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Joshua 10
International Standard Version

The Sun Stands Still

10 King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem eventually heard how Joshua had conquered Ai, utterly destroying it, doing to Ai and its king the same thing that he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were now living among them. 2 So they[a] were terrified, since Gibeon was a large city, comparable to one of the royal cities, was larger than Ai, and all of its men had been warriors.

3 So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent word to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon. He told them, 4 “Come over and help me, and let’s attack Gibeon, because it made a peace treaty with Joshua and the Israelis.” 5 So 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 armies together and advanced with all of their armies toward Gideon, camped there, and laid siege to it.

6 The Gibeonites sent word to Joshua at his camp in Gilgal: “Don’t abandon your servants. Come quickly, save us, and help us, because all of the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have attacked us.” 7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, along with his entire fighting force of mighty warriors with him.

8 The Lord told Joshua, “Don’t fear them, because I have handed them over to you. Not one of them will withstand you.” 9 So after an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua attacked them by surprise. 10 The Lord threw the Amorites[b] into a panic right in front of the army[c] of Israel, which then slaughtered many of them at Gibeon. The Israeli army[d] chased them along the road that goes up to Beth-horon, striking them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 While they were fleeing in front of Israel and descending the slope of Beth-horon, the Lord rained down huge hailstones on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More died because of the hailstones than were killed by the Israelis in battle.[e] 12 Later that day, Joshua spoke to the Lord while the Lord was delivering the Amorites to the Israelis. This is what he said in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, be still over Gibeon!
    Moon, stand in place[f] in the Aijalon Valley!”

13 So the sun remained still
    and the moon stood in place
        until the nation settled their score with their enemies.

This is recorded, is it not, in the book of Jashar?[g]

The sun stood in place
    in the middle of the sky
and seemed not to be in a hurry
    to set for nearly an entire day.

14 There has never been a day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man, because the Lord was fighting on behalf of Israel.

15 After this, Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal with the entire fighting force of[h] Israel.

Defeat of the Five Kings

16 Meanwhile, the five kings had fled and hidden themselves inside a cave at Makkedah. 17 Joshua was informed, “The five kings have been discovered hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

18 So Joshua gave an order, “Roll large stones up against the mouth of the cave and assign men to stand guard there, 19 but don’t stay there yourselves. Instead, pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Don’t allow them to enter their cities, because the Lord your God has delivered them into your control.”

20 Now it came about that after Joshua and the Israelis had finished the battle,[i] destroying and scattering their survivors, who retreated into their fortified cities, 21 the entire army returned safely to Joshua’s encampment at Makkedah. No one could speak so much as a single word against any of the Israelis.

22 Then Joshua gave this order: “Unseal the mouth of the cave and bring out these five kings to me from the cave.”

23 So they did. They brought out these five kings to him from within 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 had brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel and spoke to the leaders of the men who had gone out to war along with him, “Come close and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and put their feet on their necks.

25 Joshua told the army,[j] “Don’t fear or be dismayed! Be strong and courageous, because this is how the Lord will treat all of your enemies whom you fight.”

26 After this, Joshua struck those kings[k] down, executing them, and hanged them on five gallows[l] until sunset. 27 When evening had come, Joshua gave a command to remove the bodies[m] from the gallows[n] and bury them in the cave where they had hidden. The army[o] sealed the mouth of the cave with large stones that remain there to this very day.

The Southern Campaign

28 Joshua captured Makkedah that very day, and attacked both it and its king with swords, utterly destroying it along with every person in it, leaving no survivors. He dealt with the king of Makkedah the same way he had dealt with the king of Jericho.

29 Afterward, Joshua and all of Israel passed on from Makkedah to Libnah, where they fought against Libnah. 30 The Lord gave both it and its king into the control of Israel, and Joshua[p] executed both its king[q] and every person in it with swords, leaving no survivors. He dealt with the king the same way he had dealt with the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all of Israel passed from Libnah to Lachish, camped near it, and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into the control of Israel, and Joshua captured it the next day. He declared war on the city and executed[r] everyone in it, the same way he had treated Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of Gezer appeared to help Lachish. So Joshua attacked him and his army, until he left no one remaining. 34 After this, Joshua, accompanied by all of Israel, proceeded from Lachish to Eglon, laid siege to it, and attacked it. 35 They captured it on that day, attacking it in battle. Then Joshua completely destroyed it that day, the same way he had dealt with Lachish.

36 Then Joshua, accompanied by all of Israel, left Eglon for Hebron, where they attacked it, 37 captured it, and executed its inhabitants—its king, all of its cities, and every person in it, leaving no one remaining, the same way he had dealt with Eglon. He completely destroyed it, along with everyone in it.

38 Then Joshua returned, accompanied by the entire fighting force of[s] Israel, to Debir, where they attacked it, 39 captured it, its king, and all of its villages. They executed them, totally destroying it and everyone in it, leaving no one remaining. He dealt with Debir and its king just as he had dealt with Hebron, treating them the same way he had dealt with Libnah and its king.

40 So Joshua conquered the entire land, the hill country, the Negev,[t] the Shephelah,[u] and the wilderness highlands, along with all of their kings. He left none of them remaining, but completely destroyed every living person, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 41 Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, including the entire territory of Goshen as far as Gibeon. 42 Joshua conquered all of these kings and their territories in one campaign, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal, along with the entire fighting force of[v] Israel.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:2 I.e. the inhabitants of Jerusalem
  2. Joshua 10:10 Lit. threw them
  3. Joshua 10:10 The Heb. lacks the army
  4. Joshua 10:10 Lit. They
  5. Joshua 10:11 Lit. Israelis by the sword
  6. Joshua 10:12 The Heb. lacks stand in place
  7. Joshua 10:13 Lit. the Book of the Upright; i.e. an ancient chronicle of Israel, apparently now lost. The first half of v. 13 rather than the quatrain following may be the citation.
  8. Joshua 10:15 The Heb. lacks fighting force of
  9. Joshua 10:20 Lit. slaughter
  10. Joshua 10:25 Lit. to them
  11. Joshua 10:26 Lit. struck them
  12. Joshua 10:26 Or trees
  13. Joshua 10:27 ;27 Lit. remove them
  14. Joshua 10:27 Or trees
  15. Joshua 10:27 Lit. They
  16. Joshua 10:30 Lit. he
  17. Joshua 10:30 Lit. both him
  18. Joshua 10:32 Lit. He struck it with the edge of the sword and
  19. Joshua 10:38 The Heb. lacks fighting force of
  20. Joshua 10:40 I.e. the southern region of Israel
  21. Joshua 10:40 I.e. the verdant central lowlands of Israel; and so throughout the book
  22. Joshua 10:43 The Heb. lacks fighting force of
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Joshua 10
New English Translation

Israel Defeats an Amorite Coalition

10 Adoni-Zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua captured Ai and annihilated it and its king as he did Jericho and its king.[a] He also heard how[b] the people of Gibeon made peace with Israel and lived among them. 2 All Jerusalem was terrified[c] because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal cities. It was larger than Ai and all its men were warriors. 3 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: 4 “Come to my aid[d] so we can attack Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” 5 So the five Amorite kings (the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon) and all their troops gathered together and advanced. They deployed their troops and fought against Gibeon.[e]

6 The men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal, “Do not abandon[f] your subjects![g] Come up here quickly and rescue us! Help us! For all the Amorite kings living in the hill country are attacking us.”[h] 7 So Joshua and his whole army, including the bravest warriors, marched up from Gilgal.[i] 8 The Lord told Joshua, “Don’t be afraid of them, for I am handing them over to you.[j] Not one of them can resist you.”[k] 9 Joshua attacked them by surprise after marching all night from Gilgal.[l] 10 The Lord routed[m] them before Israel. Israel[n] thoroughly defeated them[o] at Gibeon. They chased them up the road to the pass[p] of Beth Horon and struck them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they fled from Israel on the slope leading down from[q] Beth Horon, the Lord threw down on them large hailstones from the sky,[r] all the way to Azekah. They died—in fact, more died from the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.

12 The day the Lord delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua prayed to the Lord before Israel:[s]

“O sun, stand still over Gibeon;
O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon!”

13 The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One.[t] The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day.[u] 14 There has not been a day like it before or since. The Lord listened to a human being, for the Lord fought for Israel! 15 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.

16 The five Amorite kings[v] ran away and hid in the cave at Makkedah. 17 Joshua was told, “The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah.” 18 Joshua said, “Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave and post guards in front of it.[w] 19 But don’t you delay! Chase your enemies and catch them.[x] Don’t allow them to retreat to[y] their cities, for the Lord your God is handing them over to you.”[z] 20 Joshua and the Israelites almost totally wiped them out, but some survivors did escape to the fortified cities.[aa] 21 Then the whole army safely returned to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah.[ab] No one[ac] dared threaten the Israelites.[ad] 22 Joshua said, “Open the cave’s mouth and bring the five kings[ae] out of the cave to me.” 23 They did as ordered;[af] they brought the five kings[ag] out of the cave to him—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. 24 When they brought the kings out to Joshua, he[ah] summoned all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the troops who accompanied him, “Come here[ai] and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came up[aj] and put their feet on their necks. 25 Then Joshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid and don’t panic![ak] Be strong and brave, for the Lord will do the same thing to all your enemies you fight.” 26 Then Joshua executed them[al] and hung them on five trees. They were left hanging on the trees until evening. 27 At sunset Joshua ordered his men to take them down from the trees.[am] They threw them into the cave where they had hidden and piled large stones over the mouth of the cave. (They remain to this very day.)[an]

Joshua Launches a Southern Campaign

28 That day Joshua captured Makkedah and put the sword to it and its king. He annihilated everyone who lived in it; he left no survivors. He did to its king what he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 Joshua and all Israel marched from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against it.[ao] 30 The Lord handed it and its king over to Israel, and Israel[ap] put the sword to all who lived there; they[aq] left no survivors. They did to its king what they had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Joshua and all Israel marched from Libnah to Lachish. He deployed his troops[ar] and fought against it. 32 The Lord handed Lachish over to Israel, and they[as] captured it on the second day. They put the sword to all who lived there, just as they had done to Libnah. 33 Then King Horam of Gezer came up to help Lachish, but Joshua struck him down, as well as his army,[at] until no survivors remained.

34 Joshua and all Israel marched from Lachish to Eglon. They deployed troops[au] and fought against it. 35 That day they captured it and put the sword to all who lived there. That day they[av] annihilated it just as they had done to Lachish.

36 Joshua and all Israel marched up from Eglon to Hebron and fought against it. 37 They captured it and put the sword to its king, all its surrounding cities, and all who lived in it; they[aw] left no survivors. As they had done at Eglon, they annihilated it and all who lived there.

38 Joshua and all Israel turned to Debir and fought against it. 39 They[ax] captured it, its king, and all its surrounding cities and put the sword to them. They annihilated everyone who lived there; they[ay] left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king what they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.[az]

40 Joshua defeated the whole land, including the hill country, the Negev,[ba] the foothills,[bb] the slopes,[bc] and all their kings. He left no survivors. He annihilated everything that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 41 Joshua conquered the area between Kadesh Barnea and Gaza and the whole region of Goshen, all the way to Gibeon.[bd] 42 Joshua captured in one campaign[be] all these kings and their lands, for the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. 43 Then Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:1 tn Heb “as he had done to Jericho and to its king, so he did to Ai and to its king.”
  2. Joshua 10:1 tn Heb “and how.”
  3. Joshua 10:2 tn This statement is subordinated to v. 1 in the Hebrew text, which reads literally, “When Adoni-Zedek…they feared greatly.” The subject of the plural verb at the beginning of v. 2 is probably the residents of Jerusalem.
  4. Joshua 10:4 tn Heb “Come up to me and help me.”
  5. Joshua 10:5 tn Heb “and they camped against Gibeon and fought against it.”
  6. Joshua 10:6 tn Heb “do not let your hand drop from us.”
  7. Joshua 10:6 tn Heb “your servants!”
  8. Joshua 10:6 tn Heb “have gathered against us.”
  9. Joshua 10:7 tn Heb “And Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the brave warriors.”
  10. Joshua 10:8 tn Heb “I have given them into your hand.” The verbal form is a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action.
  11. Joshua 10:8 tn Heb “and not a man [or “one”] of them will stand before you.”
  12. Joshua 10:9 tn Heb “Joshua came upon them suddenly, all the night he went up from Gilgal.”
  13. Joshua 10:10 tn Or “caused to panic.”
  14. Joshua 10:10 tn Heb “he.” The referent is probably Israel (mentioned at the end of the previous sentence in the verse; cf. NIV, NRSV), but it is also possible that the Lord should be understood as the referent (cf. NASB “and He slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon”), or even Joshua (cf. NEB “and Joshua defeated them utterly in Gibeon”).
  15. Joshua 10:10 tn Heb “struck them down with a great striking down.”
  16. Joshua 10:10 tn Or “ascent.”
  17. Joshua 10:11 tn Heb “on the descent of.”
  18. Joshua 10:11 tn Or “heaven” (also in v. 13). The Hebrew term שָׁמַיִם (shamayim) may be translated “heaven(s)” or “sky” depending on the context.
  19. Joshua 10:12 tn Heb “Then Joshua spoke to the Lord in the day the Lord placed the Amorites before the sons of Israel and he said in the eyes of Israel.” It is uncertain whether the phrase “before the sons of Israel” modifies the verb “placed” (as in the present translation, “delivered the Amorites over to the Israelites”) or the verb “spoke” (“Joshua spoke to the Lord before the sons of Israel in the day the Lord delivered over the Amorites”).
  20. Joshua 10:13 tn Heb “Is it not written down in the Scroll of the Upright One?” Many modern translations render this as “the Book of Jashar.” Yashar (יָשָׁר) means “Upright One.”sn The Scroll of the Upright One was apparently an ancient Israelite collection of songs and prayers (see also 2 Sam 1:18), but it has not been preserved.
  21. Joshua 10:13 tn Heb “and did not hurry to set [for] about a full day.”sn The nature of the event described here is debated. Various options have been suggested, including (1) the earth stopped rotating, (2) the light of the sun somehow shone longer than normal, (3) the light of the sun was blocked by an eclipse, (4) the position of the sun and moon in the sky was interpreted as an omen, or (5) the language is figurative and metaphorical, describing the battle in poetic terms. For a good discussion of these options, see D. M. Howard, Jr., Joshua (NAC), 241-49.
  22. Joshua 10:16 tn Heb “these five kings.”
  23. Joshua 10:18 tn Heb “and appoint by it men to guard them.”
  24. Joshua 10:19 tn Heb “But [as for] you, don’t stand still, chase after your enemies and attack them from the rear.”
  25. Joshua 10:19 tn Or “enter into.”
  26. Joshua 10:19 tn Heb “has given them into your hand.” The verbal form is a perfect of certitude, emphasizing the certainty of the action.
  27. Joshua 10:20 tn Heb “When Joshua and the sons of Israel finished defeating them with a very great defeat until they were destroyed (now the survivors escaped to the fortified cities).” In the Hebrew text the initial temporal clause (“when Joshua…finished”) is subordinated to v. 21 (“the whole army returned”).
  28. Joshua 10:21 tn Heb “all the people returned to the camp, to Joshua [at] Makkedah [in] peace.”
  29. Joshua 10:21 tc Heb “No man.” The lamed (ל) prefixed to אִישׁ (ʾish, “man”) is probably dittographic (note the immediately preceding יִשְׂרָאֵל [yisraʾel] which ends in lamed, ל); cf. the LXX.
  30. Joshua 10:21 tn Heb “no man sharpened [or perhaps, “pointed”] his tongue against the sons of Israel.” Cf. NEB “not a man of the Israelites suffered so much as a scratch on his tongue,” which understands “sharpened” as “scratched” (referring to a minor wound). Most modern translations understand the Hebrew expression “sharpened his tongue” figuratively for opposition or threats against the Israelites.
  31. Joshua 10:22 tn Heb “these five kings.”
  32. Joshua 10:23 tn Heb “they did so.”
  33. Joshua 10:23 tn Heb “these five kings.”
  34. Joshua 10:24 tn Heb “Joshua.” The translation has replaced the proper name with the pronoun (“he”) because a repetition of the proper name here would be redundant according to English style.
  35. Joshua 10:24 tn Or “Draw near.”
  36. Joshua 10:24 tn Or “drew near.”
  37. Joshua 10:25 tn Or perhaps “and don’t get discouraged!”
  38. Joshua 10:26 tn Heb “struck them down and killed them.”
  39. Joshua 10:27 sn For the legal background of the removal of the corpses before sundown, see Deut 21:22-23.
  40. Joshua 10:27 tn Heb “to this very day.” The words “They remain” are supplied in the translation for clarification.
  41. Joshua 10:29 tn Heb “Libnah.” Repetition of the proper name here would be redundant according to English style, so the pronoun (“it”) has been employed in the translation.
  42. Joshua 10:30 tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
  43. Joshua 10:30 tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army). So also for “They did to its king” and “they had done.”
  44. Joshua 10:31 tn Heb “encamped against it.”
  45. Joshua 10:32 tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
  46. Joshua 10:33 tn Heb “people.”
  47. Joshua 10:34 tn Heb “they encamped against it.”
  48. Joshua 10:35 tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army). So also for “they had done to Lachish.”
  49. Joshua 10:37 tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army). So also for “they had done” and “they annihilated.”
  50. Joshua 10:39 tn Heb “He”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army).
  51. Joshua 10:39 tn Heb “he”; the implied subject may be Israel, or Joshua (as the commanding general of the army). So also for “They did to Debir” and “they had done to Libnah.”
  52. Joshua 10:39 tn Heb “as he did to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, and as he did to Libnah and its king.” The clauses have been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
  53. Joshua 10:40 sn The Negev is an area of central southern Judah, south of the hill country and west of the rift valley. As a geographic feature it is a depression extending south to the Gulf of Aqabah, but the biblical reference is probably to the northern portion of the region.
  54. Joshua 10:40 sn The foothills (שְׁפֵלָה, shephelah) are the transition region from the hill country to the Mediterranean coastal plains.
  55. Joshua 10:40 sn In contrast to the foothills on the western side of the hill country, the slopes are on the eastern side leading down to the rift valley of the Dead Sea and Jordan river.
  56. Joshua 10:41 tn Heb “and Joshua struck them down, from Kadesh Barnea even to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen, even to Gibeon.”
  57. Joshua 10:42 tn Heb “at one time.”
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Josué 10
Nueva Versión Internacional (Castilian)

Ataque de los reyes amorreos

10 Adonisédec, rey de Jerusalén, se enteró de que Josué había tomado la ciudad de Hai y la había destruido completamente, pues Josué hizo con Hai y su rey lo mismo que había hecho con Jericó y su rey. Adonisédec también supo que los habitantes de Gabaón habían hecho un trato de ayuda mutua con los israelitas y se habían quedado a vivir con ellos. 2 Esto, por supuesto, alarmó grandemente a Adonisédec y a su gente, porque Gabaón era más importante y más grande que la ciudad de Hai; era tan grande como las capitales reales, y tenía un ejército poderoso.

3 Por eso Adonisédec envió un mensaje a los siguientes reyes: Hohán de Hebrón, Pirán de Jarmut, Jafía de Laquis, y Debir de Eglón. 4 El mensaje decía: «Uníos a mí y conquistemos a Gabaón, porque ha hecho un trato de ayuda mutua con Josué y los israelitas».

5 Entonces los cinco reyes amorreos de Jerusalén, Hebrón, Jarmut, Laquis y Eglón se unieron y marcharon con sus ejércitos para acampar frente a Gabaón y atacarla.

Derrota de los reyes amorreos

6 Los gabaonitas, por su parte, enviaron el siguiente mensaje a Josué, que estaba en Guilgal: «No abandones a estos tus siervos. ¡Ven de inmediato y sálvanos! Necesitamos tu ayuda, porque todos los reyes amorreos de la región montañosa se han aliado contra nosotros».

7 Josué salió de Guilgal con todo su ejército, acompañados de su comando especial. 8 Y el Señor le dijo a Josué: «No tiembles ante ellos, pues yo te los entrego; ninguno de ellos podrá resistirte».

9 Después de marchar toda la noche desde Guilgal, Josué los atacó por sorpresa. 10 A su vez, el Señor llenó de pánico a los amorreos ante la presencia del ejército israelita, y este les infligió una tremenda derrota en Gabaón. A los que huyeron los persiguieron por el camino de Bet Jorón, y acabaron con ellos por toda la vía que va a Azeca y Maquedá. 11 Mientras los amorreos huían de Israel, entre Bet Jorón y Azeca, el Señor mandó del cielo una tremenda granizada que mató a más gente de la que el ejército israelita había matado a filo de espada.

12 Ese día en que el Señor entregó a los amorreos en manos de los israelitas, Josué le dijo al Señor en presencia de todo el pueblo:

«Sol, detente en Gabaón,
    luna, párate sobre Ayalón».

13 El sol se detuvo
    y la luna se paró,
hasta que Israel
    se vengó de sus adversarios.

Esto está escrito en el libro de Jaser. Y, en efecto, el sol se detuvo en el cenit y no se movió de allí casi un día entero. 14 Nunca antes ni después ha habido un día como aquel; fue el día en que el Señor obedeció la orden de un ser humano. ¡No cabe duda de que el Señor estaba peleando por Israel!

15 Luego, Josué regresó a Guilgal con todo el ejército israelita.

Muerte de los reyes amorreos

16 Los cinco reyes habían huido y se habían refugiado en una cueva en Maquedá. 17 Tan pronto como Josué supo que habían hallado a los cinco reyes en la cueva, 18 dio la siguiente orden: «Colocad rocas a la entrada de la cueva y poned unos guardias para que la vigilen. 19 ¡Que nadie se detenga! Perseguid a los enemigos y atacadlos por la retaguardia. No les permitáis llegar a sus ciudades. ¡El Señor, vuestro Dios, ya os los ha entregado!»

20 Josué y el ejército israelita exterminaron a sus enemigos; muy pocos de estos pudieron refugiarse en las ciudades amuralladas. 21 Finalmente, todos los israelitas retornaron a Maquedá sanos y salvos. ¡Nadie en la comarca se atrevía a decir nada contra Israel!

22 Entonces Josué mandó que destaparan la entrada de la cueva y que le trajeran a los cinco reyes amorreos. 23 De inmediato sacaron a los cinco reyes de la cueva: los reyes de Jerusalén, Hebrón, Jarmut, Laquis y Eglón. 24 Cuando se los trajeron, Josué convocó a todo el ejército israelita y les ordenó a todos los comandantes que lo habían acompañado: «Acercaos y pisadles el cuello a estos reyes». Los comandantes obedecieron al instante. 25 Entonces Josué les dijo: «No temáis ni deis un paso atrás; al contrario, sed fuertes y valientes. Esto es exactamente lo que el Señor hará con todos los que enfrentéis en batalla».

26 Dicho esto, Josué mató a los reyes, los colgó en cinco árboles, y allí los dejó hasta el atardecer. 27 Cuando ya el sol se iba a poner, Josué mandó que los descolgaran de los árboles y los arrojaran en la misma cueva donde antes se habían escondido. Entonces taparon la cueva con unas enormes rocas, que permanecen allí hasta el día de hoy.

28 Ese mismo día, Josué tomó Maquedá y mató a filo de espada a su rey y a todos sus habitantes; ¡nadie quedó con vida! Y al rey de Maquedá le sucedió lo mismo que al rey de Jericó.

Conquista de las ciudades del sur

29 De Maquedá, Josué y todo Israel se dirigieron a Libná y la atacaron. 30 El Señor entregó en manos de Israel al rey y a sus habitantes. Josué pasó a filo de espada a todos sus habitantes; nadie quedó con vida. Y al rey de Libná le sucedió lo mismo que al rey de Jericó.

31 De Libná, Josué y todo Israel se dirigieron a Laquis. El ejército la sitió y la atacó. 32 El Señor la entregó en manos de Israel, y al segundo día la conquistaron. Todos en Laquis murieron a filo de espada, tal como había sucedido con Libná. 33 Además, Horán, rey de Guézer, que había salido a defender a Laquis, fue totalmente derrotado junto con su ejército; nadie sobrevivió a la espada de Josué.

34 De Laquis, Josué y todo Israel se dirigieron a Eglón. Sitiaron la ciudad y la atacaron. 35 En un solo día la conquistaron y destruyeron a todos a filo de espada, tal como lo habían hecho con Laquis.

36 De Eglón, Josué y todo Israel se dirigieron a Hebrón, y la atacaron. 37 El ejército israelita tomó la ciudad y la pasó a filo de espada, de modo que nadie, ni el rey ni ninguno de los habitantes de la ciudad y de sus aldeas, escapó con vida. Y tal como sucedió en Eglón, Hebrón fue destruida completamente.

38 De Hebrón, Josué y todo Israel se dirigieron a Debir y la atacaron. 39 Se apoderaron de la ciudad, de su rey y de todas sus aldeas, y mataron a filo de espada a todos sus habitantes. Nadie quedó con vida; todo fue arrasado. A Debir le sucedió lo mismo que les había sucedido a Libná, a Hebrón y a sus respectivos reyes.

40 Así Josué conquistó toda aquella región: la cordillera, el Néguev, los llanos y las laderas. Derrotó a todos sus reyes, sin dejar ningún sobreviviente. ¡Todo cuanto tenía aliento de vida fue destruido completamente! Esto lo hizo según el mandato del Señor, Dios de Israel. 41 Josué conquistó a todos, desde Cades Barnea hasta Gaza, y desde la región de Gosén hasta Gabaón. 42 A todos esos reyes y sus territorios Josué los conquistó en una sola expedición, porque el Señor, Dios de Israel, combatía por su pueblo.

43 Después Josué regresó al campamento de Guilgal junto con todo el ejército israelita.

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