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Five Kings Attack Gibeon

10 Now it happened that when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction (just (A)as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to Ai and its king), and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had (B)made peace with Israel and were [a]within their land, they (C)feared exceedingly because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty. Therefore Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent word (D)to Hoham king of Hebron and to Piram king of Jarmuth and to Japhia king of Lachish and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon, for it has (E)made peace with Joshua and with the sons of Israel.” So the five kings of (F)the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they with all their armies, and camped by Gibeon and fought against it.

Then the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not [b]abandon your slaves; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the hill country have assembled against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and (G)all the people of war with him and all the valiant warriors. And Yahweh said to Joshua, “(H)Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands; not [c]one of them shall stand before you.” So Joshua came upon them suddenly—he had gone up, marching all night from Gilgal. 10 (I)And Yahweh threw them into confusion before Israel, and He struck them with a great slaughter at Gibeon and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 Now it happened as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that (J)Yahweh threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died [d]from the hailstones than those whom the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

12 Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh gave over the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,

“O (K)sun, stand still at Gibeon,
And O moon in the valley of Aijalon.”
13 (L)So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies.

Is it not written in (M)the book of Jashar? And (N)the sun stood in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, when Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for (O)Yahweh fought for Israel.

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

Joshua Captures Makkedah

16 And these (P)five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 Then it was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and assign men by it to keep watch over them, 19 but as for you, do not stand there; pursue your enemies and [e]attack them in the rear. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for Yahweh your God has given them into your hand.” 20 Now it happened when Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a very great slaughter (Q)until they were completely destroyed, and the survivors—those of them who survived—[f]had entered the fortified cities, 21 that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. No one so much as [g]lifted his tongue against any of the sons of Israel.

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring these five kings out to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so and (R)brought these five kings out to him from the cave: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 Now it happened that when they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near, (S)put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 Joshua then said to them, “(T)Do not fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, for thus Yahweh will do to all your enemies with whom you fight.” 26 So afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he (U)hanged them on five trees; and they hung on the trees until evening. 27 Now it happened that at [h]sunset Joshua gave a command, and (V)they took them down from the trees and threw them down into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they put large stones over the mouth of the cave, to this very day.

28 Now Joshua captured Makkedah on that day and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; (W)he [i]devoted [j]it to destruction and every [k]person who was in it. He left no survivor. Thus he did to the king of Makkedah (X)just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Israel Captures Kings by Yahweh’s Sword

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to (Y)Libnah and fought against Libnah. 30 And Yahweh gave it also with its king into the hands of Israel, and he struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor remaining in it. Thus he did to its king just as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish, and they camped by it and fought against it. 32 And Yahweh gave Lachish into the hands of Israel; and he captured it on the second day and struck it and every person who was in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of (Z)Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people down until [l]there was no survivor remaining for him.

34 And Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon, and they camped by it and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; and every person who was in it, he devoted to destruction on that day according to all that he had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to (AA)Hebron, and they fought against it. 37 And they captured it and struck it and its king and all its cities and all the persons who were in it with the edge of the sword. He left no survivor remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon. And he devoted it and every person who was in it to destruction.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to (AB)Debir, and they fought against it. 39 And he captured it and its king and all its cities, and they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted every person who was in it to destruction. He left no survivor remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had also done to Libnah and its king.

40 Thus Joshua struck all the land—(AC)the hill country and the [m]Negev and the [n]Shephelah and the slopes—as well as (AD)all their kings. He left no survivor remaining, but (AE)he devoted to destruction all who breathed, just as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea even as far as Gaza, and all the country of (AF)Goshen even as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their lands at one time because (AG)Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel. 43 So Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:1 Lit among them
  2. Joshua 10:6 Lit slacken your hands from
  3. Joshua 10:8 Lit a man
  4. Joshua 10:11 Lit with
  5. Joshua 10:19 Lit smite their tail
  6. Joshua 10:20 Lit and had
  7. Joshua 10:21 Lit sharpened
  8. Joshua 10:27 Lit the time of the going of the sun
  9. Joshua 10:28 Or put under the ban, so in ch
  10. Joshua 10:28 Some mss them
  11. Joshua 10:28 Lit soul, so in ch
  12. Joshua 10:33 Lit he had no survivor
  13. Joshua 10:40 South country
  14. Joshua 10:40 Or lowland

The Sun Stands Still at Gibeon

10 And it happened that when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua captured Ai and had utterly destroyed it (just as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he did to Ai and its king) and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, he[a] became very afraid because Gibeon was a very large city, like one of the royal cities,[b] and because it was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty warriors. So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hohman king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, “Come up and help me, and let us attack Gibeon, because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”[c] And the five kings of the Amorites,[d] the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered together and went up, they and all their forces, and they laid siege to Gibeon[e] and made war against it.

And the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon[f] your servant. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, for all the kings of the Amorites[g] who dwell in the hill country have gathered against us.” So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the fighting men[h] with him, all the best warriors.[i] And Yahweh said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have given them into your hand; no one will withstand you.[j] Joshua came upon them suddenly by marching up[k] all night from Gilgal. 10 And Yahweh threw them into panic before Israel, who[l] struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and pursued them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they were fleeing from Israel, they were on the slope of Beth-horon, and Yahweh threw huge stones from the heavens on them as far as Azekah; and more died by the hail stones than those whom the Israelites[m] killed by the sword.

12 Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh, on the day Yahweh gave the Amorites[n] over to the Israelites,[o] and he said in the sight of Israel,

“Sun in Gibeon, stand still,
    and moon, in the valley of Aijalon.”
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
    until the nation took vengeance on its enemies.

Is it not written in the scroll of Jashar? The sun stood still in the middle of the heaven and was not in haste to set for about a full day. 14 There has not been a day like this before it or after, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for Yahweh fought for Israel. 15 And Joshua returned and all Israel with him to the camp at Gilgal.

The Kings of the Amorites Are Killed

16 But these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, saying, “The five kings were found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men in front of it to guard them. 19 But do not stay there; pursue after your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not allow them to go into their cities, for Yahweh your God has given them into your hand.” 20 When Joshua and the Israelites[p] had finished striking them with a very great blow, until they perished, those of them who survived[q] went into the fortified cities, 21 and all the people returned to the camp safely[r] to Joshua at Makkedah. No one spoke[s] against the Israelites.[t]

22 And Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring to me those five kings from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought him these five kings from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon. 24 And when they brought these kings to Joshua, Joshua called all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the fighting men[u] who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and put their feet on their necks. 25 And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed! Be strong and bold, for thus Yahweh will do to all your enemies whom you are about to fight. 26 And after this Joshua struck them down and killed them, and he hanged them on five trees. And they were hanging on the trees until the evening. 27 And it happened at the time of sunset,[v] Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they put large stones against the mouth of the cave, which are there to this very day.

28 Joshua captured Makkedah on that day, and he struck it and its king with the edge of the sword;[w] he utterly destroyed it and everyone that was in it. He did not leave behind a survivor. So he did to the king of Makkedah just as he did to the king of Jericho.

Joshua’s Conquest of the South

29 And Joshua passed on, and all of Israel with him, from Makkedah to Libnah, and he fought against Libnah. 30 And Yahweh also gave it into the hand of Israel, and its king and all the people in it he struck with the edge of the sword.[x] He left in it no survivor. He did to its king just as he did to the king of Jericho.

31 And Joshua passed on, and all of Israel with him, from Libnah to Lachish, and he laid siege to it[y] and fought against it. 32 And Yahweh gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured it on the second day. He struck it with the edge of the sword,[z] and everyone in it, just as he did to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people until he left no survivor behind.

34 And Joshua passed on, and all of Israel with him, from Lachish to Eglon, and they laid siege to it[aa] and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day, and he struck it with the edge of the sword,[ab] and all the people that were in it on that day he utterly destroyed as he had done to Lachish.

36 And Joshua went up, and all Israel with him, from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it 37 and captured it, and they struck it with the edge of the sword,[ac] its king and all its cities, and all the people that were in it; he left behind no survivor, as he had done to Eglon, and he utterly destroyed it and all the people that were in it. 38 Then Joshua returned to Debir, and all of Israel with him, and they fought against it, 39 and he captured it and its king and all its cities, and they struck them with the the edge of the sword,[ad] and they utterly destroyed all the people that were in it; he left behind no survivor, just as he had done to Hebron. Thus he did to Debir and its king what he had done to Libnah and its king.

40 So Joshua struck all the land—the hill country, the Negev,[ae] the Shephelah,[af] and the slopes[ag]—and all their kings; he left behind no survivor, and all that breathed[ah] he utterly destroyed as Yahweh the God of Israel commanded. 41 Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen up to Gibeon; 42 all of these kings and their land Joshua captured at one time, because Yahweh the God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:2 Hebrew “they”
  2. Joshua 10:2 Literally “like one of the cities of the kingship”
  3. Joshua 10:4 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  4. Joshua 10:5 Hebrew “Amorite”
  5. Joshua 10:5 Literally “they camped against Gibeon”; see Josh 10:31
  6. Joshua 10:6 Literally “do not release your hands from”
  7. Joshua 10:6 Hebrew “Amorite”
  8. Joshua 10:7 Literally “all the people of the war”
  9. Joshua 10:7 Literally “all the mighty warriors of the army”
  10. Joshua 10:8 Literally “not a man of them will stand in your presence”
  11. Joshua 10:9 Literally “he went up”
  12. Joshua 10:10 Hebrew “he”
  13. Joshua 10:11 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  14. Joshua 10:12 Hebrew “Amorite”
  15. Joshua 10:12 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  16. Joshua 10:20 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  17. Joshua 10:20 Literally “the survivors who survived”
  18. Joshua 10:21 Or “in peace”
  19. Joshua 10:21 Literally “No one moved his tongue”
  20. Joshua 10:21 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  21. Joshua 10:24 Literally “the men of war”
  22. Joshua 10:27 Literally “at the time of the going of the sun”
  23. Joshua 10:28 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
  24. Joshua 10:30 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
  25. Joshua 10:31 Literally “he camped opposite it”
  26. Joshua 10:32 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
  27. Joshua 10:34 Literally “they camped opposite it”
  28. Joshua 10:35 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
  29. Joshua 10:37 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
  30. Joshua 10:39 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
  31. Joshua 10:40 An arid region south of the Judaean hills
  32. Joshua 10:40 Or “lowlands”; a geographical region on the western edge of the hills of Judea
  33. Joshua 10:40 The slopes of the hills of the western Jordan to the Dead Sea region
  34. Joshua 10:40 Literally “all of the breath”