1
Now it came to pass, when Adonizedekking of Jerusalem had heardhowJoshua had takenAi, 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
That they fearedgreatly, because Gibeon was a greatcity, as one of the royalcities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all the men thereof were mighty.
3
Wherefore Adonizedekking of Jerusalemsent unto Hohamking of Hebron, and unto Piramking of Jarmuth, and unto Japhiaking of Lachish, and unto Debirking of Eglon,saying,
5
Therefore the fivekings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped before Gibeon, and made war against it.
6
And the men of Gibeonsent unto Joshua to the camp to Gilgal,saying, Slack not thy hand from thy servants; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains are gathered together against us.
10
And the LORDdiscomfited them beforeIsrael, and slew them with a greatslaughter at Gibeon, and chased them along the way that goeth up to Bethhoron, and smote them to Azekah, and unto Makkedah.
11
And it came to pass, as they fled from beforeIsrael, and were in the going down to Bethhoron, that the LORD cast downgreatstones from heaven upon them unto Azekah, and they died: they were more which died with hailstonesthan they whom the children of Israelslew with the sword.
12
Then spakeJoshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amoritesbefore the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
13
And the sun stood still, and the moonstayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not thiswritten in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a wholeday.
19
And stay ye not, but pursueafter your enemies, and smite the hindmost of them; suffer them not to enter into their cities: for the LORD your God hath delivered them into your hand.
20
And it came to pass, when Joshua and the children of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a verygreatslaughter, till they were consumed, that the rest which remained of them entered into fencedcities.
23
And they did so, and brought forth those fivekings unto him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
24
And it came to pass, when they brought out those kings unto Joshua, that Joshuacalled for all the men of Israel, and said unto the captains of the men of war which went with him, Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet upon the necks of them.
25
And Joshuasaid unto them, Fear not, nor be dismayed, be strong and of good courage: for thus shall the LORDdo to all your enemies against whom ye fight.
27
And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshuacommanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave wherein they had been hid, and laidgreatstones in the cave'smouth, which remain until this veryday.
28
And that dayJoshuatookMakkedah, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof he utterly destroyed, them, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah as he did unto the king of Jericho.
30
And the LORDdelivered it also, and the king thereof, into the hand of Israel; and he smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein; he let none remain in it; but did unto the king thereof as he did unto the king of Jericho.
32
And the LORDdeliveredLachish into the hand of Israel, which took it on the secondday, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
35
And they took it on that day, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls that were therein he utterly destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
37
And they took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof, and all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and all the souls that were therein.
39
And he took it, and the king thereof, and all the cities thereof; and they smote them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls that were therein; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king thereof; as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.
40
So Joshuasmote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as the LORDGod of Israelcommanded.