1 A doni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and had destroyed it. Joshua had done the same thing to Ai and its king that he had done to Jericho and its king. Adoni-zedek heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were among them.

Now when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai. and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them.

2 H e was very much afraid. Because Gibeon was a large city, like one of the cities of a king. It was larger than Ai. All its men were strong.

They were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

3 S o Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon. He said to them,

Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,

4 “ Come and help me. Let us go fight against Gibeon. For it has made peace with Joshua and the people of Israel.”

“Come up to me and help me. Let us strike Gibeon; for they have made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.”

5 S o the five kings of the Amorites, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon, gathered together with all their armies. And they went and set up their tents by Gibeon, to fight against it.

Therefore 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 themselves together and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.

6 T hen the men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the tents at Gilgal, saying, “Do not leave your servants alone. Hurry and help us. For all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have gathered against us.”

The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Don’t abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us.”

7 S o Joshua went up from Gilgal. He took with him all the men of war and all the strong soldiers.

So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he, and the whole army with him, including all the mighty men of valor.

8 T he Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. For I have given them into your hands. Not one of them will stand in front of you.”

Yahweh said to Joshua, “Don’t fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. Not a man of them will stand before you.”

9 S o Joshua came upon them by surprise by traveling all night from Gilgal.

Joshua therefore came to them suddenly. He marched from Gilgal all night.

10 T he Lord brought trouble upon the Amorites in front of Israel. He killed many of them at Gibeon, and went after them on the way up to Beth-horon. He killed them as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

Yahweh confused them before Israel. He killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah and to Makkedah.

11 T hey ran from Israel. And while they ran from Beth-horon, the Lord made large hail-stones fall from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. More died from the hail-stones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.

As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, Yahweh hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.

12 T hen Joshua spoke to the Lord on the day when the Lord made the Amorites lose the war against the sons of Israel. He said, in the eyes of Israel, “O sun, stand still at Gibeon. O moon, stand still in the valley of Aijalon.”

Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel. He said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!”

13 S o the sun stood still and the moon stopped, until the nation punished those who fought against them. Is it not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the center of the sky. It did not hurry to go down for about a whole day.

The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day.

14 T here has been no day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to the voice of a man. For the Lord fought for Israel.

There was no day like that before it or after it, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for Yahweh fought for Israel.

15 T hen Joshua and all Israel returned to the tents at Gilgal.

Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.

16 N ow these five kings had run away and hidden themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

These five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

17 J oshua was told, “The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah.”

Joshua was told, saying, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”

18 A nd Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the opening of the cave. Then put men there to watch over them.

Joshua said, “Roll large stones to cover the cave’s entrance, and set men by it to guard them;

19 B ut do not stay there yourselves. Go after those who hate you. Follow after them and fight. Do not let them go into their cities. For the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

but don’t stay there. Pursue your enemies, and attack them from the rear. Don’t allow them to enter into their cities; for Yahweh your God has delivered them into your hand.”

20 J oshua and the sons of Israel finished killing many of them, until they were destroyed. Those who were left alive went into their strong cities.

When Joshua and the children of Israel had finished killing them with a very great slaughter until they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,

21 T hen all the people returned to Joshua at the tents at Makkedah in peace. No one said a word against any of the people of Israel.

all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.

22 T hen Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.”

Then Joshua said, “Open the cave entrance, and bring those five kings out of the cave to me.”

23 T he five kings were brought to him from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon.

They did so, and brought those five kings out of the cave to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

24 W hen they brought those kings out to Joshua, he called for all the men of Israel. He said to the leaders of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near. Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came and put their feet on their necks.

When they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who went with him, “Come near. Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” They came near, and put their feet on their necks.

25 T hen Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid or troubled. Be strong and have strength of heart. For the Lord will do this to all who hate you and fight against you.”

Joshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Be strong and courageous, for Yahweh will do this to all your enemies against whom you fight.”

26 A fter this Joshua killed the kings. He hanged them on five trees, and they hung on the trees until evening.

Afterward Joshua struck them, put them to death, and hanged them on five trees. They were hanging on the trees until the evening.

27 W hen the sun went down, Joshua had them taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave where they had hidden. Large stones were put over the opening of the cave. And they are there to this day.

At the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and threw them into the cave in which they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

28 J oshua took Makkedah on that day. He destroyed it and its king with the sword. He destroyed all of it and every person in it. No one was left alive. He did the same to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with its king. He utterly destroyed it and all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining. He did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

29 T hen Joshua and all Israel went from Makkedah to fight against Libnah.

Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.

30 T he Lord gave it and its king into the hands of Israel also. Joshua destroyed it and every person in it with the sword. He left no one alive. So he did the same to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Yahweh delivered it also, with its king, into the hand of Israel. He struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining in it. He did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 J oshua and all Israel went from Libnah to Lachish. They stayed beside it and fought against it.

Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it.

32 A nd the Lord gave Lachish into the hands of Israel. Joshua took it on the second day. He destroyed it and every person in it with the sword, just as he had done to Libnah.

Yahweh delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel. He took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with all the souls who were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

33 H oram king of Gezer came to help Lachish. But Joshua won the battle against him and his people. He left no one alive.

Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he had left him no one remaining.

34 J oshua and all Israel went from Lachish to Eglon. They stayed beside it and fought against it.

Joshua passed from Lachish, and all Israel with him, to Eglon; and they encamped against it fought against it.

35 A nd they took it on that day and destroyed it with the sword. He destroyed every person who was in it that day, just as he had done to Lachish.

They took it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed all the souls who were in it that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

36 J oshua and all Israel went from Eglon to Hebron. And they fought against it.

Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it.

37 T hey took it and destroyed it. They destroyed its king, all its cities and all who were in it with the sword. He left no one alive, just as he had done to Eglon. He destroyed all of it and every person in it.

They took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with its king and all its cities, and all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but he utterly destroyed it, and all the souls who were in it.

38 T hen Joshua and all Israel returned to Debir. And they fought against it.

Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it.

39 H e took it, its king and all its cities. He destroyed them with the sword. Every person in it was destroyed. No one was left alive. He did the same to Debir and its king as he had done to Hebron and Libnah and their kings.

He took it, with its king and all its cities. They struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to its king; as he had done also to Libnah, and to its king.

40 S o Joshua won the war against the whole land, the hill country, the Negev, the valleys, the hill-sides, and all their kings. He left no one alive. He destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had told him.

So Joshua struck all the land, the hill country, the South, the lowland, the slopes, and all their kings. He left no one remaining, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded.

41 J oshua killed them from Kadesh-barnea as far as Gaza. He killed them in all the country of Goshen as far as Gibeon.

Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.

42 J oshua took all these kings and their lands at the same time. Because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

43 T hen Joshua and all Israel returned to the tents at Gilgal.

Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.