The Amorites Are Defeated
1 Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured and totally destroyed Ai and had killed its king, just as he had done to Jericho and its king. He also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with the Israelites and were living among them. 2 The people of Jerusalem were greatly alarmed at this because Gibeon was as large as any of the cities that had a king; it was larger than Ai, and its men were good fighters. 3 So Adonizedek sent the following message to King Hoham of Hebron, King Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and to King Debir of Eglon: 4 “Come and help me attack Gibeon, because its people have made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” 5 These five Amorite kings, the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, joined forces, surrounded Gibeon, and attacked it.
6 The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Do not abandon us, sir! Come at once and help us! Save us! All the Amorite kings in the hill country have joined forces and have attacked us!”
7 So Joshua and his whole army, including the best troops, started out from Gilgal. 8 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them. I have already given you the victory. Not one of them will be able to stand against you.” 9 All night Joshua and his army marched from Gilgal to Gibeon, and they made a surprise attack on the Amorites. 10 The Lord made the Amorites panic at the sight of Israel's army. The Israelites slaughtered them at Gibeon and pursued them down the mountain pass at Beth Horon, keeping up the attack as far south as Azekah and Makkedah. 11 While the Amorites were running down the pass from the Israelite army, the Lord made large hailstones fall down on them all the way to Azekah. More were killed by the hailstones than by the Israelites.
12 On the day that the Lord gave the men of Israel victory over the Amorites, Joshua spoke to the Lord. In the presence of the Israelites he said,
“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
Moon, stop over Aijalon Valley.”
13 The sun stood still and the moon did not move until the nation had conquered its enemies. This is written in The Book of Jashar. The sun stood still in the middle of the sky and did not go down for a whole day. 14 Never before, and never since, has there been a day like it, when the Lord obeyed a human being. The Lord fought on Israel's side!
15 After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal.
Joshua Captures the Five Amorite Kings
16 The five Amorite kings, however, had escaped and were hiding in the cave at Makkedah. 17 Someone found them, and Joshua was told where they were hiding. 18 He said, “Roll some big stones in front of the entrance to the cave. Place some guards there, 19 but don't stay there yourselves. Keep on after the enemy and attack them from the rear; don't let them get to their cities! The Lord your God has given you victory over them.” 20 Joshua and the men of Israel slaughtered them, although some managed to find safety inside their city walls and were not killed. 21 Then all of Joshua's men came back safe to him at the camp at Makkedah.
No one in the land dared even to speak against the Israelites.
22 Then Joshua said, “Open the entrance to the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” 23 So the cave was opened, and the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon were brought out 24 and taken to Joshua. Joshua then called all the men of Israel to him and ordered the officers who had gone with him to come and put their feet on the necks of the kings. They did so. 25 Then Joshua said to his officers, “Don't be afraid or discouraged. Be determined and confident because this is what the Lord is going to do to all your enemies.” 26 Then Joshua killed the kings and hanged them on five trees, where their bodies stayed until evening. 27 At sundown Joshua gave orders, and their bodies were taken down and thrown into the same cave where they had hidden earlier. Large stones were placed at the entrance to the cave, and they are still there.
Joshua Captures More Amorite Territory
28 Joshua attacked and captured Makkedah and its king that day. He put everyone in the city to death; no one was left alive. He did to the king of Makkedah what he had done to the king of Jericho.
29 After this, Joshua and his army went on from Makkedah to Libnah and attacked it. 30 The Lord also gave the Israelites victory over this city and its king. They spared no one, but killed every person in it. They did to the king what they had done to the king of Jericho.
31 After this, Joshua and his army went on from Libnah to Lachish, surrounded it and attacked it. 32 The Lord gave the Israelites victory over Lachish on the second day of the battle. Just as they had done at Libnah, they spared no one, but killed every person in the city. 33 King Horam of Gezer came to the aid of Lachish, but Joshua defeated him and his army and left none of them alive.
34 Next, Joshua and his army went on from Lachish to Eglon, surrounded it and attacked it. 35 They captured it the same day and put everyone there to death, just as they had done at Lachish.
36 After this, Joshua and his army went from Eglon up into the hills to Hebron, attacked it 37 and captured it. They killed the king and everyone else in the city as well as in the nearby towns. Joshua condemned the city to total destruction, just as he had done to Eglon. No one in it was left alive.
38 Then Joshua and his army turned back to Debir and attacked it. 39 He captured it, with its king and all the nearby towns. They put everyone there to death. Joshua did to Debir and its king what he had done to Hebron and to Libnah and its king.
40 Joshua conquered the whole land. He defeated the kings of the hill country, the eastern slopes, and the western foothills, as well as those of the dry country in the south. He spared no one; everyone was put to death. This was what the Lord God of Israel had commanded. 41 Joshua's campaign took him from Kadesh Barnea in the south to Gaza near the coast, including all the area of Goshen, and as far north as Gibeon. 42 Joshua conquered all these kings and their territory in one campaign because the Lord, Israel's God, was fighting for Israel. 43 After this, Joshua and his army went back to the camp at Gilgal.
Baamoni banokundiwa
1 Kwakati Adonizedeki mambo we Jerusalema ehwa kuti Joshuwa wakatola kakale wakakolomodza nzi we Ai, kabulaya ne mambo wawo, kakale wakathamila nzi we Ai tjaakatongo thama ne nzi we Jerikho ne mambo wawo ne kuti Bagibiyoni bakathama tjidumano tje mbakiso ne Baiziraela kakale bogala nabo, 2 kadziyidzika kwazo, ngobe Gibiyoni wakabe uli nzi nkulu se mmwe we mizi ye bumambo. Wakabe uli nkulu kupinda nzi we Ai, wakabe una babhayani bakasima. 3 Ndizo Adonizedeki mambo we Jerusalema kayisa mima kuna Hohamu mambo we Heburoni ne kuna Piramu mambo we Jarimuti ne kuna Jafiya mambo we Lakhishi ne kuna Dibiri mambo we Egiloni, kabadwa eti, 4 “Izhani mu ndibhatshe kunginilila nzi we Gibiyoni, ngobe bakathama tjidumano tje mbakiso na Joshuwa ne Baiziraela.”
5 Ndizo bomambo bashanu be Baamori, mambo we Jerusalema ne mambo we Heburoni ne mambo we Jarimuti ne mambo we Lakhishi ne mambo we Egiloni bakashanganya babhayani babo ngono bakayenda bakanonginilila nzi we Gibiyoni.
6 Bathu be Gibiyoni bakayisa dama kuna Joshuwa ku bukotokelo gwe Giligala beti, “Musifupatile balanda benyu. Izhani tjinyolotjo muwotitjidza! Izhani mutibhatshe ngobe bomambo be Baamori banogala mu shango ye matombo bazwishanganya kuti bawotinginilila.”
7 Ndizo Joshuwa ne babhayani babe bose balume be ngwa bakasima bakatathilila ku Giligala. 8 Ngono Yahwe bakadwa Joshuwa beti, “Usitongobatja, ngobe ndowothama kuti ubakunde, akuna ndodwa ne nng'ompela unowoma mbeli kuko.”
Yahwe banobhatsha Baiziraela
9 Kwakati shule kwe gwendo gwakatola busiku gose kudwa mu Giligala, Joshuwa kaswika ebawila batjakazwikangang'wa. 10 Yahwe bakathama kuti babhayani be Baamori bawumane nge lutjo mbeli kwe Baiziraela, ngono bakabulaya nge bunji gusi bushoma ku Gibiyoni. Baiziraela bakabatatamila bali mu zila inotathila ku Bhetihoroni bakabhata be babulaya kudzina beswika mu nzi we Azeka newe Makeda. 11 Ngono bakati bakabhata bali mu zila inodelukila ku Bhetihoroni kunoswika ku Azeka betizha babhayani be Baiziraela, Yahwe bakaligila tjivulamabgwe tjikulu mubali ngono bunji gwabo gukabulawa nge tjivulamabgwe kupinda bakabulawa nge thumo ne Baiziraela.
12 Ngono kwakati zhuba Yahwe labakathama kuti Baamori bakundiwe ne Baiziraela, Joshuwa kalebeleka na Yahwe mbeli kwe Baiziraela kati,
“Zhuba ngalime, lime mu Gibiyoni,
mwedzi iwo usingine pa nkuku we Aijaloni.”
13 Ndizo zhuba likama ne mwedzi ukamabo kuswikilila Baiziraela bazwigwila mu zwita zwabo, koga sekwa kwakakwagwa mu Lukwalo gwa Jashari. Zhuba lakama pakati kwe zhuzhugwi likasimile masikati wose. 14 Akuthu kukabe ne zhuba linofanana na ilelo mukutangisa kene na ngwenu kose, zhuba la Yahwe labakateedza nthu. Tjoselele Yahwe bakagwila Baiziraela!
15 Kudwa ipapo Joshuwa ne Baiziraela bose bakabgwilila ku bukotokelo ku Giligala.
Joshuwa unosunga bomambo bali bashanu
16 Ngono kwakati babhayani be Baamori betizha babhayani be Baiziraela bomambo be Baamori bali bashanu ibo bakatizha bakanobgwata ku guwu le Makeda. 17 Babhayani ba Joshuwa bakandwa beti, “Bomambo bashanu bawang'wa bakabgwata mu guwu le Makeda.” 18 Ngono Joshuwa kabadwa kati, “Kunguludzilani mabgwe makulu ku nkoba we guwu ilelo ngono mubige balume kuti balinde ipapo. 19 Koga imwi musitole tjibaka tjoseko, londani zwita zwenyu muzwisale shule, musitongo baletja bakanoswika ku mizi yabo, Yahwe Ndzimu wenyu banowothama kuti mu bakunde.” 20 Kwakati Joshuwa ne Baiziraela basino balobesa bose, nenguba malimbelimbe mashomanana akabe atizhila ku matizhilo abo, 21 babhayani bakabgwilila zwibuya kuna Joshuwa ku bukotokelo ku Makeda, kwakashaya ndodwa nge nthu nng'ompela wakaleba tjimwe tji biibi ngekwe bathu be Iziraela.
22 Ngono Joshuwa kalebeleka kati, “Zhulani nkoba we guwu ngono muzhise bomambo ibabo bashanu bamu guwu kundili.” 23 Ngono bakathama saikoku, bakazhisa bomambo ibabo bashanu ku nli, kwakabe kuli mambo we Jerusalema ne mambo we Heburoni ne mambo we Jarimuti ne mambo we Lakhishi ne mambo we Egiloni. 24 Bakati bedusa bomambo ibabo, Joshuwa kadwa balume bose be Iziraela ne batungamili be babhayani bakabe banaye ku ngwa eti, “Izhani ngeno mu tshambe bomambo ibaba mu mitshibha.” Bakazha ngono bakatshamba bomambo mitshibha. 25 Joshuwa kabadwa kati. “Musitje kene ili kutemeka mafupa, simani mube ne tjilopa, ngobe itjetji nditjo Yahwe tjabanowothama mu zwita zwamunowogwa nazo.” 26 Ipapo Joshuwa kabulaya bomambo ibabo kabalembeledza mu miti mishanu, ngono bakasiyiwa bakalembeleka mu miti iyeyo kuswikilila madekwana.
27 Ngono kwakati zhuba lomila Joshuwa kadusa ndaulo kuti bomambo ibaba basunungugwe mu miti ngono balashigwe mu guwu labakabe bakabgwata mulili, kudwapo lizhaligwe nge mabgwe makulukulu, mabgwe iyawo ayapo na nasi.
Joshuwa unotola mizi ye Baamoni
28 Kwakati mu zhuba ilelo, Joshuwa katapa nzi we Makeda ngono kabulaya mambo we Makeda ne mmwe ne mmwe unogala mu nzi iwoyo, kukasala kusina ndodwa nge limbelimbe ling'ompela. Wakathama mambo we Makeda koga sekwa akathama mambo we Jerikho.
29 Kudwa mu nzi we Makeda Joshuwa ne Baiziraela bakalinga ku nzi we Libina ba kaunginilila. 30 Yahwe bakathama kuti Baiziraela bakunde ngono bakatapa nzi we Libina ne mambo wawo. Bakabulaya mmwe ne mmwe wakabe ali mu nzi nge thumo kukasheta ne limbelimbe ling'ompela lakasala. Wakathamila mambo wawokoga sekwa akathama mambo we Jerikho.
31 Kudwa ipapo Joshuwa ne Baiziraela bose bakamilika mu nzi we Libina bakalinga ku Lakhishi, ngono bakaswika bakaukomba bakaunginilila. 32 Yahwe bakathama kuti mu zhuba linotobela Lakhishi ikundiwe. Bathu bose bakabe bali mu nzi bakabulawa nge thumo koga sekwa kwakashingikalila nzi we Libina.
33 Kwakati kutjakajalo Horamu mambo we nzi we Gezeri kazha kuwobhatsha nzi we Lakhishi koga Joshuwa ka nkunda iye ne babhayani babe kukasheta ndodwa ne limbelimbe ling'ompela lakasala.
34 Kudwapo Joshuwa ne Baiziraela bose bakamilika mu Lakhishi bakalinga ku Egiloni, bakakomba nzi we Egiloni bakaunginilila, 35 ngono bakatapa nzi we Egiloni mu zhuba ilelo zwalo. Bakabulaya mmwe ne mmwe nge thumo koga sekwa bakathama nge nzi we Lakhishi.
36 Joshuwa ne Baiziraela bakadwapo bemilika mu nzi we Egiloni belinga ku nzi we Heburoni ngono bakanounginilila. 37 Bakatapa nzi we Heburoni, bakabulaya mmwe ne mmwe muuli kose ne mambo wawo nge thumo kose ne mizana yayo. Bakasiya kusina ndodwa ne limbelimbe koga sekwa bakathama ku nzi we Egiloni, bakalobesa mmwe ne mmwe muuli.
38 Joshuwa ne Baiziraela bakashanduka bakanonginilila nzi we Dibiri. 39 Bakatapa nzi nkulu na mambo wawo ne mizana yawo bakababulaya bose nge thumo. Bakalobesa mmwe ne mmwe bakasiya kusina ndodwa ne limbelimbe. Bakathama nzi we Dibiri koga sekwa bakathama nzi we Libina ne mambo wawo koga sekwa bakathama ku nzi we Heburoni.
40 Ndizo Joshuwa kakunda ntuthu wose ne shango ye matombo neye Negebu ne shango yakawila ikunobhuda zhuba ne imu thobo dze matombo akunomila zhuba kose na bomambo badzo, akuna waakasiya, koga sekwa Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela bakabe baleba. 41 Joshuwa wakabakunda kudwa tjose ku Kadeshibhareneya kunoti ku Gaza ne shango yose ye Gosheni kunoti ku Gibiyoni. 42 Mu tjibaka itjetji Joshuwa wakakunda bomambo ibaba ne mituthu yabo. Wakatubula kuthama saikoku ngobe Yahwe Ndzimu we Iziraela wakabe ugwila Iziraela.
43 Joshuwa wakabgwilila ne Baiziraela bose ku bukotokelo ku Giligala.