Joshua 10: The sun stands still, and the five kings are defeated
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem and four other Amorite kings attack Gibeon for making peace with Israel, and the Gibeonites call Joshua to help. Yahweh tells Joshua not to be afraid, and after a night march Israel routs the kings; Yahweh throws great hailstones on them, and Joshua calls on the sun and the moon to stand still, as is written in the Book of Jashar. The five kings hide in a cave at Makkedah, and Joshua has them brought out, put to death and hanged on trees. Then Joshua takes Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and Debir, and the text says he left no one alive in all that land, as Yahweh had commanded.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. God's own words are in 1 of the 43 verses: his promise to Joshua in verse 8. Adoni-Zedek sends word to the other kings in verse 4, and the men of Gibeon send word to Joshua in verse 6. In verse 12 Joshua speaks to Yahweh and calls on the sun and the moon. Joshua is told about the kings in verse 17, and he gives orders and speaks to his men in verses 18 and 19, 22, 24 and 25. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1Now when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how 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; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them,
In plain English: Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard that Joshua had taken Ai and completely destroyed it (this Bible: utterly destroyed), doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king. He heard too that the people of Gibeon had made peace with Israel and were living among them.
Good to know: This is the first verse of the Bible that names Jerusalem. later says that the children of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem.
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2they were very afraid, 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.
In plain English: They were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, like one of the royal cities. It was greater than Ai, and all its men were warriors (this Bible: mighty).
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3Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,
In plain English: So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent word to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying,
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4“Come up to me and help me. Let’s strike Gibeon; for they have made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel.”
In plain English: "Come up to me and help me, and let us strike Gibeon, because it has made peace with Joshua and with the Israelites."
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5Therefore 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 themselves together and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.
In plain English: So 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 and went up with all their armies. They camped against Gibeon and attacked it (this Bible: made war against it).
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6The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal, saying, “Don’t abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us.”
In plain English: The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants (literally: do not let your hands drop from your servants)! Come up to us quickly and save us. Help us, because all the kings of the Amorites who live in the hill country have gathered against us."
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7So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and the whole army with him, including all the mighty men of valor.
In plain English: So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he and the whole army with him, with all the brave warriors (this Bible: mighty men of valor).
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8Yahweh said to Joshua, “Don’t fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. Not a man of them will stand before you.”God speaks
In plain English: Yahweh said to Joshua, "Do not be afraid of them, because I have given them into your hands. Not one of them will stand against you."
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9Joshua therefore came to them suddenly. He marched from Gilgal all night.
In plain English: Joshua came on them suddenly, after marching all night from Gilgal.
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10Yahweh confused them before Israel. He killed 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.
In plain English: Yahweh threw them into panic (this Bible: confused them) before Israel. He (or: Israel) struck them down in a great slaughter at Gibeon, chased them along the road up to Beth Horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.
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11As they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, Yahweh hurled down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than those whom the children of Israel killed with the sword.
In plain English: As they ran from Israel, on the way down from Beth Horon, Yahweh threw great stones down on them from the sky all the way to Azekah, and they died. More died from the hailstones than the Israelites killed with the sword.
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12Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel. He said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!”
In plain English: Then, on the day Yahweh gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to Yahweh. In the sight of Israel he said, "Sun, stand still (or: be silent) on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!"
The Hebrew word: "Stand still" is damam, which the dictionary gives as "to be dumb; by implication, to be astonished, to stop".
How it is translated: This Bible says "still" in 8 of the 29 verses that use damam, and "silent", "silence" or a longer form in 14.
What changes: Read as "stand still", Joshua asks the sun to stop moving in the sky. Read as "be silent", he may be asking it to stop shining rather than to stop moving. Verse 13 goes on to say the sun "stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn't hurry to go down".
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13The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day.
In plain English: The sun stood still (or: was silent), and the moon stopped, until the nation had taken revenge on its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar (or: the Book of the Upright)? The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hurry to go down for about a whole day.
The Hebrew word: "Jashar" is yashar, which the dictionary gives as "straight (literally or figuratively)". This Bible says "upright" or a longer form in 53 of the 119 verses that use yashar, and "right" or a longer form in 69. So the name can be read "the Book of the Upright".
Good to know: The Book of Jashar is named in only one other verse, , where David's lament over Saul and Jonathan () is "written in the book of Jashar". It is not one of the books of the Bible, and the text says nothing more about it. Verse 13 asks, "Isn't this written in the book of Jashar?": it points to that book for these words about the sun and the moon.
Church tradition: Jewish and Christian readers have read these verses in several ways. Some read them as the sun and the moon truly stopping, so that the day was made longer. Some read them as the language of a poem, saying that Yahweh gave Israel a great victory in one day. Some read "be silent" as the sun's heat or light being held back, for example by the hailstorm of verse 11, so that the fighting could go on. also says "The sun and moon stood still in the sky". The text says what Joshua said, what happened, and that there was no day like it (verse 14).
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14There was no day like that before it or after it, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for Yahweh fought for Israel.
In plain English: There has been no day like it, before or since, when Yahweh listened to the voice of a man, because Yahweh fought for Israel.
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15Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.
In plain English: Then Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal, and all Israel with him.
Good to know: Verse 15 says Joshua and all Israel returned to the camp at Gilgal, but in verse 21 the people come back to Joshua at the camp at Makkedah, and verse 43, at the end of the campaign, has the same words as verse 15. The text does not explain this, and readers explain it in different ways.
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16These five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.
In plain English: These five kings had run away and hidden in the cave at Makkedah.
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17Joshua was told, saying, “The five kings have been found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah.”
In plain English: Joshua was told, "The five kings have been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah."
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18Joshua said, “Roll large stones to cover the cave’s entrance, and set men by it to guard them;
In plain English: Joshua said, "Roll large stones over the mouth of the cave, and post men by it to guard them.
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19but don’t stay there. Pursue your enemies, and attack them from the rear. Don’t allow them to enter into their cities; for Yahweh your God has delivered them into your hand.”
In plain English: But do not stay there yourselves. Chase your enemies and attack them from the rear. Do not let them get into their cities, because Yahweh your God has given them into your hand."
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20When Joshua and the children of Israel had finished killing them with a very great slaughter until they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,
In plain English: When Joshua and the Israelites had finished striking them down in a very great slaughter, until they were wiped out, and those who survived had got into the walled (this Bible: fortified) cities,
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21all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.
In plain English: all the people came back safely (literally: in peace) to Joshua at the camp at Makkedah. No one so much as moved his tongue (literally: sharpened his tongue) against any of the Israelites.
Good to know: uses the same Hebrew word for "move": not even a dog would "move its tongue" against the Israelites in Egypt.
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22Then Joshua said, “Open the cave entrance, and bring those five kings out of the cave to me.”
In plain English: Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out of the cave to me."
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23They did so, and brought those five kings out of the cave to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
In plain English: They did so. They brought those five kings out of the cave to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.
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24When they brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who went with him, “Come near. Put your feet on the necks of these kings.” They came near, and put their feet on their necks.
In plain English: When they had brought those kings out to Joshua, Joshua called all the men of Israel and said to the commanders of the fighting men who had gone with him, "Come here. Put your feet on the necks of these kings." They came and put their feet on their necks.
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25Joshua said to them, “Don’t be afraid, nor be dismayed. Be strong and courageous, for Yahweh will do this to all your enemies against whom you fight.”
In plain English: Joshua said to them, "Do not be afraid or lose heart (this Bible: be dismayed). Be strong and brave (this Bible: courageous), because this is what Yahweh will do to all the enemies you fight."
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26Afterward Joshua struck them, put them to death, and hanged them on five trees. They were hanging on the trees until the evening.
In plain English: After that Joshua struck them and put them to death, and he hanged them on five trees. They hung on the trees until evening.
Good to know: As with the king of Ai in , the bodies are taken down at sunset, as commands. See the note on 8:29.
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27At the time of the going down of the sun, Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and threw them into the cave in which they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.
In plain English: At sunset Joshua gave the order, and they took them down from the trees and threw them into the cave where they had hidden. They laid large stones over the mouth of the cave, which are there to this very day.
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28Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with its king. He utterly destroyed it and all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining. He did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
In plain English: That day Joshua took Makkedah and struck it and its king with the sword (literally: with the mouth of the sword). He completely destroyed it and every person in it (this Bible: all the souls). He left no one alive. He did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.
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29Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.
In plain English: Then Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Makkedah to Libnah and fought against Libnah.
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30Yahweh delivered it also, with its king, into the hand of Israel. He struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining in it. He did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
In plain English: Yahweh gave it too, with its king, into Israel's hand. He struck it and every person in it with the sword. He left no one alive in it. He did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.
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31Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it.
In plain English: Then Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Libnah to Lachish. They camped against it and fought against it.
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32Yahweh delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel. He took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with all the souls who were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.
In plain English: Yahweh gave Lachish into Israel's hand. He took it on the second day and struck it and every person in it with the sword, just as he had done to Libnah.
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33Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he had left him no one remaining.
In plain English: Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish, and Joshua struck him and his people until he had left him no one alive.
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34Joshua passed from Lachish, and all Israel with him, to Eglon; and they encamped against it and fought against it.
In plain English: Then Joshua and all Israel with him went on from Lachish to Eglon. They camped against it and fought against it.
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35They took it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed all the souls who were in it that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.
In plain English: They took it that same day and struck it with the sword. He completely destroyed every person in it that day, just as he had done to Lachish.
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36Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it.
In plain English: Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron, and they fought against it.
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37They took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with its king and all its cities, and all the souls who were in it. He left no one remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but he utterly destroyed it, and all the souls who were in it.
In plain English: They took it and struck it with the sword, with its king, all its towns, and every person in it. He left no one alive, just as he had done to Eglon. He completely destroyed it and every person in it.
Good to know: Verses 23 to 26 say the king of Hebron was put to death at Makkedah. The text does not say who the king of Hebron named here was. Hebron is given to Caleb later, who drives out the sons of Anak there ( and ).
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38Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it.
In plain English: Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned back to Debir and fought against it.
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39He took it, with its king and all its cities. They struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls who were in it. He left no one 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.
In plain English: He took it, with its king and all its towns. They struck them with the sword and completely destroyed every person in it. He left no one alive. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir and its king, as he had also done to Libnah and its king.
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40So Joshua struck all the land, the hill country, the South, the lowland, the slopes, and all their kings. He left no one remaining, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded.
In plain English: So Joshua struck the whole land: the hill country, the Negev (this Bible: the South), the lowland, and the slopes, and all their kings. He left no one alive. He completely destroyed everything that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, had commanded.
The Hebrew words: "The South" is negev, which the dictionary gives as "the south (from its drought); specifically, the Negeb or southern district of Judah". "The lowland" is shephelah, which the dictionary gives as "Lowland" and "the maritime slope of Palestine": the land sloping down toward the sea. "The slopes" is a word the dictionary gives as "a ravine".
Good to know: "Utterly destroyed" is charam, the word explained in the note on . Verses 28 to 39 tell, city by city, how Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron and Debir were taken and every person in them struck with the sword. Verse 40 sums it up: "he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded", as in , "you shall save alive nothing that breathes". These verses say plainly what was done. It is the war law of that time as the text records it, and Jewish and Christian readers differ on how to read it now.
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41Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.
In plain English: Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, and all the land of Goshen as far as Gibeon.
Good to know: Kadesh Barnea is the place from which Moses sent the spies into the land ( and ). The dictionary gives Goshen as both "the residence of the Israelites in Egypt" and "a place in Palestine". The Goshen here is in this land, not the Goshen in Egypt where Jacob's family lived ().
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42Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
In plain English: Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.
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43Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.
In plain English: Then Joshua returned to the camp at Gilgal, and all Israel with him.
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