Joshua 10

Five Kings Try to Jump Gibeon

1 When King Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem heard how Joshua wrecked Jericho and Ai, And made a peace deal with Gibeon - He got shook.

2 Gibeon was a big city with strong soldiers, And now they rolling with Israel, That was a major problem.

3 So the king of Jerusalem hit up four other kings - From Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

4 He said, “Let us link up and jump Gibeon for flipping on us.”

5 So the five kings brought their armies, surrounded Gibeon, And were ready to bring smoke.

Gibeon Sends an SOS

6 Gibeon hit Joshua with an urgent message: “Do not leave us hanging! We your people now - come help us, fast!”

7 So Joshua and the whole squad rolled out from Gilgal - No hesitation.

8 God told Joshua, “Do not be scared - I got you. You are going to take them all down. Not one of them can touch you.”

God Gets Active

9 Joshua rolled up on them outta nowhere - They marched all night and caught the enemy slipping.

10 God caused chaos in the enemy camp - Israel ran up, dropped bodies all over Gibeon, Chased them down through Beth-horon, Azekah, and Makkedah.

11 As they ran, God started throwing hail from the sky. More soldiers died from the hail than from the sword.

Sun Stands Still

12 Then Joshua prayed in front of everybody and said: “Sun, do not move! Stay right there over Gibeon! Moon, pause over Aijalon!”

13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped ‘til Israel had finished whooping their enemies. (That moment’s written down in the Book of Jashar.)

14 Never been a day like that - when God literally listened to a man like that - And fought hard for His people.

15 Then Joshua and the crew came back to camp at Gilgal.

Five Kings Get Dealt With

16 Those five kings, They ran and hid in a cave at Makkedah.

17 Joshua got the word: “We found the kings - they ducked off in a cave.”

18 Joshua said, “Roll some big rocks in front of it and post guards.

19 But do not just post up there - Chase their army and do not let anyone slip away.”

Joshua Handles the Kings

20 Israel put in work, dropping enemies left and right. Only a few managed to crawl away.

21 The crew came back to Joshua safe and sound - No one said a word against Israel now.

22 Then Joshua said, “Open the cave. Bring the kings out.”

23 So they brought out the five kings - Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.

24 Joshua had his commanders come up and said, “Put your foot on their necks.” And they did it - no hesitation.

25 Joshua told them, “Do not be shook. Be bold and strong - God is going to do this to every enemy you all face.”

26 Then he executed the kings and hung them on trees until sundown.

27 At sunset, he took the bodies down, tossed them in the cave, And sealed it with big rocks - still there to this day.

Joshua’s Win Streak Begins

28 That day Joshua took Makkedah, killed the king and everyone there - No survivors. Put the whole city to the sword.

29 Then they hit Libnah next - same outcome.

30 Took the city, dropped the king, no one left standing.

31 Next was Lachish. Took it in two days.

32 God handed it over. They handled it just like the last one.

33 King Horam of Gezer tried to help Lachish - But Israel took him out too.

34 Then they hit Eglon - took it in a day.

35 Slaughtered everyone just like they did in Lachish.

36 Then they went to Hebron -

37 Took the city, the villages, the king - everybody. No one left.

38 Next stop: Debir. Same story.

39 Wiped out the city, king, and all its surrounding areas.

Total Domination by God’s Hand

40 Joshua took the whole region - From the hills to the valleys, from the south to the slopes - He left no survivors, just like God commanded.

41 They ran from Kadesh Barnea to Gaza, And all the way to Gibeon - not one enemy stood.

42 God was with Joshua the whole way - that is how he won every fight.

43 Then Joshua and the whole squad rolled back to camp at Gilgal, Rested from the warzone.