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Chapter 10

Conspiracy against Gibeon.[a] Now Adoni-zedek, the king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had taken Ai and had totally destroyed it, doing to Ai and its king what he had already done to Jericho and its king, and also how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living near them. He and his people were shocked, for Gibeon was one of the larger cities, large enough to be one of the royal cities. It was larger than Ai, and all its men were mighty warriors. Adoni-zedek appealed to Hoham, the king of Hebron, Piram, the king of Jarmuth, Japhia, the king of Lachish, and Debir, the king of Eglon, saying, “Come up and assist me with an attack on Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.”

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, and all of their armies went up and encamped outside of Gibeon to attack it. The Gibeonites sent a message to Joshua who was in his camp at Gilgal saying, “Do not abandon your servants! Come up quickly to us and save us. All of the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have gathered forces against us.”

Joshua Rescues Gibeon. So Joshua and all of his fighting men went up along with his most valiant warriors. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. I have delivered them into your hands. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.” Joshua marched from Gilgal all night and took them by surprise. 10 The Lord routed them before Israel. They killed many at Gibeon, chasing after them on the road leading up to Beth-horon, slaying them all the way up to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As they were fleeing before the Israelites on the road from Beth-horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled down large hailstones upon them, so that more of them were killed by the hailstones than had been killed by the swords of the Israelites.

12 On the day that the Lord delivered the Amorites up to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the Lord in front of the Israelites saying, “O Sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the valley of Aijalon.” 13 So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation had taken vengeance upon their enemies. Is this not written about in the Book of Jashar?[b] The sun stood still in the middle of the sky and delayed going down for a full day. 14 There had never before been a day like this, and never will be again, a day when the Lord listened to the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel. 15 Joshua and all the Israelites with him then returned to the camp in Gilgal.

16 Five Kings Executed. These five kings fled and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17 Joshua was told, “The five kings have been found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.” 18 Joshua said, “Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave and assign men to guard it, 19 but do not stay there yourselves. You must chase after your enemies and attack them in the rear. Do not allow them to enter into their cities, for the Lord, your God, has delivered them over into your hands.” 20 When the Israelites had finished all but wiping them out, and those few who remained had slipped into fortified cities, 21 all the people returned safely to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah. No one uttered a sound against the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out of the cave to me.” 23 So they brought those five kings out of the cave to him: 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 those five kings to Joshua, Joshua summoned all of the men of Israel and said to the leaders of the army who had gone out with him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.”[c] So they drew near and put their feet on their necks. 25 Joshua said to them, “Do not fear or be dismayed. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all of your enemies against whom you are going to fight.” 26 Joshua then struck and killed them, hanging them from five trees. They were left hanging from the trees until the evening. 27 At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and cast into the cave where they had been hiding. They placed large stones at the mouth of the cave that are still there today. 28 That same day Joshua conquered Makkedah. He put it and its king to the sword, wiping out all of them. He did not leave any survivors. He treated the king of Makkedah the same way he had treated the king of Jericho.

29 The Conquest of Southern Canaan. Joshua and all the Israelites then moved on from Makkedah to Libnah, and once there they attacked Libnah. 30 The Lord handed it and its king over into the hands of the Israelites. They put everyone in it to the sword. He left no survivors. He treated its king the same way he had treated the king of Jericho.

31 Joshua and all of the Israelites then traveled from Libnah to Lachish, making camp outside of it and attacking it. 32 The Lord handed Lachish over[d] into the hands of the Israelites who took it on the second day. They put everyone in it to the sword, just as they had done at Libnah.

33 Horam, the king of Gezer, had come up to assist Lachish. Joshua defeated him and his army, leaving no survivors. 34 Joshua and all of the Israelites then traveled from Lachish to Eglon. They camped outside of it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day, putting everyone in it to the sword. He totally wiped it out, just as he had done at Lachish.

36 Joshua and all of the Israelites went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it. 37 They took it and put everyone to the sword, including its king, its dependent towns, and all of its inhabitants. He totally destroyed it and killed everyone in it, just as he had done at Eglon.

38 Then Joshua and all of the Israelites turned back to Debir and attacked it. 39 He took it and its king and all of its dependent towns. He put them all to the sword. He totally destroyed it and killed everyone in it. He left no survivors. He treated Debir and its king the same way he had treated Hebron and also Libnah and its king.

40 So Joshua struck down the entire land, the hill country, the Negeb, the western slopes and the mountain slopes and all of their kings. He left no survivors, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded. 41 Joshua conquered from Kadesh-barnea up to Gaza, and the whole territory of Goshen up to Gibeon. 42 Joshua captured all of these kings and all of their lands in one campaign because the Lord, the God of Israel, was fighting for Israel. 43 Then Joshua and all of the Israelites returned to the camp at Gilgal.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:1 A tradition worthy of being celebrated in an epic poem tells how the miracle of the hailstones and of the sun halting brought victory to Israel during a memorable battle. With this tradition is combined a systematic and simplified description of the conquest of southern and northern Palestine. Yet other passages in the Book of Joshua (Jos 13:1-6; 14:6-13; 15:13-19; 17:12, 16) and the entire Book of Judges record an often slow penetration of the country by tribes that were scattered and sometimes even in conflict with one another.
  2. Joshua 10:13 The Book of Jashar: an ancient collection of poems (see 2 Sam 1:18) that is now lost.
  3. Joshua 10:24 Put your feet on the necks of these kings: this was a common demonstration of power among the military that announced to all who were victorious in battle. Here it is the Lord’s triumph over the proud kings that is being proclaimed.
  4. Joshua 10:32 The Lord handed . . . over: the author repeatedly notes that each victory of the Israelite army comes from God.

10 When Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai and had utterly destroyed it, doing to Jericho and its king as he had done to Ai and its king, and how the residents of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them,

He 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.

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,

Come up to me and help me, and let us smite Gibeon, for it has made peace with Joshua and with the Israelites.

Then the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped before Gibeon to fight against it.

And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua 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.

So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the warriors with him and all the mighty men of valor.

And the Lord said to Joshua, Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hand; there shall not a man of them stand before you.

So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having gone up from Gilgal all night.

10 And the Lord caused [the enemies] to panic before Israel, who slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon and chased them along the way that goes up to Beth-horon and smote them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

11 As they fled before Israel, while they were descending [the pass] to Beth-horon, the Lord cast great stones from the heavens on them as far as Azekah, killing them. More died because of the hailstones than the Israelites slew with the sword.

12 Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, be silent and stand still at Gibeon, and you, moon, in the Valley of Ajalon!

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation took vengeance upon their enemies. Is not this written in the Book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.

14 There was no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man. For the Lord fought for Israel.

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

16 Those five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave of Makkedah.

17 And it was told Joshua, The five kings are hidden in the cave at Makkedah.

18 Joshua said, Roll great stones to the cave’s mouth, and set men to guard them.

19 But do not stay. Pursue your enemies and fall upon their rear; do not allow them to enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.

20 When Joshua and the Israelites had ended slaying them until they were wiped out and the remnant remaining of them had entered into fortified cities,

21 All the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace; none moved his tongue against any of the Israelites.

22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave and bring out those five kings to me from the cave.

23 They brought the five kings out of the cave to him—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

24 When they brought out those kings to Joshua, [he] called for all the Israelites and told the commanders of the men of war who went with him, Come, put your feet on the necks of these kings. And they came and put their feet on the [kings’] necks.

25 Joshua said to them, Fear not nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage. For thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom you fight.

26 Afterward Joshua smote and slew them and hanged their bodies on five trees, and they hung on the trees until evening.

27 At sunset Joshua ordered and they took the bodies down from the trees and cast them into the cave where the kings had hidden and laid great stones on the cave’s mouth, which remain to this very day.

28 Joshua took Makkedah that day and smote it and its king with the sword and utterly destroyed everyone in it. He left none remaining. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.(A)

29 Then Joshua and all Israel went from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked Libnah.

30 And the Lord gave it also and its king into Israel’s hands, and Joshua smote it with the sword, and all the people in it. He left none remaining in it. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish and encamped against it and attacked it.

32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hands of Israel, and Joshua took it on the second day and smote it with the sword, and all the people in it, as he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua smote him and his people—until he had left none remaining.

34 From Lachish Joshua and all Israel went on to Eglon, laid siege to it, and attacked it.

35 And they took it that day and smote it with the sword and utterly destroyed all who were in it that day, as he had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua with all Israel went up from Eglon to Hebron, and they attacked it

37 And took it and smote it with the sword, and its king and all its towns and everyone in it. He left none remaining, as he had done to Eglon, and utterly destroyed it and all its people.

38 And Joshua and all Israel with him returned to Debir and attacked it.

39 And he took it, with its king and all its towns, and they smote them with the sword and utterly destroyed everyone in it. He left none remaining. As he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king, so he did to Debir and its king.

40 So Joshua smote all the land, the hill country, the South, the lowland, and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the [a]Lord, the God of Israel, commanded.(B)

41 And Joshua smote them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen even to Gibeon.

42 Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:40 As the presence of “the Prince of the Lord’s host” (Josh. 5:13-15) indicates, the Lord will take part in this conflict not as an ally or an adversary but as Commander In Chief. It is not Israel’s quarrel, in which they are to ask divine assistance. It is the Lord’s own quarrel, and Israel and Joshua are but a division in His host. The wars of Israel in Canaan are always presented by the Old Testament as “the wars of the Lord.” The conquest of Canaan is too often treated as an enterprise of the Israelites, carried out with great cruelties, for which they claimed divine sanction. The Old Testament presents the matter in an entirely different light. The Lord fights for His own right hand, and Israel is but a fragment of His army. “The sun stood still”(Josh. 10:13), the stars in their courses fought against His foes (Judg. 5:20) (Charles Ellicott, A Bible Commentary).

10 Now it came to pass, when Adonizedec king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

That they feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.

Wherefore Adonizedec king of Jerusalem, sent unto Hoham king of Hebron, and unto Piram king of Jarmuth, and unto Japhia king of Lachish, and unto Debir king of Eglon, saying,

Come up unto me, and help me, that we may smite Gibeon: for it hath made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.

Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.

And the men of Gibeon sent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.

So Joshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour.

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

Joshua therefore came unto them suddenly, and went up from Gilgal all night.

10 And the Lord discomfited them before Israel, and slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.

11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.

12 Then spake Joshua 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, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the Lord fought for Israel.

15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

16 But these five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.

17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings are found hid in a cave at Makkedah.

18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:

19 And stay ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the Lord your God hath delivered them into your hand.

20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fenced cities.

21 And all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.

22 Then said Joshua, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings unto me out of the cave.

23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings unto him out of 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 it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

25 And Joshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the Lord do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

26 And afterward Joshua smote them, and slew them, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging upon the trees until the evening.

27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laid great stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day.

28 And that day Joshua took Makkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.

29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, unto Libnah, and fought against Libnah:

30 And the Lord delivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.

31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:

32 And the Lord delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the second day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua smote him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.

34 And from Lachish Joshua passed unto Eglon, and all Israel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it:

35 And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, unto Hebron; and they fought against it:

37 And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.

38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir; and fought against it:

39 And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.

40 So Joshua smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the Lord God of Israel commanded.

41 And Joshua smote them from Kadeshbarnea even unto Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.

42 And all these kings and their land did Joshua take at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel.

43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, unto the camp to Gilgal.

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

太陽停止

10 耶路撒冷王亞多尼·洗德聽說約書亞奪取並毀滅了艾城,像對付耶利哥和耶利哥王一樣對付艾城和艾城的王,又聽說基遍人已經跟以色列人立了盟約,住在他們中間, 便大為恐懼。因為基遍是一座大城,宏偉得像座都城,比艾城更大,城中的人都驍勇善戰。 耶路撒冷王亞多尼·洗德便派遣使者去見希伯崙王何咸、耶末王毗蘭、拉吉王雅非亞和伊磯倫王底璧,說: 「求你們上來幫助我攻打基遍,因為這城已經與約書亞和以色列人立了和約。」 這五位亞摩利王便聯合起來,率領他們所有的軍隊在基遍附近紮營,攻打基遍。

基遍人派人去吉甲告訴約書亞說:「住在山區的亞摩利眾王正聯合起來攻打我們,求你趕快來救我們!不要不顧你的僕人。」 於是,約書亞便率領他的全軍,包括所有的精兵,從吉甲上去。 耶和華對約書亞說:「不要害怕,我已經把他們交在你手中,他們沒有一人能抵擋你。」 約書亞從吉甲出發,連夜趕路,突襲敵人。 10 耶和華使亞摩利聯軍陣腳大亂,以色列人就在基遍大敗敵軍,在去伯·和崙的上坡路上追殺他們,一直追到亞西加和瑪基大。 11 敵人在從伯·和崙到亞西加的下坡路上逃竄的時候,耶和華降下大冰雹,被冰雹砸死的人比以色列人用刀殺死的還要多。

12 耶和華將亞摩利人交在以色列人手中,那天約書亞當眾向耶和華禱告:

「太陽啊,停在基遍!
月亮啊,停在亞雅崙谷!」
13 果然太陽停住了,
月亮也不動了,
直到以色列人殺敗敵人。

《雅煞珥書》記載了這事。約有一天的時間,太陽停留在天空,沒有西沉。 14 耶和華這樣垂聽一個人的祈求是空前絕後的,這是因為耶和華要為以色列爭戰。

15 後來,約書亞率領以色列軍返回了吉甲的營地。

亞摩利五王被殺

16 那五王逃進瑪基大的山洞裡,躲藏起來。 17 有人告訴約書亞那五個王藏在瑪基大的山洞裡, 18 約書亞便下令說:「滾幾塊大石頭堵住洞口,派人看守。 19 你們不可停下來,要繼續追殺敵人,不要讓他們逃回城,你們的上帝耶和華已經把他們交在你們手中了。」 20 約書亞和以色列人把敵人殺得大敗,幾乎全軍覆沒,一些殘餘都逃進了堅固的城壘。 21 以色列人都安然無恙地回到約書亞駐紮的瑪基大營。再也沒有人敢威脅以色列人了。

22 約書亞說:「打開洞口,把裡面的五個王押出來見我。」 23 眾人便把耶路撒冷王、希伯崙王、耶末王、拉吉王、伊磯倫王從洞裡押出來,帶到約書亞面前。 24 約書亞召來全體以色列人,然後對那些跟他一起出征的將領說:「你們上前來,用腳踏在這些王的頸上。」各將領便照著約書亞的吩咐做了。 25 約書亞對他們說:「你們不要害怕,也不要驚慌,應該剛強勇敢,因為耶和華要使你們所有的仇敵都落此下場。」 26 隨後約書亞將這五個王殺死,把屍體分別掛在五棵樹上,直到傍晚。 27 日落時,約書亞才下令把屍體放下,丟在他們先前躲藏的山洞裡,用大石頭堵住洞口,石頭至今還在那裡。

28 約書亞在當天佔領了瑪基大,把瑪基大王和所有的居民都殺了,一個沒留。他對待瑪基大王跟以前對待耶利哥王一樣。

29 約書亞和以色列軍又從瑪基大出發,去攻打立拿。 30 耶和華將立拿城和立拿王交在以色列人手中,他們殺了全城的人,一個沒留。他們對待立拿王跟以前對待耶利哥王一樣。

31 約書亞和以色列軍從立拿前往拉吉,他們在城外紮營,攻打拉吉。 32 耶和華將拉吉交在以色列人手中,第二天約書亞便攻佔了拉吉,殺了全城的人,就像在立拿所行的一樣。 33 基色王何蘭前來支持拉吉,結果也被約書亞殺得一個不剩。

34 約書亞又率領以色列全軍從拉吉前往伊磯倫,在城外紮營,攻打伊磯倫。 35 他們當天就攻陷該城,殺了城內所有的人,就像在拉吉所行的一樣。

36 約書亞和全體以色列人又從伊磯倫去攻打希伯崙。 37 他們攻陷該城及其附屬城邑,殺了希伯崙王和城邑中的居民,一個沒留,就像在伊磯倫所行的一樣。

38 然後,約書亞和全體以色列人再回兵攻打底璧, 39 攻取了該城及其附屬城邑,擒獲底璧王,殺了城中所有的人,一個沒留,就像對待希伯崙、立拿和立拿王一樣。

40 這樣,約書亞征服了整個地區,包括山區、南地、丘陵和山坡,按照以色列的上帝耶和華的吩咐殺了當地的諸王和所有的居民,一個沒留。 41 約書亞征服了各地,從加低斯·巴尼亞到加薩,歌珊全境,直到基遍。 42 約書亞能一鼓作氣殺敗諸王,征服他們的土地,都是因為有以色列的上帝耶和華為以色列人爭戰。 43 之後,約書亞率領以色列人回到吉甲的營地。