Joshua, Chapter 10:

Joshua Verses, Chapter 10 of the Book of Joshua of the Bible.

Joshua helps Gibeon and the sun stops

• 1. At that time, Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, learned that Joshua had conquered Ai and completely destroyed it, just as he had done with Jericho and its king. Furthermore, he heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with the Israelites and were living among them.
• 2. This caused great fear in Adoni-zedek and his people, as Gibeon was an important city, with a king and valiant warriors, even more powerful than Ai.
• 3. Then Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent messengers to Hoham king of Hebron, to Pyram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, with the following appeal:
• 4. “Come and help me attack Gibeon, for she has made a peace agreement with Joshua and the Israelites.”
• 5. The five kings of the Amorites, kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, gathered their armies and surrounded Gibeon to attack it.
• 6. The Gibeonites sent a message to Joshua, who was camped in Gilgal, saying: “Do not abandon us! Come quickly and save us! All the Amorite kings who live in the mountains have united against us.”
• 7. Joshua left Gilgal with his entire army, including his best warriors.
• 8. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of these kings, for I have delivered them into your hands. None of them will be able to resist you.”
• 9. All night Joshua and his army marched from Gilgal and launched a surprise attack on the enemies.
• 10. The Lord filled them with panic before Israel, who defeated them with great slaughter at Gibeon. The Israelites pursued them up Beth-Horon, beating them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
• 11. As they fled from Israel, going down from Bethhoron to Azekah, the Lord hurled great hailstones from the sky at them, which killed more of their enemies than the swords of the Israelites.
• 12. That day, Joshua addressed the Lord in the presence of all Israel, and said: “Sun, stand over Gibeon! And you, O moon, over the valley of Aijalon!”
• 13. The sun and moon stopped, responding to Joshua's request, recorded in the Book of Jasher. For almost an entire day, the sun remained motionless in the sky.
• 14. There never was a day like that, neither before nor after, when the Lord answered a man. Surely, the Lord fought for Israel!
• 15. Joshua and all Israel returned safely to the camp at Gilgal.

The death of five Amorite kings

• 16. The five kings managed to escape and hid in a cave in Makkedah.
• 17. When they heard about this, Joshua ordered large stones to be placed at the entrance to the cave and posted guards there.
• 18. Then Joshua said to the army, “Don’t hold back! Chase the enemies! Attack them from the rear and do not allow them to enter your cities, for the Lord your God has delivered them into your hands.”
• 19. Thus, Joshua and the Israelites completely defeated their enemies, exterminating them. However, some managed to escape and took refuge in their fortified cities.
• 20. The entire Israelite army returned safely to Joshua at Makkedah, and no one dared to resist or say a word against the Israelites.
• 21. Then Joshua ordered, “Open the entrance to the cave and bring the five kings to me.”
• 22. And they did so, bringing the five kings to Joshua. They were the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon.
• 23. When the kings were brought to Joshua, he called together all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied them, “Come here and put your foot on the necks of these kings.” And so they did.
• 24. Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid! Don't be discouraged! Be strong and courageous! The Lord will do the same to every enemy you face.”
• 25. Then Joshua killed the kings and ordered their bodies to be hung on five trees, where they remained until evening.
• 26. At sunset, by order of Joshua, they removed the bodies of the kings from the tree and threw them into a cave where they had hidden. They then placed large stones at the entrance to the cave, which remain there to this day.
• 27. That same day, Joshua took Makkedah, killed its king with the sword and exterminated all its inhabitants, leaving no survivors. He did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho.

The conquest of southern cities

• 28. After this, Joshua and all Israel advanced from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it.
• 29. The Lord gave Libnah into their hands, and Joshua took it the next day. He attacked the city and killed everyone who lived there, leaving no survivors. He did to the king of Libnah what he had done to the king of Jericho.
• 30. Then Joshua and all Israel advanced from Libnah to Lachish, surrounded the city and attacked it.
• 31. The Lord gave Lachish into their hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. He attacked the city and killed everyone who lived there, leaving no survivors. He did to the king of Lachish what he had done to the king of Jericho.
• 32. Then Joshua and all Israel advanced from Lachish to Eglon, surrounded the city, and attacked it.
• 33. They took it the same day, killed all its inhabitants and left no survivors. He did to the king of Eglon what he had done to the king of Jericho.
• 34. Then Joshua and all Israel advanced from Eglon to Hebron and attacked it.
• 35. They took the city, killed all its inhabitants and left no survivors. He did to the king of Hebron what he had done to the king of Jericho.
• 36. Then Joshua and all Israel advanced from Hebron to Debir and attacked it.
• 37. They took the city, killed all its inhabitants and left no survivors. He did to the king of Debir what he had done to the king of Jericho.
• 38. Joshua and all Israel conquered the entire region, from Kadesh-Barnea to Gaza, and all the territory from Goshen to Gibeon.
• 39. They defeated all these kings and conquered their lands in a single campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for them.
• 40. So Joshua conquered the entire mountainous region, the Negev, Shephelah and the slopes, defeating all the enemy kings. He left no survivors and exterminated everything that had the breath of life, according to the command of the Lord, the God of Israel.
• 41. Joshua defeated from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the territory from Goshen to Gibeon.
• 42. He subdued all these kings and conquered their lands in a single campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
• 43. Then Joshua and all Israel returned safely to the camp at Gilgal.

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