Beginning

9 And it came to pass, when kol hamelachim which were beyond the Yarden, in the har, and in the Shefelah, and in all the coasts of the Yam Hagadol [i.e., the Mediterranean] over against the Levanon, the Chitti, and HaEmori, the Kena’ani, the Perizzi, the Chivi, and the Yevusi, heard thereof;

² That they gathered themselves together, to make war with Yehoshua and with Yisroel, with one peh (mouth, i.e., one accord).

³ And when the inhabitants of Giv’on heard what Yehoshua had done unto Yericho and to Ai,

⁴ They did work in a cunning, crafty manner [see Genesis 3:1], and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sakkim (sacks) upon their donkeys, and skins of yayin, old, and cracked, and mended;

⁵ And sandals old and patched upon their feet, and selamot ballot (old garments) upon them; and all the lechem of their food supply was dry and moldy.

⁶ And they went to Yehoshua unto the machaneh at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the Ish Yisroel, We are come from an eretz rechokah (far country); now therefore cut ye a brit with us.

⁷ And the Ish Yisroel said unto the Chivi (Hivites), Perhaps ye dwell among us; how then shall we cut a brit with you?

⁸ And they said unto Yehoshua, We are thy avadim. And Yehoshua said unto them, Who are ye? And from where do ye come?

⁹ And they said unto him, From an eretz rechokah me’od thy avadim are come because of the Shem of Hashem Eloheicha; for we have heard the report of Him, and all that He did in Mitzrayim,

¹⁰ And all that He did to the two melachim of HaEmori, that were beyond the Yarden, to Sichon Melech Cheshbon, and to Og Melech HaBashan, which was at Ashtarot.

¹¹ Therefore Zekeinenu and all the inhabitants of Artzeinu spoke to us, saying, Take food supplies with you for the derech, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your avadim; therefore now cut ye a brit with us.

¹² This our lechem we packed cham (hot) for our provision out of our batim (houses) on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, hinei, it is dry, and it is moldy;

¹³ And these skins of yayin, which we filled, were chadashim; and, hinei, they are cracked; and these our garments and our sandals are become worn out by reason of the derech me’od.

¹⁴ And the anashim took of their food supplies, and asked not counsel at the pi Hashem (mouth of Hashem).

¹⁵ And Yehoshua made shalom with them, and cut a brit with them, to let them live; and the Nasi’im of the Edah so ratified by oath unto them.

¹⁶ And it came to pass at the end of shloshet yamim after they had cut a brit with them, that they heard that they were their kerovim (neighbors), and that they dwelt near them.

¹⁷ And the Bnei Yisroel journeyed, and came unto their towns on the yom hashelishi. Now their towns were Giv’on, and Kephirah, and Be’erot, and Kiryat-Ye’arim.

¹⁸ And the Bnei Yisroel did not strike them down, because the Nasi’im of the Edah had sworn unto them by Hashem Elohei Yisroel. And Kol HaEdah murmured against the Nasi’im.

¹⁹ But all the Nasi’im said unto Kol HaEdah, We have sworn unto them by Hashem Elohei Yisroel; now therefore we may not touch them.

²⁰ This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest ketzef (wrath) be upon us, because of the shevu’ah (oath) which we swore unto them.

²¹ And the Nasi’im said unto them, Let them live; but let them be woodcutters and water carriers unto Kol HaEdah; as the Nasi’im had promised them.

²² And Yehoshua called for them, and he spoke unto them, saying, Why have ye beguiled us, saying, Rechokim anachnu from you when ye dwell near us?

²³ Now therefore ye are arurim, and there shall none of you be yikaret (be cut off) from being eved, and woodcutters and water carriers for the Bais Elohai.

²⁴ And they answered Yehoshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy avadim, how that Hashem Eloheicha commanded His Eved Moshe to give you kol HaAretz, and to destroy all the inhabitants of HaAretz from before you, therefore we were greatly afraid for nafshoteinu because of you, so we have done this thing.

²⁵ And now, behold, we are in thine yad; as it seemeth tov and yashar unto thee to do unto us, do.

²⁶ And so did he unto them, and saved them out of the yad of the Bnei Yisroel, that they slaughtered them not.

²⁷ And Yehoshua made them that day woodcutters and water carriers for the Edah, and for the Mizbe’ach of Hashem, even unto this day, in the makom which He would choose.

10 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-Tzedek Melech Yerushalayim had heard how Yehoshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; just as he had done to Yericho and its melech, so he had done to Ai and its melech; and how the inhabitants of Giv’on had made terms of shalom with Yisroel, and were near them;

² That they feared greatly, because Giv’on was an ir gedolah, like one of the royal cities, and because it was larger than Ai, and all the men thereof were gibborim.

³ Therefore Adoni-Tzedek Melech Yerushalayim, sent unto Hoham Melech Chevron, and unto Piram Melech Yarmut, and unto Yaphia Melech Lachish, and unto Devir Melech Eglon, saying,

⁴ Come up unto me, and help me, that we may attack Giv’on; for it hath made terms of shalom with Yehoshua and with the Bnei Yisroel.

⁵ Therefore the five kings of HaEmori, the Melech Yerushalayim, the Melech Chevron, the Melech Yarmut, the Melech Lachish, the Melech Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their machanot, and encamped before Giv’on, and made war against it.

⁶ And the anshei Giv’on sent unto Yehoshua to the machaneh at Gilgal, saying, Abandon not thy yad from thy avadim; come up to us quickly, save us, help us; for all the melachim of HaEmori that dwell in the har are gathered together against us.

⁷ So Yehoshua ascended from Gilgal, he, and kol Am HaMilchamah with him, and kol gibborei hachayil.

⁸ And Hashem said unto Yehoshua, Fear them not; for I have delivered them into thine yad; there shall not an ish of them stand before thee.

⁹ Yehoshua therefore came unto them pitom, and went up from Gilgal kol halailah.

¹⁰ And Hashem threw them into confusion before Yisroel, and struck them with a makkah gedolah at Giv’on, and pursued them along the derech that goeth up to Beit-Choron, and cut them down to Azekah, and to Makkedah.

¹¹ And it came to pass, as they fled from before Yisroel, and were in the going down to Beit-Choron, that Hashem cast down avanim gedolot from Shomayim upon them unto Azekah, and they died; they were more which died with avnei habarad (hailstones) than they whom the Bnei Yisroel slaughtered with the cherev.

¹² Then spoke Yehoshua to Hashem in the day when Hashem delivered up HaEmori before the Bnei Yisroel, and he said in the sight of Yisroel, Shemesh, stand thou still upon Giv’on; and thou, Yarei’ach, in the Emek Ayalon.

¹³ And the shemesh stood still, the yarei’ach stopped, until the Goy had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the Sefer HaYasher? So the shemesh stood still in the middle of Shomayim, and hastened not to go down about a yom tamim (whole day).

¹⁴ And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Hashem paid heed unto the voice of an ish; for Hashem fought for Yisroel.

¹⁵ And Yehoshua returned, and kol Yisroel with him, unto the machaneh at Gilgal.

¹⁶ But these five melachim fled, and hid themselves in a me’arah (cave) at Makkedah.

¹⁷ And it was told Yehoshua, saying, The five melachim are found hiding in a me’arah at Makkedah.

¹⁸ And Yehoshua said, Roll avanim gedolot upon the mouth of the me’arah, and post anashim by it to be shomer over them;

¹⁹ And stop ye not, but pursue after your enemies, and attack them; allow them not to enter into their towns; for Hashem Eloheichem hath delivered them into your yad.

²⁰ And it came to pass, when Yehoshua and the Bnei Yisroel had made an end of striking them with a makkah gedolah me’od, until they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fortified cities.

²¹ And kol HaAm returned to the machaneh to Yehoshua at Makkedah in shalom; none moved his tongue against any of the Bnei Yisroel.

²² Then said Yehoshua, Open the mouth of the me’arah, and bring out those five melachim unto me out of the me’arah.

²³ And they did so, and brought forth those five melachim unto him out of the me’arah, Melech Yerushalayim, Melech Chevron, Melech Yarmut, Melech Lachish, and Melech Eglon.

²⁴ And it came to pass, when they brought out those melachim unto Yehoshua, that Yehoshua called for kol Ish Yisroel, and said unto the Ketzinei Anshei HaMilchamah which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these melachim. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.

²⁵ And Yehoshua said unto them, Fear not, nor be discouraged, be strong and of good courage; for thus shall Hashem do to all your enemies against whom ye fight.

²⁶ And afterward Yehoshua struck them down, and slaughtered them, and hanged them on chamishah etzim; and they were hanging upon the etzim until the erev.

²⁷ And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the shemesh, that Yehoshua commanded, and they took them down off the etzim, cast them into the me’arah wherein they had been hiding, and laid avanim gedolot on the mouth of the me’arah, which remain until this very day.

²⁸ And that day Yehoshua took Makkedah, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and the Melech thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and every nefesh that was therein; he let none remain; and he did to the Melech of Makkedah as he did unto the Melech of Yericho [See Yehoshua 6:21].

²⁹ Then Yehoshua passed from Makkedah, and kol Yisroel with him, unto Livnah, and fought against Livnah;

³⁰ And Hashem delivered it also, and the melech thereof, into the yad Yisroel; and he struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and kol hanefesh therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the melech thereof as he did unto the melech of Yericho [See Yehoshua 6:21].

³¹ And Yehoshua passed from Livnah, and kol Yisroel with him, unto Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it;

³² And Hashem delivered Lachish into the yad Yisroel, which took it on the yom hasheni, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and kol hanefesh therein, according to all that he had done to Livnah.

³³ Then Horam Melech Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Yehoshua struck him down and his army, until he had left him none remaining.

³⁴ And from Lachish, Yehoshua passed unto Eglon, and kol Yisroel with him; and they encamped against it, and fought against it;

³⁵ And they took it on that day, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and kol hanefesh therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

³⁶ And Yehoshua went up from Eglon, and kol Yisroel with him, unto Chevron; and they fought against it;

³⁷ And they took it, and struck it down with the edge of the cherev, and the melech thereof, and all the towns thereof, and kol hanefesh therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and kol hanefesh therein.

³⁸ And Yehoshua returned, and kol Yisroel with him, to Devir; and fought against it;

³⁹ And he took it, and the melech thereof, and all the towns thereof; and they struck them down with the edge of the cherev, and utterly destroyed kol nefesh therein; he left none remaining; as he had done to Chevron, so he did to Devir, and to the melech thereof; as he had done also to Livnah, and to its melech.

⁴⁰ So Yehoshua subdued kol HaAretz HaHar, and of the Negev, and of the Shefelah, and of the asedot (slopes), and all their melachim; he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed kol haneshamah, as Hashem Elohei Yisroel commanded.

⁴¹ And Yehoshua struck them down from Kadesh-Barnea even unto Azah (Gaza), and all the country of Goshen, even unto Giv’on.

⁴² And all these melachim and their land did Yehoshua take at one time, because Hashem Elohei Yisroel fought for Yisroel.

⁴³ And Yehoshua returned, and kol Yisroel with him, unto the machaneh at Gilgal.

11 And it came to pass, when Yavin Melech Chatzor had heard those things, that he sent to Yovav Melech Madon, to the Melech Shimron, and to the Melech Achshaph,

² And to the melachim to the north, in the har, and the Aravah south of Kinnarot, and in the Shefelah, and in the regions of Dor on the west,

³ And to the Kena’ani on the east and on the west, and to Emori, and the Chitti, and the Perizzi, and the Yevusi in the har, and to the Chivi at the base of Chermon in Eretz HaMitzpah.

⁴ And they went out, they and all their machanot with them, am rav, even as the sand that is upon the sea in multitude, with susim and chariots rav me’od.

⁵ And when all these melachim were met together, they came to encamp together at the waters of Merom, to fight against Yisroel.

⁶ And Hashem said unto Yehoshua, Be not afraid before them; for machar about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Yisroel; thou shalt lame their susim, and burn their merkevot with eish.

⁷ So Yehoshua, kol Am HaMilchamah with him, came against them by the waters of Merom pitom (suddenly); and they fell upon them.

⁸ And Hashem delivered them into the yad Yisroel, who struck them down, and pursued them unto Tzidon Rabbah, and unto Misrefot-Mayim, and unto the Valley of Mitzpeh eastward; and they struck them down, until they left them none sarid (remaining).

⁹ And Yehoshua did unto them just as Hashem directed him; he lamed their susim, and burned their merkevot with eish.

¹⁰ And Yehoshua at that time turned back, and took Chatzor, and struck down the melech thereof with the cherev; for Chatzor formerly had been the rosh kol hamamlachot haelleh.

¹¹ And they struck down kol hanefesh that were therein with the edge of the cherev, utterly destroying them; there was not left kol neshamah; and with eish he burned Chatzor.

¹² And all the towns of those melachim, and all the melachim of them, did Yehoshua take, and struck them down with the edge of the cherev, and he utterly destroyed them, just as Moshe Eved Hashem commanded.

¹³ But as for the towns that stood on their tel (mound, old site), Yisroel burned none of them, except Chatzor only; that did Yehoshua burn.

¹⁴ And all the plunder of these towns, and the behemah, the Bnei Yisroel carried off for themselves; but kol haAdam they struck down with the edge of the cherev, until they had destroyed them, neither left they kol neshamah.

¹⁵ Just as Hashem commanded Moshe His Eved, so did Moshe command Yehoshua, and so did Yehoshua; he left nothing undone of all that Hashem commanded Moshe.

¹⁶ So Yehoshua took kol HaAretz hazot, the har, and kol haNegev, and kol Eretz HaGoshen, and the Shefelah, and the Aravah, and the har Yisroel, and Shefelah;

¹⁷ Even from the Har HeChalak, that goeth up to Seir, even unto Baal-Gad in the valley of the Levanon under Mt Chermon; and all their melachim he took, and struck them down, and slaughtered them.

¹⁸ Yehoshua made milchamah yamim rabbim with all those melachim.

¹⁹ There was not an ir that made terms of shalom with the Bnei Yisroel, except Chivi the inhabitants of Giv’on; all others they took in milchamah.

²⁰ For it was of Hashem to harden their hearts, that they should come against Yisroel in milchamah, that he might destroy them utterly, that there might be to them no techinnah (mercy plea), but that he might destroy them, just as Hashem commanded Moshe.

²¹ And at that time came Yehoshua, and cut off the Anakim from the har, from Chevron, from Devir, from Anav, from kol har Yehudah, from kol har Yisroel; Yehoshua destroyed them utterly with their towns.

²² There were none of the Anakim left in the Eretz Bnei Yisroel; only in Azah (Gaza), in Gat, and in Ashdod, there remained.

²³ So Yehoshua took Kol HaAretz, according to all that Hashem said unto Moshe; and Yehoshua gave it for a nachalah unto Yisroel according to their divisions by their shevatim. And HaAretz rested from milchamah.