Joshua 10
New King James Version
The Sun Stands Still
10 Now it came to pass when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem (A)heard how Joshua had taken (B)Ai and had utterly destroyed it—(C)as he had done to Jericho and its king, so he had done to (D)Ai and its king—and (E)how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 that they (F)feared greatly, 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. 3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, that we may attack Gibeon, for (G)it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.” 5 Therefore the five kings of the (H)Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, (I)gathered together and went up, they and all their armies, and camped before Gibeon and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp (J)at Gilgal, saying, “Do not forsake your servants; come up to us quickly, save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.”
7 So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he and (K)all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, (L)“Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; (M)not a man of them shall (N)stand before you.” 9 Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly, having marched all night from Gilgal. 10 So the Lord (O)routed them before Israel, killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road that goes (P)to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as (Q)Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And it happened, as they fled before Israel and were on the descent of Beth Horon, (R)that the Lord cast down large hailstones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than the children of Israel killed with the sword.
12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel:
(S)“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
And Moon, in the Valley of (T)Aijalon.”
13 So the sun stood still,
And the moon stopped,
Till the people had revenge
Upon their enemies.
(U)Is this not written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. 14 And there has been (V)no day like that, before it or after it, that the Lord heeded the voice of a man; for (W)the Lord fought for Israel.
15 (X)Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
The Amorite Kings Executed
16 But these five kings had fled and hidden themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17 And it was told Joshua, saying, “The five kings have been found hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”
18 So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them. 19 And do not stay there yourselves, but pursue your enemies, and attack their rear guard. Do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hand.” 20 Then it happened, while Joshua and the children of Israel made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they had finished, that those who escaped entered fortified cities. 21 And all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua at Makkedah, in peace.
(Y)No one [a]moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought out those five kings 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 So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and (Z)put their feet on their necks. 25 Then Joshua said to [b]them, (AA)“Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage, for (AB)thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26 And afterward Joshua struck [c]them and killed them, and hanged them on five trees; and they (AC)were hanging on the trees until evening. 27 So it was at the time of the going down of the sun that Joshua commanded, and they (AD)took them down from the trees, cast them into the cave where they had been hidden, and laid large stones against the cave’s mouth, which remain until this very day.
Conquest of the Southland
28 On that day Joshua took Makkedah, and struck it and its king with the edge of the sword. He utterly (AE)destroyed [d]them—all the people who were in it. He let none remain. He also did to the king of Makkedah (AF)as he had done to the king of Jericho.
29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to (AG)Libnah; and they fought against Libnah. 30 And the Lord also delivered it and its king into the hand of Israel; he struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword. He let none remain in it, but did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31 Then Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish; and they encamped against it and fought against it. 32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, who took it on the second day, and struck it and all the people who were in it with the edge of the sword, according to all that he had done to Libnah. 33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he left him none remaining.
34 From Lachish Joshua passed to Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it and fought against it. 35 They took it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword; all the people who were in it he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
36 So Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to (AH)Hebron; and they fought against it. 37 And they took it and struck it with the edge of the sword—its king, all its cities, and all the people who were in it; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon, but utterly destroyed it and all the people who were in it.
38 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to (AI)Debir; and they fought against it. 39 And he took it and its king and all its cities; they struck them with the edge of the sword and utterly destroyed all the people who were in it. He left none remaining; as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had done also to Libnah and its king.
40 So Joshua conquered all the land: the (AJ)mountain country and the [e]South and the lowland and the wilderness slopes, and (AK)all their kings; he left none remaining, but (AL)utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 41 And Joshua conquered them from (AM)Kadesh Barnea as far as (AN)Gaza, (AO)and all the country of Goshen, even as far as Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, (AP)because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Footnotes
- Joshua 10:21 criticized, lit. sharpened his tongue
- Joshua 10:25 The captains
- Joshua 10:26 The kings
- Joshua 10:28 So with MT and most authorities; many Heb. mss., some LXX mss., and some Tg. mss. it
- Joshua 10:40 Heb. Negev, and so throughout the book
Giosué 10
La Nuova Diodati
10 Quando Adoni-Tsedek, re di Gerusalemme, seppe che Giosuè aveva preso Ai e l'aveva votata allo sterminio, e che aveva fatto ad Ai e al suo re quel che aveva fatto a Gerico e al suo re, e che gli abitanti di Gabaon avevano fatto pace con gl'Israeliti ed erano in mezzo a loro,
2 fu preso da grande paura, perché Gabaon era una grande città come una delle città regali e perché era piú grande di Ai, e tutti i suoi uomini erano valorosi.
3 Perciò Adoni-Tsedek, re di Gerusalemme, mandò a dire a Hoham re di Hebron, a Piram re di Jarmuth, a Jafia re di Lakish e a Debir re di Eglon, dicendo:
4 «Salite da me e aiutatemi ad attaccare Gabaon, perché ha fatto pace con Giosuè e con i figli d'Israele».
5 Così i cinque re degli Amorei il re di Gerusalemme, il re di Hebron il re di Jarmuth, il re di Lakish e il re di Eglon si radunarono, salirono con tutti i loro eserciti, si accamparono di fronte a Gabaon e l'attaccarono.
6 Allora i Gabaoniti mandarono a dire a Giosuè, al campo di Ghilgal: «Non negare il tuo aiuto ai tuoi servi; affrettati a salire da noi, salvaci ed aiutaci, perché tutti i re degli Amorei che abitano nella regione montuosa si sono radunati contro di noi».
7 Così Giosuè salì da Ghilgal, lui con tutti gli uomini di guerra, tutti i guerrieri valorosi.
8 L'Eterno disse a Giosuè: «Non aver paura di loro, perché li ho dati nelle tue mani; nessuno di loro potrà resisterti».
9 Così Giosuè piombò loro addosso all'improvviso perché aveva marciato tutta la notte da Ghilgal.
10 Cosi l'Eterno li mise in rotta davanti ad Israele, gl'inflisse una grande sconfitta presso Gabaon, li inseguì per la via che sale a Beth-Horon e li battè fino ad Azekah e a Makkedah.
11 Mentre fuggivano davanti a Israele e erano alla discesa di Beth-Horon, l'Eterno scagliò su di loro dal cielo delle grosse pietre fino ad Azekah, ed essi perirono; quelli che morirono per la grandinata di pietre furono piú numerosi di quelli che i figli d'Israele uccisero con la spada.
12 Il giorno che l'Eterno diede gli Amorei nelle mani dei figli d'Israele, Giosuè parlò all'Eterno e disse in presenza d'Israele: «Sole, fermati su Gabaon, e tu, luna, sulla valle di Ajalon!».
13 Così il sole si fermò e la luna si arrestò, finché il popolo si fu vendicato dei suoi nemici. Questo non sta forse scritto nel libro del Giusto? Così il sole si fermò in mezzo al cielo e non si affrettò a tramontare per quasi un giorno intero.
14 E non ci fu mai, né prima né dopo, un giorno come quello, in cui l'Eterno abbia esaudito la voce di un uomo, perché l'Eterno combatté per Israele.
15 Poi Giosuè, e tutto Israele con lui, ritornò all'accampamento di Ghilgal.
16 Ma quei cinque re erano fuggiti e si erano nascosti nella caverna di Makkedah.
17 La cosa fu riferita a Giosuè e gli fu detto: «I cinque re sono stati trovati nascosti nella caverna di Makkedahii.
18 Allora Giosuè disse: «Rotolate grosse pietre contro l'entrata della caverna e mettetevi degli uomini a far loro guardia.
19 Voi però non fermatevi, ma inseguite i vostri nemici e colpite le retroguardie; non permettete loro di entrare nelle loro città, perché l'Eterno, il vostro DIO, li ha dati nelle vostre mani».
20 Quando Giosuè e i figli d'Israele ebbero terminato di sterminarli con un grande massacro fino ad annientarli, e i loro superstiti che sfuggirono si furono rifugiati nelle città fortificate,
21 tutto il popolo ritornò sano e salvo da Giosuè all'accampamento di Makkedah. Nessuno osò muovere la lingua contro alcuno dei figli d'Israele.
22 Allora Giosuè disse: «Aprite l'ingresso della caverna, tirate fuori dalla caverna quei cinque re e conduceteli da me».
23 Così fecero; tirarono fuori dalla caverna quei cinque re, e li condussero da lui, cioè: il re di Gerusalemme, il re di Hebron, il re di Jarmuth, il re di Lakish e il re di Eglon.
24 Quando quei re furono tirati fuori e condotti da Giosuè, Giosuè chiamò tutti gli uomini d'Israele e disse ai capi degli uomini di guerra che erano andati con lui: «Avvicinatevi e mettete i vostri piedi sul collo di questi re». Essi si avvicinarono e misero i loro piedi sul loro collo.
25 Quindi Giosuè disse loro: «Non abbiate paura, non sgomentatevi, siate forti e coraggiosi, perché così farà l'Eterno a tutti i vostri nemici, contro cui dovete combattere».
26 Dopo di ciò Giosuè li percosse e li fece morire, quindi li fece appendere a cinque alberi, sui quali rimasero appesi fino a sera.
27 Al tramontar del sole, Giosuè ordinò di calarli dagli alberi e di gettarli nella caverna dove si erano nascosti; poi all'ingresso della caverna misero delle grosse pietre, che sono rimaste là fino al giorno d'oggi.
28 In quello stesso giorno Giosuè prese Makkedah e la passò a fil di spada con il suo re; li votò allo sterminio con tutte le persone che vi si trovavano; non vi lasciò neppure un superstite e trattò il re di Makkedah come aveva trattato il re di Gerico.
29 Poi Giosuè, e tutto Israele con lui, passò da Makkedah a Libnah, e attaccò Libnah.
30 L'Eterno diede anche questa città con il suo re nelle mani d'Israele; e Giosuè la passò a fil di spada con tutte le persone che vi si trovavano; non vi lasciò alcun superstite e trattò il suo re come aveva trattato il re di Gerico.
31 Poi Giosuè, e tutto Israele con lui, passò da Libnah a Lakish; si accampò contro di essa e l'attaccò.
32 E l'Eterno diede Lakish nelle mani d'Israele, che la prese il secondo giorno e la passò a fil di spada, con tutte le persone che vi si trovavano, esattamente come aveva fatto a Libnah.
33 Allora Horam, re di Ghezer, salì in aiuto di Lakish; ma Giosuè battè lui e il suo popolo fino a non lasciargli alcun superstite.
34 Poi Giosuè, e tutto Israele con lui, passò da Lakish a Eglon; si accamparono contro di essa e l'attaccarono.
35 La presero quello stesso giorno e la passarono a fil di spada. In quello stesso giorno Giosuè votò allo sterminio tutte le persone che vi si trovavano, esattamente come aveva fatto a Lakish.
36 Poi Giosuè, e tutto Israele con lui, salì da Eglon a Hebron e l'attaccarono.
37 La presero e la passarono a fil di spada con il suo re, con tutte le sue città e con tutte le persone che vi si trovavano; non vi lasciò alcun superstite, esattamente come aveva fatto a Eglon; ma la votò allo sterminio con tutte le persone che vi si trovavano.
38 Poi Giosuè, e tutto Israele con lui, tornò verso Debir e l'attaccò.
39 La prese con il suo re e con tutte le sue città; li passarono a fil di spada e votarono allo sterminio tutte le persone che vi si trovavano; non vi lasciò alcun superstite. Egli trattò Debir e il suo re come aveva trattato Hebron, come aveva pure trattato Libnah e il suo re.
40 Giosuè dunque battè tutto il paese, la regione montuosa, il Neghev, il bassopiano, le, pendici dei monti e tutti i loro re; non vi lasciò alcun superstite, ma votò allo sterminio tutto ciò che aveva vita, come l'Eterno, il DIO d'Israele, aveva comandato.
41 Così Giosuè li battè da Kades-Barnea fino a Gaza e tutto il paese di Goscen fino a Gabaon.
42 In una sola volta Giosuè prese tutti quei re e i loro paesi, perché l'Eterno, il DIO d'Israele, combatteva per Israele.
43 Poi Giosuè, e tutto Israele con lui, fece ritorno all'accampamento di Ghilgal.
Joshua 10
English Standard Version
The Sun Stands Still
10 As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction,[a] (A)doing to Ai and its king (B)as he had done to Jericho and its king, and (C)how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, 2 (D)he[b] feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3 So Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying, 4 “Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon. For (E)it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” 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, (F)gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it.
6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua (G)at the camp in Gilgal, saying, “Do not relax your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us and help us, for all the kings of the Amorites who dwell in the hill country are gathered against us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and (H)all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. 8 And the Lord said to Joshua, (I)“Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. (J)Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9 So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal. 10 (K)And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who[c] struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of (L)the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 And as they fled before Israel, while they were (M)going down the ascent of Beth-horon, (N)the Lord threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
12 At that time Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
(O)“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.”
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 the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14 (P)There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for (Q)the Lord fought for Israel.
15 So (R)Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Five Amorite Kings Executed
16 These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at (S)Makkedah. 17 And it was told to Joshua, “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 set men by it to guard them, 19 but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; (T)attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” 20 When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow (U)until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, 21 then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. (V)Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” 23 And they did so, and brought those 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 And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel and said to the chiefs of the men of war 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. 25 And Joshua said to them, (W)“Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. (X)For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26 And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And (Y)they hung on the trees until evening. 27 But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and (Z)they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden themselves, and they set large stones against the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.
28 As for (AA)Makkedah, Joshua captured it on that day and struck it, and its king, with the edge of the sword. He devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah (AB)just as he had done to the king of Jericho.
Conquest of Southern Canaan
29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to (AC)Libnah and fought against Libnah. 30 And 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 none remaining in it. And he did to its king (AD)as he had done to the king of Jericho.
31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to (AE)Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. 32 And the Lord gave Lachish into the hand of Israel, and he captured 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 Horam king of (AF)Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining.
34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to (AG)Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. 35 And they captured it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. And he devoted every person in it to destruction that day, as he had done to Lachish.
36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to (AH)Hebron. And they fought against it 37 and captured it and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king and its towns, and every person in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and devoted it to destruction and every person in it.
38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to (AI)Debir and fought against it 39 and he captured it with its king and all its towns. And they struck them with the edge of the sword and devoted to destruction every person in it; he left none remaining. Just as he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and to its king.
40 So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland (AJ)and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, (AK)but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. 41 And Joshua struck them from (AL)Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of (AM)Goshen, as far as Gibeon. 42 And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, (AN)because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 (AO)Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.
Footnotes
- Joshua 10:1 That is, set apart (devoted) as an offering to the Lord (for destruction); also verses 28, 35, 37, 39, 40
- Joshua 10:2 One Hebrew manuscript, Vulgate (compare Syriac); most Hebrew manuscripts they
- Joshua 10:10 Or and he
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1991 by La Buona Novella s.c.r.l.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
