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 Now it came to pass, when Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had completely 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 feared greatly, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.3 Therefore 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 up to me, and help me, and let us strike Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the sons 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, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their hosts, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.6 And the men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, Do not slack your hand from your slaves; come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us: for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill-country are gathered together against us.7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.8 And Yahweh said to Joshua, Don't fear them: for I have delivered them into your hands; not a man of them will stand before you.9 Joshua therefore came upon them suddenly; [for] he went up from Gilgal all the night.10 And Yahweh discomfited them before Israel, and he slew them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth-horon, and struck them to Azekah, and to Makkedah.11 And it came to pass, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth-horon, that Yahweh cast down great stones from heaven on them to Azekah, and they died: they who died with the hailstones were more than they whom the sons of Israel slew with the sword.12 Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand still on Gibeon; And, Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn't this written in the Book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the midst of heaven, and didn't hurry to go down about a whole day.14 And there was no day like that before it or after it, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man: for Yahweh fought for Israel.15 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.16 And these five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.17 And it was told Joshua, saying, The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.18 And Joshua said, Roll great stones to the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to keep them:19 but don't you{+} stop; pursue after your{+} enemies, and strike the hindmost of them; don't allow them to enter into their cities: for Yahweh your{+} God has delivered them into your{+} hand.20 And it came to pass, when Joshua and the sons of Israel had made an end of slaying them with a very great slaughter, until they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,21 that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace: none moved his tongue against any of the sons of Israel.22 Then Joshua said, Open the mouth of the cave, and bring forth those five kings to me out of the cave.23 And they did so, and brought forth those five kings to him out of the cave, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon.24 And it came to pass, when they brought forth those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war that went with him, Come near, put your{+} feet on the necks of these kings. And they came near, and put their feet on the necks of them.25 And Joshua said to them, Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed; be strong and of good courage: for thus will Yahweh do to all your{+} enemies against whom you{+} fight.26 And afterward Joshua struck them, and put them to death, and hanged them on five trees: and they were hanging on the trees until the evening.27 And it came to pass at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave in which they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, to this very day.28 And Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king: he completely destroyed them and all the souls who were in it; he left none remaining; and he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.29 And Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah:30 and Yahweh delivered it also, and its king, into the hand of Israel; and he struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it; he left none remaining in it; and he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.31 And Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it:32 and Yahweh delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel; and he took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.34 And Joshua passed from Lachish, and all Israel with him, to Eglon; and they encamped against it, and fought against it;35 and they took it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword; and all the souls who were in it he completely destroyed that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.36 And Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it:37 and they took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and its king, and all its cities, and all the souls who were in it; he left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but he completely destroyed it, and all the souls who were in it.38 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it:39 and he took it, and its king, and all its cities; and they struck them with the edge of the sword, and completely destroyed all the souls who were in it; he left none remaining: as he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to its king; as he had done also to Libnah, and to its king.40 So Joshua struck all the land, the hill-country, and the South, and the lowland, and the slopes, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but he completely destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded.41 And Joshua struck them from Kadesh-barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.42 And all these kings and their land Joshua took at one time, because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.43 And Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.