Joshua 10
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition
The Sun Stands Still
10 When King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,(A) 2 he[a] became greatly frightened, because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities, and was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3 So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent a message to King Hoham of Hebron, to King Piram of Jarmuth, to King Japhia of Lachish, and to King Debir of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up and help me, and let us attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the Israelites.”(B) 5 Then the five kings of the Amorites—the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon—gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and camped against Gibeon and made war against it.(C)
6 And the Gibeonites sent to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not abandon your servants; come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the fighting force with him, all the mighty warriors. 8 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have handed them over to you; not one of them shall stand before you.”(D) 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who inflicted a crushing blow on them at Gibeon, chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.(E) 11 As they fled before Israel, while they were going down the slope of Beth-horon, the Lord threw down huge stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died; there were more who died because of the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.(F)
12 On the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the Lord, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.”(G)
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in midheaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.(H) 14 There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded a human voice, for the Lord fought for Israel.(I)
15 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.(J)
Five Kings Defeated
16 Meanwhile, these five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.(K) 17 And it was told Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves; pursue your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not let them enter their towns, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” 20 When Joshua and the Israelites had finished inflicting a very great blow on them, until they were wiped out, and when the survivors had entered into the fortified towns,(L) 21 all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah; no one dared to speak[b] against any of the Israelites.(M)
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.”(N) 23 They did so and brought the 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 When they brought the kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the Israelites and said to the chiefs of the warriors who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” Then they came near and put their feet on their necks.(O) 25 And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous, for thus the Lord will do to all the enemies against whom you fight.”(P) 26 Afterward Joshua struck them down and put them to death, and he hung them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening.(Q) 27 At sunset Joshua commanded, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves; they set large stones against the mouth of the cave that remain to this very day.(R)
28 Joshua took Makkedah on that day and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword; he utterly destroyed every person in it; he left no one remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.(S)
29 Then Joshua passed on from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah and fought against Libnah.(T) 30 The Lord gave it also and its king into the hand of Israel, and he struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it; he left no one remaining in it, and he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31 Next Joshua passed on from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish and laid siege to it and assaulted it.(U) 32 The Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he took it on the second day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it, as he had done to Libnah.
33 Then King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people, leaving him no survivors.
34 From Lachish Joshua passed on with all Israel to Eglon, and they laid siege to it and assaulted it, 35 and they took it that day and struck it with the edge of the sword, and every person in it he utterly destroyed that day, as he had done to Lachish.
36 Then Joshua went up with all Israel from Eglon to Hebron; they assaulted it(V) 37 and took it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns and every person in it; he left no one remaining, just as he had done to Eglon, and utterly destroyed it with every person in it.
38 Then Joshua, with all Israel, turned back to Debir and assaulted it,(W) 39 and he took it with its king and all its towns; they struck them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed every person in it; he left no one remaining; just as he had done to Hebron and as he had done to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and its king.
40 So Joshua defeated the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes and all their kings; he left no one remaining but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded.(X) 41 And Joshua defeated them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon.(Y) 42 Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.(Z) 43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Joshua 10
Lexham English Bible
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, 2 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. 3 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, 4 “Come up and help me, and let us attack Gibeon, because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”[c] 5 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.
6 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.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the fighting men[h] with him, all the best warriors.[i] 8 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] 9 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
- Joshua 10:2 Hebrew “they”
- Joshua 10:2 Literally “like one of the cities of the kingship”
- Joshua 10:4 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Joshua 10:5 Hebrew “Amorite”
- Joshua 10:5 Literally “they camped against Gibeon”; see Josh 10:31
- Joshua 10:6 Literally “do not release your hands from”
- Joshua 10:6 Hebrew “Amorite”
- Joshua 10:7 Literally “all the people of the war”
- Joshua 10:7 Literally “all the mighty warriors of the army”
- Joshua 10:8 Literally “not a man of them will stand in your presence”
- Joshua 10:9 Literally “he went up”
- Joshua 10:10 Hebrew “he”
- Joshua 10:11 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Joshua 10:12 Hebrew “Amorite”
- Joshua 10:12 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Joshua 10:20 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Joshua 10:20 Literally “the survivors who survived”
- Joshua 10:21 Or “in peace”
- Joshua 10:21 Literally “No one moved his tongue”
- Joshua 10:21 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
- Joshua 10:24 Literally “the men of war”
- Joshua 10:27 Literally “at the time of the going of the sun”
- Joshua 10:28 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
- Joshua 10:30 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
- Joshua 10:31 Literally “he camped opposite it”
- Joshua 10:32 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
- Joshua 10:34 Literally “they camped opposite it”
- Joshua 10:35 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
- Joshua 10:37 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
- Joshua 10:39 Literally “the mouth of the sword”
- Joshua 10:40 An arid region south of the Judaean hills
- Joshua 10:40 Or “lowlands”; a geographical region on the western edge of the hills of Judea
- Joshua 10:40 The slopes of the hills of the western Jordan to the Dead Sea region
- Joshua 10:40 Literally “all of the breath”
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