1Sucedeu que Adoni-Zedeque, rei de Jerusalém, soube que Josué tinha conquistado Ai e a tinha destruído totalmente, fazendo com Ai e seu rei o que fizera com Jericó e seu rei, e que o povo de Gibeom tinha feito a paz com Israel e estava vivendo no meio deles.2Ele e o seu povo ficaram com muito medo, pois Gibeom era tão importante como uma cidade governada por um rei; era maior do que Ai, e todos os seus homens eram bons guerreiros.3Por isso Adoni-Zedeque, rei de Jerusalém, fez o seguinte apelo a Hoão, rei de Hebrom, a Piram, rei de Jarmute, a Jafia, rei de Laquis, e a Debir, rei de Eglom:4“Venham para cá e ajudem-me a atacar Gibeom, pois ela fez a paz com Josué e com os israelitas”.5Então os cinco reis dos amorreus, os reis de Jerusalém, de Hebrom, de Jarmute, de Laquis e de Eglom reuniram-se e vieram com todos os seus exércitos. Cercaram Gibeom e a atacaram.6Os gibeonitas enviaram esta mensagem a Josué, no acampamento de Gilgal: “Não abandone os seus servos. Venha depressa! Salve-nos! Ajude-nos, pois todos os reis amorreus que vivem nas montanhas se uniram contra nós!”7Josué partiu de Gilgal com todo o seu exército, inclusive com os seus melhores guerreiros.8E disse o SENHOR a Josué: “Não tenha medo desses reis; eu os entreguei nas suas mãos. Nenhum deles conseguirá resistir a você”.9Depois de uma noite inteira de marcha desde Gilgal, Josué os apanhou de surpresa.10O SENHOR os lançou em confusão diante de Israel, que lhes impôs grande derrota em Gibeom. Os israelitas os perseguiram na subida para Bete-Horom e os mataram por todo o caminho até Azeca e Maquedá.11Enquanto fugiam de Israel na descida de Bete-Horom para Azeca, do céu o SENHOR lançou sobre eles grandes pedras de granizo, que mataram mais gente do que as espadas dos israelitas.12No dia em que o SENHOR entregou os amorreus aos israelitas, Josué exclamou ao SENHOR, na presença de Israel: “Sol, pare sobre Gibeom! E você, ó lua, sobre o vale de Aijalom!”13O sol parou, e a lua se deteve, até a nação vingar-se dos[1] seus inimigos, como está escrito no Livro de Jasar. O sol parou no meio do céu e por quase um dia inteiro não se pôs.14Nunca antes nem depois houve um dia como aquele, quando o SENHOR atendeu a um homem. Sem dúvida o SENHOR lutava por Israel!15Então Josué voltou com todo o Israel ao acampamento em Gilgal.
Os Cinco Reis Amorreus São Mortos
16Os cinco reis fugiram e se esconderam na caverna de Maquedá.17Avisaram a Josué que eles tinham sido achados numa caverna em Maquedá.18Disse ele: “Rolem grandes pedras até a entrada da caverna, e deixem ali alguns homens de guarda.19Mas não se detenham! Persigam os inimigos. Ataquem-nos pela retaguarda e não os deixem chegar às suas cidades, pois o SENHOR, o seu Deus, os entregou em suas mãos”.20Assim Josué e os israelitas os derrotaram por completo, quase exterminando-os. Mas alguns conseguiram escapar e se refugiaram em suas cidades fortificadas.21O exército inteiro voltou então em segurança a Josué, ao acampamento de Maquedá, e, depois disso, ninguém mais ousou abrir a boca para provocar os israelitas.22Então disse Josué: “Abram a entrada da caverna e tragam-me aqueles cinco reis”.23Os cinco reis foram tirados da caverna. Eram os reis de Jerusalém, de Hebrom, de Jarmute, de Laquis e de Eglom.24Quando os levaram a Josué, ele convocou todos os homens de Israel e disse aos comandantes do exército que o tinham acompanhado: “Venham aqui e ponham o pé no pescoço destes reis”. E eles obedeceram.25Disse-lhes Josué: “Não tenham medo! Não desanimem! Sejam fortes e corajosos! É isso que o SENHOR fará com todos os inimigos que vocês tiverem que combater”.26Depois Josué matou os reis e mandou pendurá-los em cinco árvores, onde ficaram até a tarde.27Ao pôr do sol, sob as ordens de Josué, eles foram tirados das árvores e jogados na caverna onde haviam se escondido. Na entrada da caverna colocaram grandes pedras, que lá estão até hoje.28Naquele dia Josué tomou Maquedá. Atacou a cidade e matou o seu rei à espada e exterminou todos os que nela viviam, sem deixar sobreviventes. E fez com o rei de Maquedá o que tinha feito com o rei de Jericó.
A Conquista das Cidades do Sul
29Então Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, avançou de Maquedá para Libna e a atacou.30O SENHOR entregou também aquela cidade e seu rei nas mãos dos israelitas. Josué atacou a cidade e matou à espada todos os que nela viviam, sem deixar nenhum sobrevivente ali. E fez com o seu rei o que fizera com o rei de Jericó.31Depois Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, avançou de Libna para Laquis, cercou-a e a atacou.32O SENHOR entregou Laquis nas mãos dos israelitas, e Josué tomou-a no dia seguinte. Atacou a cidade e matou à espada todos os que nela viviam, como tinha feito com Libna.33Nesse meio-tempo Horão, rei de Gezer, fora socorrer Laquis, mas Josué o derrotou, a ele e ao seu exército, sem deixar sobrevivente algum.34Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, avançou de Laquis para Eglom, cercou-a e a atacou.35Eles a conquistaram naquele mesmo dia, feriram-na à espada e exterminaram os que nela viviam, como tinham feito com Laquis.36Então Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, foi de Eglom para Hebrom e a atacou.37Tomaram a cidade e a feriram à espada, como também o seu rei, os seus povoados e todos os que nela viviam, sem deixar sobrevivente algum. Destruíram totalmente a cidade e todos os que nela viviam, como tinham feito com Eglom.38Depois Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, voltou e atacou Debir.39Tomaram a cidade, seu rei e seus povoados e os mataram à espada. Exterminaram os que nela viviam, sem deixar sobrevivente algum. Fizeram com Debir e seu rei o que tinham feito com Libna e seu rei e com Hebrom.40Assim Josué conquistou a região toda, incluindo a serra central, o Neguebe, a Sefelá e as vertentes, e derrotou todos os seus reis, sem deixar sobrevivente algum. Exterminou tudo o que respirava, conforme o SENHOR, o Deus de Israel, tinha ordenado.41Josué os derrotou desde Cades-Barneia até Gaza, e toda a região de Gósen, e de lá até Gibeom.42Também subjugou todos esses reis e conquistou suas terras numa única campanha, pois o SENHOR, o Deus de Israel, lutou por Israel.43Então Josué retornou com todo o Israel ao acampamento em Gilgal.
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, (Js 6:21; Js 6:24; Js 8:22; Js 8:26; Js 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. (Dt 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.” (Js 9:15; Js 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. (Js 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.” (Js 5:10; Js 9:6)7So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor. (Js 8:1; Js 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.” (Js 1:5; Js 11:6; Jz 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. (Js 16:3; Js 16:5; Js 18:13; Jz 4:15; 1 Sm 7:10; 1 Rs 9:17; 1 Cr 7:24; 2 Cr 8:5; Sl 18:14; Is 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. (Js 10:10; Sl 18:12; Is 30:30; Ap 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.” (Is 28:21; Hc 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. (Js 10:42; Js 23:3; Js 23:10; 2 Rs 20:11; Is 38:8)15So Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. (Js 10:43)
Five Amorite Kings Executed
16These five kings fled and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah. (Js 10:10; Js 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.” (Dt 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, (Js 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.” (Dt 3:21; Dt 7:19; Dt 31:6; Js 1:6; Js 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. (Js 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. (Dt 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. (Js 6:21; Js 10:10; Js 10:16)
Conquest of Southern Canaan
29Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah. (Js 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. (Js 10:28)31Then Joshua and all Israel with him passed on from Libnah to Lachish and laid siege to it and fought against it. (Js 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. (Js 16:10; Jz 1:29; 1 Rs 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. (Js 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 (Js 14:13; Js 15:13; Jz 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 (Js 15:15; Jz 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. (Dt 20:16; Js 12:8)41And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, as far as Gibeon. (Dt 9:23; Js 11:16)42And Joshua captured all these kings and their land at one time, because the Lord God of Israel fought for Israel. (Js 10:14)43Then Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp at Gilgal. (Js 10:15)