Josué 10

ARC · Chapter 10/24

1E succedeu que, ouvindo Adonizedek, rei de Jerusalem, que Josué tomara a Hai, e a tinha destruido totalmente, e fizera a Hai e ao seu rei como tinha feito a Jericó e ao seu rei, e que os moradores de Gibeon fizeram paz com os israelitas, e estavam no meio d'elles,

2Temeram muito: porque Gibeon era uma cidade grande como uma das cidades reaes, e ainda maior do que Hai, e todos os seus homens valentes.

3Pelo que Adonizedek, rei de Jerusalem, enviou a Hoham, rei de Hebron, e a Piram, rei de Jarmuth, e a Jafia, rei de Lachis, e a Debir, rei de Eglon, dizendo:

4Subi a mim, e ajudae-me, e firamos a Gibeon: porquanto fez paz com Josué e com os filhos de Israel.

5Então se ajuntaram, e subiram cinco reis dos amorrheos, o rei de Jerusalem, o rei de Hebron, o rei de Jarmuth, o rei de Lachis, o rei de Eglon, elles e todos os seus exercitos: e sitiaram a Gibeon e pelejaram contra ella.

6Enviaram pois os homens de Gibeon a Josué ao arraial de Gilgal, dizendo: Não retires as tuas mãos de teus servos; sobe apressadamente a nós, e livra-nos, e ajuda-nos, porquanto todos os reis dos amorrheos, que habitam na montanha, se ajuntaram contra nós

7Então subiu Josué de Gilgal, elle e toda a gente de guerra com elle, e todos os valentes e valorosos.

8E o Senhor disse a Josué: Não os temas, porque os tenho dado na tua mão: nenhum d'elles parará diante de ti.

9E Josué lhes sobreveiu de repente, porque toda a noite veiu subindo desde Gilgal.

10E o Senhor os conturbou diante de Israel, e os feriu de grande ferida em Gibeon: e seguiu-os pelo caminho que sobe a Bethoron, e os feriu até Azeka e a Makeda.

11E succedeu que, fugindo elles diante de Israel, á descida de Bethoron, o Senhor lançou sobre elles, do céu, grandes pedras até Azeka, e morreram: e foram muitos mais os que morreram das pedras da saraiva do que os que os filhos d'Israel mataram á espada.

12Então Josué fallou ao Senhor, no dia em que o Senhor deu os amorrheos na mão dos filhos de Israel, e disse aos olhos dos israelitas: Sol, detem-te em Gibeon, e tu, lua, no valle de Ajalon.

13E o sol se deteve, e a lua parou, até que o povo se vingou de seus inimigos. Isto não está escripto no livro do Recto? O sol pois se deteve no meio do céu, e não se apressou a pôr-se, quasi um dia inteiro.

14E não houve dia similhante a este, nem antes nem depois d'elle, ouvindo o Senhor assim a voz d'um homem: porque o Senhor pelejava por Israel.

15E tornou-se Josué, e todo o Israel com elle, ao arraial a Gilgal.

16Aquelles cinco reis, porém, fugiram, e se esconderam n'uma cova em Makeda.

17E foi annunciado a Josué, dizendo: Acharam-se os cinco reis escondidos n'uma cova em Makeda.

18Disse pois Josué: Arrojae grandes pedras á bocca da cova, e ponde sobre ella homens que os guardem:

19Porém vos não vos detenhaes; segui os vossos inimigos, e feri os que ficaram atraz: não os deixeis entrar nas suas cidades, porque o Senhor vosso Deus já vol-os deu na vossa mão

20E succedeu que, acabando Josué e os filhos de Israel de os ferir a grande ferida, até consumil-os, e que os que ficaram d'elles se retiraram ás cidades fortes,

21Todo o povo se tornou em paz a Josué, ao arraial em Makeda: não havendo ninguem que movesse a sua lingua contra os filhos de Israel.

22Depois disse Josué: Abri a bocca da cova, e trazei-me aquelles cinco reis para fóra da cova.

23Fizeram pois assim, e trouxeram-lhe aquelles cinco reis para fóra da cova: o rei de Jerusalem, o rei de Hebron, o rei de Jarmuth, o rei de Lachis, e o rei de Eglon.

24E succedeu que, trazendo aquelles reis a Josué, Josué chamou todos os homens de Israel, e disse aos capitães da gente de guerra, que com elle foram: Chegae, ponde os vossos pés sobre os pescoços d'estes reis. E chegaram, e pozeram os seus pés sobre os seus pescoços.

25Então Josué lhes disse: Não temaes, nem vos espanteis: esforçae-vos e animae-vos; porque assim o fará o Senhor a todos os vossos inimigos, contra os quaes pelejardes.

26E, depois d'isto, Josué os feriu e os matou, e os enforcou em cinco madeiros: e ficaram enforcados nos madeiros até á tarde.

27E succedeu que, ao tempo do pôr do sol, deu Josué ordem que os tirassem dos madeiros: e lançaram-n'os na cova onde se esconderam: e pozeram grandes pedras á bocca da cova, que ainda ali estão até ao mesmo dia de hoje.

28E n'aquelle mesmo dia tomou Josué a Makeda, e feriu-a a fio de espada, e destruiu o seu rei, a elles, e a toda a alma que n'ella havia; nada deixou de resto: e fez ao rei de Makeda como fizera ao rei de Jericó.

29Então Josué e todo o Israel com elle passou de Makeda a Libna, e pelejou contra Libna;

30E tambem o Senhor a deu na mão d' Israel, a ella e a seu rei, e a feriu a fio de espada, a ella e a toda a alma que n'ella havia; nada deixou de resto: e fez ao seu rei como fizera ao rei de Jericó.

31Então Josué, e todo o Israel com elle, passou de Libna a Lachis: e a sitiou, e pelejou contra ella;

32E o Senhor deu a Lachis na mão d'Israel, e tomou-a no dia seguinte, e a feriu a fio de espada, a ella, e a toda a alma que n'ella havia, conforme a tudo o que fizera a Libna.

33Então Horan, rei de Gezer, subiu a ajudar a Lachis: porém Josué o feriu, a elle e ao seu povo, até que nenhum lhe deixou de resto.

34E Josué, e todo o Israel com elle, passou de Lachis a Eglon: e a sitiaram, e pelejaram contra ella:

35E no mesmo dia a tomaram, e a feriram a fio de espada; e a toda a alma, que n'ella havia, destruiu totalmente no mesmo dia: conforme a tudo o que fizera a Lachis.

36Depois Josué, e todo o Israel com elle, subiu d'Eglon a Hebron, e pelejaram contra ella;

37E a tomaram, e a feriram ao fio de espada, assim ao seu rei como a todas as suas cidades; e a toda a alma, que n'ellas havia, a ninguem deixou com vida, conforme a tudo o que fizera a Eglon: e a destruiu totalmente, a ella e a toda a alma que n'ella havia.

38Então Josué, e todo o Israel com elle, tornou a Debir, e pelejou contra ella;

39E tomou-a com o seu rei, e a todas as suas cidades, e as feriram a fio de espada, e a toda a alma que n'ellas havia destruiram totalmente, nada deixou de resto: como fizera a Hebron, assim fez a Debir e ao seu rei, e como fizera a Libna e ao seu rei.

40Assim feriu Josué toda aquella terra, as montanhas, o sul, e as campinas, e as descidas das aguas, e a todos os seus reis; nada deixou de resto: mas tudo o que tinha folego destruiu, como ordenara o Senhor Deus d'Israel.

41E Josué os feriu desde Cades-barnea, e até Gaza: como tambem toda a terra de Gosen, e até Gibeon.

42E d'uma vez tomou Josué todos estes reis, e as suas terras: porquanto o Senhor Deus d'Israel pelejava por Israel.

43Então Josué, e todo o Israel com elle, se tornou ao arraial em Gilgal.

📖 Chapter study

Summary

Five Amorite kings attack Gibeon because of its treaty with Israel. Joshua defeats them with the help of hailstones sent by God, and the sun stands still to complete the victory.

Explanation

Joshua honors the treaty with Gibeon even though it was made through deception, coming to the aid of his new allies when they are attacked - showing practical, not just religious, integrity. The episode of the sun standing still, also recorded in the 'book of Jasher' (an ancient source now lost), is one of the most debated miracles in the Bible, interpreted by scholars in various ways, but the text presents it plainly as God's direct intervention in the battle. The southern military campaign that follows consolidates Israel's control over much of Canaan, gradually fulfilling the promise made to Abraham centuries before.

Fun facts

  • The 'book of Jasher' mentioned in verse 13 is also cited in 2 Samuel 1:18, but the original text was never preserved - we know of it only from these two references.
  • The gesture of 'putting feet on the necks' of the defeated kings (v.24) was a common symbolic act in the ancient Near East to demonstrate complete victory and the total submission of the enemy.

Verse-by-verse explanation

  1. Josué 10:1The king of Jerusalem hears about the destruction of Ai and the peace treaty between Gibeon and Israel, and it leaves him alarmed.
  2. Josué 10:2The fear is great because Gibeon was an important city, even greater than Ai, and it was now on Israel’s side.
  3. Josué 10:3The king of Jerusalem summons four other kings of the region to form an alliance against Gibeon.
  4. Josué 10:4The alliance’s plan is clear: attack Gibeon as punishment for having made peace with Israel.
  5. Josué 10:5Five Amorite kings join their armies and lay siege to Gibeon, beginning the attack.
  6. Josué 10:6Gibeon, now allied with Israel, sends an urgent plea for help to Joshua, reminding him that the peace treaty obligates Israel to defend them.
  7. Josué 10:7Joshua responds to the request and marches up with the whole army to rescue the Gibeonites.
  8. Josué 10:8God assures Joshua that the victory is already certain, that not one of the enemy kings will be able to stand against him.
  9. Josué 10:9Joshua catches the enemy by surprise, marching all night from Gilgal to get there fast.
  10. Josué 10:10God throws the enemy armies into confusion, and Israel pursues and defeats them along the way.
  11. Josué 10:11As they flee, a hailstorm of great stones falls on the enemy, killing even more of them than the sword of Israel did.
  12. Josué 10:12Joshua asks for the sun to stand still over Gibeon and the moon over the valley of Aijalon, in the middle of a battle that risked ending before the Israelites finished the victory. It is the only case in the Bible where an ordinary person, not God, gives such a command.
  13. Josué 10:13The account cites the Book of Jasher, a source now lost that is also mentioned in 2 Samuel, as independent evidence for that longest of days. Scholars disagree about the nature of the phenomenon: some read it as an astronomical miracle, others as a poetic device from an ancient war song, and still others as an eclipse or hailstorm that darkened the sky.
  14. Josué 10:14The text points out that there was never another day like that one, when God answered so directly the request of a man in battle.
  15. Josué 10:15After the victory, Joshua and the army return to the camp at Gilgal.
  16. Josué 10:16The five enemy kings flee the battle and hide together in a cave at Makkedah.
  17. Josué 10:17Someone tells Joshua that the five kings have been found hiding in the cave.
  18. Josué 10:18Joshua orders the mouth of the cave sealed with large stones and guards posted there, not worrying about the kings for the moment.
  19. Josué 10:19Joshua’s priority is to waste no time: he orders the pursuit of the rest of the enemy army to continue before they can take refuge in their own cities.
  20. Josué 10:20After wiping out nearly the entire enemy army, the survivors manage to flee into fortified cities.
  21. Josué 10:21Israel’s army returns safely to the camp, meeting no resistance at all from the peoples of the region, who are already intimidated.
  22. Josué 10:22Only then does Joshua order the cave opened and the five kings brought out.
  23. Josué 10:23The five kings are brought out: the rulers of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon.
  24. Josué 10:24Joshua calls the army commanders and has them put their feet on the necks of the captured kings, a public gesture of the total humiliation of the defeated.
  25. Josué 10:25Joshua uses the moment to encourage the people, saying that God will do the same to all their future enemies.
  26. Josué 10:26The five kings captured at the cave of Makkedah are put to death and hung on trees until evening, repeating the same pattern used with the king of Ai: the body exposed for a limited time, then taken down before nightfall.
  27. Josué 10:27At sunset, the bodies of the kings are taken down and thrown into the same cave where they had hidden, now sealed with stones.
  28. Josué 10:28That very same day, Joshua conquers Makkedah and completely destroys the city and its king, repeating the pattern used at Jericho.
  29. Josué 10:29After Makkedah, Joshua moves on with the army to Libnah and attacks the city.
  30. Josué 10:30God delivers Libnah into Israel’s hands, and the city is destroyed the same way Jericho was.
  31. Josué 10:31Joshua advances to Lachish, laying siege to the city and attacking it right after.
  32. Josué 10:32Lachish falls on the day after the siege begins, destroyed just like the previous cities.
  33. Josué 10:33The king of Gezer tries to help Lachish, but he too is defeated by Joshua, with no survivors.
  34. Josué 10:34After Lachish, the army moves on to Eglon to attack the city.
  35. Josué 10:35Eglon falls on the very same day as the attack, following the same pattern of total destruction as the previous cities.
  36. Josué 10:36After Eglon, Hebron is the next city in the southern campaign — the same sequence of attacks (Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, Hebron, Debir) that Joshua repeats city after city.
  37. Josué 10:37Hebron and the surrounding towns are captured and destroyed, with no survivors, repeating the same pattern of the campaign.
  38. Josué 10:38Debir closes out Joshua’s southern campaign, after Makkedah, Libnah, Lachish, Eglon, and Hebron — the same city that later Caleb sends his son-in-law Othniel to conquer again.
  39. Josué 10:39Debir is conquered the same way Libnah and Hebron were, leaving no survivors.
  40. Josué 10:40The summary of the chapter is that Joshua conquers this entire region — the hill country, the south, the lowlands — carrying out exactly what God had commanded.
  41. Josué 10:41The campaign stretches from Kadesh-barnea to Gaza, covering the whole region of Goshen as far as Gibeon.
  42. Josué 10:42All these conquests happen in a single campaign, because, according to the text, it was the Lord who fought for Israel.
  43. Josué 10:43After the entire campaign, Joshua and the army return to the camp at Gilgal.

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