The Southern Campaign
101When Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had captured Ai and devoted it to destruction, and that Joshua had done to Ai and its king exactly what he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were allied with them, 2then he and those with him were very afraid because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the royal capital cities. It was larger than Ai, and all its men were warriors. 3So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon. He said, 4“Come up, join me, and help me. We must attack Gibeon, because it made peace with Joshua and with the Israelites.”
5So the five kings of the Amorites—namely, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon—gathered together and went up with all their divisions.[] They set up camp around Gibeon and waged war against it. 6The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Do not withdraw your hand from your servants. Come up to us quickly! Save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites living in the hill country have united themselves against us.”
7So Joshua went up from Gilgal—he and all the military forces with him including all the strong warriors.
8Then the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because I have given them into your hand. Not a man among them will be able to stand in your presence.”
9So Joshua came upon them unexpectedly by marching up from Gilgal all night. 10The Lord threw them into a panic before Israel, and he struck a powerful blow against them at Gibeon. Then he chased them on the road that goes up to Beth Horon, and he struck them as far as Azekah and Makkedah. 11While they were fleeing from Israel on the descent from Beth Horon, the Lord hurled large stones from the heavens on them all the way to Azekah. So they died. Those who died from the hailstones were many more than those whom the Israelites killed by the sword.
12Then Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day that the Lord gave the Amorites into the power of Israel ˻when he struck them down at Gibeon, and they were struck down before the people of Israel˼.[] He said in the sight of Israel: Sun, rest at Gibeon.
Moon, rest at the Valley of Aijalon.
13The sun rested,
and the moon stood still
until a nation could avenge itself on its enemies.
Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?[] The sun stood still in the middle of the sky and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. 14There has never been a day like that day either before it or after it, a day when the Lord listened to the voice of a man, for the Lord was fighting for Israel. 15Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp at Gilgal.
16Those five kings fled and hid in the cave at Makkedah. 17It was reported to Joshua: “The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”
18So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and station men over it to guard them. 19But you—do not stand still. Chase your enemies and attack them from the rear.[] Do not give them a chance to get to their cities, because the Lord your God has given them into your hand.” 20When Joshua and the people of Israel had inflicted a devastating blow upon them, to the point that they were almost wiped out (though a small group of survivors escaped into the fortified cities), 21then all the people returned safely to the camp of Joshua at Makkedah. No one dared to speak a word against[] the people of Israel—against any one of them! 22Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me from the cave.” 23They 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. 24When they had brought those kings out to Joshua, he summoned every man of Israel and said to the commanders of the fighting men who had gone with him, “Come, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came and put their feet on their necks.
25Then Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid. Do not be overwhelmed. Be strong and courageous because the Lord will do these same things to all your enemies against whom you are waging war.”
