1Now when Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, heard how Joshua had taken, and utterly destroyed Ai; as he had done to Jericho and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were allied with them; 2They feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city - one of the royal cities, and was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. 3So Adoni-zedek, king of Jerusalem, sent this message 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; for it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” 5And so the five kings of the Amorites - of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon - joined together, and came up with their merged armies and waged war against Gibeon. 6And the men of Gibeon sent this message to Joshua at his camp at Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants; but come quickly, and rescue us; for all the kings of the Amorites that live in the mountains have gathered against us.” 7So Joshua ascended from Gilgal with all his men that were fit for war. 8And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them: for I have delivered them into your hand. Not a man of them shall stand before you.” 9And so Joshua came quickly, by marching all night from Gilgal. 10And the LORD routed the Amorites, and pursued them along the road that goes up to Beth-horon, killing many of them, all the way to Azekah, and to Makkedah. 11And as they fled from before Israel, and descended to Beth-horon, the LORD hurled great hailstones from heaven down upon them as far as Azekah; and many more died from hailstones than the swords of the Israelites. 12Then, on that day that the LORD delivered the Amorites to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD and said in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; and moon, in the valley of Aijalon.” 13And the sun stood still, as did the moon, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Jasher? The sun stood still in heaven, and delayed going down for about a whole day. 14And there was no day like that before or after, that the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. 15And Joshua returned with all Israel, to their camp at Gilgal. 16But those five kings fled, and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah. 17And Joshua was told, “The five kings are hiding in a cave at Makkedah.” 18And Joshua said, “Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave, and post men by it to guard them: 19But do not stop; pursue, and strike the rear of your enemies. Do not let them enter their cities; for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.” 20And so Joshua and the Israelites continued with their great slaughter; except a few survivors managed to enter their fortified cities. 21And all the men returned to Joshua at his camp at Makkedah in peace; and none dared utter a word against any of the Israelites. 22Then Joshua ordered: “Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out to me.” 23And so they brought those five kings out of the cave to Joshua: the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. 24And when they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua summoned all the men of Israel, and said to their captains, “Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings.” And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them. 25And Joshua said to them, “Do not fear or be discouraged; be strong and of good courage; for thus shall the LORD do to all your enemies against whom you fight.” 26And then Joshua killed and hanged the five kings on five trees; where they hung until evening. 27And at the setting of the sun, Joshua ordered that the they take them down from the trees, and throw their bodies into the cave that they had hidden in, and lay large stones in the cave's mouth, which remain until this very day. 28And that same day, Joshua captured Makkedah, and slew its king and killed all that were in it with the sword; he left none remaining; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had to the king of Jericho. 29Then Joshua and all Israel moved from Makkedah to Libnah, and attacked it. 30And the LORD also delivered Libnah, and its king, into the hand of Israel; and he utterly destroyed all that were in it with the sword; he let none remain in it; but did to its king as he did to the king of Jericho. 31And Joshua and all Israel went from Libnah to Lachish, and took up positions against it, and attacked it: 32And the LORD delivered Lachish into their hand, and they captured it on the second day, and utterly destroyed all who were in it with the edge of the sword; as he had done to Libnah. 33Then Horam, king of Gezer, came to help Lachish; and Joshua attacked him and his men, until none survived. 34And from Lachish Joshua and all Israel moved on to Eglon, took up positions against it, and attacked it. 35And they captured it on that day, and killed with the sword all that were there that day, as they had done to Lachish. 36And Joshua and all Israel moved on to Hebron, and attacked it: 37They also captured it, and killed with the sword all that were there, along with its king, and its villages - all that were in them; he left none remaining - just as he had done to Eglon - they utterly destroyed it, and all the that were there. 38And then Joshua and the Israelites returned to attack Debir. 39And he captured it, its king, and all its villages; and they killed with the sword all that were there; he left none alive. As he had done to Hebron, so did he to Debir, and to its king, as he had also done to Libnah, and its king. 40So Joshua subdued the entire region, including the hill country, the Negev, the Shephelah (vale), and the springs, with all their kings; he left none remaining, but destroyed all that breathed, as the LORD God of Israel commanded. 41Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen to Gibeon. 42All these kings and their land did Joshua conquer at one time, because the LORD God of Israel fought for Israel. 43And then Joshua and all Israel returned to their camp at Gilgal. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |