Joshua 10:1-27

Adoni-zedek, the king of Jerusalem, was struck with fear when he heard how Joshua had totally destroyed the kings and cities of Ai and Jericho and that the people of Gibeon had made a peace treaty with Israel and were living alongside them. The city of Gibeon was larger than Ai, as large as any of the cities that were ruled by a king, and all its men were known as great warriors. So King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem sent messages to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and King Debir of Eglon: “The people of Gibeon have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites. Come and help me attack them.” The five Amorite kings joined forces—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. Their combined armies surrounded Gibeon and attacked it. The Gibeonites sent out a call for help to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Don’t abandon us, for we are your servants! Come quickly and save us! Help us, for the Amorite kings of the hill country have surrounded us!” So Joshua and all his fighting men, all the mighty warriors of Israel, left Gilgal to aid the Gibeonites. YAHWEH spoke to Joshua: “Do not fear the Amorite kings and their armies, for I have decreed your victory over them; not one will withstand you!” Joshua and his fighting force marched all night long from Gilgal to Gibeon and took them all by surprise! Joshua inflicted a crushing defeat on them at Gibeon, for YAHWEH threw the Amorites into a panic at the sudden sight of Israel’s army! YAHWEH empowered Joshua and his army to chase them in the direction of the Beth Horon ascent, and they slaughtered the kings’ armies all the way to Azekah and the city of Makkedah. As the Amorites raced down the hill to Beth Horon, YAHWEH hurled large hailstones on them from the sky! The hail continued to fall all the way to Azekah; in fact, more men died from YAHWEH’s hailstones than by the swords of the Israelites. YAHWEH gave the men of Israel victory over the Amorites that day, the day when Joshua stood before the people and prayed to YAHWEH: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon! Moon, stay where you are over the valley of Aijalon!” And so the sun stood still in the middle of the sky and was in no hurry to set until one day became two. And the moon halted while the nation triumphed over its enemies—as it is also recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One. It was the day YAHWEH himself fought for Israel! There has never been a day like it before or since—a day when YAHWEH obeyed the voice of a man! After their victory, Joshua and his fighting men returned to their camp at Gilgal. Meanwhile, the five Amorite kings fled and hid in a cave at Makkedah. When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in a cave at Makkedah, Joshua ordered his men, “Seal up the mouth of the cave with large stones and post guards in front of it. But don’t stop! Pursue your enemies! Cut off their retreat and don’t let them reach their cities, for YAHWEH your God has given them into your hand!” So Joshua and the Israelites nearly killed them all—almost to a man—although a few escaped into the fortified cities. The whole army returned safely to Joshua at the camp in Makkedah. No one dared speak against the Israelites. Then Joshua ordered, “Open up the cave and bring the five kings out to me.” So Joshua’s men removed the five kings from the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon, and brought them before Joshua. Joshua summoned all of Israel and ordered his army officers, “Place your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they placed their feet upon their necks! Then Joshua said to his officers, “Never be afraid of your enemies or let them discourage you. Be strong and filled with courage! YAHWEH is going to do to all your enemies what he’s done to these kings!” Then Joshua had the kings executed and hanged on five trees, and he left them there until evening. At sunset, Joshua ordered them taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave where they had been hiding. He had large stones rolled over the mouth of the cave, and they remain there to this day.