1As soon as Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had captured Ai and had devoted it to destruction,[1] doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them, (Jos 6:21; Jos 6:24; Jos 8:22; Jos 8:26; Jos 9:15)2he[2] 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. (De 11:25)3So 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 it has made peace with Joshua and with the people of Israel.” (Jos 9:15; Jos 10:1)5Then the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, gathered their forces and went up with all their armies and encamped against Gibeon and made war against it. (Jos 9:2)6And 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.” (Jos 5:10; Jos 9:6)7So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. (Jos 8:1; Jos 8:3)8And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have given them into your hands. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” (Jos 1:5; Jos 11:6; Jud 4:14)9So Joshua came upon them suddenly, having marched up all night from Gilgal.10And the Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, who[3] struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon and struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. (Jos 16:3; Jos 16:5; Jos 18:13; Jud 4:15; 1Sa 7:10; 1Ki 9:17; 1Ch 7:24; 2Ch 8:5; Ps 18:14; Isa 28:21)11And as they fled before Israel, while they were going down the ascent of Beth-horon, 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. (Jos 10:10; Ps 18:12; Isa 30:30; Re 16:21)12At 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, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” (Isa 28:21; Hab 3:11)13And 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.14There has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord heeded the voice of a man, for the Lord fought for Israel. (Jos 10:42; Jos 23:3; Jos 23:10; 2Ki 20:11; Isa 38:8)15So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. (Jos 10:43)
Five Amorite Kings Executed
16These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. (Jos 10:10; Jos 10:28)17And it was told to Joshua, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”18And Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave and set men by it to guard them,19but do not stay there yourselves. Pursue your enemies; attack their rear guard. Do not let them enter their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” (De 25:18)20When Joshua and the sons of Israel had finished striking them with a great blow until they were wiped out, and when the remnant that remained of them had entered into the fortified cities, (Jos 8:24)21then all the people returned safe to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah. Not a man moved his tongue against any of the people of Israel. (Ex 11:7)22Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.”23And 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.24And 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.25And Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or dismayed; be strong and courageous. For thus the Lord will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” (De 3:21; De 7:19; De 31:6; Jos 1:6; Jos 1:9)26And afterward Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. And they hung on the trees until evening. (Jos 8:29)27But at the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and 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. (De 21:22)28As for 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 just as he had done to the king of Jericho. (Jos 6:21; Jos 10:10; Jos 10:16)
Conquest of Southern Canaan
29Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. (Jos 21:13)30And 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 as he had done to the king of Jericho. (Jos 10:28)31Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. (Jos 10:3)32And 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.33Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. And Joshua struck him and his people, until he left none remaining. (Jos 16:10; Jud 1:29; 1Ki 9:15)34Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Lachish to Eglon. And they laid siege to it and fought against it. (Jos 10:3)35And 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.36Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it (Jos 14:13; Jos 15:13; Jud 1:10)37and 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.38Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it (Jos 15:15; Jud 1:11)39and 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.40So Joshua struck the whole land, the hill country and the Negeb and the lowland and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but devoted to destruction all that breathed, just as the Lord God of Israel commanded. (De 20:16; Jos 12:8)41And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. (De 9:23; Jos 11:16)42And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. (Jos 10:14)43Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. (Jos 10:15)
1Now Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and totally destroyed[1] it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon had made a treaty of peace with Israel and had become their allies.2He 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.3So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon.4‘Come up and help me attack Gibeon,’ he said, ‘because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.’5Then the five kings of the Amorites – 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.6The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: ‘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.’7So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men.8The Lord said to Joshua, ‘Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.’9After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise.10The Lord threw them into confusion before Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah.11As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.12On the day the Lord gave the Amorites 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.’13So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on[2] its enemies, as it is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.14There 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 for Israel!15Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
Five Amorite kings killed
16Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah.17When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah,18he said, ‘Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it.19But 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.’20So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely, but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.21The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no-one uttered a word against the Israelites.22Joshua said, ‘Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.’23So they brought the five kings out of the cave – the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon.24When they had brought these kings 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 on the necks of these kings.’ So they came forward and placed their feet on their necks.25Joshua said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous. This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.’26Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.27At sunset 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.
Southern cities conquered
28That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors. And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.29Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it.30The 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.31Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish; he took up positions against it and attacked it.32The 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.33Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army – until no survivors were left.34Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon; they took up positions against it and attacked it.35They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.36Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it.37They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.38Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned round and attacked Debir.39They 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.40So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev, the western foothills and the mountain slopes, together with all their kings. He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.41Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza and from the whole region of Goshen to Gibeon.42All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.43Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.
1Adoni-Țedek, regele Ierusalimului, a auzit că Iosua capturase cetatea Ai și o dăduse spre nimicire[1], că‑i făcuse cetății Ai și regelui ei la fel cum îi făcuse Ierihonului și regelui său și că locuitorii Ghivonului încheiaseră pace cu Israel și erau în mijlocul lor. (Jos 2:10)2Atunci ei s‑au temut foarte tare, fiindcă Ghivon era o cetate mare, asemenea unei cetăți regale. Era mai mare chiar decât Ai, și toți bărbații ei erau viteji.3Adoni-Țedek, regele Ierusalimului, le‑a trimis un mesaj lui Hoham, regele Hebronului, lui Piram, regele Iarmutului, lui Iafia, regele Lachișului și lui Debir, regele Eglonului, zicând:4„Suiți‑vă la mine și ajutați‑mă să atac Ghivonul, fiindcă a făcut pace cu Iosua și cu fiii lui Israel.“5Cei cinci regi ai amoriților – regele Ierusalimului, regele Hebronului, regele Iarmutului, regele Lachișului și regele Eglonului – s‑au adunat și s‑au suit împreună cu toate oștirile lor. Ei și‑au așezat tabăra lângă Ghivon și au luptat împotriva lui.6Bărbații Ghivonului au trimis atunci să‑i spună lui Iosua, în tabăra de la Ghilgal: „Nu‑i părăsi pe robii tăi! Suie‑te repede la noi și izbăvește‑ne! Ajută‑ne, căci toți regii amoriți care locuiesc pe munte s‑au adunat împotriva noastră!“7Iosua s‑a suit din Ghilgal împreună cu tot poporul pregătit de război și cu toți vitejii.8DOMNUL i‑a zis lui Iosua: „Nu te teme de ei, căci i‑am dat în mâna ta și niciunul nu‑ți va putea sta împotrivă!“9După ce s‑a suit toată noaptea din Ghilgal, Iosua a venit împotriva lor pe neașteptate.10DOMNUL i‑a făcut să intre în panică înaintea lui Israel, care i‑a provocat o mare înfrângere la Ghivon. El i‑a urmărit pe drumul care urcă la Bet‑Horon, nimicindu‑i pe drum până la Azeka și până la Makkeda.11În timp ce fugeau dinaintea lui Israel, pe povârnișul de la Bet‑Horon spre Azeka, DOMNUL a făcut să cadă din cer asupra lor pietre mari de grindină și ei au murit. Cei care au fost nimiciți de pietrele grindinei au fost în număr mai mare decât cei uciși cu sabia de către fiii lui Israel.12În ziua în care DOMNUL i‑a dat pe amoriți în mâna fiilor lui Israel, Iosua I‑a vorbit DOMNULUI și a zis în văzul lui Israel: „Soare, rămâi nemișcat deasupra Ghivonului și lună, rămâi peste valea Aialon.“13Soarele a rămas nemișcat, iar luna s‑a oprit până când poporul s‑a răzbunat pe dușmanii lui. Nu este scris lucrul acesta și în „Cartea lui Iașar“[2]? Soarele a rămas nemișcat în mijlocul cerului și nu s‑a grăbit să apună aproape o zi întreagă.14N‑a mai fost nicio zi ca aceea, nici înainte, nici după, o zi în care DOMNUL să fi ascultat de glasul unui om. Căci DOMNUL lupta pentru Israel.15Apoi Iosua împreună cu tot Israelul s‑au întors în tabăra de la Ghilgal.
Uciderea celor cinci regi amoriți
16Cei cinci regi însă fugiseră și se ascunseseră într‑o peșteră la Makkeda.17Când i s‑a spus lui Iosua că cei cinci regi au fost găsiți ascunși într‑o peșteră la Makkeda,18acesta a zis: „Rostogoliți niște pietre mari la gura peșterii și puneți acolo niște oameni ca să‑i păzească!19Voi însă nu vă opriți, ci continuați să‑i urmăriți pe dușmanii voștri și să‑i loviți din urmă până îi veți nimici! Nu‑i lăsați să intre în cetățile lor, căci DOMNUL, Dumnezeul vostru, a hotărât să‑i dea în mâna voastră.“20După ce Iosua și fiii lui Israel le‑au provocat o foarte mare înfrângere, până când aceștia au fost nimiciți (supraviețuitorii care au scăpat dintre ei au intrat în cetățile fortificate),21tot poporul s‑a întors în pace la Iosua în tabără, în Makkeda. Nimeni n‑a rostit vreun cuvânt[3] împotriva fiilor lui Israel.22Iosua a zis atunci: „Deschideți intrarea peșterii și aduceți‑i afară la mine pe cei cinci regi din peșteră!“23Ei au făcut întocmai: i‑au adus afară la el pe cei cinci regi din peșteră, și anume pe regele Ierusalimului, pe regele Hebronului, pe regele Iarmutului, pe regele Lachișului și pe regele Eglonului.24După ce au fost aduși acești regi înaintea lui Iosua, acesta i‑a chemat pe toți bărbații lui Israel și le‑a zis conducătorilor oamenilor de război, care merseseră cu el: „Apropiați‑vă și puneți‑vă picioarele pe gâturile acestor regi!“ Ei s‑au apropiat și și‑au pus picioarele pe gâturile lor.25Iosua le‑a zis: „Nu vă temeți și nu vă înspăimântați! Fiți tari și curajoși, fiindcă astfel va face DOMNUL tuturor dușmanilor voștri împotriva cărora veți lupta.“26Apoi Iosua i‑a lovit și i‑a omorât, după care i‑a spânzurat[4] de cinci copaci și i‑a lăsat atârnați acolo până seara. (Jos 8:29)27La apusul soarelui Iosua a poruncit să fie coborâți din copaci și să fie aruncați în peștera în care se ascunseseră. La gura peșterii au pus niște pietre mari care au rămas acolo până în ziua aceasta.28În acea zi, Iosua a cucerit Makkeda și a trecut‑o prin ascuțișul sabiei, pe ea și pe regele ei. A dat spre nimicire orice om care se afla în ea, nelăsând niciun supraviețuitor. I‑a făcut regelui din Makkeda la fel cum îi făcuse regelui din Ierihon.29Apoi, din Makkeda, Iosua împreună cu tot Israelul au pornit spre Libna și au început lupta împotriva Libnei.30DOMNUL a dat‑o și pe ea în mâna lui Israel, împreună cu regele ei. Israel a trecut cetatea și pe oamenii care erau în ea prin ascuțișul sabiei, nelăsând niciun supraviețuitor și i‑a făcut regelui ei la fel cum îi făcuse regelui Ierihonului.31Din Libna, Iosua împreună cu tot Israelul au pornit spre Lachiș. Ei și‑au așezat tabăra în apropierea lui și au început lupta împotriva lui.32DOMNUL a dat Lachișul în mâna lui Israel. El l‑a capturat în cea de‑a doua zi, trecând prin ascuțișul sabiei toți oamenii care erau în el, la fel cum făcuse în Libna.33Atunci Horam, regele Ghezerului, s‑a suit ca să ajute Lachișul, dar Iosua l‑a învins, pe el și poporul lui, fără să lase vreun supraviețuitor.34Din Lachiș, Iosua împreună cu tot Israelul au trecut la Eglon. Ei și‑au așezat tabăra lângă el și au pornit lupta împotriva lui.35L‑au capturat în aceeași zi și l‑au trecut prin ascuțișul sabiei. În aceeași zi, a dat spre nimicire pe orice om care era în el, la fel cum făcuse în Lachiș.36Din Eglon, Iosua împreună cu tot Israelul s‑au suit spre Hebron și au luptat împotriva lui.37L‑au capturat și l‑au trecut prin ascuțișul sabiei, pe el, pe regele lui, toate satele dimprejurul lui și pe orice om care era în el. N‑a lăsat niciun supraviețuitor, așa cum făcuse în Eglon, și l‑a dat spre nimicire pe el și pe orice om care era în el.38Apoi Iosua împreună cu tot Israelul s‑au întors înspre Debir și au început lupta împotriva lui.39L‑au capturat și l‑au trecut prin ascuțișul sabiei, pe el, pe regele lui și toate satele dimprejurul lui, și au dat spre nimicire orice om care era în el. N‑a lăsat niciun supraviețuitor. I‑a făcut Debirului și regelui său așa cum i‑a făcut Hebronului și așa cum i‑a făcut Libnei și regelui ei.40Iosua a învins astfel întreaga țară: muntele, Neghevul[5], zona deluroasă[6] și poalele munților, și pe toți regii lor. N‑a lăsat niciun supraviețuitor și a dat spre nimicire orice avea suflare, așa cum poruncise DOMNUL, Dumnezeul lui Israel. (Jos 9:1)41Iosua i‑a lovit de la Kadeș-Barnea până la Gaza, în întreaga regiune Goșen[7] și până la Ghivon.42Iosua i‑a învins pe toți acești regi și a cucerit regatele[8] lor într‑o singură campanie, deoarece DOMNUL, Dumnezeul lui Israel, lupta pentru Israel.43Apoi Iosua împreună cu tot Israelul s‑au întors în tabăra de la Ghilgal.