1 Sucedeu que Adoni-Zedeque, rei de Jerusalém, soube que Josué tinha conquistado Ai e a tinha destruído totalmente, fazendo com Ai e seu rei o que fizera com Jericó e seu rei, e que o povo de Gibeom tinha feito a paz com Israel e estava vivendo no meio deles.2 Ele e o seu povo ficaram com muito medo, pois Gibeom era tão importante como uma cidade governada por um rei; era maior do que Ai, e todos os seus homens eram bons guerreiros.3 Por isso Adoni-Zedeque, rei de Jerusalém, fez o seguinte apelo a Hoão, rei de Hebrom, a Piram, rei de Jarmute, a Jafia, rei de Láquis, e a Debir, rei de Eglom:4 "Venham para cá e ajudem-me a atacar Gibeom, pois ela fez a paz com Josué e com os israelitas".5 Então os cinco reis dos amorreus, os reis de Jerusalém, de Hebrom, de Jarmute, de Láquis e de Eglom reuniram-se e vieram com todos os seus exércitos. Cercaram Gibeom e a atacaram.6 Os gibeonitas enviaram esta mensagem a Josué, ao acampamento de Gilgal: "Não abandone os seus servos. Venha depressa! Salve-nos! Ajude-nos, pois todos os reis amorreus que vivem nas montanhas se uniram contra nós! "7 Josué partiu de Gilgal com todo o seu exército, inclusive com os seus melhores guerreiros.8 E disse o Senhor a Josué: "Não tenha medo desses reis; eu os entreguei nas suas mãos. Nenhum deles conseguirá resistir a você".9 Depois de uma noite inteira de marcha desde Gilgal, Josué os apanhou de surpresa.10 O Senhor os lançou em confusão diante de Israel, que lhes impôs grande derrota em Gibeom. Os israelitas os perseguiram na subida para Bete-Horom e os mataram por todo o caminho, até Azeca e Maquedá.11 Enquanto fugiam de Israel na descida de Bete-Horom para Azeca, do céu o Senhor lançou sobre eles grandes pedras de granizo, que mataram mais gente do que as espadas dos israelitas.12 No dia em que o Senhor entregou os amorreus aos israelitas, Josué exclamou ao Senhor, na presença de Israel: "Sol, pare sobre Gibeom! E você, ó lua, sobre o vale de Aijalom! "13 O sol parou, e a lua se deteve, até a nação vingar-se dos seus inimigos, como está escrito no Livro de Jasar. O sol parou no meio do céu e por quase um dia inteiro não se pôs.14 Nunca antes nem depois houve um dia como aquele, quando o Senhor atendeu a um homem. Sem dúvida o Senhor lutava por Israel!15 Então Josué voltou com todo o Israel ao acampamento de Gilgal.16 Os cinco reis fugiram e se esconderam na caverna de Maquedá.17 Avisaram a Josué que eles tinham sido achados numa caverna em Maquedá.18 Disse ele: "Rolem grandes pedras até a entrada da caverna, e deixem ali alguns homens de guarda.19 Mas não se detenham! Persigam os inimigos. Ataquem-nos pela retaguarda e não os deixem chegar às suas cidades, pois o Senhor, o seu Deus, os entregou em suas mãos".20 Assim Josué e os israelitas os derrotaram por completo, quase exterminando-os. Mas alguns conseguiram escapar e refugiaram-se em suas cidades fortificadas.21 O exército inteiro voltou então em segurança a Josué, ao acampamento de Maquedá, e depois disso, ninguém mais ousou abrir a boca para provocar os israelitas.22 Então disse Josué: "Abram a entrada da caverna e tragam-me aqueles cinco reis".23 Os cinco reis foram tirados da caverna. Eram os reis de Jerusalém, de Hebrom, de Jarmute, de Láquis e de Eglom.24 Quando os levaram a Josué, ele convocou todos os homens de Israel e disse aos comandantes do exército que o tinham acompanhado: "Venham aqui e ponham o pé no pescoço destes reis". E eles obedeceram.25 Disse-lhes Josué: "Não tenham medo! Não se desanimem! Sejam fortes e corajosos! É isso que o Senhor fará com todos os inimigos que vocês tiverem que combater".26 Depois Josué matou os reis e mandou pendurá-los em cinco árvores, onde ficaram até à tarde.27 Ao pôr-do-sol, sob as ordens de Josué, eles foram tirados das árvores e jogados na caverna onde haviam se escondido. Na entrada da caverna colocaram grandes pedras, que lá estão até hoje.28 Naquele dia Josué tomou Maquedá. Atacou a cidade e matou o seu rei à espada e exterminou todos os que nela viviam, sem deixar sobreviventes. E fez com o rei de Maquedá o que tinha feito com o rei de Jericó.29 Então Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, avançou de Maquedá para Libna e a atacou.30 O Senhor entregou também aquela cidade e seu rei nas mãos dos israelitas. Josué atacou a cidade e matou à espada todos os que nela viviam, sem deixar nenhum sobrevivente ali. E fez com o seu rei o que fizera com o rei de Jericó.31 Depois Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, avançou de Libna para Láquis, cercou-a e a atacou.32 O Senhor entregou Láquis nas mãos dos israelitas, e Josué tomou-a no dia seguinte. Atacou a cidade e matou à espada todos os que nela viviam, como tinha feito com Libna.33 Nesse meio tempo Horão, rei de Gezer, fora socorrer Láquis, mas Josué o derrotou, a ele e ao seu exército, sem deixar sobrevivente algum.34 Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, avançou de Láquis para Eglom, cercou-a e a atacou.35 Eles a conquistaram naquele mesmo dia, feriram-na à espada e exterminaram os que nela viviam, como tinham feito com Láquis.36 Então Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, foi de Eglom para Hebrom e a atacou.37 Tomaram a cidade e a feriram à espada, como também o seu rei, os seus povoados e todos os que nela viviam, sem deixar sobrevivente algum. Destruíram totalmente a cidade e todos os que nela viviam, como tinham feito com Eglom.38 Depois Josué, e todo o Israel com ele, voltou e atacou Debir.39 Tomaram a cidade, seu rei e seus povoados, e os mataram à espada. Exterminaram os que nela viviam, sem deixar sobrevivente algum. Fizeram com Debir e seu rei o que tinham feito com Libna e seu rei e com Hebrom.40 Assim Josué conquistou a região toda, incluindo a serra central, o Neguebe, as encostas e as vertentes, e derrotou todos os seus reis, sem deixar sobrevivente algum. Exterminou tudo o que respirava, conforme o Senhor, o Deus de Israel, tinha ordenado.41 Josué os derrotou desde Cades-Barnéia até Gaza, e toda a região de Gósen, e de lá até Gibeom.42 Também subjugou todos esses reis e conquistou suas terras numa única campanha, pois o Senhor, o Deus de Israel, lutou por Israel.43 Então Josué retornou com todo o Israel ao acampamento de Gilgal.
1 When Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard that 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. The inhabitants of Gibeon made peace with Israel and were living near them.2 They were very afraid because Gibeon was a great royal city. It was larger than Ai and all the men there were great fighters.3 Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, and to Piram king of Jarmuth, and to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying:4 »Come to me and help me, that we may strike Gibeon: for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.«5 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 together. They and all their hosts came before Gibeon and camped. Then they made war against it.6 The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal saying: Do not abandon your servants. Come to us quickly and save us. Help us for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the mountains have gathered together against us.7 So Joshua and all the people of war, the mighty warriors, ascended from Gilgal.8 Jehovah said to Joshua: »Do not fear them. I have delivered them into your hands. Not one man of them will stand before you.«9 Joshua came against them suddenly by surprise at night.10 Jehovah threw them into confusion before Israel. They were killed in a great battle at Gibeon. They were chased along the road that goes up to Beth-horon. They were slaughtered all the way to Azekah, and Makkedah.11 As they fled from Israel, and were going down to Beth-horon, Jehovah cast down great stones from heaven upon them all the way to Azekah and they died. In fact hailstones killed more than the children of Israel killed using their swords.12 Joshua spoke to Jehovah the day when Jehovah delivered the Amorites to the children of Israel. He said in sight of Israel: »Sun, stand still upon Gibeon; and Moon, stand still in the valley of Ajalon.«13 The sun stood still, and the moon stood still, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is this not written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and did not go down for a whole day.14 There was no day like that before or after it, that Jehovah listened to the voice of a man: for Jehovah fought for Israel.15 All Israel returned with Joshua to the camp at Gilgal.16 These five kings ran away and hid themselves in a cave at Makkedah.17 Joshua was told: »The five kings are found hidden in a cave at Makkedah.«18 Joshua said: »Roll large stones in front of the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them.19 »Do not stay there but pursue after your enemies and strike the rear guard. Do not enter their cities for Jehovah your God has delivered them into your hand.«20 When Joshua and the children of Israel finished slaying them those who escaped entered the fortified cities.21 All the people returned in peace to Joshuas at Makkedah. No one spoke against any of the children of Israel.22 Then Joshua said: »Open the mouth of the cave, and bring out those five kings to me.«23 They did so, and brought the five kings to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.24 When they brought out the kings to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him: »Come near, put your feet on the back of the necks of humiliateabase these kings.« They came near, and put their feet upon their necks.25 Joshua said: »Do not be afraid. Do not be terrified! Be strong and have courage: for this is what Jehovah will do to all your enemies against whom you fight.«26 Afterward Joshua struck and killed them. He hanged them on five trees: and they hung on the trees until evening.27 At sunset Joshua commanded that they remove them. They took them down from the trees, and cast them into the cave where they had been hidden. They laid large stones in the mouth of the cave. Even today the stones are there.28 That day Joshua struck Makkedah with the edge of the sword. The king was destroyed all the people who lived there. He let none remain: and he did to the king of Makkedah the same as he did to the king of Jericho.29 Then Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel went with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah:30 Jehovah delivered it and the king into the hand of Israel. He struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the persons who lived there. He let none remain: and he did to the king of Libnah as he did to the king of Jericho.31 Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:32 Jehovah delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel on the second day. He struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the persons who lived there according to all that he had done to Libnah.33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish. Joshua killed him and his people, until he had left none remaining.34 From Lachish Joshua went to Eglon, and all Israel with him. They encamped against it, and fought against it:35 They took it on that day and struck it with the edge of the sword. All that were there were destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.36 Joshua and all Israel with him went from Eglon to Hebron; and they fought against it:37 They capture it and destroyed it with the edge of the sword. This included the king and all the cities, and all the people who were there. He left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but destroyed it utterly, and destroyed all the people there.38 Joshua and all Israel returned with him to Debir and fought against it:39 He took it, and the king and all the cities there. They killed them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all people there. He left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to the king as he had done also to Libnah, and to her king.40 So Joshua struck 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 Jehovah God of Israel commanded.41 And Joshua conquered them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even unto Gibeon.42 All these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because Jehovah the God of Israel fought for Israel.43 Joshua returned, and all Israel returned with him to the camp at Gilgal.