Joshua 10:1-13 ▼

1 Now 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} 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.

2 So 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.

3 Therefore 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).”

5 So 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.

6 Then 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.”

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

8 The 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.”

9 After marching all night from Gilgal (a wheel), Joshua (YHWH saves) caught them by surprise.

10 And 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).

11 As 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.

12 On 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 .”

13 So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies (triumphed over its enemies). Is this not written in the Book of Jashar (the Book of the Upright One)? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day .”