase your enemies! Cut off their rear guard. Don’t let them get back into their own cities, because Yahweh your Elohim has handed them over to you.”

20 Joshua and the Israelites defeated them decisively, almost destroying them. But some who survived got back into the fortified cities. 21 Then the whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a single person dared to speak against any of the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the cave, and bring me the five kings!” 23 So they brought him the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

24 When they brought them to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel. He told the officers who had gone with him, “Come forward and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So that’s what they did. 25 Joshua told them, “Don’t be afraid or terrified! Be strong and courageous, because this is what Yahweh will do to all the enemies you’re fighting against.”

26 After this, Joshua put them to death and hung their bodies on five poles until evening. 27 When the sun went down, Joshua gave the order to take them down from the poles. Then they threw them into the cave where they had been hiding and put large stones over the mouth of the cave. These stones are still there today.

Joshua Defeats the Southern Kings

28 That same day Joshua captured Makkedah, and the Israelites killed its people and king with swords. He claimed them for the Lord by destroying them. There were no survivors. He did the same thing to the king of Makkedah that he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 Joshua and all Israel marched from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30 Yahweh also handed Libnah and its king over to Israel. He killed all the people. There were no survivors. He did the same thing to the king of Libnah that he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Joshua and all Israel marched from Libnah to Lachish, camped there, and attacked it. 32 Yahweh handed Lachish over to Israel. He captured it on the next day and killed all the people, the same way he had captured Libnah. 33 At that time King Horam of Gezer had come to help Lachish. But Joshua killed him and his troops. There were no survivors.

34 Joshua and all Israel marched from Lachish to Eglon, camped there, and attacked it. 35 They captured it that day and killed everyone in it. He claimed it for the Lord by destroying it the same way he had destroyed Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel marched from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37 They captured it and its neighboring villages and killed its king and all the people. There were no survivors, the same as at Eglon. He claimed the city and all its people for the Lord by destroying them.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel went back to Debir and attacked it. 39 He captured it and its king and all its neighboring villages and killed everyone. So they claimed them all for the Lord by destroying them. There were no survivors. He did the same thing to Debir and its king that he had done to Hebron and Libnah and their kings.

40 So Joshua captured the whole land—the mountains, the Negev, the foothills, and the slopes. There were no survivors. He claimed every living creature for the Lord by destroying it, as Yahweh Elohim of Israel had commanded. 41 So Joshua defeated the people from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from all the country of Goshen as far as Gibeon. 42 Joshua captured all these kings and their territories in one campaign because Yahweh Elohim of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.