The Sun Stands Still

10 Now Adoni-Zedek^(A) king of Jerusalem^(B) heard that Joshua had taken Ai^(C) and totally destroyed^[a](D) it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon^(E) had made a treaty of peace^(F) with Israel and had become their allies. ² He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. ³ So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron,^(G) Piram king of Jarmuth,^(H) Japhia king of Lachish^(I) and Debir^(J) king of Eglon.^{(K) 4} “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace^(L) with Joshua and the Israelites.”

⁵ Then the five kings^(M) of the Amorites^(N)—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

⁶ The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal:^(O) “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

⁷ So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army,^(P) including all the best fighting men. ⁸ The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid^(Q) of them; I have given them into your hand.^(R) Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”^(S)

⁹ After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. ¹⁰ The Lord threw them into confusion^(T) before Israel,^(U) so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon.^(V) Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon^(W) and cut them down all the way to Azekah^(X) and Makkedah.^{(Y) 11} As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones^(Z) down on them,^(AA) and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

¹² On the day the Lord gave the Amorites^(AB) over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.^(AE)

The sun stopped^(AF) in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. ¹⁴ There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting^(AG) for Israel!

¹⁵ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.^(AH)

Five Amorite Kings Killed

¹⁶ Now the five kings had fled^(AI) and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. ¹⁷ When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, ¹⁸ he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. ¹⁹ But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

²⁰ So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely,^(AJ) but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.^{(AK) 21} The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

²² Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” ²³ So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. ²⁴ When they had brought these kings^(AL) to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet^(AM) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet^(AN) on their necks.

²⁵ Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.^(AO) This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” ²⁶ Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.

²⁷ At sunset^(AP) Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.^(AQ)

Southern Cities Conquered

²⁸ That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.^(AR) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.^(AS)

²⁹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah^(AT) and attacked it. ³⁰ The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

³¹ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish;^(AU) he took up positions against it and attacked it. ³² The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. ³³ Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer^(AV) had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

³⁴ Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon;^(AW) they took up positions against it and attacked it. ³⁵ They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

³⁶ Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron^(AX) and attacked it. ³⁷ They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone^(AY) in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

³⁸ Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir.^{(AZ) 39} They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.^(BA)

⁴⁰ So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev,^(BB) the western foothills and the mountain slopes,^(BC) together with all their kings.^(BD) He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.^{(BE) 41} Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea^(BF) to Gaza^(BG) and from the whole region of Goshen^(BH) to Gibeon. ⁴² All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought^(BI) for Israel.

⁴³ Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.^(BJ)

Northern Kings Defeated

11 When Jabin^(BK) king of Hazor^(BL) heard of this, he sent word to Jobab king of Madon, to the kings of Shimron^(BM) and Akshaph,^{(BN) 2} and to the northern kings who were in the mountains, in the Arabah^(BO) south of Kinnereth,^(BP) in the western foothills and in Naphoth Dor^(BQ) on the west; ³ to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites^(BR) and Jebusites in the hill country;^(BS) and to the Hivites^(BT) below Hermon^(BU) in the region of Mizpah.^{(BV) 4} They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore.^{(BW) 5} All these kings joined forces^(BX) and made camp together at the Waters of Merom^(BY) to fight against Israel.

⁶ The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, because by this time tomorrow I will hand^(BZ) all of them, slain, over to Israel. You are to hamstring^(CA) their horses and burn their chariots.”^(CB)

⁷ So Joshua and his whole army came against them suddenly at the Waters of Merom and attacked them, ⁸ and the Lord gave them into the hand of Israel. They defeated them and pursued them all the way to Greater Sidon,^(CC) to Misrephoth Maim,^(CD) and to the Valley of Mizpah on the east, until no survivors were left. ⁹ Joshua did to them as the Lord had directed: He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots.

¹⁰ At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword.^(CE) (Hazor had been the head of all these kingdoms.) ¹¹ Everyone in it they put to the sword. They totally destroyed^[c] them,^(CF) not sparing anyone that breathed,^(CG) and he burned^(CH) Hazor itself.

¹² Joshua took all these royal cities and their kings and put them to the sword. He totally destroyed them, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded.^{(CI) 13} Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds—except Hazor, which Joshua burned. ¹⁴ The Israelites carried off for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but all the people they put to the sword until they completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone that breathed.^{(CJ) 15} As the Lord commanded his servant Moses, so Moses commanded Joshua, and Joshua did it; he left nothing undone of all that the Lord commanded Moses.^(CK)

¹⁶ So Joshua took this entire land: the hill country,^(CL) all the Negev,^(CM) the whole region of Goshen, the western foothills,^(CN) the Arabah and the mountains of Israel with their foothills, ¹⁷ from Mount Halak, which rises toward Seir,^(CO) to Baal Gad^(CP) in the Valley of Lebanon^(CQ) below Mount Hermon.^(CR) He captured all their kings and put them to death.^{(CS) 18} Joshua waged war against all these kings for a long time. ¹⁹ Except for the Hivites^(CT) living in Gibeon,^(CU) not one city made a treaty of peace^(CV) with the Israelites, who took them all in battle. ²⁰ For it was the Lord himself who hardened their hearts^(CW) to wage war against Israel, so that he might destroy them totally, exterminating them without mercy, as the Lord had commanded Moses.^(CX)

²¹ At that time Joshua went and destroyed the Anakites^(CY) from the hill country: from Hebron, Debir^(CZ) and Anab,^(DA) from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel. Joshua totally destroyed them and their towns. ²² No Anakites were left in Israelite territory; only in Gaza,^(DB) Gath^(DC) and Ashdod^(DD) did any survive.

²³ So Joshua took the entire land,^(DE) just as the Lord had directed Moses, and he gave it as an inheritance^(DF) to Israel according to their tribal divisions.^(DG) Then the land had rest^(DH) from war.^(DI)

Israel Fights the Remaining Canaanites^(A)

1 After the death^(B) of Joshua, the Israelites asked the Lord, “Who of us is to go up first^(C) to fight against the Canaanites?^(D)”

² The Lord answered, “Judah^(E) shall go up; I have given the land into their hands.^(F)”

³ The men of Judah then said to the Simeonites their fellow Israelites, “Come up with us into the territory allotted to us, to fight against the Canaanites. We in turn will go with you into yours.” So the Simeonites^(G) went with them.

⁴ When Judah attacked, the Lord gave the Canaanites and Perizzites^(H) into their hands, and they struck down ten thousand men at Bezek.^{(I) 5} It was there that they found Adoni-Bezek^(J) and fought against him, putting to rout the Canaanites and Perizzites. ⁶ Adoni-Bezek fled, but they chased him and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and big toes.

⁷ Then Adoni-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off have picked up scraps under my table. Now God has paid me back^(K) for what I did to them.” They brought him to Jerusalem,^(L) and he died there.

⁸ The men of Judah attacked Jerusalem^(M) also and took it. They put the city to the sword and set it on fire.

⁹ After that, Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites living in the hill country,^(N) the Negev^(O) and the western foothills. ¹⁰ They advanced against the Canaanites living in Hebron^(P) (formerly called Kiriath Arba^(Q)) and defeated Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai.^{(R) 11} From there they advanced against the people living in Debir^(S) (formerly called Kiriath Sepher).

¹² And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” ¹³ Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.

¹⁴ One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him^[a] to ask her father for a field. When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked her, “What can I do for you?”

¹⁵ She replied, “Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.” So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs.^(T)

¹⁶ The descendants of Moses’ father-in-law,^(U) the Kenite,^(V) went up from the City of Palms^[b](W) with the people of Judah to live among the inhabitants of the Desert of Judah in the Negev near Arad.^(X)

¹⁷ Then the men of Judah went with the Simeonites^(Y) their fellow Israelites and attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, and they totally destroyed^[c] the city. Therefore it was called Hormah.^{[d](Z) 18} Judah also took^[e] Gaza,^(AA) Ashkelon^(AB) and Ekron—each city with its territory.

¹⁹ The Lord was with^(AC) the men of Judah. They took possession of the hill country,^(AD) but they were unable to drive the people from the plains, because they had chariots fitted with iron.^{(AE) 20} As Moses had promised, Hebron^(AF) was given to Caleb, who drove from it the three sons of Anak.^{(AG) 21} The Benjamites, however, did not drive out^(AH) the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem;^(AI) to this day the Jebusites live there with the Benjamites.

²² Now the tribes of Joseph^(AJ) attacked Bethel,^(AK) and the Lord was with them. ²³ When they sent men to spy out Bethel (formerly called Luz),^{(AL) 24} the spies saw a man coming out of the city and they said to him, “Show us how to get into the city and we will see that you are treated well.^(AM)” ²⁵ So he showed them, and they put the city to the sword but spared^(AN) the man and his whole family. ²⁶ He then went to the land of the Hittites,^(AO) where he built a city and called it Luz,^(AP) which is its name to this day.

²⁷ But Manasseh did not^(AQ) drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor^(AR) or Ibleam^(AS) or Megiddo^(AT) and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites^(AU) were determined to live in that land. ²⁸ When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely.^{(AV) 29} Nor did Ephraim^(AW) drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer,^(AX) but the Canaanites continued to live there among them.^{(AY) 30} Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, so these Canaanites lived among them, but Zebulun did subject them to forced labor. ³¹ Nor did Asher^(AZ) drive out those living in Akko or Sidon^(BA) or Ahlab or Akzib^(BB) or Helbah or Aphek^(BC) or Rehob.^{(BD) 32} The Asherites lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land because they did not drive them out. ³³ Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh^(BE) or Beth Anath^(BF); but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. ³⁴ The Amorites^(BG) confined the Danites^(BH) to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain.^{(BI) 35} And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres,^(BJ) Aijalon^(BK) and Shaalbim,^(BL) but when the power of the tribes of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor. ³⁶ The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass^(BM) to Sela^(BN) and beyond.^(BO)