The Day the Sun Stood Still

1Now Adoni-zedek (my lord is righteous) king of Jerusalem (city of peace) heard that Joshua (YHWH saves) had captured Ai (heap of ruins) and devoted it to destruction {cherem}a —doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho (city of palms) and its king—and that the people of Gibeon (hill city) had made peace with Israel (he wrestles with God) and were living near them. 2So Adoni-zedek and his people were greatly alarmed, because Gibeon (hill city) was a great city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai (heap of ruins), and all its men were mighty.

3Therefore Adoni-zedek (my lord is righteous) king of Jerusalem (city of peace) sent word to Hoham (whom YHWH impels) king of Hebron (association), Piram (like a wild donkey) king of Jarmuth (heights), Japhia (shining) king of Lachish (invincible), and Debir (sanctuary) king of Eglon (calf-like), saying, 4“Come up and help me. We will attack Gibeon (hill city), because they have made peace with Joshua (YHWH saves) and the Israelites (God prevails).”

5So the five kings of the Amorites (sayers)—the kings of Jerusalem (city of peace), Hebron (association), Jarmuth (heights), Lachish (invincible), and Eglon (calf-like)—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon (hill city) and made war against it.

6Then the men of Gibeon (hill city) sent word to Joshua (YHWH saves) in the camp at Gilgal (a wheel): “Do not abandon your servants. Come quickly and save us! Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites (sayers) from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

7So Joshua (YHWH saves) and his whole army, including all the mighty men of valor, came from Gilgal (a wheel).

8The LORD {YHWH} said to Joshua (YHWH saves), “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you.”

9After marching all night from Gilgal (a wheel), Joshua (YHWH saves) caught them by surprise. 10And the LORD {YHWH} threw them into confusion before Israel (he wrestles with God), who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon (hill city), pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon (house of hollowness), and struck them down as far as Azekah (dug over) and Makkedah (place of shepherds). 11As they fled before Israel (he wrestles with God) along the descent from Beth-horon (house of hollowness) to Azekah (dug over), the LORD {YHWH} cast down on them large hailstones from the sky, and more of them were killed by the hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites.

12On the day that the LORD {YHWH} gave the Amorites (sayers) over to the Israelites (God prevails), Joshua (YHWH saves) spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel:

“O sun, stand still over Gibeon (hill city),

O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon <Jasher 88:63>.”b

13So the sun stood still

and the moon stopped

until the nation took vengeance

upon its enemies (triumphed over its enemies).c

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar (the Book of the Upright One)?d

“So the sun stopped

in the middle of the sky

and delayed going down

about a full day <Jasher 88:64>.”e

14There has been no day like it before or since, when the LORD {YHWH} listened to the voice of a man, because the LORD fought for Israel (he wrestles with God).

15Then Joshua (YHWH saves) returned with all Israel (he wrestles with God) to the camp at Gilgal (a wheel).

The Victory at Makkedah

16Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah (place of shepherds). 17And Joshua (YHWH saves) was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah (place of shepherds).”

18So Joshua (YHWH saves) said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men there to guard them. 19But you⁺, do not stop there. Pursue your⁺ enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your⁺ God {YHWH Eloheikem} has delivered them into your⁺ hand.”

20So Joshua (YHWH saves) and the Israelites (God prevails) continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities. 21The whole army returned safely to Joshua (YHWH saves) in the camp at Makkedah (place of shepherds), and no one dared to utter a word against the Israelites (God prevails).

22Then Joshua (YHWH saves) 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 (city of peace), Hebron (association), Jarmuth (heights), Lachish (invincible), and Eglon (calf-like).

24When they had brought the kings to Joshua (YHWH saves), he summoned all the men of Israel (he wrestles with God) and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your⁺ feet on the necks of these kings.”

So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks.

25“Do not be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua (YHWH saves) said. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD {YHWH} will do this to all the enemies you⁺ fight.”

26After this, Joshua (YHWH saves) struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees (impaled their bodies on five poles)f and left them there until evening. 27At sunset Joshua (YHWH saves) ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.

28On that day Joshua (YHWH saves) captured Makkedah (place of shepherds) and put it to the sword, along with its king. He devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. So he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho (city of palms).

Conquest of the Southern Cities

29Then Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him moved on from Makkedah (place of shepherds) to Libnah (pavement) and fought against Libnah. 30And the LORD {YHWH} also delivered that city and its king into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God), and Joshua put all the people to the sword, leaving no survivors. And he did to the king of Libnah as he had done to the king of Jericho (city of palms).

31And Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him moved on from Libnah (pavement) to Lachish (invincible). They laid siege to it and fought against it. 32And the LORD {YHWH} delivered Lachish (invincible) into the hand of Israel (he wrestles with God), and Joshua captured it on the second day. He put all the people to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah (pavement).

33At that time Horam (exalted) king of Gezer (portion) went to help Lachish (invincible), but Joshua (YHWH saves) struck him down along with his people, leaving no survivors.

34So Joshua (YHWH saves) moved on from Lachish (invincible) to Eglon (calf-like), and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him. They laid siege to it and fought against it. 35That day they captured Eglon and put it to the sword, and Joshua devoted to destruction everyone in the city, just as he had done to Lachish (invincible).

36Then Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him went up from Eglon (calf-like) to Hebron (association) and fought against it. 37They captured it and put to the sword its king, all its villages, and all the people. Joshua left no survivors, just as he had done at Eglon (calf-like); he devoted to destruction Hebron and everyone in it.

38Finally Joshua (YHWH saves) and all Israel (he wrestles with God) with him turned toward Debir (sanctuary) and fought against it. 39And they captured Debir, its king, and all its villages. They put them to the sword and devoted to destruction everyone in the city, leaving no survivors. Joshua did to Debir (sanctuary) and its king as he had done to Hebron (association) and as he had done to Libnah (pavement) and its king.

40So Joshua (YHWH saves) conquered the whole region—the hill country, the Negev (southland), the foothills {Shephelah},g and the slopes, together with all their kings—leaving no survivors. He devoted to destruction everything that breathed, just as the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), had commanded. 41Joshua (YHWH saves) conquered the area from Kadesh-barnea (holy) to Gaza (the strong), and the whole region of Goshen (drawing near) as far as Gibeon (hill city).

42And because the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), fought for Israel, Joshua (YHWH saves) captured all these kings and their land in one campaign. 43Then Joshua (YHWH saves) returned with all Israel (he wrestles with God) to the camp at Gilgal (a wheel).