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Kuyimitsidwa kwa Dzuwa

10 Adoni-Zedeki mfumu ya ku Yerusalemu inamva kuti Yoswa wagonjetsa ndi kuwononga kotheratu mzinda wa Ai pamodzi ndi mfumu yake, monga anachitira ndi Yeriko ndi mfumu yake. Inamvanso kuti anthu a ku Gibiyoni anachita pangano la mtendere ndi Israeli ndipo amakhala pakati pawo. Choncho iye ndi anthu ake anachita mantha aakulu, chifukwa Gibiyoni unali mzinda waukulu kwambiri, monga mzinda uliwonse wokhala ndi mfumu. Unali waukulu ndipo ankhondo ake anali olimba mtima. Chotsatira chake Adoni-Zedeki mfumu ya Yerusalemu inatuma uthenga kwa Hohamu mfumu ya Hebroni, Piramu mfumu ya Yarimuti, Yafiya mfumu ya Lakisi ndi Debri mfumu ya Egiloni. Iye anatumiza mawu kuti, “Bwerani mudzandithandize kumenyana ndi Gibiyoni, chifukwa anthu ake achita pangano la mtendere ndi Yoswa ndi Aisraeli.”

Mafumu asanu a Aamori aja, mfumu ya Yerusalemu, mfumu ya Hebroni, mfumu ya Yarimuti, mfumu ya Lakisi ndi mfumu ya Egiloni, anagwirizana. Iwo anasonkhanitsa ankhondo awo nazungulira mzinda wa Gibiyoni ndi kuwuthira nkhondo.

Koma anthu a ku Gibiyoni anatumiza uthenga kwa Yoswa ku misasa ya ku Giligala nati, “Musawataye anthu anu! Bwerani msanga mudzatipulumutse! Dzatithandizeni chifukwa mafumu a Aamori ochokera ku dziko la ku mapiri agwirizana kuti adzatithire nkhondo.”

Choncho Yoswa ananyamuka kuchoka ku Giligala ndi gulu lake la ankhondo pamodzi ndi anthu ake olimba mtima. Yehova anati kwa Yoswa, “Usawaope, Ine ndawapereka mʼdzanja lako. Palibe ndi mmodzi mwa amenewa amene adzalimbe.”

Atayenda usiku wonse kuchokera ku Giligala, Yoswa anawathira nkhondo mwadzidzidzi. 10 Yehova anachititsa mantha adani aja atangoona gulu lankhondo la Israeli. Choncho Aisraeli anagonjetsa Aamori ku Gibiyoni ndipo anawathamangitsa mu msewu wopita ku Beti-Horoni ndi kuwapha njira yonse yopita ku Azeka ndi Makeda. 11 Pamene ankathawa pamaso pa Israeli pa njira yochokera ku Beti-Horoni mpaka ku Azeka, Yehova anawagwetsera matalala akuluakulu kuchokera kumwamba ndipo ambiri mwa iwo anafa ndi matalala kuposa amene anaphedwa ndi lupanga la Israeli.

12 Pa tsiku limene Yehova anapereka Aamori mʼmanja mwa Israeli, Yoswa ananena kwa Yehova pamaso pa Israeli kuti,

“Iwe dzuwa, ima pamwamba pa Gibiyoni,
    mwezi ima pamwamba pa chigwa cha Ayaloni.”
13 Choncho dzuwa linayima,
    mwezinso unayima,
    mpaka dziko la Israeli litagonjetsa adani ake.

Zimenezi zalembedwa mʼbuku la Yasari.

Dzuwa linayima pamodzimodzi pakati pa thambo mlengalenga, osayendanso kwa tsiku lathunthu. 14 Sipanakhaleponso tsiku ngati limeneli kuyambira kale, tsiku limene Yehova anamvera munthu. Izi zinatero chifukwa Yehova ankamenyera nkhondo Aisraeli.

15 Kenaka Yoswa anabwerera pamodzi ndi Aisraeli onse ku misasa ku Giligala.

Kuphedwa kwa Mafumu Asanu a Aamori

16 Mafumu asanu aja anathawa ndi kukabisala ku phanga la Makeda. 17 Koma Yoswa anamva kuti mafumu asanu awapeza akubisala ku phanga la Makeda. 18 Tsono Yoswa analamula kuti, “Mugubuduzire miyala ikuluikulu pa khomo la phangalo, ndipo muyike anthu ena kuti azilondera. 19 Koma inu musakhaleko! Thamangitsani adani anu, muwathire nkhondo kuchokera kumbuyo ndipo musawalole kuti akafike ku mizinda yawo, pakuti Yehova Mulungu wanu wawapereka mʼmanja mwanu.”

20 Kotero Yoswa ndi Aisraeli anapha anthu aja, kupatulapo ochepa amene anathawa nakabisala ku mizinda yawo. 21 Kenaka gulu lonse la ankhondo linabwerera bwinobwino kwa Yoswa ku misasa ya ku Makeda, palibe aliyense mu mzindamo amene anaputanso Aisraeli.

22 Yoswa anati, “Tsekulani khomo la phangalo ndipo muwabweretse kwa ine mafumu asanuwo.” 23 Pamenepo mafumu asanu aja anatulutsidwa, mfumu ya ku Yerusalemu, mfumu ya ku Hebroni, mfumu ya ku Yarimuti, mfumu ya ku Lakisi, ndi mfumu ya ku Egiloni. 24 Atabwera nawo kwa Yoswa, iye anayitana Aisraeli onse. Ndipo analamula akuluakulu ake amene anapita naye limodzi kuti, “Bwerani kuno ndipo apondeni pakhosi mafumuwa.”

25 Yoswa anawawuza kuti, “Musaope kapena kutaya mtima. Khalani amphamvu ndi olimba mtima popeza umo ndi mmene Yehova adzachitire ndi adani anu onse amene mudzamenyana nawo.” 26 Kenaka Yoswa anawabaya ndi kuwapha mafumuwo ndipo anawapachika pa mitengo isanu ndipo anakhala pamenepo mpaka madzulo.

27 Dzuwa litalowa, Yoswa analamula kuti awachotse pa mitengo ija ndi kuwaponya mʼphanga limene ankabisalamo. Pa khomo pa phangalo anayikapo miyala ikuluikulu imene ilipo mpaka lero.

28 Tsiku lomwelo Yoswa analanda mzinda wa Makeda. Iye anapha anthu a mu mzindamo ndi mfumu yake ndipo sanasiye aliyense wamoyo. Yoswa anachita ndi mfumu ya ku Makeda monga anachitira ndi mfumu ya Yeriko.

Agonjetsa Mizinda ya Kummwera

29 Kenaka Yoswa ndi Aisraeli onse anapitirira kuchokera ku Makeda nakafika ku Libina ndi kuthira nkhondo mzindawo. 30 Yehova anaperekanso mzindawo ndi mfumu yake mʼmanja mwa Aisraeli. Ndipo Yoswa anapha onse amene anali mu mzindamo. Palibe amene anatsala wamoyo. Ndipo Yoswa anachita ndi mfumu ya Libina monga anachitira ndi mfumu ya Yeriko.

31 Kenaka Yoswa ndi Aisraeli onse anapitirira kuchokera ku Libina kupita ku Lakisi. Iye anazungulira mzindawo ndi kuwuthira nkhondo. 32 Yehova anapereka Lakisi kwa Israeli; ndipo Yoswa anawulanda pa tsiku lachiwiri. Monga anachita ndi mzinda wa Libina, Yoswa anapha anthu onse okhala mu mzinda wa Lakisi, ndipo palibe amene anatsala ndi moyo. 33 Nthawi imeneyi nʼkuti Horamu mfumu ya Gezeri itabwera kudzathandiza Lakisi koma Yoswa anamugonjetsa pamodzi ndi asilikali ake ndipo palibe anatsala wamoyo.

34 Kenaka Yoswa ndi Aisraeli onse anapitirira kuchokera ku Lakisi nakafika ku Egiloni. Iwo anazungulira mzindawo ndi kuwuthira nkhondo. 35 Anawulanda tsiku lomwelo ndipo anapha aliyense amene anali mu mzindawo monga momwe anachitira ku Lakisi.

36 Kenaka Yoswa ndi Aisraeli onse anachoka ku Egiloni nakafika ku Hebroni ndi kukawuthira nkhondo. 37 Iwo analanda mzindawo napha ndi lupanga mfumu yake pamodzi ndi onse amene ankakhala mʼmenemo. Monga anachita ndi mzinda wa Egiloni, kuti sanasiye aliyense ndi moyo, anachitanso chimodzimodzi ndi mzinda wa Hebroni.

38 Pambuyo pake Yoswa ndi Aisraeli onse anatembenukira mzinda wa Debri ndi kukawuthira nkhondo. 39 Iwo analanda mzindawo ndi midzi ndi kupha mfumu yake pamodzi ndi onse okhala mʼmenemo. Anachita ndi mzinda wa Debri pamodzi ndi mfumu yake zofanana ndi zimene anachita ndi mzinda wa Libina ndi wa Hebroni.

40 Motero Yoswa anagonjetsa dziko lonselo. Anapha mafumu onse a dera la kumapiri, dera la kummawa, dera la kumadzulo mʼmphepete mwa phiri, ndiponso dera la ku magomo, kummwera. Iye sanasiye wina aliyense wamoyo. Anapha onse amene anali moyo monga momwe Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli analamulira. 41 Yoswa anawagonjetsa iwo kuyambira ku Kadesi Barinea mpaka ku Gaza, ndiponso kuchokera ku chigawo chonse cha Goseni mpaka ku Gibiyoni. 42 Yoswa anagonjetsa mafumu onsewa ndi kulanda dziko lawo kamodzinʼkamodzi chifukwa Yehova Mulungu wa Israeli anawamenyera nkhondo.

43 Pambuyo pake Yoswa ndi Aisraeli onse anabwerera ku misasa yawo ku Giligala.

The Sun Stands Still

10 Now Adoni-Zedek(A) king of Jerusalem(B) heard that Joshua had taken Ai(C) and totally destroyed[a](D) it, doing to Ai and its king as he had done to Jericho and its king, and that the people of Gibeon(E) had made a treaty of peace(F) with Israel and had become their allies. He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters. So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron,(G) Piram king of Jarmuth,(H) Japhia king of Lachish(I) and Debir(J) king of Eglon.(K) “Come up and help me attack Gibeon,” he said, “because it has made peace(L) with Joshua and the Israelites.”

Then the five kings(M) of the Amorites(N)—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon—joined forces. They moved up with all their troops and took up positions against Gibeon and attacked it.

The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal:(O) “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.”

So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army,(P) including all the best fighting men. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid(Q) of them; I have given them into your hand.(R) Not one of them will be able to withstand you.”(S)

After an all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The Lord threw them into confusion(T) before Israel,(U) so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at Gibeon.(V) Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon(W) and cut them down all the way to Azekah(X) and Makkedah.(Y) 11 As they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large hailstones(Z) down on them,(AA) and more of them died from the hail than were killed by the swords of the Israelites.

12 On the day the Lord gave the Amorites(AB) over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel:

“Sun, stand still over Gibeon,
    and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.(AC)
13 So the sun stood still,(AD)
    and the moon stopped,
    till the nation avenged itself on[b] its enemies,

as it is written in the Book of Jashar.(AE)

The sun stopped(AF) in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. 14 There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting(AG) for Israel!

15 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.(AH)

Five Amorite Kings Killed

16 Now the five kings had fled(AI) and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. 17 When Joshua was told that the five kings had been found hiding in the cave at Makkedah, 18 he said, “Roll large rocks up to the mouth of the cave, and post some men there to guard it. 19 But don’t stop; pursue your enemies! Attack them from the rear and don’t let them reach their cities, for the Lord your God has given them into your hand.”

20 So Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely,(AJ) but a few survivors managed to reach their fortified cities.(AK) 21 The whole army then returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one uttered a word against the Israelites.

22 Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So they brought the five kings out of the cave—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon. 24 When they had brought these kings(AL) to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had come with him, “Come here and put your feet(AM) on the necks of these kings.” So they came forward and placed their feet(AN) on their necks.

25 Joshua said to them, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Be strong and courageous.(AO) This is what the Lord will do to all the enemies you are going to fight.” 26 Then Joshua put the kings to death and exposed their bodies on five poles, and they were left hanging on the poles until evening.

27 At sunset(AP) Joshua gave the order and they took them down from the poles and threw them into the cave where they had been hiding. At the mouth of the cave they placed large rocks, which are there to this day.(AQ)

Southern Cities Conquered

28 That day Joshua took Makkedah. He put the city and its king to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it. He left no survivors.(AR) And he did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.(AS)

29 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Makkedah to Libnah(AT) and attacked it. 30 The Lord also gave that city and its king into Israel’s hand. The city and everyone in it Joshua put to the sword. He left no survivors there. And he did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

31 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Libnah to Lachish;(AU) he took up positions against it and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave Lachish into Israel’s hands, and Joshua took it on the second day. The city and everyone in it he put to the sword, just as he had done to Libnah. 33 Meanwhile, Horam king of Gezer(AV) had come up to help Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army—until no survivors were left.

34 Then Joshua and all Israel with him moved on from Lachish to Eglon;(AW) they took up positions against it and attacked it. 35 They captured it that same day and put it to the sword and totally destroyed everyone in it, just as they had done to Lachish.

36 Then Joshua and all Israel with him went up from Eglon to Hebron(AX) and attacked it. 37 They took the city and put it to the sword, together with its king, its villages and everyone(AY) in it. They left no survivors. Just as at Eglon, they totally destroyed it and everyone in it.

38 Then Joshua and all Israel with him turned around and attacked Debir.(AZ) 39 They took the city, its king and its villages, and put them to the sword. Everyone in it they totally destroyed. They left no survivors. They did to Debir and its king as they had done to Libnah and its king and to Hebron.(BA)

40 So Joshua subdued the whole region, including the hill country, the Negev,(BB) the western foothills and the mountain slopes,(BC) together with all their kings.(BD) He left no survivors. He totally destroyed all who breathed, just as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded.(BE) 41 Joshua subdued them from Kadesh Barnea(BF) to Gaza(BG) and from the whole region of Goshen(BH) to Gibeon. 42 All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the Lord, the God of Israel, fought(BI) for Israel.

43 Then Joshua returned with all Israel to the camp at Gilgal.(BJ)

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 10:1 The Hebrew term refers to the irrevocable giving over of things or persons to the Lord, often by totally destroying them; also in verses 28, 35, 37, 39 and 40.
  2. Joshua 10:13 Or nation triumphed over